1. Be a Smartie!! Special Needs Learners: A Focus on Cognitive Exceptionalities Elizabeth Anderson, Angelee Deardorff, Kelly Grissom, Janet Peck, Tara Price

2. What Are Learning Disabilities?  Neurological Disorders  Not the same as a handicap  Can affect anybody

3. What Are The Signs?  Warning signs are just that….WARNINGS  Early interventions can make a WORLD of DIFFERENCE  Some characteristics that children show are poor coordination skills, hyperactivity, immature choices, and easily distracted

4. What Are Causes Of LD?  Heredity  Problems during pregnancy and childbirth  Incidents after birth

5. What Does The Government Do To Help?  IDEA: Individuals with Disabilities Act  LDA: Learning Disabilities Association of America  IEP: Individualized Education Program

6. What is Giftedness?  Untrained and natural ability  Spontaneously expressed  At least one ability domain  Found in diverse personalities and backgrounds

7. What are Gifted Characteristics?  General intellectual ability Avid reader, independent, high level of energy  Specific academic aptitude Likes knowledge, voluntarily works on projects  Creative thinking and production Flexible in thinking, bored with memorization, sense of humor  Leadership Organizes others, articulates ideas clearly

8. What are Criteria for Gifted Identification?  Teacher nominations  Behavioral checklists  Parent nominations  Peer nominations  Self nominations  Standardized tests  IQ tests

9. Can Gifted Students also be LD? YES! Though some people find it hard to believe that an AIG child can also be labeled as Learning Disabled, it happens quite often. A child can be diagnosed with a learning disability, but still be very intelligent in certain areas of study. There are studies that show parallels between behavior of AIG students and students with ADHD.

10. Meeting the Needs of All Students  Accommodations  Why should we make accommodations?  Who can benefit?  Modifications  How?  Resources

11. What Is 504?  504 is a legal plan that falls under the provisions of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  It provides an instructional program for students with special needs.  It is NOT the same plan as an IEP.

12. What Is The 504 Plan Process? Step 1: A referral is made. Step 2: A 504-plan meeting is scheduled and held. Step 3: A 504-plan is developed for the student. Step 4: The team sets a 504-plan review date.