June 2009

LAPCAE State Conference, NOLA Learning Disability Conference

AmeriCorps members had several opportunities for professional development in the month of June. LAPCAE (Louisiana Association for Public Community and Adult Education) held its annual conference in Marksville, Louisiana, where AmeriCorps members had the chance to learn from Adult Education professionals from around the state. The conference offered a variety of workshops, including "Managed vs. Open Enrollment", "Personality Type and Learning", and "Fun with Analyzing Literature". Members chose a workshop they enjoyed to present to the entire AmeriCorps group at a later training.

In mid-June, the Literacy Alliance partnered with Pyramid Community Parent Resource Center, the Louisiana Branch of the International Dyslexia Association, and Families Helping Families of Jefferson to put on the 2009 NOLA Learning Disability Conference. Teachers, parents, students, community members, and L*AC members were all invited to participate in this one-day workshop organized to educate, provide information, and create networking opportunities surrounding the issue of learning disabilities. One of the most talked-about workshops in the training was entitled, "Simulation: Experiencing the Frustrations of Learning Disabilities", which provided a powerful simulation designed to help participants gain empathy for those who are dealing with dyslexia, dysgraphia, discalculia, and ADHD. Another popular workshop was "Successfully Navigating the World with a Learning Disability: A Student's Perspective", presented by Owyn Fischer (pictured above). Overall, Literacy*AmeriCorps members seemed to agree that the NOLA Learning Disability Conference was a huge success, and many of them were able to take the information they received at the conference into their service sites.