Super Saturday: Adding to Your Special Needs Toolbox

Earlier this year, the Indiana General Assembly signed a bill into law which will require universal screening in public schools to include dyslexia and require resources to help children struggling with this learning disability. Amanda Cox, an advocate and mom of a child with dyslexia, will share information on how to support children in the child care setting who have dyslexia or are suspected to have dyslexia. She will identify characteristics of dyslexia, in addition to red flags. Finally, trainees will participate in a simulation to help them understand how a child with dyslexia experiences life. After lunch, learning shifts to autism. Autism, now the fastest growing developmental disorder, affects 1 in 59 children, with boys being four times more likely than girls to be diagnosed. Kacy Hopper, Autism Ally and mom, will be here to share practical solutions for working with children who have autism. This presentation will cover the basic elements of autism and how to facilitate interaction with people with autism. Specifically, tips and practical solutions for working with school-age and younger children will be discussed.