TRUST CENTER: Training Opportunities

Gentle Teaching:
A Positive Approach for Challenges of Behavior and Learning

Presented by Dan Hobbs

This workshop presents the participants with an overview of the values, goals, and strategies that comprise the Gentle Teaching approach. Gentle Teaching is a multi-faceted approach that allows the practitioner to learn and grow with people with significant challenges of learning and/or behavior. Videotapes vignettes are used throughout the workshop to illustrate the efficacy and use of this pedagogy of living and learning. A primary aim of the workshop is to provide parents, teachers, and human service professionals with "how to" methods and concepts.

The participants will learn:

Specific non-aversive strategies for defusing distractive, disruptive, and destructive patterns of behavior;

• Values, goals, and strategies that support the development of a mutually fair and valuing relationship with individuals who alienate themselves from others;

• Proactive strategies for facilitating, supporting, and empowering meaningful forms of participation and interaction;

• To identify and avoid teaching postures and practices that facilitate and support challenging behavior; and

• To identify, select, and communicate strategies that preclude the use of devaluing interventions.

Who Should Attend?

The workshop is designed to assist individuals who live with, teach, or in some way support individuals with developmental disabilities. The ideas and methods discussed are appropriate and useful in all human relationships. This is not a method for manipulating people with disabilities, but rather a way of living and learning with all people.

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