Building Student Independence 1
Dec 28, 2015
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
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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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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.