Click here to access the transcript of this webinar.
Presenters:
- Jenessa Dworet Special Education Assistant Curriculum Leader at York Mills Collegiate Institute, Toronto District School Board
- Chris Sands Special Education Assistant Curriculum Leader at Sir John A. MacDonald Collegiate Institute, Toronto District School Board
Exams and standardized tests can be stressful for students and staff in general, and in particular, for students with learning disabilities (LDs). This webinar focuses on how educators can prepare students with LDs to write exams or standardized tests and assist educators in creating exams with content and formatting that is “necessary for some, and good for all”.
In this webinar recording, the presenters provide educators with the tools they need to create effective exams, which allow students to demonstrate what they know. Using current research and their own experience in the field, the presenters also share strategies to support
- formatting of exams for student success;
- preparing students for exams;
- leading and collaborating with colleagues.
Jenessa Dworet is a teacher and the Assistant Curriculum Leader of Special Education at a high school in the Toronto District School Board. She is the current President of the Ontario chapter of the Council for Children with Behavioural Disorders. For over 15 years Jenessa has worked with students with a variety of exceptionalities, from a group home in California, an orphanage in Guatemala City, Section 23 programs, to leading several secondary school intensive support and resource programs. Jenessa is passionate about finding strategies and resources which will help build the confidence of students with disabilities and help them to demonstrate “how smart they are.” The results of that work can be found on the LD at School website in a podcast interview with Jenessa, her students, and the president of the LDAO.
Chris Sands is a teacher and the Assistant Curriculum Leader of Special Education at a high school in the Toronto District School Board. He is the current Vice-President of the Ontario chapter of the Council for Children with Behavioural Disorders. Chris has taught in Nunavut and in priority neighbourhoods and intensive support programs across Toronto, including students who live with dual developmental and psychiatric diagnoses, learning and mild intellectual disabilities, autism, and students in custody and detention. Chris’ passion for supporting marginalized young people has led him to volunteer or work for organizations like Pathways to Education, Holland Bloorview Kids’ Rehabilitation Hospital, and as a respite worker for two children with complex disabilities.
Subscribe to the LD@school newsletter
Stay connected with evidence- and practice-informed
resources designed for the classroom.
Powered by LDAO
LD@school is a signature initiative of the Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario (LDAO), a registered charity and provincial leader in evidence-informed, inclusive, and accessible education.
For over 60 years, LDAO has supported children, youth, and adults with learning disabilities (LDs) and related conditions such as ADHD.
Explore LDAO’s signature platforms:
TA@l’école – French-language resources and professional learning for educators that integrate evidence-informed instruction with equity, identity, and belonging.
LD@home – Family-focused tools and guidance that strengthen partnerships between home and school.
LD@work – Resources supporting transition, self-advocacy, career development, and workplace inclusion.
LD@learning – Online courses and professional learning for individuals supporting learners with LDs and ADHD.
© 2026 Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario (LDAO).
This resource may be used and shared within educational settings for non-commercial purposes. It may not be modified or used for commercial gain. See LDAO.ca for full Terms of Use.