The CAPED LD CIG would like to introduce Jenna French our new Northern CA LD CIG:
Hello Fellow LD Specialists and Colleagues,
As some of you know, I am beyond thrilled to serve you all as the new Northern California LD CIG Chair. I am so gracious for your support as I take on this role and I hope you will reach out to me if you have questions.
I experienced the most thrilling accomplishment of my life in June, 2013. I earned my Masters from the San Francisco State University in Rehabilitation Counseling. I accomplished this in spite of being diagnosed with a learning disability (LD) in third grade. Throughout my life, I was continuously told my disability would keep me from being a successful student. Contrary to what I was told, this setback has been the very source of motivation for me to strive for academic excellence. Overcoming my own barriers and obstacles to academic achievement has provided me with a foundation upon in which I could readily help others. I feel strongly drawn to a career in counseling, assessing students for LDs, identifying barriers, and finding strategies to meet these challenges.
I have been the Learning Disability Specialist/DRC Counselor at Cañada College since July 2015. I possess a BA in Art History with a minor in Education from UCSC, MS in Rehabilitation Counseling from SFSU, and I earned the Adult Learning Disabilities certificate from Sacramento State University in 2015. I have worked with students with disabilities in many roles from Scotts Valley high school Resource Aid, counseling intern at College of Marin’s DSPS and worked two years in SFSU’s DPRC as a disability specialist.
I enjoy karaoke, bowling with my friends and family, listening to Motown, and traveling. Please share with me any ideas you have for CIG meetings and topics you would like me to share with CAPED. Thank you all for your hard work and I look forward to working with you.
From,
Jenna French
LD CIG Fall 2019 Workshop at CAPED
At CAPED 2018, the LD CIG held a Pre-conference session with Dr. Paul Nolting entitled, “Improve Math Success”. Dr. Nolting discussed multiple strategies for student with disabilities and math performance. Dr. Nolting examined several factors that impact a person’s ability to learn math. Participants learned how to create math success plans and how to interpret assessment scores when assessing a student for a possible math learning disability. The session was well attended. The LD CIG also held a business meeting at CAPED. Through professional exchange, we discovered an interest in creating an LD Mentor program for recent participants of the LDESM trainings. The goal is to match a seasoned LD specialist with a recent trainee who is in need of a mentor. The LD CIG Co-Chairs will spend the Spring semester working on this with our current LDESM trainers. CAPED also brought some recognition to the LD CIG with Alicia Hallex being the recipient of the VP of CIGs Award.
LD CIG Spring 2019 Workshops – Assessment of Bilingual Students for LD
The CAPED LD CIG is thrilled to announce that Patricia Flores-Charter, MA, Bilingual LD Specialist, Director DSS, from Southwestern College will present a 2 day workshop about Assessment of Bilingual Students for LD. The 2-day workshops will be in three locations: Mission College (northern California), Fresno City College (Central Valley), and Glendale College (southern California). The dates are being determined and will be announced on DSPS Directors and LD Listservs. Both workshops are designed for anyone working with English Language Learners who are bilingual or monolingual English only speaking. The workshop content will include:
Day One: This workshop will include “quick start” information on assessment of English Language Learners/Bilingual Students in the morning. In the afternoon groups will work on case studies to identify test observations, strengths/weaknesses, and interpretation of results.
Day Two: During this workshop monolingual English faculty will get the opportunity to train bilingual attendees as interpreters/translators. The Spanish speaking faculty will then administer the Bateria III with the English only faculty member observing and taking notes. Speakers of other non-English languages should attend also as the information and skills apply to use of the Bilingual Verbal Aptitude Test (BVAT) which is available in 16 different language.
LD CIG Meetings 2019
The Southern portion of the CIG will hold a business meeting at the CAPED Spring Drive In. The Spring Drive in will be held at Long Beach City College on April 26th, 2019. As more information becomes available, the LD CIG will send out an email to all members.
The Northern portion of the CIG will hold a business meeting at the 2 day workshop about Assessment of Bilingual Students for LD. The 2-day workshops will be at Mission College. The date is TBD. As more information becomes available, the LD CIG will send out an email to all members.
Landmark Conference – Spring 2019
Below are a few Learning Disability Specialists and Counselors who were able to attend the 2019 Landmark College Winter Institute for Educators in Burlingame, California. “The Winter Institute combines hands-on, multi-day training workshops (or “strands”), world-class research presentations, networking opportunities, and 30+ years of Landmark College expertise in teaching students with learning disabilities, ADHD, and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).”
(Left to Right) – Jenna French (Cañada College), Toldadette Kem-Rivera (Butte College), Jessica Truglio (Skyline College), Russell Wong (Foothill College), Debra Lew (Foothill College) and Joyce Meyer (College of San Mateo).