Professional Development
Better family engagement means happier teachers and trusting, confident families. Support your team and your Special Ed families with Exceptional Lives' professional development sessions and family training series on collaborative family engagement in Special Education.
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Skill-building support for your team
Our professional development sessions and family workshops help both educators and families adopt a more collaborative approach towards Special Education.
Pick from a range of topics led by our expert team or choose to combine different sessions to fill a whole day with customized sessions.
Our approach is shaped by our personal experiences and Dr. Karen Mapp’s Dual Capacity Building Framework, a proven model for successful partnerships between schools and families.
All Professional Development sessions include a 1 hour technical support follow up meeting and access to our IEP Welcome Kit, a customizable set of tools you can use to build great relationships with new Special Ed families right from the start.
Effective Communication for Improved Family Engagement
- Length: 2 hours
In this session, we will review the proven impact of better family engagement on a variety of parameters. These include academic outcomes, school climate and the special ed process overall. We will describe strategies to improve communication with families as a way to enhance collaboration and build more trusting relationships.
After this session, attendees will be able to:
- Understand why effective family engagement can lead to better student outcomes, more teacher satisfaction, and fewer complaints
- Describe 3 family-centered practices to improve communication, form trusting relationships and improve family engagement.
- Name and use 3 ways to improve the information schools present to families to make it easier to understand.
- Find and use resources to improve communication for a family-centered, collaborative special ed process.
Positive Beginnings: Successful First IEP Meetings
- Length: 2 hours
In this session, we describe how to take special care to welcome new families to the special ed process. This includes helping them learn about the process, and intentionally nurturing the relationships from the beginning – even before the first IEP meeting – and throughout. We’ll include information about other disability resources to share with families to support their needs outside of school.
After this session, attendees will be able to:
- Describe what information new families need to know to develop positive relationships with their child’s IEP team.
- Outline a clear plan to welcome new families to the SPED process and set the stage for improved communication and collaboration between home and school.
- Find and use resources to inform families about the SPED process, create reasonable expectations, and support the student’s needs in the classroom and at home.
Collaborative Transition Planning
- Length: 2 hours
This workshop will cover strategies to help schools guide SPED families and students through transition planning, to help the student prepare for life after school. You’ll learn about the mindset and needs of families at this time, and how to encourage ongoing discussions about the student’s future goals. We’ll also cover key parts of transition planning that parents will need to know, and share resources to help them engage in the process.
After this session, attendees will be able to:- Identify and lower barriers families and students face in collaborating in the Transition Planning process.
- Outline effective practices for transition planning that will lead to more engaged, satisfied families and successful student outcomes.
- Find and use tools and resources to inform and engage families, and support successful Transition Planning.
Understanding the SPED Process for General Educators
- Length: 2 hours
This session helps general educators get comfortable with the special education process, and better understand their roles. We’ll discuss how to collaborate with families and the IEP team, communicate effectively throughout the year, and build strong partnerships with SPED families.
After this session, attendees will be able to:- Demonstrate knowledge of the special ed process and their role within it. This includes managing the IEP, communicating progress, and the rights and responsibilities of families and the school.
- Communicate and collaborate more effectively with both families and the IEP team.
- Find and use resources to help manage the IEP process in the classroom and maintain good communication with SPED families.
Family workshops
We offer training opportunities for families, too. Pick from a range of sessions led by our expert team, all designed to reduce friction and prepare families to partner with the school team and support their kids.
Everything Families Should Know About the Special Education Process
- Length: 1 hour
Are you new to the special education process? Maybe your child is in Early Intervention and you want to know what’s next. Or your child is struggling in school and you want to know how to help. Or maybe they already have an IEP and you want to learn more about how Special Ed works. This session will help you understand the whole Special Ed process: what it offers, how to ask for an evaluation, and how to work together with the school to make sure your child gets the support they need.
After this session, attendees will be able to:- Understand what Special Education offers to a child with a disability.
- Communicate with the school about your child’s needs.
- Ask the district for an evaluation and start the Special Ed process.
- Find and use resources to help you through the process, and find other disability services and benefits.
“We’re on the Same Team”: How to Work with the School to Get the Best Results for Your Child
- Length: 1 hour
This session is for families of students with disabilities, learning differences or any kind of struggles in school. We’ll talk about why it’s important to build a good relationship with your child’s school, and help you do this through effective communication. Our goal is to help families and schools build trust and work together. This is the best way to improve outcomes and experiences for students, families and schools!
After this session, attendees will be able to:
- Understand why effective family engagement can lead to better student outcomes and better experiences for students and their families.
- Use some proven practices to enhance communication, form trusting relationships and improve your engagement with your child’s school.
- Find and use resources to understand the Special Education process and work effectively with the school to get your child the support they need.
Positive Beginnings: Successful first IEP meetings
- Length: 1 hour
If you’re just starting the Special Education process, and wondering about the IEP meeting, this is for you. The IEP is the Individualized Education Program, and the first IEP meeting can be stressful if you don’t know what to expect. This session will help you understand what happens at the meeting, how to jump start a good relationship with the school team, and get your child off to a good start with their education support.
After this session, attendees will be able to:
- Know what to expect at the first IEP meeting and understand your role as part of the team.
- Collaborate effectively with the school, using clear communication and mutual understanding to build trust.
- Find and use resources to prepare for the IEP meeting, work with the school team, and manage your child’s IEP moving forward.
Successful Transition Planning for Your Teen or Pre-Teen
- Length: 1 hour
If your child is in middle school or high school and has an IEP, now is the time to start thinking about Transition Planning. This means preparing for their transition to life after school. It’s a formal planning process that you and the school will work on together. This session will help you learn how to talk to your child about their future, and understand what kind of support can help them get there. It will also prepare you to stay engaged and work collaboratively with the school during this process.
After this session, attendees will be able to:
- Understand the transition planning process, and what kinds of supports are available to your child when they get to high school.
- Work closely with the IEP team to create a Transition Plan that will prepare your child for their goals for after high school. These may include continuing their education, finding a job, having a meaningful community life, and living as independently as possible.
- Find and use resources to help with your child’s transition planning and life as a young adult.
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