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About Special Education |
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10 Ways You Can Advocate For Your Child With A Learning Disability |
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Did you know that you are the most important person in your child’s life? Of course you did. But did you know that parents of children with learning disabilities can also be their child’s most effective advocate. What exactly is an advocate? An advocate is someone who speaks up for someone else, or who acts on behalf of another person. As a parent, you know your child better than anyone else, and you are in the best position to speak for him and act on his behalf. Here are 10 ways you can do that: 1. Realize from the beginning that advocating for your child takes a lot of time. Advocating involves a great deal of research, meeting time, and communication. That’s a given. But the end... |
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How To Tell If Your Student/Child Has Dyslexia |
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I work with students, either in small groups or individually, who have difficulty reading. Every once in a while, a pupil comes to me who just doesn't get it. Usually, accommodating the varied learning styles of each student, results in success. When that doesn't work, I start questioning my ability as a reading teacher. The first time it happened I felt that I had let my student down. My next step was to consult the special education experts and the school psychologist. They suggested the possibility that my pupil may have dyslexia. I was surprised to find out how many young people suffer from dyslexia. Dyslexia is difficult to determine until a young person is in their teens. We all... |
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Special Education & Mainstreaming |
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In the district I work in, just like others across the United States, special education departments have been dismantled and special education certifications have been debunked. Because special education certifications no longer carry the same weight as other teaching licenses, said educators no longer have the right to teach their own classes. This has lead to most special education students being taught in regular education classrooms. This type of inclusion does not always work. In theory, this form of mainstreaming may seem ideal for special education students, since they are now in an environment with their peers and have the support of another teacher in the room that will adhere... |
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3 Things Every Parent Needs When Raising a Child with Special Needs
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When I travel by plane I'm always reminded of the "way things are". It is a fact of life that we must care for ourselves before we can effectively care for someone else. That's why flight attendants instruct us before every flight, "position your own oxygen mask before assisting others traveling with you". The lesson: You can't help anyone, if you are incapacitated. So I want to start this series by pointing out some critical things that need to in place for YOU so that you can be an effective parent and advocate for your child with special needs.
1 - A Personal Network of Support
Dealing with the emotional turmoil of a new diagnosis is difficult, however it certainly isn't the last emotional strain that you will face as you advocate for your child with special needs. It's important to develop your own ongoing, personal support system. And remember, "Wider is better"! Often just identifying and writing down all the support available to you will help you feel less isolated and more positive.
Tip: Consider all of the support options available to you - mentoring by another parent, local support groups, online discussion lists, web-based membership sites and decide which fits your needs and lifestyle the best.
Local professionals that can offer support and point you toward available resources include:
· Family doctor
· Specialist
· Physical therapist
· Occupational therapist
· Speech therapist
· Case manager
· Parent advocacy trainer
· Special education or resource teacher
· Inclusion specialist
· 504 Coordinator
Note: There are literally thousands of discussion lists, forums, newsletters, and experts available on virtually any diagnosis you could name. To find a variety to choose from, just type the following into your favorite online search engine:
"the diagnosis + type of support".
For example: "ADHD + discussion list" produced 27,800 choices in less than 1 second at my favorite search engine.
2 - A Problem Solving System
As this column continues, you will learn lots of practical advocacy strategies to help you in supporting you child, however even the most comprehensive advocacy training cannot possibly anticipate every challenge you may face. Because of this truth, an essential skill for any parent/advocate to develop is the ability to SOLVE PROBLEMS as they come up.
You need to know:
· Who to call
· Which experts to trust
· How to research options
The idea behind the Problem Solving Folder is to:
· Help you identify all of the help readily available.
· Organize contact information so that it will be easy to access in a few days or a few months when you need it.
· Offer you that sense of confidence that you aren't all alone in facing this challenge.
Instructions for making a Problem Solving Folder:
1. Select a brightly colored folder that won't be easily buried in mounds of paperwork.
2. Identify what information you want to keep in your folder. Possibilities might include:
· A list of your personal support network along with contact details.
· A reference list of the categories included in your advocacy notebook.
· Emergency contact information for professionals that you are likely to need (family doctor, primary specialist, emergency room, mental health center, mental health center emergency contact, respite care providers.
· An emergency information form for each child with special health care needs.
· A list of contact phone numbers or email addresses for mentor parents in your area (along with their area of expertise) who are willing to offer moral support and/or advice.
· A list of recommended area professionals who have experience with individuals who have special needs (this might include doctors, dentists, specialists, therapist, psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, teachers, etc.)
· A list of recommended websites or online resources that offer reliable information, answer questions promptly by email or in their forum, and provide genuine support.
3 - A Stress Management Strategy
As one advocate put it:
"I don't suffer from stress. I'm a carrier!"
For most advocates -- stress isn't a possibility, it's a CONSTANT. So it's vital to have stress management techniques that WORK FOR YOU and that you are comfortable using. Times of high stress are not the time to be learning a new technique. So practice your stress management system of choice regularly and have it ready to PULL OUT & USE when needed.
Raising a child with special needs is challenging to say the least, but you don't have to do it all alone. Check back often and I'll help you navigate the maze -one hurdle at a time.
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A Quick Note
From The Publisher...
If you like the article above, you may be
interested in the following article which is also related to Special Education...
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Is it Attention Deficit Disorder or is it Tourettes Syndrome? |
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During the assessment process it is of great importance for the physician or clinician to consider other possible causes of inattention, impulsivity, or hyperactivity in your child (or teen, or yourself). In fact, this is probably the most important element of a good assessment. There are several possible causes of these behaviors, especially in children, and the clinician must have great certainty that these other possible causes have been ruled out before giving the label of "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder" to your child.
One of the first things to have ruled out is a thyroid problem. Only MD's can do this, so off they go for a physical. This is not a common problem, but it does happen, even in children. Thyroid problems can cause inattention, learning problems, even hyperactivity and impulsivity in some. Once that has been ruled out by the doctor, then other environmental or emotional causes of inattention, impulsivity, or hyperactivity need to be ruled out.
Depression in children often causes inattention, as in adults, and also often causes impulsivity and irritability and excessive restlessness or agitation. Anxiety disorders in children can result in agitation, impulsivity, hyper- vigilance, motor restlessness, and excessive startle responses, as well as inattention to task. Significant emotional traumas can also result in these behaviors. Physical or sexual abuse, divorce or other significant loss, or the death of a loved one.
Physical traumas can also cause the same behaviors as ADHD, such as a minor head injury from an auto accident, sports injury, falling as a child, and so on. For example, one of my "ADHD" kids, who was extremely hyperactive and also very oppositional and at times violent toward others, took part in one of our... |
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