Expert Series: Uncovering Hidden Potential: An Accessible Reading Skills Assessment

Description

Join us in a webinar in our Expert Series:The Right to Read report highlights that learning to read is a human right. And yet, current assessment tools which provide educators with critical information to support at-risk students lack accessibility for many. Bloorview School has adapted the key components of a comprehensive phonological awareness, phonics and decoding screener using the interactive components of Boardmaker (a Tobii Dynavox application). This adapted student version (and its corresponding teacher tracking materials) was developed with a Universal Design for Learning lens and enables students with physical and/or communication disabilities the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding in the key areas of reading skill development. This presentation is for K-2 educators who want to use data to inform reading instruction for their students.

After registering for this event, you will immediately receive an email containing details which include the link to join the training. If you don’t receive the email, please check your spam folder. 

We look forward to learning with you in our live virtual session. If you are unable to attend you can find other learning opportunities on our Learning Hub.

For questions email learning@tobiidynavox.com

Please note that courses are listed in Eastern Time (ET) America/New York

We strive to host inclusive and accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. Captioning in English is included for all of our trainings. To inquire about possible accommodations such an ASL interpreter or additional accessibility requests, please contact the Learning Team at learning@tobiidynavox.com

Presenters:

Julie Van Huyse is an educator in Ontario, Canada with an interest in the transformative potential of technology in learning. Some of her experiences in education include being a classroom teacher, Teacher-Librarian and Digital Lead Learner, all of which led her to her current position at Bloorview School as a Technology Enabled Learning and Teaching (TELT) Lead. Julie collaborates with educators and therapists to support students with physical, communication, and other complex medical needs. She actively facilitates the integration of diverse technologies in classrooms to enhance access to learning for students with special needs.

Allison Kennedy is an early years educator in Ontario, Canada with extensive training and experience in literacy learning. She has held a variety of classroom, and specialized roles including Kindergarten Early Language Intervention (KELI) Program and Integrated Education and Therapy teacher. She has received both Orton-Gillingham and EMPOWER literacy training. Allison led a year-long job-embedded literacy learning opportunity for educators through a grant from the government of Ontario. She was profiled in Using Linguistically Appropriate Practice: A Guide for Teaching in Multilingual Classrooms (2019) by Dr. R. Chumak Horbatsch. Most recently, Allison helped develop the 2023 Ontario Language Curriculum as a content contributor.

Lindsey McKenna is an educator in Ontario, Canada who has a passion for early years education and special education. She has worked as a classroom teacher, in the Kindergarten Early Language Intervention (KELI) Program and currently as a Kindergarten/Grade 1 Integrated Education and Therapy teacher at Bloorview School. Bloorview School supports students with special needs, many of whom have additional medical and physical complex needs. Lindsey is interested in how student’s learning can be supported through the use of technology, particularly with students who use communication devices.

Training type
Virtual (non-CEU)

Presenter
Patrick Brune
Patrick Brune, M.S., CCC-SLP has over 30 years of clinical experience in the area of AAC. His focus has been on developing tools and supports that create successful communication opportunities for all our customers. Patrick is a member of the Learning Services Team for Tobii Dynavox.