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About Special Education |
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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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Toy Ideas for Children with Cerebral Palsy and Special Needs |
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One of the more common problems with mainstream toys is that they are meant to be used with two hands- often times children with cerebral palsy will have limited use of one side of the body or the use of only one hand. Toys should be fun and children should have a feeling of accomplishment or success when playing- not frustrated or reminded of what they cannot do. Many of the commercial toys on the market can be adapted or used by children with cerebral palsy. There are many toys that you can buy at any toy store or department store that are affordable and fun to use. Look for toys that can be used with one hand.
Musical instruments are great for this- a trumpet, harmonica, ... |
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Use Children's Books To Encourage Kids To Read |
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As most parents know, reading skills are critical for preschool learning and childhood development. Studies have shown that children that are diagnosed with reading problems during their early school years, will continue having reading and learning problems through the 9th grade and beyond. Even more troubling, almost 50 percent of adolescents and young people with criminal records have reading difficulties. Sadly, many of today's kids would rather watch TV or play video games than read a book. Being a bookworm, or even showing an interest in reading, is percieved as a “nerdish” activity. Most of the heros in today’s society are professional athletes, actors, or music icons. But don’t... |
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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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Special Education Needs Causing Financial Crisis in California Schools |
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Now, I am all for special education for children with disabilities. I attended school at a time when such children were either put into “special” schools or thrown in with the general student population to sink or swim on their own. It was a terrible inequity. It finally was addressed in the 1970s with a law designed to correct such discrimination by giving these children the civil right to an equal opportunity to learn. The law covered children from birth to age 22, guaranteeing them the right to a free and “appropriate” public education. It is the ambiguous word “appropriate” written into the law that is creating a crisis for the California schools, according to Nanette Asimov, staff writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. The article cited a situation of one California schools child with a disability. The assigned public middle school offered special college prep classes, daily help from a special education expert, a laptop computer, extra time for tests, the opportunity to temporarily leave class if the child’s had an anxiety attack, and a special advocate to smooth over any problems with teachers. The parents hired a special consultant instead, who found alternative schooling opportunities — all were private schools and all were out-of-state. They settled on a boarding school in Maine, outside the main city, that had one-tenth of the enrollment of the California schools. The one thing this school did not offer was a special education program. The mother said that smaller classrooms and a smaller campus were more important than a special education program. Since the possibility of anxiety attacks was mentioned in the article, no one can truly judge the merit of this situation except the child’s physician and/or psychologist. After the child was placed into the... |
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