NEW Helpful Resources for Dyslexia Challenges

As mentioned in last week’s blog article, we have been attending and presenting seminars at several educational conferences over the past several weeks. Last week was no exception, as we visited and briefly presented for a third time at the Patrick Henry Downtown Academy’s Parent Symposium here in St. Louis.

Just like attendees at the previous educational conferences, interested parents and teachers at the school expressed their concerns about struggling readers, asking questions about various reading challenges that included dyslexia. Some of the young students from the school were also present. These parents and teachers (and even some of the students) told us what it’s really like for some students who struggle to read just like conference attendees over the past several weeks had mentioned. The following are some of the reading symptoms described:

1. Eyes get tired when reading for just for a few minutes.
2. Florescent lights in the classroom seem to cause a glare and make it hard to focus, much less read and understand what is read.
3. Can’t focus on the line to be read. Eyes are all over the page.
4. My child loses his place all the time when he tries to read.
5. My daughter says that the letters on the page look like they are moving or waving.

With these symptoms described to us more than a few times, we shared information about the importance of comprehensive eye exams and the value of using our Reading Focus Cards (Patent 7,565,759). At the same time, we also provided literature that included tips and strategies to help challenged readers of all ages.

Finally, we thought this might be a good time to provide these parents and teachers as well as our readers here some new resources for symptoms like those listed. The descriptions above could be possible indications of dyslexia. However, dyslexia is a reading challenge for which accommodations are not provided in student IEPs (in most states). In fact, an IEP is not even provided for students with a singular diagnosis of dyslexia (again, in most states). At the same time, dyslexia is a reading challenge that can significantly impact one's self-esteem and overall success in life. As a result, we wanted to provide the following new resources we hope will be helpful to many:

New Resources for Dyslexia and Other Reading Challenges

Teaching Resources (from TES)
(Last updated on April 19, 2013)
Over 600,672 free teaching resources for dyslexia and other learning challenges to use in your classroom and school today. TES Teaching Resources is where teachers share and download free lesson plans, classroom resources, revision guides and curriculum worksheets. Whether you are looking for SEN teaching strategies and approaches, VCOP activities, or secondary classroom activities, you can choose from 1000s of teacher resources, download them for free and adapt them to suit your classroom activities.
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resources/

Supporting Spelling (from TES)
(Last updated on October 11, 2012)
TES provides a selection of strategies and ideas to help your students improve their spelling. The range of free resources includes lesson plans and worksheets on mnemonics, spelling guides, games and strategies helpful for supporting pupils with dyslexia and moderate learning difficulties.
http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6258399

Understanding Dyslexia: Infographic---Visual diagram describing dyslexia from the WeAreTeachers Blog (Published April 03, 2013)
http://www.weareteachers.com/community/blogs/weareteachersblog/blog-wat/2013/04/03/understanding-dyslexia-infographic

Top Tips to Start Supporting Students with Dyslexia (from TES)
This colorful diagram provides teachers and parents with strategies to use immediately with children and teens challenged with dyslexia.
http://pinterest.com/pin/80150068341286459/

OpenDyslexic---A new, open-sourced font created by Abelardo Gonzalez to increase readability for readers with dyslexia. The typeface includes regular, bold, italic, and bold-italic styles. It is being updated continually and improved based on input from dyslexic users. There are no restrictions on using OpenDyslexic outside of attribution.
http://opendyslexic.org/

Reading with COLOR---What a Difference It Can Make!
(Published March 10, 2013)
http://www.focusandread.com/blog/post/3537480

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 at http://www.focusandread.com/blog

Video Game Developer with Dyslexia Creates Interactive e-Book for Young Readers

It has been a busy week at Brennan Innovators after having participated in two educational conferences here in St. Louis. At these two events, we met with so many adults and children who described their symptoms and challenges with dyslexia.

Also during the past seven days, we have had the great privilege of interviewing an experienced and accomplished video game developer whose company is much in the news right now. Joe Booth is the Executive Producer and Creative Director of Vidya Gamer, LLC, a company that takes concepts used in making video games "to re-imagine learning.” Currently, Joe and his company are working diligently on a project that will incorporate the concepts learned in video game development and apply them to an exciting and uniquely interactive e-book for young readers. Joe Booth also is upfront about the fact that he has dyslexia.

Joe’s 25 years’ experience in traditional video game development includes work with major industry franchises such as FIFA, Need for Speed, Ghost Recon, and Rollercoaster Tycoon. Joe has held senior production and creative roles at Microsoft, Electronic Arts and Ubisoft. While at Microsoft, Joe established Microsoft KODU as the leading game-based learning platform.

More recently, Joe founded Vidya Gamer in order to focus full time on transforming the games and learning space into a meaningful commercial sector. His clients include the Gates Foundation, Achieve3000, the Pearson Foundation and OutThink, Inc.

With all of these impressive achievements, you might be surprised to learn that Joe has dyslexia. As a young student, he struggled significantly with spelling, composing thoughts for writing, and had “bad handwriting.” His teachers attempted to help him with exercises and “remedial” spelling activities that provided no real assistance for Joe. In fact, this contributed to even more confusion about spelling and writing. At about age 11 or 12, Joe began to feel disengaged and started “skipping school.” It didn’t take long for this to become a chronic issue.

At the same time, Joe had always had significant strengths and talents in other areas. Math and science were subjects where he excelled, which is not unusual for individuals with dyslexia. During the summer of that same year, Joe’s parents bought him his first computer, which became the tool that would enable him to fully use his talents and gifts in a very productive way---making computer games. These games were “his thing”, and he began to teach himself how to program in order to create them himself. Amazingly, at age 15, a company offered him a contract to create a computer game for the marketplace.

In his 20s, Joe did not do much reading for leisure. During that time, he re-visited books attempted in his earlier years, such as Winnie the Pooh and Alice in Wonderland, and experienced some success. Then he read A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. This novel portrayed a character with dyslexia who used a piece of paper to help him read. Reading Irving's book and identifying with this dyslexic character was a turning point for Joe.

Joe Booth realized after reading this novel that he could use his strengths to solve problems. Even though he had always been challenged with spelling and writing, he could use his problem-solving skills and other talents while cutting and pasting letters and other symbols to write programming code for the creation of exciting video games.

Today, Joe and Vidya Gamer are putting all their efforts into developing an interactive e-book that will help provide more background knowledge for young readers while allowing them to interact with the digital text, creating a story with outcomes they choose. In taking on this project, Joe Booth and his company will be making a major contribution to literacy for young people. This e-book, written in the spirit of Indiana Jones and the Choose Your Own Adventure books, will engage its readers and involve them in the unfolding story.

Currently, they are in the final days of raising funds for this e-book development via Kickstarter.com. To view the video about the e-book efforts or to contribute to this literacy project, just visit http://kck.st/15Q4Mlz. If funds manage to exceed the goal amount for the project, the extra funding will be used to reach the company’s “stretch goals”, which are to create additional versions of the book for different reading levels. A pledge of just $5 will allow a donor to receive a digital copy of this very first e-book from Vidya Gamer on the day of release (estimated delivery---May 2013).

Joe Booth has certainly demonstrated that even with the challenges of dyslexia, it is more than possible to use one’s other strengths and talents to manage some of the dyslexic symptoms and solve problems, especially while promoting and contributing to literacy. He believes the mention to others that one is affected with dyslexia "let's the pressure off" and allows one to be more able to function successfully. He also wants others to know that those with dyslexia are not unintelligent. In fact, many have unique gifts that enable them to compensate for the dyslexic symptoms. Joe's unique talents and gifts will certainly help young readers learn to love reading again. We want to wish all the best of success to Joe and Vidya Gamer, LLC with Codename: A FOR ADVENTURE!

Resources

National STEM Video Game Challenge
http://stemchallenge.org/experts/joe-booth/

Kickstarter Campaign Page---For more info or to make a contribution to the Vidya Gamer e-book project
http://kck.st/15Q4Mlz

Company Website for Vidya Gamer, LLC
vidyagamer.com

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: http://osxdaily.com/2011/06/04/black-white-ipads-and-iphones/

Easy Tips for “Too Much Text!”

Focus Strategies for ADHD, Dyslexia & Other Issues

Is your child overwhelmed each time a new written assignment is due? Do you have one or more students in your classroom who can’t seem to finish a math worksheet---or any worksheet, for that matter? Well, perhaps the issue is not a lack of motivation, but in the fact that there is just too much printed text or content for them to process. So, what should you do to help?

This was one of the problems mentioned most often at a very recent educational conference we attended here in St. Louis. Again and again, we offered some simple tips to parents and teachers wanting to help children FOCUS and READ with more success.

This week in our blog article, we thought it might be a good idea to provide just a few of the ideas offered to those at the conference. These tips can make work much more manageable, especially for children and teens with AD/HD or dyslexia who sometimes say, “There’s just too much text!” We hope you’ll find them simple yet helpful for your child or students who need help with focusing and for those times when there is “just too much text.”

Focus and Reading Tips for Too Much Content

1. Fold worksheet into sections so only content needing immediate attention is visible.
-Fold so that only 1 paragraph/question/portion of the worksheet can be viewed at a time.
-With math worksheets, fold paper into fourths (or even eighths) so that only 2 problems (or even 1 problem) can be seen.
-When the content section has been read, question answered, or problem(s) completed, re-fold for the next section or problem(s), etc. until all work in the assignment has been completed.

2. Cut worksheet into meaningful sections.
-Cut worksheet so each cut section contains only 1 paragraph or 1 question.
-Cut math worksheets so each part will contain only 2 problems (or 1, if needed).
-Then, in sequential order, staple all sections together at the upper, right-hand corner.
-As each section is read or completed, tear off that section and set it aside. The student will feel like he is making progress with each “tear-off” and the sense of being overwhelmed will melt.

3. Use simple tools to help break up the content into manageable parts.
-Use a ruler placed below each line of text that is to be read. This will place emphasis on the reading matter needing immediate attention. Move the ruler down the page as each line is read.
-Use a piece of colored paper or cardstock to place under lines of content about to be read, covering all text or problems yet to be given attention. This will provide emphasis on what needs immediate attention.
-Use graph paper to properly align math problems into correct place holder columns.
-Use a customized, cut card or the Reading Focus Cards to isolate 1 or 2 lines of text and block out a significant amount of surrounding text. For some math problems, turn the card 90 degrees to isolate place holder columns, allowing only the one column of numbers needing to be added, etc. at the moment.

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: http://www.kidslearningstation.com/math/math-help-worksheets.asp

Apps to Shorten the Road to Stroke Recovery

Updated December 2014

Developmental optometrists and occupational therapists continue to tell us that the Reading Focus Cards (Patent 7,565,759) help some of their patients recovering from stroke. These low-tech, reading tools can help patients with alexia to re-learn how to read. In addition, these Reading Focus Cards are providing help for patients with Parkinson'sand even dementia, helping them to focus and concentrate with greater success.

We also know that technology today, such as e-tablets and e-readers, is helping to level the playing field for all readers and learners with special needs. The access and use of this technology are not only advantageous for these readers and learners but is and will continue to be a great benefit to all of us. The iPad and Android apps are improving the quality of life for so many, and as a result, an increasing number of individuals with special needs are becoming a little more independent, a little more self-sufficient. This new independence will continue to be advantageous for all of society.

Stroke recovery is no different. Many of those who have experienced the devastating effects of a stroke can attest to the strong need and desire to regain independence, but the struggle can be a long road. However, with the new technology of apps, the road back to independence is being shortened considerably. When the technology of an iPad or a Kindle is combined with the Reading Focus Cards, recovering stroke patients challenged with alexia can benefit even more with the improved focus and concentration the tools provide.

This week, we wanted to give our readers some lists of iPad and Android apps particularly helpful for stroke recovery patients. It is apparent that at the time of this writing, there are considerably more iPad apps for this particular patient population than there are Android apps. This will mostly change as apps in both formats will increasingly be needed. We hope you will find the resources gathered here to benefit someone you know who is facing these unique challenges.

iPad Apps for Stroke Recovery

i-Pad Apps Help Stroke Patients---by Anne Sigmon
Short article with links to app lists for stroke recovery patients
http://annesigmon.com/blog/i-pad-apps-help-stroke-patients/

Using the iPad 2 in Stroke Recovery – My Family’s Experience---by Janet Cloniger
Article includes iPad apps for stroke recovery as well as information, insights and recommendations relating to the use of the iPad for this purpose.
http://the-gadgeteer.com/2011/09/30/using-the-ipad-2-in-stroke-recovery-%E2%80%93-my-family%E2%80%99s-experience/

iPad Apps for Stroke Patients---from The Stroke Recovery Blog
Article with brief summaries of several apps for aphasia and other issues resulting from stroke
http://www.neuroaid.com/en/blog/other-information/ipad-apps-for-stroke-patients/

Android Apps for Stroke Recovery

Apps for Stroke Movement Recovery
List of apps that encourage post-stroke movement recovery
http://androidapp.lisisoft.com/android-apps/stroke-movement-recovery.html

Speech Assistant---by ASoft.nl (FREE)
A single Android app that designed to communicate with people who have difficulty speaking but are able to read. This may be in the case of aphasia, after a stroke, in case of vocal cord problems or other speech problems. The app can also be a tool to practice during rehabilitation.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nl.asoft.speechassistant&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsIm5sLmFzb2Z0LnNwZWVjaGFzc2lzdGFudCJd

Desktop Apps for Stroke Recovery

The Reading Focus Cards App (Patent 8,360,779)
This innovative desktop app can help readers focus on one or more lines of text AND block out more surrounding text than any other app available at this writing. It can assist challenged readers recovering from stroke (with alexia, aphasia or other similar conditions) to more easily locate, focus on the next line of text and track subsequent text lines.

To learn more about the Reading Focus Cards app (Patent 8,360,779), please visit http://helpforstrugglingreaders.blogspot.com/2014/11/new-desktop-app-now-helps-even-more.html or http://www.focusandread.com/page/488513590.

Direct links to access app download:
1. For Macs: Visit the Mac App Store and search for Read and Focus or go directly to
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/read-and-focus/id920617853?mt=12

2. For Windows PCs: Visit Gumroad.com at
https://gumroad.com/l/ReadingFocusCards. You may also visit the Microsoft Windows Store and search for the app called Reading Focus Cards. (No URLs are provided for apps in the Windows Store.)

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: The Stroke Recovery Blog-http://www.neuroaid.com/en/blog/other-information/ipad-apps-for-stroke-patients/

BEST Apps for Children with Down Syndrome

Updated January 2015

We received such a response from last week’s article entitled Vision & Literacy Resources for Down Syndrome that this week, we wanted to continue to offer assistance and support for teachers as well as families by providing them with some helpful apps for children and teens with Down Syndrome.

We did some research during the past week and found quite a few lists in special needs' blogs and elsewhere that should provide a wide variety of apps to address various needs in a number of content areas. We also added a short list of other resources (not apps) to follow near the end of the article.

We hope you’ll agree that these apps and resources will be helpful to teachers and families challenged with the special needs of Down Syndrome.

Apps & Resources for Children with Down Syndrome

App List for Young Children with Down Syndrome (October 30, 2014)
by Julie Melton Smith
There are many good apps that can be beneficial for young children! BridgingApps has put together an app list for young children with Down Syndrome. Use these apps to not only make the smart device fun but beneficial to the child’s development.
http://bridgingapps.org/2014/10/app-list-young-children-down-syndrome/

Apps for Middle and High School Students with Down Syndrome (October 8, 2014)
by Julie Melton Smith
BridgingApps has put together an app list for people with Down Syndrome that could be helpful during these years.
http://bridgingapps.org/2014/10/apps-middle-high-school-students-down-syndrome/

Desktop APP---Reading Focus Cards (Patent 8,360,779)
This desktop app for Macs, Windows PCs & Microsoft Surface tablets accommodates low vision or unfocused readers by covering text NOT to be read and channeling the eyes to 1 or more lines of text that ARE to be read. Users can manipulate all features of this digital tool available for download to help them better decode words and improve focus, comprehension and retention. This app allows for customization to meet the needs of individual readers and can also accommodate very large text or fonts as needed.
To learn more, visit http://www.focusandread.com/page/488513590.
Direct links to access app download:
1. For Macs (desktops & notebooks):
Visit the Mac App Store and search for Reading Focus Cards or go directly to
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/read-and-focus/id920617853?mt=12
2. For Windows PCs (desktops & laptops):
Visit Gumroad at https://gumroad.com/l/ReadingFocusCards OR visit the Microsoft Windows Store and search for the app called Reading Focus Cards. (No URLs are ever provided for apps in the Windows Store.)

Technology Use for Children with Down Syndrome: The iPad
by Dr. Thomas L. Layton
This article contains information on using iPads with children challenged with Down Syndrome. Various apps and their links are provided throughout the article that addresses needs in the area of phonics and reading, writing, speech and more.
http://www.talkandtotal.com/2011/05/technology-use-for-children-with-down-syndrome-the-ipad/

Down Syndrome Awareness Month App List (iPad & Android Apps)
by Amanda Schaumburg, M.S. CCC-SLP
This link will provide access to a pdf file for download. The file contains a list of apps for work on language skills compiled by a speech & language pathologist. Ms. Schaumburg prefers to think “functional!” and always tries to find ways to transfer skills learned in these apps to real life.
http://pandaspeech.blogspot.com/2012/10/down-syndrome-awareness-month-app-list.html

National Down Syndrome Congress 2011 BridgingApps App List
This list of apps was created for the convention by BridgingApps co-founder Cristen Reat, with contributions from Tricia Brinks (educator), Bonita Merrill (parent) and Betsy Furler (speech language pathologist). The apps address skills and topics related to school, independence, communication, leisure and more for parents of children with Down Syndrome.
http://bridgingapps.org/2011/08/national-down-syndrome-congress-2011-snapps4kids-app-list/

Apps for Kids with Special Needs (for iPad, iPhone, and iPod)
This link will provide access to various lists of apps to help our kids learn and possibly improve their quality of life.
http://www.downsyndromedaily.com/2011/03/apps-for-kids-with-special-needs.html

Other Resources (not Apps)

The Reading and Language Intervention for Children with Down Syndrome (RLI) (2 DVDs & 1 CD-ROM)
Authors: Kelly Burgoyne, Fiona Duff, Paula Clarke, Glynnis Smith, Sue Buckley, Margaret Snowling and Charles Hulme---Publication date: December 13, 2012
Intervention (now available in the U.S.) designed to teach key reading and language skills to children with Down Syndrome. Found to be more effective than ordinary literacy instruction in a randomized controlled trial in the UK. Adapted to meet the specific learning needs of children with Down Syndrome aged 5 to 11 years. An evaluation of RLI is also now underway in schools in San Antonio, Texas.
http://www.dseusa.org/en-us/news/2013/01/16/down-syndrome-reading-language-intervention-shipping/

Educational strategies for children w/Down syndrome—A “closed” Facebook Group (Request to join)
A place to share educational ideas for your child with Down syndrome, including but not limited to things you can do at home to reinforce what's happening at school.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/139259556143320/

42 Great Down Syndrome Resources You Should Know About
by Tzvi---Published on 3/20/13
Check out these informative and supportive resources from the web, various books, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest---all in one place!
http://www.friendshipcircle.org/blog/2013/03/20/42-top-down-syndrome-resources-you-should-know-about/

For information on customizable reading tools for children and adults with additional needs:
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

Vision & Literacy Resources for Down Syndrome

When a special needs child becomes part of a growing family, we know that a very “special” kind of dedication will be “needed” of the parents of that child as well as of the other family members.

When new parents receive a diagnosis of Down Syndrome for their new little one, their level of dedication may be particularly "special". At the same time, the rewards for the family could be exceptional as the child will become capable of giving much love and affection. She will also be able to celebrate with her parents as she learns important skills and reaches significant milestones along the way.

For the best possible outcomes, the parents and families of children with Down Syndrome will need all the help, support and resources available in their communities. This week, as we approach World Down Syndrome Awareness Day (Thurs., March 21), our blog article is dedicated to these families, providing this needed information to help them best care for their children, especially in the areas of health care, vision and literacy.

Options for Health Care

For optimal health care of their child, families may wish to locate a developmental pediatrician, a specialist knowledgeable about Down syndrome or a Down syndrome clinic. A pediatric hospital can guide you in this search for such a specialist as well as provide you with a support team of other medical professionals to help you and your child. These specialists can work with your primary care physician. However, it is not always necessary or possible to find an expert on Down syndrome. The most important thing is that the doctor is willing to learn about the condition and collaborate with the family and individual with Down syndrome (also called Trisomy 21).
(Source: National Down Syndrome Society: https://www.ndss.org/Resources/Health-Care/Health-Care-Providers/.)

In addition, local parent groups can also be an excellent resource for learning of health care professionals who have experience with Down syndrome.

To enable parents to care for and help their child with Down Syndrome in the best ways possible, we have gathered together this week a collection of resources to help support these families in the best ways possible.

Vision and Literacy

Also, parents will want to know that Down syndrome can affect the developing eye, which could impact the proper development of vision. Eye disease is reported in over half of patients with Down Syndrome, from less severe problems such as tear duct abnormalities to vision threatening diagnoses, such as early age cataracts.
(Source: National Down Syndrome Society: http://www.ndss.org/Resources/Health-Care/Associated-Conditions/Vision--Down-Syndrome/.)

As particular this attention should be given to vision in people with Down syndrome, we have also included in our resources list below here a group of links related to vision and literacy for parents of children with DS who are challenged with such issues. Please scroll down to see Vision & Literacy Resources for Down Syndrome in the second half of the list to follow here. We hope that these will provide a starting point in the development of reading skills for these children.

Resources for General Information about Down Syndrome

List of Down Syndrome Resources
List includes national organizations, medical resources & more
http://www.downsyn.com/resources.php

National Association for Down Syndrome (NADS)
Organization that offers a special welcome to new parents. Since its inception in 1961, NADS has always believed that parents helping parents is a very powerful concept and most parents find that some of their greatest resources are other parents. NADS is funded by private and corporate donations, fundraising events and by membership dues.
http://www.nads.org/

Health Care Providers and Locator Map
From the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS)
For optimal health care, families may wish to locate a developmental pediatrician, a specialist knowledgeable about Down syndrome or a Down syndrome clinic. These specialists can work with the primary care physician. Local parent groups are also an excellent resource for learning of health care professionals who have experience with Down syndrome. (Please see NDSS Affiliate Local Support with Locator Map to follow.)
https://www.ndss.org/Resources/Health-Care/Health-Care-Providers/

Affiliate Local Support with Locator Map
From the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS)
Local parent groups are an excellent resource for learning of health care professionals who have experience with Down syndrome.
https://www.ndss.org/Resources/Local-Support/

University of Michigan Health System Website
General overview of Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21) with basic statistics, information about development and more.
http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/downsyn.htm

Down Syndrome Education Online
Website offers a comprehensive, reliable and up-to-date range of information, resources and services for families, practitioners and researchers caring for, supporting and investigating Down syndrome.
http://www.down-syndrome.org/guide/

Down Syndrome Blog
Blog written by the father of a son with Down Syndrome. An EXCELLENT read with regular posts!
http://noahsdad.com/

List of Other Down Syndrome Blogs
http://noahsdad.com/down-syndrome-blogs/

Vision & Literacy Resources for Down Syndrome

Vision and Down Syndrome
Information on how vision may be impacted by Down Syndrome and resources to help
http://www.ndss.org/Resources/Health-Care/Associated-Conditions/Vision--Down-Syndrome/

Reading Interventions for Children with Down Syndrome
by Kelly Burgoyne
Research with typically developing children has identified successful methods of teaching reading, and recent work has begun to evaluate these methods for individuals with Down syndrome. The aim of this paper is to review this work, and to highlight areas in need of further research.
http://www.down-syndrome.org/reviews/2128/reviews-2128.pdf

Tools for Challenged Readers
Brennan Innovators, LLC provides customizable Reading Focus Cards (Patent 7,565,759) for struggling readers of all ages. The company can create special Reading Focus Cards for children and adults who require large fonts (1 to 2 inches in size) for vision issues. Those interested are invited to call the company for specification needs and individual pricing (see website for phone number, please).
www.FocusandRead.com/products

Desktop APP---Reading Focus Cards (Patent 8,360,779)
This desktop app for Macs, Windows PCs & Microsoft Surface tablets accommodates low vision or unfocused readers by covering text NOT to be read and channeling the eyes to 1 or more lines of text that ARE to be read. Users can manipulate all features of this digital tool available for download. This app allows for customization to meet the needs of individual readers and can also accommodate very large text or fonts as needed.
To learn more, visit http://www.focusandread.com/page/488513590.
Direct links to access app download:
1. For Macs (desktops & notebooks):
Visit the Mac App Store and search for Reading Focus Cards or go directly to
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/read-and-focus/id920617853?mt=12
2. For Windows PCs (desktops & laptops):
Visit Gumroad at https://gumroad.com/l/ReadingFocusCards OR visit the Microsoft Windows Store and search for the app called Reading Focus Cards. (No URLs are ever provided for apps in the Windows Store.)

Emergent Literacy in the Homes of Children with Down Syndrome
by Thomas L. Layton, Ph.D., North Carolina Central University
http://triangledownsyndrome.org/cmsmadesimple/index.php?page=literacy

Reading and writing for individuals with Down syndrome - An overview
by Sue Buckley
http://www.down-syndrome.org/information/reading/overview/

The influence of reading instruction on language and memory development in children with Down syndrome
by Glynis Laws, Sue Buckley, John MacDonald and Irene Broadley
This paper reports evidence for the importance of reading instruction for memory and language development in children with Down syndrome.
http://www.down-syndrome.org/reports/52/

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: http://rlv.zcache.com/down_syndrome_butterfly_3_1_mouse_pads-p144494819243887027eng3t_400.jpg

What to Do When You Suspect Auditory Processing Problems

(Last week’s article:BEST Tips for Auditory Processing Challenges)

Auditory processing disorder (APD), also known as central auditory processing disorder (CAPD), is a complex problem affecting approximately 5% of school-aged children in the U.S. These children are unable to process the information they hear in the same way as others because their ears and brain don't fully coordinate. Something adversely affects the way the brain recognizes and interprets sounds, most notably the sounds composing speech.

If you notice or suspect that your child is struggling with hearing or a processing issue, the best person to give you medical advice or an appropriate referral is your child’s pediatrician. Receiving good care means having the opportunity to talk personally with the doctor who knows your child, who knows you and can ask you questions, can conduct a preliminary exam to screen for physiological hearing issues, and/or provide a good referral. The pediatrician can help guide you and your child to the qualified medical professionals and other experts in physical, emotional and behavioral issues when needed.

If further evaluation is necessary, your child’s pediatrician will refer your child and you to an otolaryngologist, a physician who specializes in treating the ear, nose, and throat. When visiting this specialist, he or she will perform a more comprehensive hearing examination. Depending on the specialist's office staff, additional tests may be conducted in the office or a referral might be given to one or more of the following medical professionals for further evaluation:

For Auditory Processing Issues

An audiologist is the preferred professional to test for auditory processing. A series of tests are given to stress the system by compromising the auditory signal. He examines how well the auditory system uses or interprets the information the ear sends it.

For Phonemic Processing Challenges

Phonemic processing is usually tested by an audiologist and a speech-language pathologist (SLP). These medical professionals examine the discrimination of phonemic characteristics of the signal.

For Language/Linguistic Processing Problems

A speech-language pathologist (SLP) is the medical professional who tests for language/linguistic processing. She examines the acoustic integrity of the signal and evaluates the functional discrimination of the acoustic signal. The third area of assessment for the SLP should be in the area of "language processing," or the ability to use the linguistic code to attach meaning to the acoustic signal.

Preliminary Checklist for Auditory Processing Difficulties

__Difficulty following oral directions; inconsistent responses
__Short, auditory attention span; fatigues easily
__Poor short/long term memory
__Daydreams, appears not to listen
__Difficulty hearing with background
__Difficulty localizing sounds
__Academic and/or speech & language problems
__Disruptive behaviors; impulsive, frustrated
__Requests repetition; frequently asks "huh?"
__History of ear infections

Resources to Help:

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Website
Visit the following website to locate a certified audiologist or speech/language pathologist in your area, or contact the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) at 1-800-638-8255 for this information.
http://www.asha.org/findpro/

Redefining Auditory Processing Disorder: A Speech-Language Pathologist's Perspective---by Gail Richard
http://www.asha.org/Publications/leader/2004/040330/f040330b2.htm

Introduction to Auditory Processing Disorders
FREE downloadable PDF file that provides an overview of APD and the appropriate medical professionals to consult regarding the condition.
http://www.asec.net/Archives/APD.pdf

VIDEO-Auditory Processing Disorder in Kids---from Web MD
http://children.webmd.com/video/auditory-processing-disorder-in-kids

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