Session 304

Instructional Level: Introductory

Student safety is on the minds of many, and creating safe and supportive school environments for all students in today’s schools is essential. This session will provide information on how understanding the impact of trauma can lead to a safer school environment; the importance of open communication and information sharing; the benefits of school safety plans; and how One-Page Profiles can inform and prepare students and school staff for stressful and emergency situations. Families will learn how to work with school teams to ensure their children with disabilities feel safely supported throughout their school day.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn how to build effective teams and increase communication and sharing knowledge to lead to a safer school environment, especially in high-stress or crisis situations, for children and youth, including those who have experienced trauma, disability, or adverse childhood experiences and will understand that School Resource Officers (SROs) and other school safety team members can be a vital and positive resource for children, especially children with disabilities.
2. Identify strategies on how to minimize the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma through building a strong and responsive school support system.
3. Develop knowledge on how “One-Page Profiles” can provide a snapshot of a student’s strengths and needs, along with specific instructions on how to ensure a student is safe and happy at school and how individualized school safety plans can assist in being prepared for crisis and emergency situations.