Programme Day 1

Emcees

Professor Zita Mohd Fahmi (L)
Vice-Chancellor of Quest Intenational University

Datin Sri Umayal Eswaran (L)
Chairperson, RYTHM Foundation, Malaysia

Prof. David Evans (L)
Professor of Special and Inclusive Education (Australia)
FASS Disability Liaison Officer, University of Sydney, Australia

Title:Special Education in a Post-Pandemic Era:
Empowering Education for All

The COVID19 pandemic has challenged people and societies globally. In education, 1.6 billion students have been out of schooling across more than 190 countries. The proportion of students with disability out of school has been disproportionately higher, with many not receiving any form of online, in-person and/or remote learning opportunities. Many students with disability will not return to an education as schools reopen.

This disruption to education for about 90% of students in education will have generational impacts; it also provides a unique opportunity to re-examine our current educational practices and systems of delivery. Special education, and its role in supporting the learning of students with disabilities, has been challenged over the past three decades. It continues to be seen as source of discrimination and disempowerment. Yet no one seems to be able to live without support for students with disabilities in our schools (e.g., specially trained teachers, teaching assistants, curriculum differentiation, therapists).

A post-pandemic era environment provides a unique opportunity to embrace the principles of inclusion and the practices of inclusive practices through re-building schooling processes to be responsive and welcoming of all learners. It is an opportunity to bring the strengths and unique practices that we have learned from the field of special education to empower everyday schooling; it is an opportunity to provide students with disabilities the unique benefits that only the neighbourhood school can offer.

This presentation will provide one insight into how we can empower the lives of students with disabilities alongside their peers without disabilities. This presentation will challenge regular schooling processes, practices and attributes so that they may become more welcoming of all learners; it will challenge educators and communities that continue to use a normative curve mindset to view education by providing some possible alternatives in terms of curriculum design, assessment, and inclusive pedagogies.

Mr. Richard Rieser (R)
CEO, World of Inclusion, United Kingdom
Consultant, Inclusive Education and Disability Equality

Title: Inclusive Education after the COVID 19 Pandemic

Disabled people and disabled children have been heavily impacted and disadvantaged by the Pandemic and this is still continuing in access to vaccinations. The pandemic has shown the weaknesses and short-comings in our education system. What lessons can we learn from this? What changes do we need to make to deliver SDG 4 and Article 24 of UNCRPD? What needs to be address is resources and allocation of resources, removing environmental and information technology barriers, initial and ongoing training for education staff, changes to curriculum and assessment, changes to attitudinal environment and development of empathy, and inclusive education and environmental and global sustainability.

Session 1

(Oral and Workshop Presentations)

11:40 am

Theme 1

Educating the Unique:
Changes, Challenges and Choices: Creating a Curriculum for All 

Dr. Thilagha Jagaiah (R)
Facilitating Student Engagement Using Optimal Trunk Support for Children with Postural Dysfunction

Theme 2

Embracing Uniqueness: Early Intervention

Ms. Tan
Tzi Min (R)
Parental Involvement in Language Acquisition of Children with Hearing Impairment at Home

Theme 3

Empowering Communities: Education, Sustainability and Society

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thilagavathi Shanmuganathan (L)
Empowering Youth Living with Disabilities: Finding a Niche in Art as Potential Career

Theme 4

Breaking Boundaries:
(1) Multidisciplinary Approaches;
(2) Effective Technology in the Classroom

 Ms. Poh Boon Fong (L)
Hearing Loss in Children

2:00 pm

Theme 1

Educating the Unique:
Effective Technology in the Classroom

Ms. Heng Sok Hoon (R)
The Importance of Handwriting Practice in the Digital Age

Theme 1

Educating the Unique:
Identifying Children with Special Needs

Dr. Jane Warren (L)
Identifying Developmental Concerns and Sharing These with Parents

Theme 1

Educating the Unique:
New Pedagogical Paradigms

Ms. Ashley Murphy (R)
Building Autonomy through Self-Advocacy: Teaching Strategies for Empowerment

Dr. Vaughn Lauer (R)
IEP specialist (USA) (Closing Day 1 Speaker)

Title:

The Subtle Art of Collaboration: Full Team Participation and Decision-Making

Often the problem with IEP meetings is not the IEP team members, but how to establish and maintain a collaborative IEP team. While some members do most of the talking, others say almost nothing. Too often members are unsure of whether they should speak or stay silent. Through examples, this presentation examines those (subtle) steps involved in leading a collaborative IEP meeting that brings every member of the team and their input to the meeting/discussion. The results are 1) full team participation and decision-making with 2) the focus of discussion on the child, with 3) needs-based decisions and IEPs. Don’t worry, it’s easy!

Emcees