A Comprehensive Eye Exam: Your First Line of Defense for Learning Success

Background

Vision plays such a vital role in a child’s learning success. Many of the symptoms and behaviors often associated with learning disabilities are very similar to those caused by vision problems. In fact, in some cases, students with real vision problems are sometimes mistaken for having learning disabilities (AD/HD, autism, and other issues). For this reason, it is critical that a comprehensive vision examination be part of a complete evaluation of every child who is failing to succeed in school.

The College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD) has provided an excellent checklist with some signs and symptoms to look for that may indicate a vision problem. This checklist is accessible by visiting http://www.covd.org/Home/ParentResourceCenter/SymptomsChecklist/tabid/279/Default.aspx

How to Properly Identify a Vision Problem

Children should be referred for a comprehensive eye exam whenever visual symptoms are noticed or if they are not achieving their potential. Important: Many of these vision problems will not be detected during a school vision screening or limited vision assessment as part of a school physical or routine pediatric health evaluation.

Locate a medical professional (i.e. developmental optometrist) in your area who is experienced and knowledgeable in diagnosing and treating learning-related vision problems. An online tool for locating such a medical professional is available at https://covdwp.memberpoint.com/WebPortal/BuyersGuide/ProfessionalSearch.aspx

Resources and Support

COVD Parent Resource Center:
http://covd.org/Parents/tabid/264/Default.aspx

Information about Insurance Coverage for Vision Therapy:
http://covd.org/InsuranceCoverageforVisionTherapy/tabid/85/Default.aspx

What is Vision Therapy?
http://covd.org/AboutVisionTherapy/tabid/71/Default.aspx

Jillian's Story: How Vision Therapy Changed My Daughter's Life by Robin Benoit and Jillian Benoit--- An inspiring story of determination---This book offers "a deeply personal account along with life-changing information on the importance of vision therapy." http://www.jilliansstory.com/

For more information:
www.FocusandRead.com For AD/HD focusing tools that work!
www.BrennanInnovators.com For AD/HD info and support
314-892-3897

Source of information: Credits to http://covd.org/ The official site of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development

Autism's Awesome A-List!

Do you have a child challenged with autism? Do you teach a teen on the spectrum? Perhaps you have a young adult or other family member with Asperger’s who is “aging out of the system”. What resources are available to help them---and you?

We certainly know that you need vital support to help your child, student or young adult with ASD. So often, services are either very expensive if paid privately or there is a long, long waiting list for public services. While you are waiting, what help is available in the meantime?

We have gathered together here some resources that we hope will assist you with your “awesome” task of taking care of your family member or student(s). We hope these links below here will support you and give you the encouragement to “keep on keeping on” with the great work that you do!

Resource Links for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs)

http://www.autismspeaks.org/ Site with current articles/resources supporting the autism community

http://www.touchpointautism.org/ This Midwest-based, non-profit organization provides excellent support to families affected by autism.
Beginning July 15, 2011, TouchPoint Autism Services will accept medical insurance for autism-related services from the carriers cited below here. The organization is actively working to secure contracts with additional carriers and will announce those options as soon as they are available.

 Healthcare USA
 HealthLink
 Anthem
 Tricare

http://www.autism-society.org Improving the lives of all affected by autism with support and resources

http://card-usf.fmhi.usf.edu/cardpubs/factsheet/Engsheets/EngFactsheets5.pdf What is Asperger Syndrome? Center for Autism & Related Disabilities Fact Sheet (from CARD)

http://www.autismbuddy.com/ Aims to provide a FREE, user-friendly website that provides high-quality printables and resources for teachers and parents for use with children having special educational needs

http://www.FocusandRead.com For focus and reading tools with sensory appeal that help children and adults with reading challenges

http://kidcompanions.com/ Site that provides accessories for a growing special needs child. Youth affected by Sensory Processing Disorder -SPD, Autism Spectrum Disorder -ASD, Attention Deficit Disorder ADD/ADHD, etc., can still benefit from developmental tools. However, age appropriate tools can be even harder to find. This resource can help. Site also provides a very supportive blog!

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/autism/detail_autism.htm Autism fact sheet and additional resource links provided by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

http://pediatricneurology.com/autism.htm#SemanticPragmatic%20Communication%20Disorder A plethora of many links for special needs, particularly for those individuals on the autism spectrum

http://www.tech4autism.com/How_this_technology_appl.php A list of excellent tech resources for parents and teachers of children with autism (list created by and courtesy of Michael Leventhal)

http://boards.webmd.com/webx?14@@.89653322 (Online) Autism Support Group

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTmEkNgPWL8 Seattle Children's Autism Blog---Oral Health Tips for Children on the Spectrum

For more information:
www.FocusandRead.com For ADHD focusing tools that work!
www.BrennanInnovators.com For ADHD info and support
314-892-3897

Graphic courtesy of: http://www.school-clip-art.com/

Helping Your Child or Teen with AD/HD

In 2005, mental health experts determined that approximately 3.5 million school-aged children in the U.S. had been diagnosed with some form of attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD, now often represented by “AD/HD”). It is estimated that this number has grown exponentially each year since that determination was made.

All too often, the first thing considered when trying to manage attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders (AD/HD) is the “M” word---medication. Yes, sometimes medications are indicated for a particular child or adult. However, in many cases, it is often a good idea to first try non-invasive and/or more natural approaches to help manage the symptoms of AD/HD.

There are quite a few websites available to help with information and resources for various approaches. I have assembled here a few of these resources (almost all FREE) that might offer some assistance in dealing with everyday tasks, school, home life, relationships and other things. I hope you find them helpful for your child, teen, or you.

http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/7507.html Summer Activities for ADHD Kids, Preteens Combine FUN and structure to give AD/HD children the best summer ever!

http://www.childrensvision.com/reading.htm Important information about WHY your child may be struggling with reading

http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/8698.html Let these apps, available for the iPod Touch, the iPhone, and the iPad, make short work of your, or your child's, to-do list.

http://www.brennaninnovators.com/strategies.html FREE strategies and tips to help with attention issues at school or when doing homework at home. Also, check out the “background color changer” feature on this website. Eliminating the white background on a page of text can help a struggling reader with AD/HD.

http://www.additudemag.com/resources/printables.html FREE printable resources for ADHD/ADD; Downloadable (Adobe PDF) handouts about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) symptoms, medication, treatment, school, help, info, parenting, teen driving, and organization resources and advice for adults and parents of children AD/HD, etc.

www.chadd.org National organization with information and support for children and adults with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD)

www.ADHDSupport.com (Sponsored by Shire US, Inc.) ADHD Support, Help for AD/HD

www.ADDConsults.com ADD Consults, This is the place to find ADHD Professionals, Resources, Consulting Services, and Products

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/adhd.cfm National Institute of Mental Health, ADHD

http://www.adhd1.net/ Help for Families of Children with AD/HD -Samuel R. Caron, Ph.D.

For more information:

For more information:
www.FocusandRead.com For ADHD focusing tools that work!
www.BrennanInnovators.com For ADHD info and support
314-892-3897

Graphic courtesy of: http://www.school-clip-art.com/

Gifted? Special Needs? Both? --- How to Help Your Child

Do you have one child who struggles to learn while your other child learns almost any concept as if it were “a piece of cake”? Perhaps you have a student who is very bright but at the same time is challenged with some aspect(s) of learning. What can a parent or teacher do?

Although my students know me as “Mrs. Brennan”, many adults often call me “The Link Lady”. Yes, many parents and teachers email or phone me requesting resources to help their children and students learn with more success. Many of these children/students have special needs and are challenged with physical and/or developmental differences. Others are frustrated and struggle for a different reason--- because learning is not challenging enough for them!

I keep current lists of FREE resource links to share with parents and teachers. Here are just a few of these helpful resources for children at either--- or BOTH--- ends of the educational spectrum. If you need more resources, just email me, and I will be happy to provide more of them for you.

Gifted Resources

http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/ Various activities for gifted and enrichment purposes

http://www.mathforum.org/library/ Various math problems and instruction (free website)---If this link is not immediately accessible, please copy and paste it into your browser.)

http://connections.smsd.org/nieman/EL/gifted.htm Provides interesting links for parents and teachers of gifted

Special Needs Resources

http://www.smarttutor.com/home/reading_menu.asp Free reading lessons & educational activities for K-5

http://www.softschools.com/language_arts/phonics/ Learn to Read: Free Phonics games, worksheets and flashcards

http://www.ldresources.org/links/ A collection of resources on various aspects of learning disabilities with comments from community members.

Combined Gifted and Special Needs Resources

http://www.teachervision.fen.com/tv/tvsearch.php?keywords=gifted+education&sitesearch=1&in=tv_all (For teachers but contains links helpful to parents regarding “gifted with learning disabilities” information)

http://www.uniquelygifted.org/ Resources for Gifted Children with Special Needs (ADD/ADHD, Learning Disabilities (LD), Asperger’s Syndrome, etc.)

For more information:

For more information:
www.FocusandRead.com For ADHD focusing tools that work!
www.BrennanInnovators.com For ADHD info and support
314-892-3897

Graphic courtesy of: http://www.school-clip-art.com/