The implications of children with mis- or undiagnosed traumatic brain injuries in the classroom are huge. There are also a variety of reasons that these children are missed:
- A child with a TBI may look normal.
- A parent may not realize that their child suffered a brain injury, so it went unreported.
- A child might have suffered a TBI but be labeled under another disability category.
It is therefore important for school districts to screen students for possible brain injury upon enrollment to school and especially when suspecting a disability. A school district’s nurse may provide a critical function in gathering and relaying this information to other school personnel. However, the role of the school nurse varies greatly from school to school. Nonetheless, it is important for disticts to have a “point person” assigned. This may be the guidance counselor, special education coordinator, or school psychologist. Please see the linked Screening Survey below, developed by Columbus City Schools, as a model for screening students for a possible history of brain injury. Thanks to CCS and Sara Timms, School Psychologist, for sharing this tool.
Monthly Archives: November 2010
Unique Parent Opportunity
We would like to make sure you know about a wonderful and unique opportunity we have in Ohio.
We have an organization in Ohio called OCALI, which stands for the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence. OCALI serves families, educators, and professionals working with students with autism and low-incidence disabilities, including autism spectrum disorders, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairments, other health impairments, and traumatic brain injuries. Each year OCALI hosts a Conference and Exposition. This conference hosts keynote speakers and many sessions geared to parents and professionals working with student with low incidence disabilities. This year’s conference is November 17th through 19th at the Columbus Convention Center in downtown Columbus, Ohio. Parents receive a very reasonable, low rate to attend.
Please check it out on the OCALI 2010 Convention webpage!!
Word Prediction Software
Word Prediction software works in conjunction with any program on your computer to give users an assist. Start typing, and the software will begin to give you a list of suggestions. When the word you want is in the list, press the number, and the word will automatically be completed for you. This technology can be very helpful for students with motor issues, difficulty with spelling, or even slow typists.
Co-Writer, from Don Johnston, Inc. For Windows or Macintosh.
A free alternative for Windows is LetMeType. This works well as an introduction to Word Prediction technology, especially when used with free texts available from Gutenberg.org (- especially the “Moby Word” Lists!). LetMeType can be run from a USB drive!
National School Psychology Awareness Week
School psychologists promote positive possibilities and encourage gratitude towards others during National School Psychology Awareness Week—November 8–12, 2010
Bethesda, MD—The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) has designated November 8–12, 2010, as National School Psychology Awareness Week. This year’s theme, “Today is a good day to … SHINE,” helps our students and school focus on strengthening positive relationships and increasing positive experiences. The program involves a series of resources and activities that school psychologists can use to reach out to school staff, students, and parents to help students feel connected, supported, and ready to achieve their individual goals.
NASP represents more than 26,000 school psychologists who work in schools and other education and health settings. School psychologists work with parents and educators to ensure that every child has the mental health and learning support they need to succeed in school and life. “This year’s theme ‘Today is a good day to … SHINE,’ expresses the importance of increasing the number of positive experiences students have throughout the school day,” says NASP President Kathleen Minke. “Students’ school and life success can be greatly influenced for the better through simple acts that reinforce a positive outlook, such as offering a kind smile, saying ‘thank you,’ trying something new, or encouraging a classmate.”
After its successful first year, NASP is once again rolling out the Gratitude Works program. An effort to have students around the country write letters of gratitude to someone who has made a difference in their lives or the lives of others, the program seeks to reinforce students’ practice of gratitude as one of many prosocial behaviors that can foster individual resilience and well-being and contribute to overall positive school climate.
School psychologists around the country are working with teachers to help students identify and honor school staff, family members, students, and other educators or community members who contribute to their ability to achieve their best. Some students are choosing to write letters of gratitude to people who they do not know personally, such as military servicemen and women and emergency responders.
As part of National School Psychology Awareness Week, NASP has developed downloadable and adaptable resources to help school psychologists participate in these programs. Further information on these programs, school psychologists, and the contributions they make in guiding student success is available online at http://www.nasponline.org/communications/index.aspx.
For further information contact Marleen Bottoms at (937) 393 1904 ext. 114 or mbottoms@ohioregion14.org or NASP Director of Communications, Kathy Cowan at (301) 347-1665 or kcowan@naspweb.org, or visit www.nasponline.org.