Ed Forum

Thank you to all who attended our 2023 Educators Forum!

MDSC recognizes that supporting students with complex learning profiles requires training and professional support for teachers and administrators.

Each year, MDSC holds its Annual Educators Forum for Supporting Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. The conference is designed to provide general and special educators, administrators, paraprofessionals, support professionals, and parents with practical workshops that will support them as they work hard each day to meet the educational needs of students. This full-day conference has historically taken place at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts and is typically attended by over 300 general and special educators, paraprofessionals, administrators, support professionals, and family members from across New England. Educators in attendance will earn 6 hours of professional development!

During the height of the pandemic, we reimagined our Educators Forum as a webinar series focused on issues relevant to the Covid pandemic, but were thrilled to bring it back in person in 2023!

2023 Breakout Session Topics:

  • Best Practices: Transition Planning
    Presented by Jessica Kuss, M.Ed.
  • Beyond Translation: Collaborating with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Families
    Presented by Zach Rossetti, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Special Education, Boston University and Oanh Bui, MHA , MA
  • Building an Inclusive IEP through the Disability Statement and Goal Writing
    Presented by Allan S Blume, Ed.S., Special Educator, Associate Professor of Practice, Educational Consultant
  • Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS): Moving from Power and Control to Collaboration and Problem Solving
    Presented by Maile Munson, LICSW, Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) Trainer, Lives in the Balance
  • If Writing Instruction Tastes Like Broccoli, Don’t Expect Kids to Consume Much
    Presented by David Koppenhaver, Professor Emeritus, Reading Education/Special Education, Appalachian State University
  • MAICEI and Inclusive Higher Education Opportunities in Massachusetts: Everything you need to know!
    Presented by Mary Price, MAICEI State Director
  • Making Neuropsychological Assessment Work for You
    Presented by Joseph Moldover, PsyD, ABPP
  • The (Arts and) Science(s) of Reading for Individuals with Down Syndrome and other Disabilities
    Presented by David Koppenhaver, Professor Emeritus, Reading Education/Special Education, Appalachian State University
  • Updates from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Implementation of the New Massachusetts IEP
    Presented by Russell Johnston, PhD, Deputy Commissioner and State Director of Special Education, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
  • Supporting Speech and Language Development in Children with Down Syndrome Using Multiple Modalities
    Presented by Abbie King MS CCC-SLP/ATP, Boston Childrens Hospital, Augmentative Communication Program