Learn Your Special Education Laws, Special Education Rights, and Share IEP Goal Ideas

This rare but potentially devastating condition affects girls born to older mothers.  And as we as OT’s working in schools and preschools have already observed, many of our “first time moms” are often in their late thirties and early forties.

It is not a given that all older moms give birth to children with issues.  But in the case of XXX Syndrome that is one of the prominent factors.  XXX Syndrome is characterized by the presence of an additional X chromosome in each cell of female children/fetus.  If the extra X chromosome occurs only in some of the cells it is called a mosaic, and has less developmental impact.  It is not an inherited condition and usually occurs during conception and is related to a delayed or incomplete splitting of the egg during fertilization.  Occurrence is about 1 in 1,000. Read the rest of this entry →

It is the fall, school has been in session for over 2 months now, and in many households across America the battle lines have been drawn. On one side: the parents plaintively asking “have you done your homework?” and on the other,  the child—suddenly non-verbal or explosively combative. Read the rest of this entry →

Four words revolutionize how we now view and help kids with special needs: The brain can change.  That’s a powerful statement with huge implications. 

Only a few decades ago, scientists were convinced the brain was hard-wired . . .  that was until modern technology, such as MRIs and PET scans, proved otherwise.  With the same certainty that we know the sun rises, we now also know that the brain has the ability to change and re-organize itself. This phenomenon is called neuroplasticity. Read the rest of this entry →

The playroom is to infants and preschoolers what the classroom is to students and the office is to professionals. Camouflaged as a space for mindless diversion it’s where THE most important work of your child’s life will take place. 

So how do we select the best toys, activities, and playroom set up? Simple, follow a basic formula. First, know what you are developing through play. Then, make sure you have the toys, opportunities, and space to cover these areas.  Read the rest of this entry →

The Special Education student eagerly awaits modern educational approaches, as their cognitive skills weaknesses can be improved to make them functioning students. They can become even highly capable learners, and soon. Now, we can move forward without hesitation. 

For years, the typical solution was in-classroom or pull out tutorial assistance of daily assignments. Teachers, not knowing how to implement advanced instructional strategies, remained instructing within this inefficient model. In many cases, teachers feared additional, cumbersome work in learning and implementing new methodologies.  Read the rest of this entry →

What are available solutions to activate inefficient learning pathways? My last article reviewed the importance of understanding the four primary sensory learning pathways; visual, auditory, kinesthetic-tactile pathways, (VAKT: Visual-Auditory-Kinesthetic-Tactile teaching method, http://www.dyslexia-parent.com/VAKT.html) and these entrances must be in working order. If the senses do not integrate, there becomes a learning problem not only in the classroom, but with everyday interactions. 

Unfortunately, learning deficiencies are stigmatized. Although most of us have a learning pathway block, we are afraid to address or identify it, even though it is holding our processing speed down. Advanced processing speed can change your life, and even direct you to a new, more satisfying career. Let alone, determine your child’s future.  Read the rest of this entry →

10.  Transitioning your Special Needs Child to Life after High School by Kelly McGuire

Your 15 year old child with a disability has just announced to you that he or she would like to go to college. You’ve heard that young adults with disabilities are attending college more than ever, but before you run head long into the ivory tower, there are some things you need to do. Read the rest of this entry →

Whether your child is in general education or special education, a good teacher makes all the difference in the world.  A good teacher motivates, inspires and nurtures their students in their classroom.  I have been reminded of this lately, because I have met some wonderful teachers in recent IEP meetings.  I am truly amazed when I hear how various teachers work with students with disabilities.  As we all know, nowadays, general education teachers have to deal with many students with disabilities who are in mainstreamed classrooms. Read the rest of this entry →

Equine Facilitated Therapy (EFT) is a name given to three related methods: Hippotherapy, Therapeutic Riding, and Animal-Assisted Therapy. EFT can improve attention, memory, cognition, language, and learning.

HIPPOTHERAPY (HT)

“Hippotherapy” comes from the Greek root word for horse, hippo. It is a therapeutic method that uses the movement of the horse to facilitate learning. Traditionally HT has been used for people, particularly children, with physical handicaps; however, it has long been known to help activate language learning. A centering foundation can be established that can improve clients’ neurological function and sensory processing. Read the rest of this entry →

Asperger’s disorder or “syndrome” is not a new diagnosis; in fact it was described in the 1940’s.  “Asperger’s Syndrome was first identified in 1944, but was only officially recognized as a diagnostic category in the DSM-IV in 1994. As a result, many children were misdiagnosed over the years as ADD/ADHD, Autistic, OCD, or even schizophrenic.”  While Hans Asperger was describing this disorder in Austria, Leo Kanner was describing something else a half a world away.  Kanner described Autism at almost the same time.  The two disorders share some symptoms, but the degree of disability can vary widely. Read the rest of this entry →