Yachad/NJCD is an agency of the Orthodox Union that provides educational and social inclusion programs through its two major components, Yachad, for children and adults with learning and developmental disabilities, and Our Way for the deaf and hard of hearing.
Batya Jacob, Educational Director for Yachad/NJCD and Director of the Conference, declared, “This conference is unique in that it brings special education experts and educators from Jewish schools from around the country to learn about the latest research and techniques in teaching special education, and how to adapt them to both the secular and the Judaic curriculums. Teachers and educators are coming from around the country, such as from Philadelphia, Miami, and Chicago, and are even missing their opportunity to vote in a presidential election in their hometowns so they can attend these informative sessions.”
The conference will begin with the keynote speaker, Dr. Jim Burns, who will speak on “The New Three ‘R’s of Education: Respect, Responsibility, and Relationships.” Dr. Burns is a well-known educational consultant in private practice who has worked in education since 1977.
Participants will then break into groups to attend one of 45 ongoing workshops, taught by various professionals in special education, held throughout the day. Workshops include the following:
• Academic Challenges with Students on the Aspergers Spectrum, led by Judy Karp, Principal of Sinai Elementary School in Livingston;
• Stop the Bullying Epidemic Now! led by Dr. Burns, and
• Social Aspects of Students on the Autistic Spectrum, led by Dr. Joel Dickstein, Senior Consultant for P’TACH and Associate Professor, Touro College.
The cost of the full-day conference is $120 per person, which includes lunch. There are special discounted rates for schools that send five or more educators, and for those traveling from outside the Tri-State area.
For more information or to register for the conference, contact Ms. Jacob at 212-613-8127, or jacobb@ou.org.