JEFFFERSON CITY – The Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council, in partnership with the National Association of Educational Translators and Interpreters of Spoken Languages (NAETISL), invites educators and school administrators to participate in a free 90-minute virtual training titled, “Achieving Language Access in Schools for All” at 11 a.m., Thursday, May 4, 2023.
“When families do not have quality language access, it is a tremendous barrier to the learning of students and the special education advocacy efforts of families,” says Katheryne Staeger-Wilson, MODDC program coordinator. “These trainings will provide a foundation for schools to obtain the knowledge and tools necessary to provide quality language access.”
Supporting Language Access in Schools, a project funded by the Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council (MODDC), is designed to support Missouri school districts in providing language access to families and students with Spanish and other language backgrounds, especially families with children and youth who have intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Nancy Tubbs, JD, language access attorney, will cover the legalities of language access in school and answer the following questions:
·What are the rules for providing access in general and special education?
·What are considerations for families of students with intellectual and developmental disabilities?
NAETISL Board President Ana Soler, MPH, educational interpreter, will cover the process and importance of educators collaborating with interpreters. Soler will cover questions including:
·What are accepted preparation and hiring practices for qualified educational interpreters?
·How can educational interpreters enhance access for families of students with intellectual and developmental disabilities?
Those interested in attending, can register for the training online at https://languageaccessforall.eventbrite.com.
For additional information, contact Dr. Jane Montes at drjmontes.naetisl@gmail.com.
About NAETISL
NAETISL’s mission is to establish a collective understanding of the standards, qualifications and certification requirements for educational translators and interpreters of spoken languages to enhance emergent bilingual family engagement, student achievement and meaningful home-school connections. To learn more about the project, visit https://naetisl.org/missouri-language-access-project.
About MODDC
The Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council is a federally-funded, 23-member, consumer-driven council appointed by the Governor. Its mandate under P.L. 106-402, the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, is to assure that individuals with developmental disabilities and their families participate in the design of and have access to needed community services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance that promote self-determination, independence, productivity and integration in all aspects of community life.
To learn more or to get involved, visit www.moddcouncil.org.