Goddard Hosts Workshop For Educators Of Students With Exceptional Needs

More than 50 educators from across the United States visited Goddard, July 26-31, to participate in a week-long education forum designed to address the academic requirements of students with exceptional needs.

The week of activities included sign language interpreters for each presenter.

The 5-day workshop included guest lecturers, product presentations and discussions, tours, and opportunities to network with fellow educators of students with special needs.

Funded by the Office of Space Science (OSS), Southeast Regional Clearinghouse (SERCH) is charged with promoting space science awareness and enhanced interest of students with special needs in science, math, and technology. The goal is to partner with all NASA facilities, state science coordinators, schools, teachers, parents, industry and others to inspire the next generation of explorers with special needs.

"There is no reason that the students you teach can not be a part of our agency," said Dr. Adena Williams Loston, NASA associate administrator for education, during a welcome address. "As I travel the country I tell students, let no one determine your rightful place in life," said Dr. Loston.

According to SERCH, all exceptional students (young and old) are held to the same state and national math and science education standards as their peers. However, current NASA materials are often not designed with the deaf and/or blind user in mind, or the hearing-, visually-, and mobility-impaired student, or those with Learning Disabilities, Attention-Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

	Alice Wesson of JPL checks out a device used by persons with an extreme sight disability.

SERCH has been working with NASA product developers and other NASA personnel in concert with teachers from these exceptional classroom settings to identify what kinds of materials they need and what mediums will work best for the different student capabilities.

SERCH works closely with 14 Space Grant Consortia throughout the southeastern United States, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. SERCH serves as a broker and facilitator of services between the region's educational community and researchers involved in OSS missions. SERCH have been able to establish a national network of scientists and educators at the college and K-12 levels. SERCH also provides a grass-root support group for the evaluation and requesting of educational products.

Through multiple discussions with teachers, NASA recognizes the need to modify and/or adapt existing materials and to explore new methods for involving the student with needs population. To rectify this situation, SERCH has worked closely with educators of students with special needs and NASA education product developers to implement more effective ways for ALL students to share in the excitement of NASA space science missions.

Carol Olney and Marvin Clemmons Sr. attempt to complete a task using devices that simulate having a disability as Rick Olney (right) observes.

Program goals include raising the level of awareness for mission planners, principle investigators and product developers to address individuals with special needs. There are ongoing efforts to form and maintain a network of educators and product developers who will continue to work together to raise awareness of educational materials for students with special needs. SERCH also provides direction in the formative stages of OSS product development including those OSS products that have received 'exemplary status' from the OSS product review.

The program is charged with establishing and maintaining communication and ties with special needs resource providers, professional societies and organizations (i.e., Council of Exceptional Children, American Foundation for the Blind); develop a handbook of 'best practices' for members of the NASA OSS Education Support Network and provide professional development opportunities to OSS scientists and educational specialists.

	The group demonstrates how to do the hand clap for the hard of hearing. Photos by Chris Gunn

In the words of Dr. Loston, upon return to the classroom, educators are "Creating the opportunity, the possibility," to open the doors of NASA to many others. The potential could be to inspire the next generation of explorers…as only NASA can.

For more information about SERCH visit: http://serch.cofc.edu/serch

For information about NASA educational programs and opportunities visit: http://education.nasa/gov