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Peer Support Program Launches in Broward County
In June 2011, participants from 14 secondary schools attended a Power of Peers workshop, offered through the Florida Inclusion Network (FIN)–Broward Project. Despite financial and personnel hardships in the district, several schools have begun the process of launching a Peer Support Program. Each program pairs students who have one or more significant disabilities with a peer assistant who provides natural academic and social supports in general education, content area classrooms.
Sonia Forbes, Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Teacher at Northeast High School, has been laying the foundation for the Peer Support Program this school year. With positive input from assistant principals Shernette Davis and Casey Burgs, and Peer Counseling Teacher Suzanne Murphy, Sonia has made connections between parents of students with disabilities, ESE teachers, and general education, content area teachers.
And the benefits are already paying off: Murat and Arnold are two students with disabilities who now attend Ms. Snow’s Biology class. Each boy works with Ms. Snow and their peer assistants, Christian and Rubi. Ms. Snow has shared that this is a great experience for ALL the students, but especially for Murat and Arnold, who have become active learners in the class! The Power of Peers is becoming a reality in Broward County! |
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It’s that time of year…the holidays are over and students are going back to school for a new semester. Many parents and students feel hopeful about 2012 and the possibilities it can bring.
Others feel anxiety - another year of homework battles, stressful IEP meetings, and coaxing- no pleading- with your child to “Please go to school!”
If you and your child are feeling anxious, check out these tips to make the back to school transition easier. "5 Tips For Dealing With School Anxiety" from PEAK Parent Center: http://speakout.peakparent.org/index.php/current-newsletter/5-tips-for-dealing-with-school-anxiety |
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TATS & FIN Talks with Instructional Staff, Vol. 1, No. 1
Informational pamphlet for Pre-kindergarten (PreK) instructional staff that provides a definition and key elements of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in inclusive PreK learning environments.
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