Bonding with your future child begins before conception! Life is in love with itself. As William Blake said, "eternity is in love with time." What we call bonding is just that, which begins with mother and her infant and expands to embody the entire universe. - M. Mendizza
school accomodations dietary strategies child educational advocacy support groups online tutors parent support
ADD/ADHD & Relationships
You, Your Relationship, and Your ADD: A Workbook, by Michael T. Bell, EdS, LPC, NCC.
ADD & Romance: Finding Fulfillment in Love, by Jonathon Halverstadt, MS.
What Does Everyone Else Know That I Don't?: Social Skills Help for Adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, by Michele Novotni, PhD, and Randy Petersen.
Wrightslaw.com to review up to date documented cases.
Truly the most informative website on FAPE, IDEA, etc.
Note ***** Peter Wright, Esq. has ADHD and dyslexia.
Books by attorneys, Peter & Patricia Wright
Documentation and the Law For professionals who do assessments and for lay persons seeking disability documentation. This book helps you understand exactly what to include in letters and reports.
Learning Disabilities ADHD And The Law Covers key topics-- Who is a person with a disability under the ADA and Rehabilitation Act? What accomodations are required?What documentation is necessary? How to advocate for your position?
Special Education Law, by Peter W. D. Wright, Esq. & Pamela Wright.
Special Education Law, Second Edition Reviews, by Peter Wright, Esq. & Pamela Wright. For parent's (and educator's, child service advocate's, attorney's).
Wrightslaw: No Child Left Behind, by Peter Wright, Esq. & Pamela Wright. Clearly written for the lay person who does not understandlegal jargon. Includesw sammple letters of parents writing to schools and attorneys. Includes NCLB statute, regulations, references + resources. The Bible for NCLB legislation.
School interventions are often needed. These include: 504 Accomodation Plans, Student Study Teams, IEP's etc.
Federal Law mandates schools provide reasonable accomodations for students with conditions that interfere with major life activities, such as learning.
Please contact your school administrator or a child advocate for more information.
A school advocate may be of help facilitating working out a program that meets the child's needs. You might consider:
Reed Martin, JD, attorney at law. F. Richard Ruderman, Esq.in Sacramento, 916-563-0100 or
Wrightslaw: Special Educaton Law, Peter D. Wright and Pamela Darr Wright. Also see www.wrightslaw.com Letter to a Stranger and Tests and Measures, both free on their web site.
For Special Education Rights and Responsibilities, Community Alliance for Special Education, CASE 415-431-2292.
Reference Books for Child Educational Advocacy
RTI Response to Intervention
Using RTI to Teach Literacy to Diverse Learners, K-8 Strategies for the Inclusive Classroom, by Alber-Morgan, S. The author reviews the 3-tiered method for instruction and provides specific interventions for tiers 1, 2, and 3, + assessments.
"No Child Left Behind" legislation
Implementing NCLB, by Paul Kimmelman. How to overcome the challenge on implementing NCLB legislation.
Holding NCLB Accountable, Achieveing Accountability, Equity, & School Reform, edited by Gail I Saunderman. This provides a comprehensive evaluation of NCLB and discusses ideas for improving the law.
Essential Concepts and School-Based Cases in Special Education Law, by Charles j. Russo, Allan G. Osborne, Jr. Explores the most contentious areas of IDEA. Helps readers analyze entitlements to special education services, procedural due process, Free Appropriate education (FAPE), assistive technology, transition services,disciplinary sanctions, dispute resolution and anti-discrimination laws.
The Complete IEP Guide: Nolo Press
Section 504 and the ADA, by Charles J. Russo, Allan G. Osborne, Jr. A complete legal desk reference to help educators support the rights of individuals with disabilities.
Psychological Testing for Non-Psychological Professionals
OT (Occupational therapy) for hyper-perceptual problems is recommended. (Too much Sensory Sensitivity)
Begin with your child's teacher, set goal's with the help of someone who is trained to assist your child learn. Find out if your school provides an after school tutoring program.
If tutoring takes place online or at school make sure your child gets the same tutor and that the tutor is trained to assist your child with the subject(s) in which they need the most help.
As with all tutoring, observe the interaction between your child and the tutor. Is the tutor providing a positve learning environment, etc.?
Online tutoring works best with students who require minimal assistance.
ACO has the largest list of trained professional ADHD coaches anywhere! Search this online site to find an ADHD coach in your area: www.adhdcoaches.org
Franklin Merriam-Webster Pocket Organizer (probably $30-$35).
Fast-Forward I, Fast-Forward II or the more advanced Step-Forward by Scientific Learning, Inc. Berkeley, CA (877-607-8485) for auditory discrimination, comprehension, and audio-visual integration program.
Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes:
Lindamood Phoneme Sequencing Program for Reading, Spelling, and Speech. The LiPS Program by Patricia C. Lindamood and Phyllis Lindamood.
On Cloud Nine, Visualizing and Verbalizing for Math, by Nanci Bell and Kimberly Tuley.
Visualizing and Verbalizing for Language Comprehension and Thinking, by Nanci Bell.
Sensory Integration or Auditory Integration Training Program and/or Interactive Metronome. See www.InteractiveMetronome.com 877-994-6776 extension 227. Fax 954-385-4674 or contact Carey Vigor, MD (psychiatrist, neurologist and an audiologist at 586-615-4323 or
Making Math Real:
Making Math Real is a comprehensive professional development program for all parents, educators and educational institutions, since 1996. It is the original and unprecedented multisensory structured training model that provides intensive development in mathematics for students of all processing styles, pre-k through calculus. MMR is an innovative, fun, hands-on method of teaching and learning math that integrates key cognitive development within every lesson and activity. Fractions binder now available. Affiliated with UC Berkeley. www.makingmathreal.org
The Swain Center:
for Listening, Communicating and Learning. Dr Deborah Ross-Swain Featuring Tomatis Method of Auditory Stimulation PACE - When Tutoring Doesn't Work for Processing + Cognitive enhancement www.theswaincenter.com
Jonathon Scott Halverstadt at 707-421-6390.
The Great Brain Robbery.
Bean Sticks
Carmen Santiago Math (Bruderbond in Novato, CA was bought by Learning Center?)
Other resources:
Timed tasks (e.g. Can you do it under 10 minutes?)
Dominoes. Measuring stuff. How big is the room? Etc.
Working Puzzles and Tanagram Manipulative 3-D objects. Dominoes are great!
Math may have to be acquired by hands-on activities. (e.g. count, sort, align) Logical Journey of the Zoombinis. Math Blaster Series
We need to practice concepts with time. Example: Wall Clock. How many more minutes until it is five o'clock?
May need an analog watch.
We also recommendBeth Samuelson who is an organizational coach, at 925-947-0767 or 510-531-4767 or the book she recommends, "Organizing from the Inside Out - for Teens."
Succeeding in the Workplace. Filled with down-to-earth, realtiy-based advice on how to find and keep a job.
DIETARY STRATEGIES:
The Hungry Brain The Nutrition/Cognition Connection, by Susan Augustine. Links nutrition/behavior with learning.
The Omega-3 Connection by Andrew Stoll, M.D. Fatty acids feeds the emotional brain. Learn how a little extra Omega 3 and Omega 6 in your diet may help prevent Alzheimer's, depression, and mood disorders. Fatty acides are found in fish and shellfish. Convincing research.
The Instinct to Heal: Curing Stress, Anxiety, and Depression Without Drugs and Without Talk Therapy, by David Servan-Schreiber, M.D., Ph.D. "Every life is unique... and every life is difficult." The Instinct to Heal
Depression Free, Naturally, by Joan M. Larson, Ph. D.
Straight Talk About Psychiatric Medications, by Dr. Wilens.
Mayo Clinic on Healthy Weight.
There are several important dietary strategies that are often helpful for people with learning, emotional or behavioral problems.
*Avoid caffeine and nicotine--they may make your condition worse in the long run and decrease the effectiveness of the medication.
*Avoid large quantities of simple sugars.
*A higher protein, lower carbohydrate diet is often helpful for people with concentration, energy and focus problems.
*A balance between carbohydrates and protein is often better for people with overfocused
symptoms.
*Trial of dairy-free (casein free) diet for one week.
*Trial of gluten free (wheat oats, barley, rye) diet for a week.
Program for Hypoglycemia and/or adrenal exhaustion:
See "Program In "The Glucose Revolution," by Jenny Brand-Miller and Kaye Foster-Powell;
Chapter-three of "The Diet Cure" by Julia Ross, call 415-458-8446 or see www.DietCure.com or
Depression-Free, Naturally, by Joan Matthews Larson, Ph. D. Adrenal support natural program might include high dose Vitamin B5 (Pantothenate) 500 mg and high dose Vitamin C 1000mg-10mg, Glycchorhizoids (from licorice) and adrenal support products, e.g. Glucontrol from Allergy Research Group www.ARG.com
For food allergies, Gastrocrom, to prevent the pro-inflammatory release of histamine from Mast and Chromaffin Cells in the gut. This might be helpful should there be some hitherto undiagnosed food allergens in the diet. Gastrocrom 100mg/5 mL ampules, #96 (by prescription) twist off the plastic top and drink one from the tube or in water or juice 1/2 hour before each meal. May take an extra one at bedtime.
Contact: Houston Nutraceuticals at 866-757-8627 or 479-549-4538 or www.Houstonni.com for Peptizyde capsules.Take one at the beginning of any meal containing supsected food allergens. (e.g. dairy products, wheat products, etc.)
Contact Kirkman Laboratory, 1-888-Kirkman, or www.Kirkmanlabs.com for "EnzymAid" from Kirkman Laboratories, provides additional enzymes to break down certain proteins, such as casein, gluten, and others, that might penetrate a "Leaky Gut." and enter the blood circulation, where they may reach the brain, and cause an inflammatory cerebritis or an over-reaction of the immune system (an auto-immune cerebritis). EnzymAid 1-2 capsules 1/2 hour before each meal.
Broad Spectrum Digestive Enzymes, from Kirkman Laboratories, 1-888-Kirkman or www.Kirkmanlabs.com
SuperNutra Thera 2 caps daily for a month.Test for candida at Great Smokey's Diagnostic Lab. www.gsdl.com and test for 1gG 92 foods through them too.
Genova Diagnostics (formerly Great Smokey's Diagnostic Laboratory) contact 888-201-8333 or 800-522-4762 or www.gsdl.com for information, tubes, supplies and, if needed, insurance forms.
Trial of anti-fungal regime.candida may grow as individual cells in the normal gut, but may form colonies in the area of the mucosa, which constitute an over-permeable area. This is one common pathogenesis of a "Leaky Gut Syndrome."Nystatin has a very low side profile, and even so, not very much is absorbed from the gut. A course of treatment for 2-3 weeks may be indicated. Rx: Nystatin 500,000 IU 1/2- 1 tablet twice a day.
Further blood tests of the immune system may be warranted in the future.
A future option might be Naltrexone, an opioid antagonist, (if a child shows some spaciness, in response to certain elements in his/her diet, this could mean that he/she might be producing certain narcotic like substances, such as casomorphin (produced from the milk protein, casein) or gluteomorphin (produced from wheat protein, gluten).
SUPPORT GROUPS:
Emotional and social support is often healing for both parents and students.
About KIDS meets at 7:00 every third Monday, of each month, on the third floor of Kaiser Permente in Vacaville, California. Open to parents who are frustrated with their child's educational progress within the public schools. Informative, supportive. Contact: Linda Geller, valleyoak@aol.com
Hope: New Choices and Recovery Strategies for Adult Children ofAlcoholics, by Emily Marlin, President of the New York Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. "Emily Marlin has added her special expertise to offerhope and very practical help to adult children. Her words are inspired and directional." --Sharon Wegscheider-Cruse, Founding Chairperson of the National Association for Children of Alcoholics and author of Choicemaking and Another Chance.
autismspeaks.org Odds of a child performing at Carnegie Hall: 1 in 73,000. Odds of a child being diagnosed with autism 1 in 166.
Brehm Preparatory School, Inc. Empowering students with complex learning disabilities to recognize and optimize their full potential. Carbondale, IL www.brehm.org
