This subject provides a comprehensive study of effective communication skills and techniques the student will use both professionally and personally. The subject will sharpen skills to work effectively in a professional, helping relationship including communicating with parents, colleagues, and administrators. The main focus of the course is the classroom and student, the rationale for using certain communication strategies, and guidance on how to implement them. Many issues are discussed, including intrapersonal skills and interpersonal and small group communication; listening skills; verbal and non-verbal communication (from both the EA’s and student’s perspective); instructional strategies such as lecturing, discussions, and storytelling; teacher influence; ethical considerations; and racism/sexism in the classroom. Students will deliver a mini-lesson for a small group discussion and/or a storytelling session targeted for a small group of children.

All children are special; however, children with exceptionalities have difficulty reaching their full potential. Their intellectual, emotional, physical, or social performance falls below or rises above that of other children. They have special needs related to physical, psychological, emotional, or social factors, or a combination of these. This course examines students with exceptionalities within Canadian schools. It stresses the psychological, cognitive, social, and physical differences that more and less able learners bring to the teaching/learning situation, the unique difficulties faced by children who are exceptional, the developmental consequences of various exceptionalities, and the multiple types of interventions necessary to accommodate these students effectively. The age range spans infants to young adults. Emphasis is placed on children with mild differences in learning and children with behavioural disorders.

This is a two-day workshop of certified training on behaviour management. The first day focuses participants on gaining a basic understanding of crisis intervention methods with the emphasis on early intervention and non-physical methods for preventing or managing disruptive behaviour. The second day of training expands on crisis intervention methods to include the study and practice of holding skills, used as a last resort when an individual becomes an immediate danger to themselves or others.

Children with autism are sometimes challenging to accommodate in the classroom setting. Students will learn characteristics of autism, teaching strategies and behaviour modifications/adaptions in order to assist children who are on the autism spectrum. ASD topics include characteristics of ASD; diagnosis and assessment; cognitive profiles and ranges of ability; theory of mind; sensory difference; social and communication skills; challenging behaviour; effective instructional practices; and applications in the classroom. The course also includes an introduction to Applied Behavioral Analysis; ABA topics include basic ABA theory and definitions; implementing basic ABA instructional strategies and techniques; how to collect reliable and consistent data when working with students; the ABCs of behaviour; reinforcement strategies for students; the discrete trial teaching format; errorless learning techniques; recording the level of prompting for instruction when collecting data; definition of prompts; shaping a behaviour or skill; identifying chaining strategies and prompting levels; completing a task analysis and collecting data; and identifying naturalistic opportunities for instruction.

The Picture Exchange Communiction System (PECS) is used to rapidly teach communication skills to those with limited functional speech. PECs promotes communication with a social context without lengthy prerequisite training. Training in PECs begins by teaching a spontaneous request and goes on to teach additional communicative functions such as responding to questions and commenting. An added attraction for preschool children with autism and related disorders is the high proportion of children who acquire independent speech. Participants will learn how to implement the six phases of PECS, plus attributes, through presenter demonstrations, video examples, and role-play opportunities. Participants will leave the course with an understanding of how to implement PECS with individuals with autism, related developmental disabilities, and/or limited communication skills.

One of the goals of an Education Assistant is to accurately assess an autistic child’s needs and provide the most appropriate referral in an ethical manner. This course establishes a framework to assess needs and helps the student explore the various organizations and agencies in the local community that specialize in assisting children with ASD. This is accomplished by guiding the student through a series of assignments to enhance evaluation skills and knowledge.

Students are introduced to the terminology used by professionals working in the field of mental health, as well as the issue of mental illness and its stigma in the classroom and society in general. Many areas are covered including traumaand stressor-related disorders; neurodevelopmental disorders; attention deficits; disruptive behaviour; anxiety, obsessivecompulsive, and related disturbances; mood disturbances; eating disturbances; psychosis and schizophrenia; and substance misuse and addictions. Additional discussions include understanding suicide and brain structures. Some special attention is given to learning and resources for depression and eating disorders. A presentation/report is also assigned for students to demonstrate their knowledge from research on a specific mental health disorder.

ASIST is an internationally recognized two-day workshop which uses multimedia presentations in a practice-oriented training to build skills and confidence in suicide intervention. The ASIST workshop is divided into five sections that follow in a logical progression to gradually build comfort and understanding around suicide and suicide intervention.

Throughout this course, students will learn various strategies in language and math, such as Base 10 principles and TouchMath. Students will be required to put together two lessons and present to class (one for reading, one for math). Students will also earn a certificate after completing sessions and assignments for “Overview of the Orton-Gillingham Approach”. Topics include the characteristics of the individual with dyslexia; principles of the Orton-Gillingham Approach; brain organization and multi-sensory instruction; phonology and the language system; structure of the English language; history of the English language; and lesson planning using the approach. Students will then participate in seminar training that guides them step-by-step through TouchMath® computation and methodology. This multisensory approach combines auditory, visual, and tactile/kinesthetic elements that enable students of all learning styles to be successful. Participants will practise and quickly master TouchMath counting, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

This course provides students with knowledge of how language is developed in a child, starting with foundations of linguistics; communication development in infancy; phonological development; semantic development; morphology and syntax; development of communicative competence; theoretical approaches to language acquisition; variation in language development; atypical language development; language and literacy in school years; and bilingual language development. The second part of the source reviews language development and reasons it is difficult to learn from some students and the basics of distinguishing between various communication disorders versus second language acquisition. Some basic principles and approaches to teaching English as a second language are outlined.

This course is organized around areas of concern and a clear understanding of the needs of students with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or Fetal Alcohol Effect (FAS/E) by defining FAS/E, describing the common learning and behavioural characteristics of children with FAS/E, and strategies that may be helpful in meeting the challenges these children present in the classroom. Needs and strategies for several characteristics are discussed, including attention difficulties, cause and effect thinking, social skills, personal skills, memory skills, language development, reading and writing, motor skills, mathematics skills, science skills, and fine arts. Students will also learn to develop a sample IPP through case studies of examples; other activities include observation and discussion during a meeting with parents, common misinterpretations of normal responses in students with FAS/E, and various skills checklists (scenarios and group work).

In recent years, there has been an increasing awareness of students with acquired brain injury (ABI) in the school system. Advancements have led to an increase in the number of children and adolescents who are surviving and being served in our schools. Length of stay in hospitals and rehabilitation centres also is decreasing and students return to the school system. This course introduces students to planning and supporting these students. Topics include structure and function of the brain; defining ABI; characteristics associated with ABI; planning support; teaching students; managing challenging behaviour, students with mild ABI; and transition planning. Students will participate in case studies and discussions and the EA’s role in supporting students with ABI, as well with those who have physical impairments and/or chronic health impairments.

This course introduces students to ways to support students who are hard of hearing and deaf, as well as those with visual impairments. The first part of the course discusses students with hearing impairments and how to support and establish learning relationships in the classroom. Content includes working with teachers, especially vision resource teachers; talking with students and parent interviews; when to get help and when you need it; changes to IPPs; collaborating with the educational team; and the nature and degree of visual impairment. It also explains the student’s functional vision (charts), safety and environment, and supporting the student through planning, instruction, assessment, the print user, the Braille user, and available resources. The second part of the course focuses on visually impaired students including preparation to support/teach students; meetings with teachers, educational team, students; classroom adaptation; communication tips; tips for students; and equipment needs. Training sessions are also included this course, including:  Using ASL in the Classroom – this follows up on ‘Introductory American Sign Language’ with lecture, discussions, and a project using sign language with a student, including practical examples and presentation  Working with Gifted Students – using provincial guidelines, students are introduced to gifted education, including identification and student profiles; content (acceleration, telescoping, compacting, independent study, tiered assignments, learning centres, and curricular models); process (higher level and creative thinking, problem solving); the learning environment and products.

During this course, students will have had training (e.g. Applied Behavioural Analysis) and be able to practically apply behaviour management theory and understand their effects on a child’s behaviour. Students will be challenged to apply knowledge of ABA and Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) in role plays and hands-on assignments in order to practise how to teach life skills and behaviour management. Using provincial guidelines, students will learn about adaptations and modifications to IPPs where outcomes address functional life skills.

This course is designed to provide crucial information on physical management skills and specialized health care procedures for students with disabilities.

Canadian law requires that any person exposed to hazardous materials in the workplace must be trained in the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS). This course has been developed to meet and exceed the Canadian Occupational Health and Safety Regulations. WHMIS 2015 training includes the new Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling for chemicals (GHS), as well as WHMIS legislation introduced in 1988.

Course content includes:

• WHMIS introduction
• WHMIS 1988 classes, divisions, and symbols; personal protective equipment; labels and storage; material safety data sheets
• WHMIS 2015 groups, classes, and categories
• WHMIS 2015 Physical Hazard and Health Hazards groups’
• WHMIS 2015 labels and storage
• WHMIS 2015 safety data sheets

“Core Competency: Understand Level I/CPR First Aid 1. Explain the techniques of CPR 2. Identify the symptoms of various emergencies 3. Explain the prevention of disease transmission Core Competency: Skill (the key behaviours that a student is expected to be able to perform upon completion of subject) Core Competency: Perform Level I/CPR First Aid 1. Respond to cardiovascular emergencies 2. Perform the techniques to combat choking, airway and breathing emergencies 3. Use proper safety measures

In addition to learning career-oriented skills, students learn how to get a job in their chosen profession. Our Employment Services department will assist the graduate in resume writing, as well as preparing for job interviews. Our staff is sensitive to current job market trends and the needs of employers in each local market. Our graduates receive guidance and training to use career tools that help job seekers build a better resume and cover letter, manage an online portfolio, hone interviewing skills, and develop a personal brand online. Students will have the use of a computer lab which has unlimited Internet access, as well as job search resources. Facilitators will also be made available to advise on job finding resources, interview skills and techniques and to carry out mock interviews. This course also looks at the planning, preparation, execution, and follow-up stages of an interview: How people find jobs; Employer expectations; Presenting an enthusiastic attitude; Focusing on the right job and the hidden job market; Transferrable skills; Thank you letters; Effective telemarketing; Handling objections, self-confidence, and self-esteem; Individual counselling and coaching.