Special Education Hot Topics Region 4 ESC1 Discipline Related to Bullying Accessible Instructional Materials

Texas Education Code § Student Code of Conduct The child with a disability may not be disciplined for bullying, harassment, or making hit lists until an admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee meeting has been held to review the conduct. Region 4 ESC2

What do we already know? Region 4 ESC3 MDR COP 10

So how is this different? Region 4 ESC4 Consequence Change of Placement Not Different!

So how is this different? Region 4 ESC5 Consequence Change of Placement Different!

Implications No discipline can be assigned until ARD “reviews” conduct No 10 “free days” 5 day notice of ARD Region 4 ESC6

What are your options in this situation? Have a plan! Increase supervision Request parent to waive 5 day notice to expedite ARD meeting Change setting for educational reasons (ARD may be required) Region 4 ESC7

Accessible Instructional Materials Kirk Behnke M.Ed, ATP Senior Education Specialist Special Education, Region 4 ESC

Agenda Texas Roadmap for Accessible Instructional Materials (AIM) Eligibility Print Disability Specialized Formats Acquisition of AIM Resources 9Region 4 ESC

The Texas Road Map for Accessible Instructional Materials Developed to help give a visual GPS to help you navigate the way through accessible instructional material acquisition Provides 2 routes: Eligibility and acquisition routes 10Region 4 ESC

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Print Disability Student /child is not able to use standard print materials Frequently the result of a visual impairment, physical disability or reading disability Meets copyright criteria for specialized formats Federal definition of “Print Disability” Region 4 ESC

Accessible Instructional Materials Included in IDEA 2004 Requires that core instructional materials be provided in a timely manner in specialized formats when needed by students with disabilities 4 specialized formats: Braille, large print, audio and digital text 13Region 4 ESC

Digital Text May be referred to as electronic text or E-text Provides visual and auditory supports Available in various formats such as online HTML or EPub Can be accessed using specialized software (e.g. Read Hear™) or hardware (e.g. Apex, VictorReader Stratus, VictorReader Stream) 14Region 4 ESC

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Authorized Users for Texas Bookshare Learning Ally Region 4 ESC

Resources Texas Education Agency Instructional Materials and Educational Technology Texas Assistive Technology Network State Leadership Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired Network TSBVI: Accessible Textbooks Clearinghouse clearinghouse 17Region 4 ESC

Resources AIM Consortium National Center on Accessible Instructional Materials DAISY Consortium Louis Plus from American Printing House for the Blind 18Region 4 ESC

Resources National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Learning Ally: Learning and Listening American Foundation for the Blind: Family Connect® -- Education Region 4 ESC