The presentation will open with ideas for ways that School Resource Officers (SROs) can help foster a culture of conflict resolution within schools and can be trained in a better awareness of, and sensitivity to, the needs of students with disabilities and other minority students. Attendees will brainstorm around areas like:
- common behavioral manifestations of certain disabilities;
- ways in which SROs can interact with and learn from school personnel and families to better address the needs of students with disabilities; and
- specific lessons to include in the training of SROs about disabilities.
This presentation will give participants a better foundation for proposing best practices for SRO training programs and for local education agencies in their contracts with SROs, as well as to raise awareness about ways that parents and advocates can reach out to SROs in their local schools and better educate those SROs in working with students with disabilities. Included is a focus on specific steps that SROs can take to reduce disproportionate punishment of students with disabilities and minorities, including language minority students.
