Scope:
The ESL x Special Education SIG seeks to provide support to Michigan ESL teachers, mainstream teachers, speech-language pathologists (SLPs), and special education resource personnel working with learners aged three years through adulthood, who in addition to having English as a second/other language are also faced with some type of special need, including (but not limited to) learning disability, language impairment, cognitive impairment, and/or psychosocial challenge.

Purpose:
The purpose of the ESL x Special Education SIG is 1) to provide a clearinghouse of relevant information for teachers, SLPs, and other care-giving personnel; 2) to share strategies for working with this type of ESL learner; and 3) to collaborate on projects designed to educate others in the ESL field regarding how to identify these learners and advocate for appropriate assessment & intervention/support services.

Activities:

• SIG Listserv to share news and information from MITESOL and TESOL, along with news of recent research, books, and other relevant information to the SIG.
• SIG-sponsored sessions at the annual MITESOL conference.
• SIG meeting and/or discussion session at the annual MITESOL conference.
• Yearly article in the MITESOL Messages newsletter.
• Member-initiated projects, workshops, and colloquia.

Membership Participation:
Members are encouraged to participate in the ESL x Special Education SIG by:

• Sending questions and responses to the SIG listserv.
• Sharing news items, resources, and scaffolding techniques via the SIG listserv.
• Proposing and/or leading SIG-sponsored and regular sessions at the annual MITESOL conference.
• Writing SIG-related articles for the MITESOL Messages newsletter.
• Initiating, leading, and/or participating in SIG-related projects, workshops, and colloquia.

Leadership:
The ESL x Special Education SIG Leader and representative to the MITESOL Advisory Board is currently Christy Pearson from Grand Valley State University. Elections for all SIG positions are held every two years at the MITESOL conference on a rotating basis. Please contact the current leader if you are interested in serving in this position.