"Building Your Special Needs Team" by Tara Girch- Adapted Aquatics Conference 2012

Building your Special Needs Building your Special Needs Team Team

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Presented By Tara Girch

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My qualifications….. • Undergrad in Adaptive Physical Education

• Masters in Special Education

• Certifications include WSI, Ellis and Associates, YMCA, USSSA, ISIA

• Over 30 years of swim lesson experience

• Over 20 years of Adaptive Aquatics experience

• Presneter, Safer 3 message

• Humanitarian Award, 2011

• Leadership in Business Award, 2011

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Building Your Team

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What Do We Look For?

•• First Aid /CPRFirst Aid /CPR

•• LifeguardLifeguard

•• Adaptive Aquatics Adaptive Aquatics

•• Background in Special EducationBackground in Special Education

•• Experience with childrenExperience with children

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Training Checklist

•• Learn the DisabilitiesLearn the Disabilities

•• 40 hours training40 hours training

•• Communicating with ParentsCommunicating with Parents

•• Tools of the LessonTools of the Lesson

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•• AutismAutism

•• Downs SyndromeDowns Syndrome

•• Cerebral PalsyCerebral Palsy

•• Visual/Auditory ImpairmentVisual/Auditory Impairment

•• Mental RetardationMental Retardation

•• Seizure DisorderSeizure Disorder

•• Health ImpairmentsHealth Impairments

•• Multiple DisabilitiesMultiple Disabilities

•• SiblingsSiblings 66

Special Needs/Disabilities We Teach

Dana, flappingDana, flapping

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Repetition is keyRepetition is key

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Downs Syndrome

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Cerebral Palsy

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Visual Impairment

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Seizure Disorder

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Multiply Disabled

Siblings: one typical and one with Siblings: one typical and one with special needsspecial needs

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•• 20 hours volunteer: shadowing20 hours volunteer: shadowing

•• 20 hours paid: student teaching20 hours paid: student teaching

•• Adaptive Aquatics course Adaptive Aquatics course

•• Complete Instructor TestComplete Instructor Test

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40 Hours Training

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Communicating with Parents

•• No sympathy orNo sympathy or pitypity

•• Learn about the familyLearn about the family

•• Be firmBe firm-- here to learnhere to learn

•• AskAsk about “idiosyncrasies” of the childabout “idiosyncrasies” of the child

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•• BarbellsBarbells

•• KickboardsKickboards

•• FinsFins

•• RingRing

•• DucksDucks

•• GogglesGoggles

•• MirrorMirror

Tools of the Lesson

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•• Earning boardsEarning boards

•• Picture CardsPicture Cards

•• ScheduleSchedule

•• Workout PlanWorkout Plan

•• Social StorySocial Story

•• Sign LanguageSign Language

•• Creative devicesCreative devices

Adaptations and modifications

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Earning Boards

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Picture Cards

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Visual impairment adaptationVisual impairment adaptation

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Schedule

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Social Story

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AccessibilityAccessibility

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Get to know the students abilitiesGet to know the students abilities

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ConnorConnor

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FionaFiona

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Patience, understanding and determination!! Patience, understanding and determination!!

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Communicate with The Aides and Caretakers

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•• Same InstructorSame Instructor

•• Same LessonSame Lesson

•• Same SpaceSame Space

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Lesson Consistency and Structure

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•• With Your StudentsWith Your Students

•• With Your FamiliesWith Your Families

•• With Your TeamWith Your Team

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Professionalism

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With your Students

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With Your Families

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With your Team:

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The Lucky Duck Foundation, IncThe Lucky Duck Foundation, Inc..

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CampsCamps

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Surfers Healing Ocean City, MD Surfers Healing Ocean City, MD

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information.

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Folly Beach, 2011Folly Beach, 2011

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Autism Society, Special Olympics Walk, Autism Society, Special Olympics Walk, Honestly Autism Day and moreHonestly Autism Day and more

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MarTar SchoolMarTar School became the pilot became the pilot program for Howard County program for Howard County Special Olympics “begin to Swim”Special Olympics “begin to Swim” in 2010, this is our 3in 2010, this is our 3rdrd year…we year…we have 30 participantshave 30 participants

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Funding Agencies-Maryland

Abilities Network - (410) 828-7700

Alliance - (410) 282-5900

Arc of Howard County - (410) 730-0638

Arc of Baltimore - (410) 296-2272

Athelas - (410) 964-1241

Bello Machre - (410) 255-3805

Chimes - (410) 585-2065

Creative Options - (410) 780-4095

Humanim - (410) 381-7171

Self Pride - (410) 752-2575

United Cerebral Palsy - (410) 744-3151

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Guidelines subject to your individual School

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