BEST Websites for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs)

The last in a series of five articles with specific special needs resources

As LD Awareness Month concludes during this last week of October, we are bringing you our final article in a series of five that provides websites and resources for specific special or additional needs.

The most recent data from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) indicates that in the U.S., about 1 in 88 children have been identified with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Autism spectrum disorders are almost five times more common among boys than girls – with 1 in 54 boys identified.
(Source: CDC's Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, March 2012:
http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2012/p0329_autism_disorder.html)

Because of this high level of autism prevalence, we thought it most appropriate to conclude our series here by providing our readers with helpful website resources for that specific need. We hope that this list of autism websites will help you as a parent, teacher or caregiver of a child or adult with autism.

BEST Websites for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs)

Autism Spectrum Disorders---from the National Center for Learning Disabilities
http://www.ncld.org/types-learning-disabilities/adhd-related-issues/autism-spectrum-disorders?gclid=CI-okIvJr7oCFUkV7AodSj4AUw

National Autism Association
http://nationalautismassociation.org/

Autism NOW---from the National Autism Resource & Information Center
http://autismnow.org/

TeachersFirst Resources on Autism Spectrum Disorders and Asperger’s
http://www.teachersfirst.com/spectopics/autism-asperger.cfm

Websites for Families from Autism Speaks
http://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/resource-library/websites-families

10 Great iPad Apps for Students on the Autism Spectrum---by Patrick Jordan
http://ipadinsight.com/ipad-in-education-2/10-great-ipad-apps-for-students-on-the-autism-spectrum/

For information on customizable reading tools:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Image courtesy of: Brennan Innovators, LLC

BEST Websites for Executive Function Disorder (EFD)

The fourth in a series of five articles with specific special needs resources

Challenges with executive function—a set of mental processes that helps connect past experience with present action—can be seen at any age and often contribute to the difficulties that individuals with LD already face in academic learning. Many individuals struggle with executive function, which governs a person’s ability to plan, organize and manage details in everyday life.
(Source: National Center for Learning Disabilities---Executive Functioning: Please see website link to follow below here.)

Children who experience executive function disorder (EFD) will often struggle in school with late and/or missing assignments and will have difficulties trying to manage a daily schedule that promotes academic success. These affected children frequently have difficulties with the following:

• managing time & attention
• switching focus
• planning/organizing work & responsibilities
• remembering details
• curbing inappropriate speech or behavior
• integrating past experience with present situations

For adults with executive function issues, behavior such as procrastination, tardiness, memory challenges and more will negatively impact one’s effectiveness and success at work as well as the person’s relationships and home life.

So, what can a parent or teacher do about improving or developing executive functioning skills in a child affected by such challenges? Are there strategies or tips that might help an affected adult with these executive function issues?

We think that the best place to start is with the best information available about executive functioning skills. In keeping with this October’s commemoration of LD Awareness Month, we have gathered some helpful website resources on this topic here in our fourth in a series of five articles. We hope these links will provide the assistance needed to help you or someone you care about with executive functioning challenges.

Executive Function 101---FREE e-Book from the National Center for Learning Disabilities
http://ncld.convio.net/site/MessageViewer?em_id=21301.0&dlv_id=32771

Executive-Function Deficits in Children---from ADDitude Magazine
http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/8392.html

Executive Function Disorder, Explained!---from ADDitude Magazine
http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/7051.html

What Is Executive Function?---from WebMD
http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/executive-function

For information on customizable reading tools:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Image courtesy of: Brennan Innovators, LLC

BEST Websites for Dyscalculia & Dyspraxia

The third in a series of five articles with specific special needs resources

As planned and promised, we are continuing our series of articles containing helpful links to websites for specific special needs. This week, the websites presented are for dyscalculia and dyspraxia, two different disabilities that some consider as two other forms of dyslexia.

Before we present the best websites for these two learning challenges, however, we first want to provide good definitions for these learning issues.

What Is Dyscalculia?

Dyscalculia refers to a wide range of lifelong learning disabilities involving math. There is no single type of math disability. Dyscalculia can vary from person to person. It can also affect people differently at different stages of life. Using alternate learning methods, people with dyscalculia can achieve success. Currently, statistics vary regarding the incidence of this particular learning disability.
(Source: National Center for Learning Disabilities---NCLD: Please see website link to follow below here.)

What Is Dyspraxia?

Dyspraxia is a neurological disorder throughout the brain that results in life-long impaired motor, memory, judgment, processing, and other cognitive skills. Dyspraxia also impacts the immune and central nervous systems. Each dyspraxic person has different abilities and weaknesses as dyspraxia often comes with a variety of comorbidities. One in ten persons in the U.S. suffers from dyspraxia.
(Source: Dyspraxia Foundation USA: Please see website link to follow below here.)

BEST Websites for Dyscalculia

National Center for Learning Disabilities---Dyscalculia
http://www.ncld.org/types-learning-disabilities/dyscalculia/what-is-dyscalculia

about dyscalculia
http://aboutdyscalculia.org/resources.html

Dyscalculia.org-Math Tools
http://www.dyscalculia.org/math-tools

Apps to Help Students with Dyscalculia and Math Difficulties---by Darla Hatton and Kaila Hatton (via NCLD)
http://www.ncld.org/students-disabilities/assistive-technology-education/apps-students-ld-dyscalculia-math-difficulties

The British Dyslexia Association---Dyscalculia Primer & Resource Guide
http://www.oecd.org/edu/ceri/dyscalculiaprimerandresourceguide.htm

BEST Websites for Dyspraxia

Dyspraxia Foundation USA
http://www.dyspraxiausa.org/

Six Helpful Dyspraxia Resources---from the National Center for Learning Disabilities
http://www.ncld.org/types-learning-disabilities/dyspraxia/helpful-motor-skills-development-resources

Blog: occupationaltherapyforchildren.over-blog.com
http://occupationaltherapyforchildren.over-blog.com/article-dyspraxia-87698021.html

Dyspraxia (Children) – Symptoms (from NHS in the UK)
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Dyspraxia-(childhood)/Pages/Symptoms.aspx

BRAIN.HE (Best Resources for Achievement and Intervention re Neurodiversity in Higher Education)
http://www.brainhe.com/students/types/dyspraxia.html

For information on customizable reading tools:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Image courtesy of: Brennan Innovators, LLC

BEST Websites for Dyslexia & Dysgraphia

The 2nd in a series of 5 articles with specific special needs resources
Updated November 2016

In last week’s article, we mentioned that this month was ADHD Awareness Month, and we provided our readers with some helpful ADHD website resources to commemorate the next 31 days---BEST Websites for AD/HD. That same article was the first in a series of five this month of October, also designated as Learning Disabilities Awareness Month. To continue our series AND address the needs of other learning disabilities, this week’s article will address some helpful resources for two other learning challenges---dyslexia and dysgraphia.

What Is Dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a lifelong challenge. This language-based processing disorder can hinder reading, writing, spelling and sometimes even speaking. Dyslexia is not a sign of poor intelligence or laziness or the result of impaired hearing or vision. Children and adults with dyslexia have a neurological disorder that causes their brains to process and interpret information differently.
(Source: National Center for Learning Disabilities---NCLD: Please see website link to follow below here.)

Studies show that individuals with dyslexia process information in a different area of the brain than do non-dyslexics. Many people who are dyslexic are of average to above-average intelligence.
(Source: The International Dyslexia Association---IDA: Please see website link to follow below here.)

What Is Dysgraphia?

Dysgraphia is a learning disability that affects writing, which in itself requires a complex set of motor and information processing skills. Dysgraphia makes the act of writing difficult. It can lead to problems with spelling, poor handwriting and putting thoughts on paper. People with dysgraphia can have trouble organizing letters, numbers and words on a line or page. This can result partly from:

• Visual-spatial difficulties: trouble processing what the eye sees
• Language processing difficulty: trouble processing and making sense of what the ear hears
(Source: National Center for Learning Disabilities---NCLD: Please see website link to follow below here.)

We hope that the website resources listed below for dyslexia and dysgraphia will be helpful to you or to someone you know.

BEST Websites & Resources for Dyslexia

The International Dyslexia Association
https://dyslexiaida.org

The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity
http://www.dyslexia.yale.edu/

DyslexiaHelp at the University of Michigan
http://dyslexiahelp.umich.edu/

Articles and Resources for Dyslexia from Understood.org
https://www.understood.org/en/about/search-results?q=dyslexia

800+ Dyslexia Resources & Support---ALL in 1 Place! from Brennan Innovators, LLC
https://www.pinterest.com/brennajn2000/dyslexia-resources-support/

BEST Websites & Resources for Dysgraphia

The International Dyslexia Association
https://dyslexiaida.org/understanding-dysgraphia/

Dysgraphia from National Center for Learning Disabilities
http://www.ncld.org/types-learning-disabilities/dysgraphia/what-is-dysgraphia

Dysgraphia from LD Online
http://www.ldonline.org/article/5890/

Dysgraphia from Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA)
http://www.ldanatl.org/aboutld/parents/ld_basics/dysgraphia.asp

Articles and Resources for Dysgraphia from Understood.org
https://www.understood.org/en/about/search-results?q=dysgraphia

Handwriting Problem Solutions from Handwriting Problem Solutions, LLC
http://www.handwriting-solutions.com/dysgraphia.asp

200+ Dysgraphia Resources---ALL in 1 Place---Brennan Innovators, LLC
https://www.pinterest.com/brennajn2000/dysgraphia-resources/?etslf=9438&eq=dysgraphia

For information on customizable tools for dyslexia & other reading challenges:
www.FocusandRead.com Tools for struggling readers of all ages!
www.BrennanInnovators.com Info & support for struggling readers
314-892-3897

Image courtesy of: Brennan Innovators, LLC