Meaningful and relevant instruction engages students and accelerates learning. For students with special needs, no matter what the age or severity, this requires unique teaching strategies, curriculum adaptations and accommodations in order to have access to a meaningful and relevant education. The 2013 combined Summer Institute will focus on concepts, methods, technology and other educational supports designed to enable these students to succeed within and beyond the classroom in order to enhance or support the growth and development of students with disabilities.

Please join Trevor and Jonah, two students from Washington School for the Deaf, as they share about their experience at the National Association of the Deaf Youth Leadership Camp in Washington D.C.  A quote from the boys: "Our presentation, developed from our time at the NADYLC is about three philosophies: leadership, developer, and buildership. The difference between these three philosophies is fundamental. There are different kinds of leadership: spiritual, direct, considerate and systematic. Leaders acquire knowledge of how to collaborate with other people, create a structure for bringing people together, and inspire. Being a leader is different from being a developer. While developers are also capable of leadership, they develop other people to become leaders.  Buildership is a new philosophy and is not recognized in the dictionary yet; however, we will provide an introduction to this philosophy."