Popular teacher, educational consultant, and author presents at two upcoming events
Paula Kluth, a renowned expert in the field of autism and inclusion, will speak on supporting and educating students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and other disabilities at two upcoming events. The first, "Beyond Sight Words: Access to the Literate Community for All," will take place 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 30, at Dewey Hall on the University of Rochester's River Campus. The second, "You're Going to Love This Kid: Educating Students with ASD in Inclusive Schools," will take place 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, May 31, at the Burgundy Basin Inn in Pittsford, N.Y.
"Beyond Sight Words: Access to the Literate Community for All" is free and open to the public. During her lecture, Kluth will explore how we can give students—including those with significant disabilities—access to the literate community. She will discuss how countless students have been excluded from literacy experiences that are inclusive, rich, challenging, and meaningful, as well as share strategies for including and supporting students with significant disabilities in reading, writing, speaking, and listening activities.
Registration is required for "You're Going to Love This Kid: Educating Students with ASD in Inclusive Schools," and is $65 per person (registration and payment are due by May 4). During her discussion, Kluth will share 10 practical ways of supporting students with ASD and other disabilities within a general education classroom. She will address topics that include defining ASD, listening to the voices of those with ASD, differentiating instruction in the diverse classroom, encouraging literacy development, making the classroom comfortable for all learners, and supporting behaviors and bodies of students with a broad range of needs. Her interactive discussion will focus on the importance of pushing beyond participation and inclusion to asking schools to understand every student as complex, as capable, and as a learner.
Kluth is an independent educational consultant. Her professional and research interests center on differentiating instruction and supporting students with autism and significant disabilities in inclusive classrooms. She is a former special educator who has served as a classroom teacher, consulting teacher, and inclusion facilitator.
Kluth is the author of "You're Going to Love This Kid!" Educating Students with Autism in the Inclusive Classrooms (2003, Brookes Publishing), the lead editor of Access to Academics: Critical Approaches to Inclusive Curriculum, Instruction, and Policy (with Doug Biklen and Diana Straut, 2004, Erlbaum Publishing), and the co-author of two upcoming texts—A Land We can Share: The Literature Lives of Students with Autism and Joyful Learning: Active and Collaborative Structures for the Inclusive Classroom. She is currently conducting research on the literacy experiences of students with autism.
The events are sponsored by the Mid-West Regional Consortium on Quality Inclusive Schooling, the University of Rochester's Warner School of Education, the Rochester City Special Education Training Resource Center, Brighton Teacher Center, Monroe #1 Teacher Center, Wayne Teacher Resource Center, Pittsford Teacher Center, and the Tri-County Teacher Center. For more information or to request a brochure and registration form, please contact Ann Monroe-Baillargeon at (585) 273-5863, or via e-mail at apmonroe@warner.rochester.edu.
About the Warner School of Education
Founded in 1958, the University of Rochester's Warner School of Education offers master's and doctoral degree programs in teaching and curriculum, school leadership, higher education, counseling, human development, and educational policy. The Warner School of Education offers a new accelerated option for its Ed.D. programs that allows eligible students to earn a doctorate in education in as few as three years part time while holding a professional job in the same field. The Warner School of Education is recognized both regionally and nationally for its tradition of preparing practitioners and researchers to become leaders and agents of change in schools, universities, and community agencies; generating and disseminating research; and actively participating in education reform.