Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Top Ten Most Viewed Special Education Advisor Guest Articles for 2011

By Dennise Goldberg Featured, Special Education Advisor Blog

The following is a list of the most viewed special education advisor guest articles from 2011. Thank you to all of the guest authors that have submitted articles to Special Education Advisor in 2011. The quality of articles and their content has been outstanding and we really appreciate every single submission. Without your submissions we would not be able to fulfill our mission to families with children who have special education needs. Enjoy the list:

1. Seven Things I Wish Someone had Told Me When My Daughter Was First Diagnosed with Autism - 1. You’re not alone. No, really, really not alone. About one in 110 of us are on the autism spectrum. Throughout the world, autism affects all races, social classes, religions, and income levels. You are going to meet some amazing people who are walking this road right with you. You may even find that you or your spouse are on the spectrum, but that’s a whole ‘nother subject. Read More

2. Dear School Personnel, Community Members and Neighbors - To Whom it May Concern, I am the parent of a special needs child. I was overwhelmed, confused, heart broken and struggling to unravel the complexities before me. Read More

3. The Treatment of Executive Function Skills Using Equine Assisted Therapy and Hippotherapy - Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT) and Hippotherapy (HPOT) can be used in the treatment of Executive Function problems. Therapists who utilize these therapeutic methods know that a therapy horse can facilitate learning, and, with children, it has long been known to help activate language. HPOT uses the movement of the horse to facilitate language, while EAT uses riding activities to promote goals; both are directed by the treatment principles and goals that apply to the particular profession of the therapist. (Macauley, 2004)Read More

4. What a Good IEP Looks Like - I set out to write a post on “what a good IEP looks like” at the request of the brilliant Larry Ferlazzo when the great KIPP debate (one and two) burst out. But as in any “real” learning, I’m glad I was interrupted, because I learned a great deal during that conversation, and that conversation altered what I am writing now. Read More

5. Why Parents Need to Know About Neuroplasticity - Four words revolutionize how we now view and help kids with special needs: The brain can change. That’s a powerful statement with huge implications. Only a few decades ago, scientists were convinced the brain was hard-wired . . . that was until modern technology, such as MRIs and PET scans, proved otherwise. With the same certainty that we know the sun rises, we now also know that the brain has the ability to change and re-organize itself. This phenomenon is called neuroplasticity. Read More

6. I’m NOT Your Enemy: Secrets from Your Child’s Special Education Teacher - How often have you read articles, blogs, or tweets where the special education teacher appears as the bad guy? The special education teacher has an alternate agenda or makes a plan without the knowledge of the parents? The IEP team excludes the parents as part of the team? Too many articles and blogs point to the special education teacher and make him/her appear as an enemy to the parents of the child with special needs. Read More

7. Preschool For Children with Special Needs - Making choices about the preschool years for your child with special needs can be stressful and confusing. With so much emphasis on the early years, it is not uncommon for parents to hear every single tick of the clock. It feels like there is no time for mistakes. One decision can seem like it will have repercussions for a lifetime. The fact is, you cannot predict the future outcome of your choices today, but you can make educated decisions based on what you know now. Read More

8. Top Ten Ways to Tell if Your Child’s School is Inclusive - Inclusion, as special education experts agree, is the ideal way of educating students with special needs. Students with special needs are placed in general education classrooms along side their same-age peers, despite physical or academic ability levels. Often, however, inclusive education is a term that is misused and misunderstood by parents, teachers and staff. Here is a list of top ten ways to tell if your child’s school is truly inclusive: Read More

9. Developmental Milestones: Relevance to Nursing and Early Childhood Education - Often, college students do not realize the relevance a class may have in other academic areas. One example is developmental milestones of children. Pediatric nursing as well as early childhood education both focus on these aspects in their curriculum and show intertwining relevance to the respective educational and career paths. While most people realize children grow and develop, most do not comprehend the importance of assessing the process of growth and development. Read More

10. Overnight camp for my kid with special needs? – Selecting the right camp and understanding common misconceptions about overnight camp for children with learning differences & social skill needs. Overnight summer camp is one of the most rewarding experiences that you can provide your child with if you know how to choose a camp where your child can be successful. Overnight camp can provide children with learning differences, social skill needs, mild Autism Spectrum Disorders, Non-Verbal Learning Disability and ADD/ADHD with many benefits. Read More

If you would like to read any of the other guest articles from 2011 and earlier you can find them on the Special Education Articles page.

Article HERE.

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