THE FIRST - Richard Lavoie National Australian Tour

Sponsored by AUSPELD

Richard Lavoie speaks about learning disabilities and attention problems with the authority of an expert. His enormous popularity grew from his first video How Difficult Can This Be -The F.A.T. City Workshop - a demonstration of how intimidating the classroom can be through the eyes of a child with learning disabilities.

Richard Lavoie has delivered his message to more than 500,000 parents, teachers and other professionals throughout North America, in Hong Kong and New Zealand, and now Australia!

Richard Lavoie holds three degrees in Special Education and has served children with special needs as teacher, administrator, university professor, author, consultant for organisations such as National Center for Learning Disabilities, New York Times, the Public Broadcasting Service, and member of the professional boards of the American Learning Disabilities Association, The Council for Exceptional Children, and Children with Attention Deficit Disorder.

For nearly three decades he worked at residential schools for children with learning disabilities, giving him the opportunity to observe and study kids in a wide variety of roles and activities and thus develop a unique and invaluable perspective on the “whole child”. His combination of current research, poignant anecdotes and practical suggestion is entertaining and energizing.

As a recent attendee at one of Rick’s workshops said, "I have all of Rick’s videos and love them, but seeing him in person is a very unique experience".

A number of Lavoie resources may be purchased through SPELD NSW. ALL MONEY RAISED BY THESE SALES WILL ASSIST THE COST OF HIS NATIONAL TOUR OF AUSTRALIA. Please View the Resources or go straight to the Lavoie Order Form.

TIMETABLE OF EVENTS Aug / Sept 2006

New South Wales

Liverpool, 23 August - one session 4.00-6.30 - Catholic Club, Hoxten Park
Chatswood, 26 August - two sessions, 9.00-12.30 and/or 2.00-4.30 - Willoughby Civic Centre
Wagga Wagga, 29 August - one session, 4.00-6.30 - Charles Sturt University
Newcastle, 2 September - one session, 10.00-12.30 - University of Newcastle
Wollongong, 4 September - one session, 4.30-7.00, University of Wollongong

For further New South Wales information and complete details see: www.speldnsw.org.au or contact enquiries@speldnsw.org.au

Victoria

Melbourne, 9 September - two sessions and open-panel: University of Melbourne Copland Theatre

Morning Session - Teaching LD Kids

This session will provide 12 unique field-tested techniques that modify and improve LD kids' behaviour and performance. Specifically this topic will:

provide effective alternatives to commonly used techniques such as 'time out'
provide alternative strategies to common verbal techniques
teach 12 behaviour-management techniques that can motivate and modify kids' behaviour in the classroom and at home.

Afternoon Session - Motivating LD Kids

This session will include the dynamics of motivation and the impact learning/language difficulties cause. Specifically this topic will allow attendees to:

understand basic myths related to motivating students with learning difficulties
comprehend the concept of learned helplessness and its impact on motivation
master 15 strategies that increase and enhance motivation in the classroom and at home.

Open-Panel Discussion

The open-panel discussion is designed to provide a forum to discuss learning difficulties in Victoria. The discussion will include current issues, experiences and perspectives from panel members as well as from the audience. It is anticipated that the panel will include government representatives, a learning difficulties expert, teacher, parent of an LD kid and a student who has learning difficulties.

Contact: speldvicadmin@speldvic.org.au

Queensland

Townsville, Wednesday 13 September - two sessions: Barrier Reef TAFE College, City Campus
Brisbane, Friday, 15 September - two sessions: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre

NOTE: attendees may attend the morning session or afternoon session, or both sessions for a full day.

Timetable and Session Topics - both Townsville and Brisbane

Morning session - It's So Much Work To Be Your Friend: Helping the child with learning difficulties find social success

Extensive studies have examined students with learning disabilities who have experienced chronic failure in mainstream classes and adults with learning problems who have clearly demonstrated that failure is due to the person's SOCIAL SKILLS, not ACADEMIC SKILLS. The majority of people wioth learning disorders have marked difficulty perceiving, understanding and responding to social situations. Social isolation, rejection and humiliation are often the result.

Afternoon Session - Strategies That Don't Work and Those That DO!

The first half of this session will demonstrate why repeatedly doing the same thing and experiencing a different result each time will not work. The second half will outline twelve unique and field-tested techniques that can be used by parents and professionals t o modify and improve children's behviour and performance.

Contact: speld@speld.org.au

Western Australia

Wednesday 20 September - two sessions: University Western Australia Club Lecture Theatre

Session One 1.00 pm to 4.00pm - Managing and Motivating Children with Learning and Attention Difficulties in the Classroom

This seminar is designed to inform and inspire teachers who deal with struggling students in the classroom. The reasons for their behaviour and struggles will be explored in detail. However, the focus of the session will be on practical strategies that teachers can use to motivate these children and deal effectively with their behaviour. The seminar will also discuss effective strategies to interact with parents and colleagues in order to create a cooperative environment that will enable the children to reach their full potential, and will introduce the most current research regarding learning and attention.
Session Two 7.00 pm to 9.00pm - Parents as Partners
Frustration, anxiety and tension are emotions too commonly experienced by children with specific learning disabilities. A child with a specific learning disability confronts daily challenges, affecting them booth in and out of the classroom. Richard Lavoie will provide parents with an overview of the characteristics of a specific learning disability and suggest practical strategies to assist parents in dealing with both their child's frustration and ensuring effective communication is maintained. This session will highlight the importance of constructing a sound partnership between parents and teacher's in order to deliver strategies that serve to enhance the child's learning environment and unsure positive outcomes.

Friday 22 September - two sessions: University Western Australia Club Lecture Theatre

Session One 9.00am to 12.00 noon - Understanding and Meeting the Needs of Children with Learning Disabilities
Richard Lavoie will discuss and demonstrate the unique learning and attentional needs of children with Learning Disabilities and will present specific strategies to assist them in the classroom and at home. In order for these strategies to be effective, they must be applied within the context of a philosophy which views each child as an individual with unique affinities, strengths and limitations.

Current, innovative research will be presented and the application of this research in the classroom will be explained and demonstrated. Tick's thirty year's experience as a teacher, administrator and professor provide him with a unique perspective on the care and education of these special children.
Session Two 1.30 to 3.30 - Implications of Living with a Learning Disability
This is an introductory session ideal for students keen to develop their understanding of learning disabilities and subsequent implications. During this session Richard will discuss the implications of living with a learning disability and explore the unique learning and attentional needs of children with learning disabilities. In addition Richard will provide strategies based on contemporary research that is both innovative and educative.

Contact: mandynayton@dyslexia-speld.com