Happy American Education Week! Celebrate Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities

American Education Week is November 18^th-22^nd, 2013. This week we celebrate public education and to honor individuals who are making a difference in ensuring that every child receives a quality education. I would like to honor the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities (OCECD) who advocates for quality education for youth with disabilities.

Last week I attended a conference on ADHD: What Parents, Educators, and Caregivers should know to Support Children/Adolescents with ADHD. The presentation was by David Meichenbaum, Ph.D. and was sponsored by OCECD.  This was a wonderful conference that addressed all aspects of ADHD which is the number one disability in our schools today. ADHD cannot be diagnosed as a disability just by symptoms, but it MUST cause an impairment (social, behavioral or emotional impairment).

ADHD should not be determined by a pediatrician but must be diagnosed by a psychiatrist. Other factors that can contribute to ADHD-Like behaviors are:

-medication (albuterol)

-lack of sleep

-poor diet

-stress reaction (ex. Bullying, separation, relocation, abuse and neglect)

-increased pupil to teacher ratios

-unstructured/inconsistent environment

ADHD impairments that affect a child socially include:

            -Not waiting in turn for games

            -Intruding in peers’ activities

            -Poor conflict-resolution abilities

            -Poor frustration-toleration

            -Reactively aggressive

            -Inattentive in recreational setting

            -More often disliked and rejected by other children

Due to these impairments it is important to increase socialization activities with the child with ADHD and teach appropriate socialization skills. The ADHD child often has a hard time picking up on social cues and can have problems initiating play and can be perceived as overbearing. Children with ADHD are therefore more likely to be socially isolated.

Not only do these children struggle in school, but are usually always disciplined at home for not being on task, having a messy room, not following through with homework, and on top of struggles at home and school they are not socially accepted by peers which can cause deep self-esteem issues that can last a lifetime.

What can you do at school and home? Give effective instructions and commands.

Instead of “Clean your room” have a check list “1. Make bed 2. Put laundry in basket 3. Pick up toys from floor, etc”.

Instead of “Can you please wash your hands for dinner” tell child “wash your hands now”

Instead of chain commands give one command at a time.

Give rewards for behavior immediately. Give many opportunities for success and praise. A reward system works for all ages, not just elementary school. Have adolescent age children earn computer or phone time at the end of a week.

OCECD was established in 1972 by one woman at her dining room table at home to advance the educational interest of children with disabilities. OCECD is now composed of over 40 parent and professional organizations representing over 50,000 individuals.  OCECD promotes efforts to provide appropriate quality education for children and youth with disabilities from age 3-26..

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) provides legal grounds for children with disabilities to receive fee appropriate education in the least restrictive environment.

Visit www.ocecd.org to learn about the rights of children with disabilities.