November/December 2010 - Autism Ontario

SPECIAL EDITION
A Newsletter to Support Staff who work with Students With Exceptional Learning Needs
In This Issue
Transitions
for full participation.
Transitions
November –December 2010
SEA FAQ
Assistive Technology News
Byte
Upcoming Professional
Development
Community Connections
Wonderful Websites
Next SEAC Meeting:
Thursday, December 2,
2010
• 7 pm
• CEC Aurora,
60 Wellington Ave. W.
• The Board Room
Topic: Equity and
Inclusivity
The SEAC meets the first
Thursday of every month.
All are welcome to attend
and observe.
The successful transition of exceptional students from one program or activity to another, or from
elementary to secondary school requires effective communication of the student’s strengths and
needs. Visit the NEW Student Services Portal https://bww.yrdsb.ca/services/student/Pages/
default.aspx to view the most current information regarding transitions. To access the
information, click the Transitions link under Student Support. You will be directed to another page
where you can find information and supporting documents on:
• transition to kindergarten;
• transition from one school year to the next;
• transition from one school to another within YRDSB or outside of YRDSB;
• transition from grade elementary to secondary; and
• transitions during the school day.
To help students make a smooth transition from elementary to secondary that is personalized to
meet the needs of all students and their families/guardians, school teams are invited to participate
in CEC based Cross Panel Transition Meetings being held December 3 (North and Central schools)
or December 6th (East and West schools).
To find more current information on transitions, frequently visit the Student Services Portal site as
it is constantly being updated. If you have suggestions for additions or questions about the
information provided, please contact your Special Education Consultant.
SEA Frequently Asked Questions
Are you new to the SERT role or new to dealing with SEA
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQ) file on the BWW:
https://bww.yrdsb.ca/services/student/Pages/FAQ.aspx

Assistive Technology News Byte
Brought to you by your Technology Resource Teachers:
North: Carla Weller Central: Peter Dienstmann East: Jonathan Lee West: Tara Wagg
Ministry Audits
We have received notification that the Ministry of Education will be auditing some of our schools this year for SEA
claims. Ministry staff may be checking any or all of the following:
• that the equipment be with the student;
• that the equipment be in good repair;
• that the student and/or staff be able to operate the equipment (including software).
For further assistance, please contact your TRT.
New SEA Computers—Netbooks
There have been several changes to the equipment being ordered for SEA claims this year. Compact netbooks are
the new default type of computer. If a netbook is inappropriate for a particular student, a desktop or laptop can still
be ordered by specific request from the recommending professional. Along with this change, you will notice that
the following items are being phased out from netbook orders (unless essential to the student and specifically
requested by the recommending professional):
• Mouse
• Backpack (in favour of a netbook sleeve)
• extra battery
• extra power cords
• Word Q & Speak Q CD’s
If a student receives new equipment and requires any of the above items, contact your TRT.
Modified SchoolConnect Image
Another change is that new computers will run a modified SchoolConnect image to more closely resemble the
regular school computers. With this new image, students will no longer be able to log on with user ID “Student” and
password “password”; students will use the same numerical user ID and unique password as they would use on a
regular school computer, whether they are connected to the school network or not (e.g., at home).
SEA Carts
New scanners and printers are no longer ordered (If required, we will provide a used one from our surplus pool.)
Should you require one of these items, please contact your TRT.
AERO
Stop! Don’t scan that textbook! Someone else already has and can save you or your students a lot of time and tedium.
You can easily obtain texts and novels for students who need texts in alternative media, such as Kurzweil, PDF,
audio, or Braille, all free of charge from AERO: the Alternative Educational Resources for Ontario (formerly the W.
Ross Macdonald Resource Services Library). An online guide to using the AERO with videos to lead you through the
process of registration and downloading is available by accessing:
http://j.mp/AEROhelp

ETFO Teacher of the Year
Krystyna Kazilis, junior intermediate SERT at Bond Lake Public School
is the recipient of ETFO’s New Teacher of the Year Award.
Congratulations Krystyna!
Upcoming Professional Development

Community Connections
Below is a list of community agencies that represent the SEAC. Click on the link for direct access to the
agency website:
Association for Bright Children
Autism Ontario –York Region Chapter
Community Living Newmarket/Aurora District
Kinark Child and Family Services
Community Living York South
Learning Disabilities Association of York Region
Early Intervention Services York Region
York Support Services Network
Voices for Hearing Impaired Children
Canadian National Institute for the Blind—York Region
Ontario Association for Families of Children with Communication Disorders
York Region Head Injury Support Group
The Down Syndrome Association of York Region
Wonderful Websites
Teachers’ Gateway to Special Education
The Ontario Teacher’s Federation has launched a new website to
help support teachers with Special Education. The website offers
information on:
• Resources
• Strategies and
• FAQ
http://www.teachspeced.ca/
York Region Accessibility Advisory Committee
York Regional Council is looking for volunteer members to
be part of its Accessibility Advisory Committee.
The deadline to submit an application is December 1, 2010
For more information visit:
http://www.york.ca

Assessment Workshop for
Special Education Teachers
New to the Assessment Role
Date: Dec. 6, 2010 OR Dec. 9, 2010
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location: CEC North CEC Central
130 Carlson Dr., 317 Centre Street East,
Newmarket, L3Y 5H3
Richmond Hill, L4C 1B3
This is the first session of a 3 part series.
The remaining sessions will begin in January, 2011.
Who Should Attend
SERTs new to the Assessment Role who currently have responsibility for Educational Assessments using
standardized measures
Participants Will:
• learn how to gather information about a student in order to better understand their strengths, needs and
interests
• develop an increased understanding of speech-language and psychological assessments
examine ways to integrate and use classroom-based and standardized assessment information in order to
guide instruction
Within the context of literacy programming, the teachers will focus on:
understanding various assessment tools and the purpose for their use;
analysing assessment data to intentionally focus instruction;
using assessment data for instruction and program improvement purposes;
building teacher capacity in literacy instruction; and
establishing sustainable, collaborative professional learning communities within schools and among
schools across the district.
*If available at your school, please bring the most updated version of Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT).
*All participants will learn to administer the PPVT - 4 at this session. The administration of other standardized
assessment tools, data analysis and report writing will take place in sessions 2 and 3 of the Assessment Workshop
series.
To register, please email Hope Wilkinson by December 1, 2010 at
hope.wilkinson@yrdsb.edu.on.ca
Supply teacher coverage is available if needed. When booking the supply, please use the following codes:
Absence code 446, extended budget code 404.
For further information please contact the Special Education Consultant for your CEC.