Club 21 believes in inclusion. Club 21 is dedicated to to the inclusion of individuals with Down syndrome in home, school, and community life. However, Club 21 also recognizes that making inclusion possible at school can be very difficult. School Support connects parents and teachers to the resources necessary to make inclusion successful. Teachers have a lot on their plate before adding a student with Down syndrome, and parents do not always feel confident that they know what their child needs in the inclussive classroom. School Support assists both parents and teachers by providing resources and personnel equipped make the inclusion of children with Down syndrome in typical classrooms a success.
Mod Pod
Children with Down syndrome can thrive in typical classrooms, but the work needs to be tailored to their individual learning levels and styles. The Mod Pod is an extensive resource library for parents and teachers to help teaching teams to develop their capacity to meet diverse learning needs in the classroom. It is a teaching room that enables educators and parents to brainstorm and network ideas that will help the student to succeed in the classroom and be the best that they can be. The Mod Pod is crucial to the support of parents and teachers since it is a place where teachers and parents can come to access books, software, manipulatives, and other resources to make curriculum adaptation possible.
In the Mod Pod parents and teachers can:
- "Test drive" software (Boardmaker, Writing with Symbols, Simon Sounds it Out, etc.)
- Problem solve behavioural and academic concerns with our Outreach Facilitators
- Access current information about Down Syndrome
- Create visual schedules and other visual support tools at the workstation using Boardmaker and Writing with Symbols
- Peruse an extensive library of teaching resource books, modified units and instructional materials that are available to borrow for a 2 week period
- Access resources, technology, and expertise to create new modifications
The Mod Pod will also house evening mini-workshops on occasion for parents and teachers on topics ranging adaptive technology and curriculum modification to behavior plans. Please see the Events Calendar for more information.
Access to the Mod Pod is available through an annual membership fee. Please contact Kathy McDaniel, for more information: kathy@clubtwentyone.org.
Outreach Facilitators
Outreach Facilitators offer inclusion expertise in conjunction with the Mod Pod. They are available to area schools to support the teaching team with proactive sharing of materials, techniques and strategies. On-site observations and identification of student needs facilitates a collaborative problem solving method that is key to each student's successful learning in the inclusive classroom.
Outreach Facilitators help make inclusion possible by
- Offering Down syndrome awareness presentations in in-service and classroom settings
- Recommending reading materials and books for parents and teachers
- Identifying student's reading, math, and language levels.
- Offering behavior modification ideas
- Coordinating access to the Mod Pod
- Software demonstrations: Mini in-services on the software already in the classroom
The goal of Club 21 is to help schools in developing their capacity to meet diverse needs of students with Down syndrome. With effective teaching strategies, adapted materials and collaborative brainstorming by all parties, students with Down syndrome can learn to work independently and productively on meaningful work. The background knowledge and experience of Club 21's Outreach Facilitators can save teachers and parents time and much stress!
Outreach Facilitator visits are available on a fee for service basis. Please contact Kathy McDaniel, for more information: kathy@clubtwentyone.org.
To learn more about these programs or find out how you can be involved, please contact us at info@clubtwentyone.org or call our office at 626-844-1821.
