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Building Student Independence

DescriptionThis learning option will focus on key strategies for facilitating student independence. Participants will examine the significance of student, the role of the education assistant in building student independence, as well as effective practices and strategies that support the development of student independence.

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Outcomes

1. to understand what is meant by student independence

2. To realize best practices for supporting student independence

3. To examine how education assistants impact a student’s learning, membership and participation

4. To identify and apply select instructional strategies that support the development of student independence

Getting Connected

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Activity: Word Splash

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Social – ecological model of disability

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Definition of disabilityOld Approach New Paradigm

• a diagnosis• a medical “problem”• a person is limited

and defined by the impairment or condition

• a social and environmental issues that deals with accessibility, accommodations and equity

• individuals require accommodations to live full and meaningful lives

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Role of person with disability

Old Approach New Paradigm

• object of intervention

• patient or client• research subject

• learner, community member and citizen

• occupy many roles: researcher, interviewer, home owner, parent, business person, room- mate, employee, artist, customer, volunteer, board member …

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Support StrategiesOld Approach New Paradigm• fix the individual• correct the deficit within

the individual• provide medical,

vocational or psychological rehabilitation services

• remove barriers: physical, cognitive, cultural and educational

• create access through accommodations, universal design, inclusive learning environments

• personalized supports and strategies

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3 Outcomes for all Students in Inclusive Education

Knowledge / Skills

Member-ship

Relation-ships

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Student IndependenceO Freedom from the

influence or control of others

O Completing a task without undo assistance

O Using resources to meet personal needs

O Self-help (advocacy, management)

O Making appropriate choices and decisions

O Being able to say “I can do it myself.”

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Student Independence

Students need “a supportive environment to function successfully in school – and later in the workplace. A supportive environment enables them to capitalize on their strengths and minimize or cope effectively with their weaknesses” (Larkin, 2001).

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Student independenceO Builds self esteemO Motivates a student to

achieveO Gives student a sense

of purposeO Facilitates social

acceptanceO Reduces stereotypic

labelsO Allows educators to

focus on instruction

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Student independence

O Use of a planner to write down assignments

O Use of adaptive or assistive devices

O Use of images to guide task completion

O What else?

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Student Independence

Educator role:O Build own knowledge

about strategiesO Help only when

student cannot do it themselves

O Intentionally supportO Build independence

throughout the day

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Activity: The Golden Rule

1. Read article

2. Complete reading response sheet.

3. Discuss as a large group.

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~Word Splash~

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Leading Questions

1. Watch video.

2. Discuss as a large group.

3. Fill in activity sheet.