This TalkLD’s podcast features a one-on-one interview with Chad Downes, Assistive Technology Advisor at Amethyst Demonstration School, one of the provincial schools for students with severe learning disabilities (LDs), in London, Ontario. In this podcast, Chad discusses how students at Amethyst School use various types of assistive technology (AT) to become successful learners, which in turn has a positive impact on their self-esteem.
In this TalkLD podcast, we discuss social and emotional development. This podcast features a one-on-one interview with Dr. Judith Wiener, Professor in the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development at Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto. Dr. Wiener shares her knowledge and perspective on the impact that educators and learning environments can have on the social and emotional development of students with learning disabilities (LDs) and their success in the classroom.
Click here to view the transcription of this webinar. Webinar Description: Many students with learning disabilities also struggle in their social-emotional development. How can educators and professionals support the development and social-emotional skills of children with learning disabilities? This webinar provided an overview of the complex interactions between learning disabilities and the development of social-emotional challenges in [...]
Prepared by Cindy Perras, M.Ed., OCT Educational Consultant, LDAO In general, the literature that discusses both mental health and learning disabilities (LDs) finds that those with LDs are at increased risk for mental health problems. According to Children’s Mental Health Ontario, 1 in 5 of children and youth under the age of 19 in Ontario has [...]
The Integra Program, a program of the Child Development Institute, is a children’s mental health agency in Toronto, providing mental health services to children and youth with learning disabilities (LDs) and mental health issues. The Integra Program, jointly with the TCDSB Psychology Department, produced a 25-minute video, “Lessons Learned: Personal Stories of Learning Disabilities, Resilience and Mental Health”. The Student Support Leadership Initiative (Toronto Region) provided funding for this joint project.
Overview In 2014, the Child Development Institute (CDI) and the Integra Foundation amalgamated, bringing together two like-minded children’s mental health agencies in Toronto. As a result, the CDI is now the only accredited children’s mental health agency providing evidence-informed, therapeutic programs and services to children, youth and their families who are dealing with mental health [...]
Social skills training is frequently used to help students with LDs develop improved social relationships. In this review we describe three SST interventions that have been demonstrated through research to be effective with children and adolescents with LDs and related difficulties. All of these programs can be implemented in school contexts, and have manuals and materials that can be purchased by educators. We then describe the components of SST programs that research has shown to enhance the social skills and peer relationships of students with LDs.
By Jillian Haydicky, Ph.D., & Judith Wiener, Ph.D. Introduction Social and emotional learning is a framework for developing student competencies in the areas of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making (CASEL, 2013) to foster resilience and success at school and in the community. Results of the national School-Based Mental Health Survey (Mental [...]
Better is created by the Institute for Effective Education at the University of York and by the Center for Research and Reform in Education at Johns Hopkins University. The Institute for Effective Education (IEE) at the University of York is working to establish what works in learning and teaching — and why. Better is a companion to the Best-Evidence Encyclopedia (BEE-UK), a free web [...]
