Workshop
to highlight new social strategies for people with
learning disabilities
Wednesday, February
7, 2007 -- Michelle Strutzenberger
Studies have shown that people with learning disabilities
who have experienced failure in the classroom or
difficulties with employment invariably do so due
to deficiencies in social skills, not academic skills.
“People with learning disabilities often lack
the ability to correctly perceive social situations
and utilize required social skills to react to these
settings,” writes Richard Lavoie, a consultant
on learning disabilities.
However Lavoie’s premise
is that people with learning disabilities can
learn the social skills required to do well in
the classroom and workplace.
“Using specific strategies,
students with learning disabilities can be taught
to deal more effectively with social environments,”
Lavoie writes in a description about a workshop
he offers on the subject.
Lavoie will be presenting this
workshop, called “The Social Implications
of Learning Disabilities,” in Peterborough
on April 26. Staff from Rhema Christian School
will be attending the session, which has been
organized by the Learning Disabilities Association
of Peterborough. The event is open to professionals
and parents who want to help individuals with
learning disabilities enhance their social skills.
Jennifer Scates, a parent at Rhema
Christian School, referred Principal Ray Hendriks
to the upcoming Lavoie session. She says an increasing
number of students with special needs are coming
to Rhema. “All of the teachers either have
or will have some one with special needs in their
classroom,” she notes.
Scates believes that it is important
for teachers to become more aware of the social
cues that students with special needs may or may
not be getting, as well as strategies to help
enhance social skills.
“I know that Rhema is committed
to the child,” she says, and supporting
all the children to develop their abilities is
an indication of that commitment.
Hendriks says that the school
is taking part in a number of activities this
year to strengthen its special needs focus.
Anyone interested in attending
the Lavoie workshop may contact the Learning Disabilities
Association of Peterborough at 705-748-9455. The
session will be held 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. on April
26 at Calvary Pentecostal Church.
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