Would you like to attend our upcoming Supporting All Brains conference but need to convince your supervisor? We’ve got you covered! Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint volunteer Trisha Thompson drafted a letter to help you convince whoever might need convincing.
You can download a draft letter (Word) and edit it as needed, or you can copy the text below. You can print it out and give it to your director, principal, or supervisor after you edit it or email it to them. If you wish to personalize the letter more, you can find helpful information about this professional development opportunity on the event website.
The Letter
Dear [Your Director/Principal/Supervisor’s Name Here]:
As you know, I am always looking for professional development opportunities so that I can continue to strengthen my teaching and help my students reach their fullest potential. Never has that been more important than now, with so many teachers and families raising concerns about student behaviors. It’s my mission to address these concerns utilizing trauma-informed practices informed by the latest research in neuroscience. I’m particularly interested in helping support disabled and neurodivergent students in affirming ways.
I request funding and approval to participate in an 8-hour online conference called “Supporting All Brains.” This conference will provide me with an introduction to the latest neuroscience and neurodiversity-affirming approaches that can support our diverse student body.
The keynote speaker of the event is Dr. Lori Desautels, whose vast accomplishments include authoring Connections Over Compliance: Rewiring Our Perceptions of Discipline, Intentional Neuroplasticity: Moving Our Nervous Systems and Educational System Toward Post-Traumatic Growth, and Body and Brain Brilliance: A Manual to Cultivate Awareness and Practices for Our Nervous Systems. Additionally, there are seven other speakers who will share their expertise and lived experiences.
Below are some of the topics that will be covered throughout the conference:
- Introduction to Applied Educational Neuroscience
- Becoming Neurodiversity-Affirming
- Neurodiversity, Behavior, and the Problem with PBIS
- Neurodiversity Affirming Approaches to Navigating Challenging Behaviors
- Change Makers: DIY Strategies for Sharing Trauma-Informed Practices
- Co-Regulation in Classrooms
- How Learning to Support My Neurodivergent Children is Making Me a Better Parent, Teacher, and Human
- Calm Brains, Calm Bodies: Turbocharging Kids Learning by Teaching Them Neuroscience
I know that funds are limited, and I am prepared to devote the time necessary to use the high-quality resources and training available at this conference and implement them in my classroom.
Registration Cost: $29.00
Provider: Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint (endseclusion.org)
Date/Time: January 20, 2025, 8:30 AM – 5:30 AM EST (recording available for 30 days)
I am hopeful that you will grant my request, and look forward to discussing what I’ve learned with you.
Appreciatively,
[Your Name Here]
