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Child Development/Education Task Force
Child Development / Education
The main areas of emphasis of the Child Development/Education Task Force are early intervention, child development and education. This includes engaging in advocacy, capacity building, and systemic change activities that result in individuals with developmental disabilities being able to access appropriate supports and modifications, when necessary, to maximize their educational potential, to benefit from lifelong educational activities, and to be integrated and included in all facets of student life.
(At the discretion of the Council Chair, with the assistance of the Executive Committee, task forces may be appointed to accomplish special assignments required to implement the Council's mission and state plan. Once the Council approves these projects it is the members of the task force who are charged with overseeing and ensuring that the project is implemented and evaluated for effectiveness.)
RFP-2009-IP-7600 - Partners in Transition Training and Technical Assistance
CD/ED Conference Call Minutes November 6, 2009
CD/ED Task Force Minutes October 9, 2009
Project SOURCE Final Action Plan
Post-Secondary Curriculum Framework
CDED Task Force Projects - October 2009
2009-CD-8200 – Implementation of Universal Educational Practices
CDED Conference Call Minutes - August 21, 2009
CDED Task Force Minutes - July 10, 2009
CDED Conference Call Minutes - May 15, 2009
CDED Task Force Minutes - April 3, 2009
CDED Task Force Minutes - March 6, 2009 [DOC]
CDED Minutes - January 23, 2009 [DOC]
CDED Conference Call - November 21, 2008 [PDF]
CDED Minutes - October 15, 2008 [PDF]
CDED Minutes - April 11, 2008 [DOC]
Implementing Universal Educational Practices - The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, in cooperation with the Florida Department of Education, has recently funded a new effort to encourage and support Universal Education in Florida’s schools. The Universal Education Project will work to increase placement of students with developmental disabilities in the least restrictive educational environment. The project is parallel to the Florida Department of Education’s efforts at increasing inclusion of children with significant disabilities in regular schools and classrooms. Through a contract with Evaluation Systems Design, Inc. of Tallahassee, the project will select three school districts and up to three schools in each district to participate as pilot/demonstration schools. Research has documented that including children with disabilities in the least restrictive setting results in an increase in the overall student achievement levels of the participating children with developmentally disabilities. The project will work with the districts and schools in conducting an assessment to: determine what needs improving, generate a plan for implementing improvements, and collaborate with the Florida Inclusion Network to expand Universal Education practices and provide training and technical assistance to those participating. The effort is being closely coordinated with the Department of Education’s State Performance Indicator 3, 4, and 5 Team.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Workshops Planner - The Florida Developmental Disabilities Council (FDDC) hosted a series of workshops presented by Peter Wright, Esq., an attorney whose law practice is devoted to assisting persons with disabilities and their parents, families or guardians. The workshops were designed to inform parents, families or guardians of their family member’s educational rights under the law, and how to advocate on behalf of those family members.
Subjects covered included:
- Special education law, rights and responsibilities
- Tests and measurements to measure progress & regression
- SMART Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
- Introduction to tactics and strategies for effective advocacy.
Project Discover – Project Discover, a project of Martin County Schools and Helping People Succeed, is working with students in middle and high school to use the discovery process to ensure successful employment outcomes for students with developmental disabilities. Project Discover is beginning its third year. This year they will shift their focus to embedding the discovery process into the curriculum throughout their K-12 program. Project Discover will also create a “how to” manual on the Discovery process that will be able to be used in other school districts across the state.
Due Process White Paper – This project involves developing a white paper to discuss critical issues relating to Florida’s due process system for students with individual education plans and Section 504 plans.
Inclusive Recreation – The Florida Disabled Outdoor Association (FDOA), an organization dedicated to enriching lives through accessible, inclusive recreation and active leisure for all, will conduct a training program for recreation staff and administrators to help them implement inclusive recreation practices into the established recreation programs in which they work. This Recreation Inclusion Program will initially serve children with developmental disabilities in Tallahassee, the greater Leon County area, and in Pasco County.
Early Care and Education Inclusive Coordinators – The Early Learning Coalition of Pinellas County has provided training and technical support to ten early education/child care sites to increase their ability to implement research-based practices to ensure successful inclusion of children with developmental disabilities. As of May of 2009 the project has served 494 children.
Project Source -Project Source (Status Of University/Community College Resources for College Experiences-Florida)is mapping the current post-secondary programs in the state of Florida for students with developmental disabilities age 18-21. A survey was developed to query the 67 school districts in Florida to determine where there are already post secondary programs and where new programs are needed. Project Source will use this information to develop a plan for next steps to establish new post secondary programs and also develop a curriculum framework, including student competencies and standards, to be available to new post secondary programs.