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Success in School: Helping children who learn differently by Kirsten McDonald, Success in School Course Facilitator and Auckland Down Syndrome Association Committee Member
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In March 2022, Auckland Down Syndrome Association (ADSA) conducted our twoday Success in School Course online and what a success it was! Key themes throughout the course were always having high expectations, using strategies as widely as possible, and keeping in mind that many are essential for some, but beneficial for all, and the importance of whānau/carer and school communication. Our zoom format not only allowed participants as far north as Kerikeri and as far south as Balclutha to attend, but also those isolating and/or those with COVID-19, and reduced Auckland traffic woes. We had between 52 and 56 participants each day including parents and whānau, teachers, learning support assistants, and SENCOs to name a few, as well as representatives from NZDSA, and UpsideDowns Education Trust (who also helped as zoom support – thanks Sarah and Bea). As an added benefit of going online, we were also able to record most of the presentations and give access to participants to watch for a limited time after the course. Our course has a host of expert speakers and at centre stage were members from
ADSA. Edward Borkin, who is also part of STRIVE, a group of self-advocates with Down syndrome, opened our course, and we were also honoured to have Amelia Eades and Emma Ferens present at different stages. All three presenters articulately shared their experiences of school and life, and how we can help support them. With these presentations we were able to keep the reason of why we were there forefront in our minds. Thank you Edward, Amelia and Emma. On day one, our other presentations covered inclusion, learning profiles, behaviour, and friendships. Dr Jude McArthur presented on ‘Inclusion and Universal Design for Learning’. Jude currently works in Critical Studies in Education at the University of Auckland and her wealth of knowledge and expertise inspired us all to keep striving for fully inclusive communities. I presented next on ‘The Learning Profile of Students with Down Syndrome’, basing this presentation o n re s e a rc h f ro m D ow n Sy n d ro m e Education International, Down Syndrome International and their recently published International Guidelines for the Education of Learners with Down syndrome, and
