Concurrent Session 1

Meeting the Transition Needs of Youth with Special Needs
Tete Long, Director, Special Education
Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency
Chris Goodson, Assistant Director
Black Hawk Area Special Education Agency

This session will provide up-to-date information about special education legislation in both Iowa and Illinois.  Participants will develop an understanding of transition practices, policies, and legislation as it affects individuals in schools, agencies, and medical facilities. 

Objectives of this session will be:

1. Increase awareness of special education legislation in Iowa and Illinois
2. Develop an understanding of transition practices, policies, and legislation
3. Learn how special education policy affects individuals in schools, agencies, and medical facilities

Beyond Cultures and Boundaries
Zahra (Niloofar) Basti, ESL Instructor
Scott Community College

Cultural sensitivity highlights the many different habits and preferences that exist around us. By understanding cultural differences, we won't misunderstand others and by focusing on similarities we'll create trust and respect.

To communicate successfully across cultures and boundaries we need to transcend the limits of our cultures and those of others. we should stretch ourselves, enter other cultures and invite them to our world, as we're all living in a huge house named "Earth".

Objectives for this session will be:

1. To increase the level of tolerance between different cultures
2. To provide strategies to assist in better communicate across cultures
3. To provide an understanding of our own cultural influences and how they impact our ability to serve those from other cultures

Unraveling the Mysteries
of the Inter-Generational Workplace
Deb Oliver

It is a fact that the majority of today’s organizations are staffed by several generations.   You may ask “Why can’t we just all get along?”

Join this session to explore the reasons behind the differences between the generations and to give you some ideas of how you can apply this new knowledge to your workplace.  

Objectives of this session will be:

1. To increase the level of tolerance between the generations present in today’s workplace
2. To give participants the ability to identify the four generations present in most workplaces
3. To understand the distinctive differences between the generations
4. To dispel the commonly-held myths of the more recent arrivals to the workplace – Gen X and Y
5. To demonstrate how the workplace can draw on the strengths of each generation.

Multi-lingual Families
Brenda Kunau, GED/ESL Instructor,
Clinton Community College

How can we communicate when we don’t share the same language?  Should I speak louder, slower, look them straight in the eye or give up and call a translator? 

Learn techniques that might help you through an awkward situation or an emergency situation.At the end of this session, participants will feel more calm, confident and effective when communicating with those with whom they do not share the same language.

Objectives of this session will be:

1. To provide a better understanding of language barriers
2. To increase participants confidence in working with non-native speakers
3. To provide strategies to successfully communicate across language barriers

Concurrent Session 2

Socioeconomic Barriers
Susan Zelnio, Director of Workforce and Leadership Development
Illinois Quad City Chamber of Commerce

Based on Ruby Payne’s “A Framework for Understanding Poverty,” participants will recognize differences in their clients based on socio-economic group. It will assist professionals in revising their teaching and interventions by taking the guess work out of what your client’s value. 

Objectives of this session will be:

1. To provide participants a framework to understand poverty.
2. To increase awareness of the impacts of poverty on health, welfare and education.
3. To better understand the differences in clients from a socio-economic framework. 

LGBT Civil Rights:
Promoting Respect in the Workplace and Beyond
Reverend Richard D. Hendricks,
Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities

Participate in a stimulating and informative session that will enlighten one’s understanding of and respect for members of the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) community and the biases/prejudices they face.

 Objectives for this session will include:

1. A brief overview of equal rights under the law for all 
2. Conflict-avoidance models effective in the workplace, schools, community, and family
3. Partnership rights as related to parenting, education, employment and healthcare 
4. Access to information from a variety of local resources

Providing a Quality Experience
for Persons with Disabilities
Panel Facilitated by:  Jan Weis, Special Needs Specialist, Scott Community College

Take a personal look inside the lives of individuals with disabilities. Learn about the impact of disabilities on education, health, and careers. 

Objectives of this session will be:

1. Learn about the educational and career choices that individuals with disabilities make
2. Discuss the impact of health issues in career development and planning
3. Discover innovative ways individuals with disabilities have learned to adjust to meet medical, physical, and emotional needs in education, life and work

Mentoring Minority Males
Darryl Davis

This session will engage participants in a discussion about how to develop a system of support within your organization and community that embraces minority males as achievers of their dreams.  Emphasis will be on understanding minority males desire to lead and to define their own direction. 

Objectives of this session will be:

1. To provide strategies to engage minority males
2. Discuss cultural influences on minority males
3. Provide approaches for mentoring minority males in educational, workplace and healthcare settings

Registration Information
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