WESTFIELD – This Thursday, April 5, the Westfield Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC) will host a workshop on fostering student independence through positive behavior supports, called “19 ways to step back.” Guest speaker will be Jennifer Bogin, MSEd, Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) for the Fields Center for Positive Behavior Support.
Dr. Martha von Mering (WNG File Photo)
Dr. Martha von Mering, Westfield’s Administrator of Special Services and Student Support Services said the Special Services Department has brought Bogin on board to focus on professional development for paraprofessionals, to train and help them foster positive behavior supports in the students with whom they are working.
Von Mering said Bogin already did one training during an early release day in March, and will do another next month. An intensive training with all paraprofessionals will also be held in August. Von Mering said she wanted to give parents in SEPAC a taste of what the paras will be taught.
Von Mering said there are thirteen different types of paraprofessionals working with a wide range of students, whose skills need to be capitalized in the classroom. She said a really good para fosters a sense of independence in a child, and is “worth their weight in gold.” She said she is also hoping to bring the training to teachers, who she said in general don’t get a lot of instruction on how to use a para effectively in a classroom.
Von Mering said the training is very helpful for parents, too, whether a child has disabilities or is in general education. She gave the example of tying shoes. Often, she said, parents are in a rush to get out of the door, and instead of waiting, do it for them. “All of us, we say let me just do it for you,” von Mering said, adding, “We have to remember to foster the child’s independence.”
She said when a child ages out at age 22, or graduates, “There isn’t somebody there like a para to help them,” adding that a lot of parents are shocked to find out they won’t have the same support. She said a child who is as independent as possible, has a better chance at a quality of life beyond 21.
Von Mering said we need to empower paras and parents with their students. “If you don’t let them fail – you won’t know what they can or can’t do. You’re not a bad teacher, para, parent if you let a student struggle. It’s all part of the human experience,” von Mering said.
“I think this is fabulous because when our children leave school they may not have someone guiding them through life. As a parent, one of my biggest concerns is that my son can navigate the world on his own,” said Michele Douglas, SEPAC parent leader.
The SEPAC meeting is this Thursday, April 5, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Westfield Technical Academy cafeteria at 33 Smith Avenue. Child care will be provided.
