Canadian Occupational Therapy Resource Site
http://www.otworks.ca/otworks_page.asp?pageID-742if you search this site you'll find articles on handwriting etc.
Handwriting Without Tears
Developed by an occupational therapist and handwriting specialist, Handwriting Without Tears is an easy way to teach pre-printing, printing, & cursive. I've heard from one parent who found this useful to her child, but have not actually yet tested it myself.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Dygraphia strategies link
Came across interesting dysgraphia link with a comprehensive list of symptoms and strategies. If you're worried about your child, or yourself for that matter it might be useful to take a look at the list. If you've already received a dysgraphia diagnosis the strategies could be of interest. There are 41 writing strategies listed. And here, handily, are the spelling ones:
Strategies For Spelling Difficulties:
1. Encourage consistent use of spell checker to decrease the overall demands of the writing task and encourage students to wait until the end to worry about spelling.
2. Encourage use of an electronic resource such as the spell check component in a Franklin Language Master® to further decrease the demands.
3. Have the student look at each word, then close their eyes and visualize how it looks, letter by letter.
4. Have the student spell each word out loud while looking at it, then look away and spell it out loud again several times before writing it down.
5. Have the students break the spelling list down into manageable sections of only 3 to 5 words. Then take a break after mastering each section.
6. Have a scrabble board and computer accessible for affected students
Bravo to whomever gave such comprehensive thought to this topic!
Strategies For Spelling Difficulties:
1. Encourage consistent use of spell checker to decrease the overall demands of the writing task and encourage students to wait until the end to worry about spelling.
2. Encourage use of an electronic resource such as the spell check component in a Franklin Language Master® to further decrease the demands.
3. Have the student look at each word, then close their eyes and visualize how it looks, letter by letter.
4. Have the student spell each word out loud while looking at it, then look away and spell it out loud again several times before writing it down.
5. Have the students break the spelling list down into manageable sections of only 3 to 5 words. Then take a break after mastering each section.
6. Have a scrabble board and computer accessible for affected students
Bravo to whomever gave such comprehensive thought to this topic!
Comprehensive dysgraphia overview
Again, excellent overview at this W Virginia School of Medicine college website including some very detailed info on Occupational Therapy -- a practical and essential consideration if you have the cash to pay for it. (Unless you're fortunate enough to live in a place where it's funded! UK perhaps?)
If you've, or your child have experience with OT please post a comment, so others can learn more. Thank you to anyone who has emailed to say how useful you're finding this blog. It's wonderful to know that parents are finding it informative and helpful. Will be updating more regularly so please check back for latest progress on useful strategies I've unearthed.
If you've, or your child have experience with OT please post a comment, so others can learn more. Thank you to anyone who has emailed to say how useful you're finding this blog. It's wonderful to know that parents are finding it informative and helpful. Will be updating more regularly so please check back for latest progress on useful strategies I've unearthed.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Gifted children 'caused distress by TV news'
A leading Australian expert on gifted children has warned parents about the effects of watching television news.
University Professor Mirica Gross says highly-gifted children are often more sensitive and deeply feel the sadness of others at a very young age.
Read full story here
University Professor Mirica Gross says highly-gifted children are often more sensitive and deeply feel the sadness of others at a very young age.
Read full story here
Illinois: Programs for gifted get poor report cards
Administrators are calling for a revitalization of programs for gifted students as personnel turnover and a lack of oversight have weakened middle and high school academies in the Rockford School District.
Read full story here
Read full story here
ADHD program analysis information
I post this here as a point of information only. It caught my eye and maybe of interest to some readers, but should not be seen as an endorsement as I have not actively researched it myself. It appears to be some kind of cognitive therapy program. If anyone has any feedback or knowledge on it, as to whether it is effective in what it purports to offer please post a comment.
(PRESS RELEASE) -- Dr. Patricia O. Quinn, MD, Director of the National Center for Girls and Women with ADHD has issued a Critical Analysis of Legacy Parenting's 'Total Transformation Program.' Developed by behavioral therapist James Lehman, The Total Transformation is a step-by-step system for parents and caregivers to assist them in changing defiant or out-of-control behavior in children who may have ADHD and are "acting out."
The Total Transformation Program is available through Legacy Parenting Company
(PRESS RELEASE) -- Dr. Patricia O. Quinn, MD, Director of the National Center for Girls and Women with ADHD has issued a Critical Analysis of Legacy Parenting's 'Total Transformation Program.' Developed by behavioral therapist James Lehman, The Total Transformation is a step-by-step system for parents and caregivers to assist them in changing defiant or out-of-control behavior in children who may have ADHD and are "acting out."
The Total Transformation Program is available through Legacy Parenting Company
UK news report and discussion on Wakefield Autism case
UK news story
Here's a link to a news report in which two doctors, one a supporter of single vaccines and another British MP and doctor debate the Andrew Wakefield case and autism issues surrounding it.
Here's a link to a news report in which two doctors, one a supporter of single vaccines and another British MP and doctor debate the Andrew Wakefield case and autism issues surrounding it.
UK: Latest on Wakefield case
UKThe doctor who provoked a scare over a potential link between the MMR vaccination and autism paid children at his son's birthday party £5 each to give blood for his research, an inquiry heard today.
The General Medical Council (GMC) also heard allegations that Andrew Wakefield subjected several children to a series of inappropriate invasive medical tests and gave one an experimental drug.
Dr Wakefield and two other doctors who published the now infamous study linking the combined measles, mumps and rubella jab with bowel disease and autism could be struck off the medical register if the disciplinary panel finds them guilty of serious professional misconduct.
Full story here
Profile on Andrew Wakefield here
The General Medical Council (GMC) also heard allegations that Andrew Wakefield subjected several children to a series of inappropriate invasive medical tests and gave one an experimental drug.
Dr Wakefield and two other doctors who published the now infamous study linking the combined measles, mumps and rubella jab with bowel disease and autism could be struck off the medical register if the disciplinary panel finds them guilty of serious professional misconduct.
Full story here
Profile on Andrew Wakefield here
Saturday, July 7, 2007
UK: New health fears over big surge in autism
From Sunday's (July 8th 2007) UK Observer:
The number of children in Britain with autism is far higher than previously thought, according to dramatic new evidence by the country's leading experts in the field.
A study, as yet unpublished, shows that as many as one in 58 children may have some form of the condition, a lifelong disability that leads to many sufferers becoming isolated because they have trouble making friends and often display obsessional behaviour.
Seven academics at Cambridge University, six of them from its renowned Autism Research Centre, undertook the research by studying children at local primary schools. Two of the academics, leaders in their field, privately believe that the surprisingly high figure may be linked to the use of the controversial MMR vaccine. That view is rejected by the rest of the team, including its leader, the renowned autism expert, Professor Simon Baron-Cohen.
Read just published article in its entirety here
The number of children in Britain with autism is far higher than previously thought, according to dramatic new evidence by the country's leading experts in the field.
A study, as yet unpublished, shows that as many as one in 58 children may have some form of the condition, a lifelong disability that leads to many sufferers becoming isolated because they have trouble making friends and often display obsessional behaviour.
Seven academics at Cambridge University, six of them from its renowned Autism Research Centre, undertook the research by studying children at local primary schools. Two of the academics, leaders in their field, privately believe that the surprisingly high figure may be linked to the use of the controversial MMR vaccine. That view is rejected by the rest of the team, including its leader, the renowned autism expert, Professor Simon Baron-Cohen.
Read just published article in its entirety here
Friday, July 6, 2007
Researcher sees link between vitamin D and autism
Globe and Mail
The growing prevalence of autism is one of the biggest scientific whodunits in the medical world, with few clues for its rising incidence.
But a U.S. researcher is advancing a controversial hypothesis: that autism is related to vitamin D deficiency during fetal development and early childhood.
Dr. John Cannell, a psychiatrist and prominent vitamin D advocate, says flagging levels of the vitamin in pregnant women and young children could be the elusive factor explaining the rising rate of autism.
The evidence for such a link is circumstantial, and autism experts describe the hypothesis as speculative. But Dr. Cannell, founder of the Vitamin D Council, a non-profit advocacy group, says autism rates have skyrocketed in lockstep with medical advice given to the public since the late 1980s to avoid all exposure to bright sunshine.
To read the rest of the story please click here
The growing prevalence of autism is one of the biggest scientific whodunits in the medical world, with few clues for its rising incidence.
But a U.S. researcher is advancing a controversial hypothesis: that autism is related to vitamin D deficiency during fetal development and early childhood.
Dr. John Cannell, a psychiatrist and prominent vitamin D advocate, says flagging levels of the vitamin in pregnant women and young children could be the elusive factor explaining the rising rate of autism.
The evidence for such a link is circumstantial, and autism experts describe the hypothesis as speculative. But Dr. Cannell, founder of the Vitamin D Council, a non-profit advocacy group, says autism rates have skyrocketed in lockstep with medical advice given to the public since the late 1980s to avoid all exposure to bright sunshine.
To read the rest of the story please click here
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)