A day-long training to help educators and others support Native American families whose children have special needs is coming to Fresno Pacific University.
The Native American Cultural Competency Conference will be Friday, January 15, 2016, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in BC Lounge on the main FPU campus, 1717 S. Chestnut Ave., Fresno. The event is presented by the Native American Parent Technical Assistance Center (NAPTAC) in collaboration with Exceptional Parents Unlimited (EPU) and hosted by the FPU Special Education Division. This is the first time this training has been offered in California.
While Native American children comprise a small percent of California public school students, cultural competency with any group is a necessity. “In order to support Native American families and their children, disability professionals need to be aware of the cultural expectations regarding these families,” said Julie Lane, Ed.D., assistant professor of special education.
Refreshments and lunch are provided. Register at naccc.eventbrite.com. For more information, contact Laura Tekunoff at 559-453-5559 or laura.tekunoff@fresno.edu.
The goal of the workshop is to train educators, counselors, school psychologists, social workers, medical professionals and others to provide effective, culturally responsive services to Native American families of children and youth with disabilities. Instruction will be provided by Judy Wiley, Apache, of NAPTAC. Guests will include Central Valley tribal leaders.
NAPTAC is a national organization that serves and supports Native American families with children and youth with disabilities. Staff and consultants are experienced professionals who work out of parent ad regional centers. More at naptac.org.
EPU is based in Fresno and provides programs to more than 4,000 children and families each year in 13 counties through home visits and urban and rural centers. Since its founding in 1976, the federally funded agency has grown to a staff of more than 100 therapists and early childhood specialists. See epuchildren.org.