Training Opportunity on Abuse and Neglect of Students with Disabilities

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. BOX 2120
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 154
October 19, 2001

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Jo Lynne DeMary Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	Training Opportunity on Abuse and Neglect of Students with Disabilities

The Virginia Department of Education is pleased to announce a training opportunity for four school divisions and their community partners on abuse and neglect of students with disabilities. Through a Virginia Department of Education grant, the Virginia Institute for Developmental Disabilities will conduct the training using multi-disciplinary teams consisting of educators, social workers, parents, and law enforcement staff. The two-day training will be provided on-site at locations determined by the school divisions and must be completed between January 2002-June 2002. Each training session can accommodate 30 participants.

The training will address the following topics:

overview and prevalence of abuse and neglect of students with disabilities
risk factors for abuse and neglect
dynamics of abuse
indicators of abuse and neglect of students with disabilities
family and cultural issues
roles of school and community partners
use of community resources
recognizing and responding to abuse and neglect
fostering resiliency in students with disabilities
managing challenging behavior with positive behavioral support

As a condition for approval, school divisions must include community partners (e.g., social workers and law enforcement staff) and parents in the training. Each division also must provide an accessible training facility and lunches for participants. School divisions also will need to cover the cost of substitute teachers.

School divisions interested in being considered for this training opportunity must complete the attached application. Applications should be returned by November 20, 2001, to Mrs. Mary Katherine Easter, program support technician, Office of Special Education and Student Services, P.O. Box 2120, Richmond, Virginia 23218-2120. Applications may be submitted by fax at (804) 371-8796. Notification of those divisions selected will be made by December 3, 2001. Questions and technical assistance requests may be directed to Mrs. Lanett W. Brailey at (mailto:lbrailey@mail.vak12ed.edu) or (804) 786-0308.

JLD/lwb

Attachment

/administrators/superintendents_memos/2001/inf154a.pdf