Colleen Dorsey
Special Educator · MSEd, MEd
PD Library
Honoring Student Voices in Specialized Programs
Two special education teachers discuss the importance of honoring how students with disabilities choose to identify themselves. They reflect on person first and identity first language, the value of belonging in specialized classrooms, and the need to focus on student strengths and personal goals. They also talk about respecting how students view and name their own communication systems, especially for nonspeaking students who use AAC.
What you'll learn
- Participants will understand the difference between person first and identity first language and why individual preference matters.
- Participants will recognize the importance of student voice and self identity in educational settings.
- Participants will describe how a sense of belonging supports confidence and learning for students with disabilities.
- Participants will learn to approach goal writing from a strength-based, student-centered perspective.
- Participants will understand respectful ways to refer to AAC systems based on each student’s preference.
Who is this for?
General Educators; Special Educators; Related Service Providers; Parents
Presented by
Watch it with your whole team.
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