02. The Connection between Learning Theory and Student Progress: Reducing Barriers to Success

Speaker: Leslie Thatcher, EdM

Session Handout:
Presentation Slides

Session Description:
This session will introduce participants to foundational ideas about how students learn, in order to help educators recognize when a challenge may be related to visual impairment or may be related to another challenge such as possible learning disability, ADHD, executive functioning weakness, or autism. A greater understanding of how students learn will help educators to recognize when to include the student’s broader team to address challenges a student may have that may impact their ability to learn blindness skills and thus, advance on pace with their peers. Participants will gain a greater understanding of the impact of their work in supporting students to improve academic performance, creating greater opportunities for a more rigorous curriculum, greater self-awareness, and transition planning that integrates a student’s entire experience of learning.

Credits: Act 48, ACVREP, ASHA, Psych
Audience: Special Education Teachers, Teachers who work with students who are blind or visually impaired, Teachers who work with students who are Deaf-Blind, Teachers/other professionals who work with students who have sustained a traumatic brain injury, Speech therapists, General Education Teachers, Supervisors/ Administrators, Assistive Technology Specialists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, School Counselors and/or School Psychologists, Parents, Guardians, Family Members, Paraprofessionals

Speaker Bio: 
Leslie Thatcher brings more than 30 years of experience in college and independent school education to College Success @ Perkins. She’s contributed to college and high school admission offices, developed programs focused on orienting young adults into new schools on the high school and college level, and advised, taught and led students in and out of the classroom. Throughout her career, Leslie has worked to create opportunities for student growth and independence, both academically and personally. Her professional and leadership experience includes admissions, program development and student life in independent schools, including residential parenting, academic advising, and college counseling,  Additionally, she served as Associate Dean of Admission for Lewis & Clark College. Leslie consults with college-bound young adults as an independent educational consultant and executive functioning coach and presents nationally on these topics and the challenges surrounding college readiness for students with visual impairments. Leslie has a master’s in education with a focus on adolescent development and higher education administration from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a B.A. in History from Lewis & Clark College.

Website: https://www.perkins.org/college-success/; https://www.perkins.org/college-success/resource-center/]