Understanding Language vs. Disability

When

Wednesday, January 28, 2026 (9-10am)

This event was recorded. Please see below.

Description

When students are acquiring an additional language, it introduces complexities in interpreting their academic performance and supporting their educational development. The traits of language acquisition and those of a disability can often appear similar, making it difficult to distinguish between the two. This session will explore the intersection of language learning and disability, providing guiding questions and strategies to help migrant educators better understand and support their students by piecing together a more comprehensive picture.

Additional Resource

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) has recently released an updated edition of  Special Education in New York State for Preschool and School-Age Students with Disabilities: A Parent’s Guide. This resource provides helpful information for families and educators with questions about the special education process, including how to make a referral for a student who may have a disability. While the guide is expected to be translated into 12 languages, those translations are not yet available (as of 1.28.26).

Meet the Presenter

Nicole Bell, Coordinator/Executive Director, Mid-West RBERN
Nicole has been working with NYS-MEP educators since 2015 and values the gifts that they bring to the table. She was a music teacher for 4 years before she decided to get her masters in TESOL at Nazareth College. Following grad school, Nicole was an ENL teacher for several years as a Wayne-Finger Lakes (WFL) BOCES itinerant teacher and several years in the Sodus Central School District. She served as the coordinating teacher for the WFL ENL Teacher Consortium and was very committed to family engagement practices with ELLs and their families. Additionally, her interest areas include culturally responsive teaching, bilingual techniques in the classroom, the Latinx student experience, and migrant education.

Recording

The content in this presentation is geared towards serving the migrant populations in New York State as defined under Title I, Part C and the approved State Service Delivery Plan, and may NOT be appropriate to all situations.

Please refer to the  disclaimers page, which includes the vendor notice, Google™ Translate disclaimer, and nondiscrimination and accessibility policy, before proceeding further.