It will also help older youth and adults to learn to do this for themselves, in their workplaces and careers, and as “treatment partners” with their spouse
You will find here a roadmap, of sorts, for navigating within a system and society oftentimes still unaware of the needs of individuals and families struggling with these issues, or unable to meet these needs. It also gives parents, adults, and spouses specific steps to take at home to manage the behaviours and daily stress of living with someone with these special learning needs and disorders.
The best way to use this handbook material is with a personal coach to assist you in personalizing the strategies for your individual situation. I am available for consultation and support to readers and you can find information about how to set up personal consultation through my Contact Page
A seminar for counsellors or other professionals can also be arranged:
- to implement these methodologies
- consultation for professionals wishing to use this handbook as an instructional resource.
Just as in attempting to play a sport or a musical instrument at a professional level, a coaching element is usually required to supplement “book learning”. A learning challenge of the scope in this handbook might better be compared to learning to read, write, and communicate in a new language with an extreme linguistic difference - such as English and Japanese - with professional fluency. Most everyone would require personal coaching for this challenge, beyond just following a manual.
- You need to begin a binder for this work with subject dividers for your various topics of concern and action.
- As you read and work through the handbook, make notes of your questions and specific problem areas.
- On a separate page, note what strategies you have tried and with what results. When you are ready to begin coaching, you will already have some initial background and some starting progress to report.
- Or, if you are using this resource to reach a more advanced level of knowledge after much earlier experience, more documentation will be required to review and assess your progress thus far. Coaching can begin at your level of proficiency.
- You may decide to purchase a separate copy of this book for your school, your doctor, counsellor, extended family, church or relevant social group – wherever you feel the information may be useful in supporting you, a child, or anyone else with special learning needs.
Variations in testing approaches, results, interpretations. Diagnostic implications for the IPRC and IEP. Legal rights and accommodation precedents. Informal assessment.
Parent preparation, initial organization steps, planning and chairing school meetings. Handling school system administration issues. Steps to simplify family life.
Survival plan of Awareness, Acceptance, Action, and Advocacy. Morning and evening routines, family organization steps. The homework challenge. Specialized tutor roles. Pacing, parent breaks, summer program.
Remedial vs. compensatory approaches. Accommodations for reading and writing - for all levels - SQ4R, reading comprehension improvement, language development for writing, note-takers and spelling alternatives. Assistive technology criteria and methodologies.
Detailed strategies for basic math operations, applications for senior and post-secondary levels. Dynamic shift in approach away from speed, memory, or drill. Use of calculators, cue cards and Reference Sheets. Allowance and decimals. Role of university-level tutors. Science strategies.
Classroom accommodations including crucial previewing of new material. Criteria and specific examples of test and exam accommodations for all levels. Error Analysis process, lower course loads, semi-audit option for grades 7 and 8. Foreign language courses, student advocacy issues.
Basis of behaviour problems, self-esteem, motivation problems. Sibling issues. Classroom behaviour and behaviour contracts. Dealing with anger and steps for situations that escalate out of control. Older teens and early 20’s. The complex medication question.
Why schools are struggling. Positive negotiation process steps for all administration levels. Supply teachers, bullying and partial home school rationale. Last resort legal options.
Arranging parent time off work, tutor assistance. Possible school or student resistance. Detailed program steps and student motivation techniques. Sharing program results for IEP revisions at school.
How these are related to learning disorders. Teaching strategies for parents, involving siblings. Skill development at school, recess and bus problems. Making friends, special teen issues.
Choosing colleges and courses, living arrangements, managing a budget. Post-secondary learning strategies and accommodations, negotiating with faculty and the Special Needs Office. Separating from parents, new friends and relationships. Youth who drop out or become “stuck”.
Complex sub-skills required to begin. Parent skill development required to teach children. Graduated levels for teens and adults, participation of spousal partners Dealing with clutter.
Job-specific time management and organization. Finding a job, surviving in a new job. Disclosure options. Dealing with colleagues, customers, work “politics”. Handling stress and crises. How to get promoted. Strategies for professionals, managers, business owners. Finding a mentor.
Redefining your relationship. Advanced communication skills, partner roles and survival. Dealing with outside friendships, children, and extended family. Money management. A special focus on Asperger’s challenges in this chapter.
