From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
If your child has autism, what’s the best program or method for teaching him? Despite lots of hype, lots of claims, lots of testimonials, no one knows.
But unfortunately, many parents and school personnel mistakenly believe that all children with autism need the same instructional program or method, that only one program or method is universally recognized as the best, that only it is appropriate, that only it can help these children.
The Literature
The professional literature contradicts this view. Here’s a sampling: Read more...
Advocacy, applied verbal behavior, Autism, autistic spectrum disorder, discrete trial instruction, discrete trial teaching, discrete trial training, IDEA, IDEIA, Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, intervention, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, Lovaas, Parenting, program planning, remediation, Skinner, verbal behavior
From Reading & Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan and Dr. Howard Margolis
No matter what laws, court rulings, or research studies say, inclusion is in danger of collapsing or becoming a hollow, ineffective, and perhaps harmful option for placing and educating children with disabilities. This is due, in part, to budget cuts and the corrosive effects of public policy on teachers.
First, we’ll list some of the more critical factors needed for inclusion to work. Then we’ll discuss how public policy is undermining them. Finally, we’ll suggest what you can do to support meaningful inclusion. Read more...
Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, IDEA, IDEIA, inclusion, Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, intervention, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, least restrictive environment, mainstreaming, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading intervention, reading problem, reading problems, reading remediation, remedial reading, remediation, struggling reader, Struggling Readers, teacher, teachers
From Reading and Other Learning Disabilities
A Blog by Dr. Gary G. Brannigan & Dr. Howard Margolis
How to Reduce Anxiety: Yours and Your Child’s—Part II
In late March, we described three ways you can use relaxation strategies to reduce anxiety—yours and your child’s. We described meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, and diaphragmatic breathing. And we quoted the research from 1990. Here’s a more recent statistical analysis:
The [literature shows] consistent and significant efficacy of relaxation training in reducing anxiety. (Manzoni et al., 2008, p. 9 of 12) Read more...
anxiety, breathing, children with disabilities, diaphragm breathing, diaphragmatic breathing, Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, IDEA, IEP, imagery, intervention, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, meditation, muscle relaxation, Parenting, progressive muscle relaxation, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading intervention, reading problem, reading problems, related service, relaxation, relaxation training, self-efficacy, self-esteem, slow breathing, strengthening resiliency, stress, struggling reader, Struggling Readers, visual imagery
Why Can’t We Be Friends?
Guest Post by Kathryn Burke
Executive Director
Learning Disabilities Association of Alberta
Alberta, Canada
Some memories are so vivid it almost seems like a DVD is being played in your brain when they are being recalled. The memory I want to share is like that for me – so vivid I am still able to recall everything from the smell of the room to the buzz of the fluorescent lights. Read more...
conflict, Dyslexia, dyslexic, IDEA, IDEA 2004, inclusion, inclusion ideology, inclusionist, inclusionists, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, parent, parents, research, research on inclusion, special education rights, struggling reader
Here are 15 guidelines that can strengthen the effectiveness of your advocacy.
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Have your child evaluated by experts who can identify your child’s needs.
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Make sure you understand his needs before you meet with school personnel to discuss his needs and possible interventions.
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Make specific requests (in writing) for meeting his needs; support your requests with reports from well-credentialed experts, experts whom the school respects.
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Treat people with respect, even if you disagree with them, even if they reject your requests. Read more...
Advocacy, advocating for children, Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, IDEA, IDEA 2004, IEP, IEP meeting, IEP meetings, IEPs, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, monitoring of reading, parents, problem solving, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, Reading Materials, reading problem, reading problems, Special Education, struggling reader, struggling readers IEP
Is inclusion always good? No. It’s not. That’s why the “I” in IEP stands for individualized. That why the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA) requires schools to have numerous placement and service options. That’s why IDEA requires IEP Teams to base all decisions about children’s programs on their needs, not their special education classification.
Inclusion is often good, but not always. Many children with reading disabilities need instruction that differs dramatically from that offered in general education classes. Even with major changes in curriculum and assignments, many general education classes are inadequate for teaching children with reading disabilities how to read. Read more...
children’s rights, Dyslexia, dyslexic, IDEA, IDEA 2004, inclusion, inclusion ideology, inclusionist, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, placement, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading problems, reading specialist, research, research on inclusion, special education rights, struggling reader
Nothing can ensure that your child’s IEP meeting will be productive. However, you can increase the odds that it will be. Here’s one way. Before the meeting, meet with your child’s case manager and agree on how the meeting should be organized. You have a right to do this as you’re an important member of the IEP Team.
Fortunately, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA-2004) and the format of the IEP offer an excellent sequence for developing the IEP. Unfortunately, the sequence is often ignored and critical parts of the IEP are given the short shrift. Read more...
benchmarks, Dyslexia, dyslexic, dyslexics, frustration level, goals, IDEA, IDEA 2004, IEP, IEP meeting, IEP meetings, IEPs, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, intervention, Learning Disabilities, learning disability, monitoring of reading, objectives, parents, problem solving, Reading Disabilities, reading disability, reading intervention, reading levels, Reading Materials, reading problem, reading problems, reading remediation, remedial reading, remediation, short-term objectives, Special Education, struggling reader, struggling readers IEP
