- Instructor: TNSTEP
Cultural competence is the key to thriving in culturally diverse classrooms and schools and it can be learned, practiced, and institutionalized to better serve diverse students, their families, and their communities.
Our objective for this webinar is to provide an opportunity for teachers and school personnel to learn how to successfully interact with families who have children and youth with special needs from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
To empower families and students with skills and strategies on how to speak up when they feel that they are not being treated with respect and dignity as they advocate for their children with disabilities, particularly in the context of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) and 504 meetings. How to assert your rights in a manner that is non-confrontational and most likely to result in a positive change.
Provide information that would also benefit youth with disabilities who are not being provided a fair opportunity to access programs and services and to participate in the development of their post-secondary transition plans due to factors such as race, socio-economic issues, rural isolation, and language barriers.
Presenter:
Tery Medina, Associate Director, The Southeastern Equity Center
Tery has a wide range of practical, classroom-based experiences. She has been a teacher of the Learning Disabled, Gifted, Pre-K, Elementary, and Adult ESOL. As an adjunct instructor, Tery has taught courses in ESL Methodology, Curriculum Development, Bilingualism, Cross-Cultural Issues, and English. Tery has provided training and technical assistance to numerous State Departments of Education, Community Based Organizations, Local Education Agencies, and other professional groups in the areas of Second Language Acquisition, Equal/Equitable Education, The Hispanic Cultures, Human Relations, Special Education, Parental and Community Involvement, and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Tery Medina participates in several professional organizations and is involved in advocacy to provide equal and equitable opportunities for language minority students and their families. Tery came to the U.S. as a Cuban refugee. She has devoted much of her life to building bridges across cultural differences toward mutual respect and understanding.
Click here to download the presentation
Handouts and Resources:
TNSTEP Lunchtime Leaders Webinar Recorded: 04/16/2015
