Contact: David West
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

4/8/98

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES - Emilie Coulter of the Division of Professional Development at the Louisiana Department of Education, and Toni Bennett, Region VI Service Center director, will join the Natchitoches Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa Wednesday, April 15 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. to discuss the topic, "Celebrating Individual Differences: Building a More Inclusive Education Community."

The forum will be held in the Board Room of the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts, located at 715 College Ave. in Natchitoches. Reservations are not required for attendance. Coulter and Bennett will provide a short interactive presentation with time for questions and answers.

Teachers, administrators, support personnel, parents, community providers, and university faculty are invited to join this community discussion about improving results for all students in general classrooms and in community settings which support students with special needs, their teachers, and their families.

"Having access to the general education curriculum, understanding how our school and work world can be more adaptable and inclusive can assist the general population as well as students with disabilities," Coulter said. "We can learn how to understand each other's needs and make the world a better place to live, learn, work and play. Old practices, human biases, and problems of isolation can be replaced with new and innovative practices, practical uses for technology, and with belonging and acceptance."

According to Coulter, the world is changing and education is often the most resistant to change. Coulter said teachers often hear tales about practices in schools that make them fearful of including students with disabilities.

"Often teachers have had to endure practices which they knew were not conducive to learning," Coulter said. "We all want to improve teaching and learning in Louisiana's classrooms. We want to do our very best work for children. During this presentation we will discuss the fear of change, the 'human condition' we all share. We must have the support we need to learn new ways of doing things in a supportive, nurturing and safe environment."

Anyone having questions about the forum can contact Dr. Bill Ebarb, PDK president, at (318) 357-3174, extension 110.

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