Presented by Maribel Marin, ESE Teacher Rebecca Gonzalez, SPD
Support Representative Understanding Different Learning
Exceptionalities
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Presenters Background Maribel Marin B.S. in Exceptional Student
Education ESE Teacher for 4 years Mother of two ESE students
(autism and ADHD) Becky Gonzalez B.S. in Management Certified
Pre-school Teacher Mother of three children, two of which have SPD
Founder of Lets Talk SPD support group for families with children
diagnosed with SPD
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Agenda Overview Sensory Processing Disorder Attention
Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Autism Spectrum Disorder
(ASD) Specific Learning Disability (SLD) Identifying and Addressing
Difficulties Social, Academic and Emotional A Parents Helpful Tips
6 things my kids have taught me through the years Community
Resources Questions
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Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) ADHD is one of
the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood. Children
with ADHD may having trouble paying attention, controlling
impulsive behaviors (may act without thinking about what the result
will be), or be overly active. There are three types of ADHD:
Inattentive type (formerly known as ADD) Hyperactive Impulsive type
Combined type
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ADHD Types Inattentive type: It is hard for the individual to
organize or finish a task, to pay attention to details, or to
follow instructions or conversations. The person is easily
distracted or forgets details of daily routines. Hyperactive
Impulsive type: The person fidgets and talks a lot. It is hard to
sit still for long (e.g., for a meal or while doing homework).
Smaller children may run, jump or climb constantly. The individual
feels restless and has trouble with impulsivity. Someone who is
impulsive may interrupt others a lot, grab things from people, or
speak at inappropriate times. It is hard for the person to wait
their turn or listen to directions. A person with impulsiveness may
have more accidents and injuries than others. Combined type:
Symptoms of the above two types are equally present in the
person.
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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
is a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant
social, communication and behavioral challenges. Children with ASD
may communicate, interact, behave, and learn in ways that are
different from most other children. The learning, thinking, and
problem-solving abilities of children with ASD can range from
gifted to severely challenged. Some children with ASD need a lot of
help in their daily lives; others need less. ASDs include autistic
disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified
(PDD-NOS, including atypical autism), and Asperger syndrome. These
conditions all have some of the same symptoms, but they differ in
terms of when the symptoms start, how severe they are, and the
exact nature of the symptoms.
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Specific Learning Disability (SLD) A specific learning
disability (SLD) is defined as a disorder in one or more of the
basic learning processes involved in understanding or in using
language, spoken or written, that may manifest in significant
difficulties affecting the ability to listen, speak, read, write,
spell, or do mathematics. A SLD does not include learning problems
that are primarily the result of a visual, hearing, motor,
intellectual, or emotional/behavioral disability, limited English
proficiency, or environmental, cultural, or economic factors.
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Identifying Social Difficulties Common Signs: Difficulty making
friends Loses friends quickly Struggles with conversation
Overreacts in situations Isnt always reliable Keeps to
themselves
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Possible Causes of Social Difficulties ADHD Impulsivity
Inability to wait Carelessness Being unreliable Does not understand
social cues/rules SLD Information processing Executive functioning
Low self-esteem ASD Does not share interest in others Unusual
interests or behaviors Does not understand others feelings
Difficulty understanding personal space Does not understand social
cues/rules
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Addressing Social Difficulties Strategies: Explicitly teach
social skills Role playing Join play groups/sports Capitalize on
teachable moments If appropriate, discuss the child's disorder with
them Having social issues on top of attention issues can take a
toll on your childs self-esteem. But there are many ways you can
help your child build confidence, develop stronger social skills
and deal with hurt feelings.
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Identifying Academic Difficulties Common Signs: Poor/failing
grades Frustration with homework Behavior issues in school
Negative/Indifferent attitude towards school and/or learning Low
self-esteem *Academic difficulty in may occur in one or more of the
following areas: Comprehension, Vocabulary, Decoding, Writing, Math
calculation, Math application
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Possible Causes of Academic Difficulties Processing information
slowly Difficulty following instructions Inattentive Easily
distracted Poor organizational skills Trouble completing
assignments Difficulty waiting his/her turn Misplaces
papers/materials Difficulty seeking assistance/help Test
anxiety
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Addressing Academic Difficulties Communicate with your childs
teacher Provide tutoring in area of deficit Model examples when a
task is challenging Structured and consistent schedule/routine
Supervise completion of homework assignments Allow time to process
information and respond orally/written Capitalize on teachable
moments Teach and monitor the use of organizational strategies
Provide constant, low key reminders, prompts, cues Allow
breaks/time for movement Praise effort and use positive
reinforcement Teach, encourage and monitor studying skills
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Identifying Emotional Difficulties Common Signs: Making
negative comments about themselves Losing interest in favorite
hobbies/activities Being withdrawn Lower grades than usual Refuse
to try new things
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Addressing Emotional Concerns Strategies: Help them identify
their strengths and weaknesses Practice praise Be clear, not
critical Reframe your childs negative statements Recognized that
mistakes are learning experiences
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A Parents Helpful Tips If your child has a diagnosis, gain a
meaningful understanding of the diagnosis. If your child does not
have a diagnosis, learn about the characteristics your child
exhibits. No two children are the same. Know your childs strengths
and weaknesses. Remember they are unique. Keep things in
perspective. Dont worry about the little things and be willing to
compromise. Establish structure and be consistent. Set clear
expectations and rules. Develop a reward/consequence system that
works for your family. Take care of yourself. Ask for help. Take a
time out.
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Community Resources Florida Diagnostic & Learning Resource
SystemFlorida Diagnostic & Learning Resource System (FDLRS)
provides diagnostic, instructional, and technology support services
to district exceptional education programs and families of students
with disabilities. FIU Center for Children and Families FIU Center
for Children and Families The Center for Children and Families
exists for one reason: To help kids and parents struggling with
their feelings, their behaviors, or their day to day functioning
whether that be academic, social, or otherwise. Center for Autism
and Related Disabilities Center for Autism and Related Disabilities
(CARD) Our center, based at the University of Miami and Nova
Southeastern University, is one of seven state-funded,
university-based outreach and support centers in Florida dedicated
to optimizing the potential of people with autism spectrum
disorders (ASD), dual sensory impairments, sensory impairments with
other disabling conditions, and related disabilities.
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Community Resources cont Florida Network on Disabilities
Florida Network on Disabilities (FND) Family Network on
Disabilities (FND) was founded in 1985 by a group of parents of
children with disabilities who came together for mutual support and
information-sharing. Parent Education Network (PEN) Project Parent
Education Network (PEN) Project funded by the U.S. Department of
Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) provides PTI
services to the nine most southern counties of Florida, (Lee,
Collier, Hendry, Palm Beach, Broward, Dade, Monroe, Martin and
Glades).
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National Resources Children and Adults with Attention
Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Children and Adults with Attention
Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) was founded in 1987 in
response to the frustration and sense of isolation experienced by
parents and their children with ADHD. National Center for Learning
Disabilities National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) team
envisions a society in which every individual possesses the
academic, social and emotional skills needed to succeed in school,
at work and in life.
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F.A.T. City Videos The F.A.T City Workshops (Frustration,
Anxiety, Tension) Processing Reading Comprehension Reading and
Decoding Oral Expression
