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Staff Tool Kit

Female and male students talking In the Newcastle-Hunter-Central Coast Region we have a professional email list, den-list, to help you stay connected to what training is occurring, what activities have been organised for students or people with a disability, and to link with colleagues about a range of issues. There are also other links and resources that will be useful…

Are there central points where I can get information about what's happening in our Region?
I have questions or need resources to help me in my work
I'm assisting students with a disability plan their life after school, or helping people with a disability in the community move forward
What other resources are worth looking at?
- Transition Websites
- Disability Awareness
- Inclusive Teaching Practice - including Teaching Factsheets
- Assistive Technology
- Student Stories
Summary of What's Available in our Region
What is a Disability?

Are there central points where I can get information about what's happening in our Region?

Yes… try the What's On Page on this website
Join den-list
Summary of Regional Activities - below (take note of local conferences you can attend!)
Participate in a free Enhancing the Links seminar (pathways training day run by NDCOs - next one scheduled for 26th November at the University of Newcastle Ourimbah Campus >> click here for more info)
School Leavers Expos - come along to one of the many School Leavers Expos organised for the area - schedule on the What's On Page

I have questions or need resources to help me in my work

NDCO Program - have a look at what services and resources the NDCO Program can offer! Click here for more information
ADCET - try the Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training (ADCET) - it really is a one-stop shop for professionals at www.adcet.edu.au
Creating Accessible Teaching & Support (CATS) website - provides information to assist staff in higher education to better teach and support students with a disability, and relevant to other teaching sectors
Working Together: Disability Awareness for University Staff - the University has a new manual for staff working with students with a disability… it's a great resource no matter what sector you're in!
Disability Education Standards - have a look at Your Right to An Education - A Guide for Students with a Disability, Their Associates, and Education Providers - download PDF booklet, or go to the website http://www.ddaedustandards.info
Learning Disability Resources and Weblinks
Opening All Options II website…. a key resource in the area of learning disability

I'm assisting students with a disability plan their life after school, or helping people with a disability in the community move forward

School Leavers Directory - it has all the information you'll need
Participate in a free Enhancing the Links seminar (pathways training day run by NDCOs - next one scheduled for 26th November at the University of Newcastle Ourimbah Campus >> more info)
School Leavers Expos - come along to one of the many School Leavers Expos organised for the area - schedule on the What's On Page
Factsheets - have a look at the Factsheets prepared by the NDCO Newcastle-Hunter
What's the Difference: School vs Vocational Education and Training vs University - factsheet
School subjects you like and jobs they lead to Booklet - have a look at this - it has charts that show where the subjects students like might lead to career wise - download PDF
Towards Success - a series of study guides which contain study skills and resources for people with a range of disabilities. They are applicable to students who are currently studying, or intending to study, in higher education
JobAccess website - a one-stop shop for employers, co-workers, and people with a disability, supported by a free professional telephone information/advice service 1800 464 800 - link to Workplace Modifications Scheme

What other resources are worth looking at?

Transition Websites

Get Ready for Uni - NSW website for people with a disability preparing for uni
Career Moves - NSW DET site for students with a disability moving to further study, work, or other program
Year 12 - What Next?

Disability Awareness

Communicating with People with a Disability - easy to read short booklet
DDA Educations Standards - one stop shop website
What is a Disability?
What is a Learning Disability?
Choosing Your Path: Disclosure, It's a Personal Decision - provides substantial information about options and pathways that people with a disability can use in disclosing their disability in post secondary education and employment environments

Inclusive Teaching Practice

Inclusive Practice is Good Practice - produced by Tasmanian NDCO
Teaching Students with a Disability - go directly to factsheets on ADCET website, or click on the following PDF factsheets compiled with slight alteration from the website by the NDCO Newcastle-Hunter. Prepared for university sector, but appropriate for all learning areas:
Working Together: Disability Awareness for University Staff - the University has a new manual for staff working with students with a disability… it's a great resource no matter what sector you're in!
Fair Go in Training for People with a Disability: Meeting Your AQTF Obligations >> pdf booklet
Creating Accessible Teaching & Support (CATS) website - provides information to assist staff in higher education to better teach and support students with a disability, and relevant to other teaching sectors
Designing Accessible Student Support Materials and Instructional Media (2008) - how to caption etc
Opening All Options II - Learning Disability Resource

Assistive Technology

Australian Adapted Technology User Group - an email list to ask those burning questions about assistive technology!
Try the information on the Opening All Options website at www.adcet.edu.au/Oao/Assistive_Technology.chpx for an overview of what technology is available
Assistive Technology in Education and Training Forums - keep an eye on den-list or this website for information on our biennial Conferences (next one planned for 2009)
Workplace Modifications Scheme - help to pay for workplace adjustments for a person with a disability
"What's New in Technology: Kurzweil", February 2008 (may not play if you don't have the latest flash software). A clip from Kathy Brand, Jackson Memorial Middle School, Massillon, Ohio, on how the use of Kurzweil software is progressing in their school. I have the clip on CD provided by Kathy, and permission from the parents to use the clip in presentations.
Assistive Technology Project website - colleagues at the Australian National University have been developing this resource which has reviews on a range of technology
This section will be developed further

Stories

Aspirations - audio collection of tertiary transition experiences of people with Asperger's Syndrome
Grasp the Nettle - audio collection of tertiary transition experiences of people with Learning Disabilities
Regional Student Stories

Summary of What's Available in our Region

From the School Leavers Directory…. listed page numbers refer to entries in the Directory

Region:	Hunter and Central Coast – events listed at http://www.newcastle.edu.au/ndco/regionalactivities.html
School Leavers Committees:	Hunter, Central Coast, and Taree Committees comprised of staff and services involved in the transition of students post-school have been established. More Information: DET Support Teachers (Transition), p.30
School Leaver Expos for Students with a Disability or Ongoing Medical Condition:	Hunter, Upper Hunter, Taree, Central Coast, and Wyong These events are held annually, usually from June onwards. The Central Coast Expo focuses on DADHC funded programs only. More Information: Government Schools: DET Support Teachers (Transition), p.30 Catholic and Independent Schools: Kay Dean, NDCO, p.32
Career Expos:	Newcastle, Maitland, Central Coast, and Taree Representatives from the School Leavers Committees, and other related services, participate in these mainstream Career Expos to assist students on the day, and to provide additional topical information. More Information: Careers Adviser or teachers
School Leaver Directories:	Produced by the National Disability Co-ordination Officer, p.32, for the Hunter/Central Coast Region >> click here
Staff Email Lists:	DEN-list, see p.29 The Australian Adapted Technology User Group (AATUG) http://www.aatug.answd.org nsw-disability mail list (tertiary staff only) http://www.anu.edu.au/disabilities/DEAN/deanlist.htm
Student Email Lists:	MovingOn, see p.31 Australasian Network of Students with Disabilities, p.27 The Australian Adapted Technology User Group (AATUG) http://www.aatug.answd.org
Assistive Technology Conferences, Workshops, Seminars:	Newcastle: Assistive Technology Conferences held every two years. Contact: Kay Dean or Timothy Hart, NDCOs, p.32 Newcastle: Assistive Technology Interest Group Workshops. Contact: The Stuart Centre, (02) 4946 9199 All Regions: Information about additional workshops/seminars organised by suppliers and other groups will be circulated on DEN-list.
AASE Conferences and Seminars:	Hunter Branch: Special Education Conferences are held every two years, and topical seminars are held throughout the year. Non-members are welcome. Contact members of the Executive, p.26, for more information. Information is also circulated on DEN-list. 2008 Conference September 24-25 >> click here
Other training workshops, seminars, conferences:	All Regions: Information about all related regional, state, or national staff development opportunities are circulated on DEN-list, through individual sector networks where they exist, and on http://www.newcastle.edu.au/ndco/regionalactivities.html
Websites:	See ‘Useful Websites’ for more information, p.35
Sector Contacts for Transition Support and Information:	Government Schools: DET Support Teachers (Transition), p.30 Catholic Schools: Maitland-Newcastle Diocese: Kathy Gillespie (02) 4979 1226 Broken Bay Diocese: Marie Seaford (02) 9847 0382 Independent Schools: Hunter Region Independent Schools (HRIS) Support Teacher Network meets each term and is hosted by alternating independent schools in the Region. Contact the Support Teacher in each school for more information.

Keep an eye on this page… information will be added regularly

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