Belvoir Special School Art

Hi Everyone,
This year I am back at Belvoir Special School, after a 2 year stint at the Hume Regional Office. I'm so happy to be back, working directly with students. I hope that it will mean that I will have the opportunity to keep this blog updated, on a more regular basis.
I have been teaching art, to a sensational group of Middle Years students, over the past two weeks and would love to hear from other special educators who are doing the same.
Art is meant to be shared, so please visit our art blog to look at the the projects we have been working on.
You can visit us by following this link.
http://room132at.blogspot.com.au/

Free Autism Seminar iTunes Recordings from Yale University

Hi Everyone,

Yale University has a great new resource designed to assist anyone with an interest in finding out more about Autism Spectrum Disorders.

This series of 15 evidence based, video lectures is a great place to begin your ASD learning journey or to update your knowledge.

Click here to start watching.

A Cure for Fragile X ?

Check out the amazing work of the FRAXA Research Foundation.

Understanding Fragile X - Information and Resources for Parents and Teachers

Hi Everyone,

I have spent quite some time this morning exploring the National Fragile X Foundation (USA) website. The site is full of terrific resources to support the understandings of educational and allied medical professionals and a wonderful resource for parents, navigating a new diagnosis, to find evidence based, up to date information about the syndrome.

I highly recommend watching the 26 minute video Understanding Fragile X which explains very simply what Fragile X is, as well as the educational approaches most successful in working with this group of learners.

Exercises for Children with Cerebral Palsy - University of Wollongong

Hi Everyone,

I have been scouring the internet for resources to support teachers working with students with Cerebral Palsy. Check out The University of Wollongong's fantastic video library of exercises, that can be downloaded straight onto your own computer.

Welcome to Holland Poem - Video

How does it feel to be the parent of a child with special needs?
A well known poem, performed brilliantly.

Life's a Twitch - A Documentary about one man's journey with Tourette Syndome.

My work has brought me into the lives of some sensational kids with Tourette Syndrome. I am always amazed at their resourcefulness in masking their condition and dismayed that they have to expend so much energy in doing so.

Dr Duncan McKinlay describes what it was like for him growing up with the syndrome and how it has shaped his life. It is a must see documentary for teens with Tourette's.

Click here to watch this amazing 30 minute documentary.

Click here to visit Doctor Duncan Mc Kinlay's website 'Life's a Twitch'.

Imagine being Deaf/Blind - The Amazing Work of Able Australia on the 7:30 Report

A Bionic Eye by 2013

Hi Everyone,

First the Cochlear implant and now it looks like Professor Nigel Lovell from the University of Sydney, Australia will be leading the way in technology to help the blind to see. Listen to this amazing podcast from ABC Radio, Sydney to find out more.

Tourette Syndrome- Sensational 3 Part Video Series & Evidence Based Resources

Click here for Part 2
Click here for Part 3

Hi Everyone,

Check out his fantastic, 39 minute podcast, which does a sensational job of demystifying Tourette Syndrome, on the Tourette Syndrome Association Australia website.

The site provides a flash and windows based podcast platform, if you wold rather not view the series on Youtube.

I will definitely share this resource in school newsletters and during staff meetings, to educate communities, living and learning with people with Tourette's.

This site is a fabulous resource for family members coming to terms with a new diagnosis.

Below is a 30 second commercial, made by the Tourette Syndrome Association Australia, which shows what it is like to experience tics from the person with Tourette's point of view. I hope it encourages you to spend the next 39 minutes watching the 3 part series.

Community of Practice - Autism

Hi Everyone,

Over the past six months I have had the great plasure of being part of a team developing a Community of Practice (CoP) for Autism in the regional city of Wangaratta, in Victoria, Australia.

We have finally got to the stage of setting up an online forum, to meet the need of the local community - The Wangaratta Autism Community of Practice Blog. I had forgotton how much I enjoy putting a new blog together. We have also set up a Twitter Account with the same name.

I am wondering if there are any other CoP's for Autism out there that would like to share their learning with us. If so, I would love to hear from you.

Is it Autism - or is it DAMP ?

Hi Everyone,

DAMP ( Deficitis in Attention, Motor control and Perceptual abilities ) is another condition which is often mistaken for autism by teachers, when referring students for further assessments.

There is very little information on the web about DAMP but the Sydney Children's Hospital - Westmead site, has a great page with a pdf to print out and share with teachers, parents and carers.

Autism Or Something Else?

Dr. Sally Ozonoff discusses the complexities of clinically diagnosing patients with autism versus other neurodevelopmental disorders when many of the features between disorders are quite similar. (#16237)

When it's not Autism or ADHD it might be- Non Verbal Learning Disability

When I am working in schools, I am often asked to 'check out' another student in the class or school that has some 'autistic like traits'. Diagnosis is the work of a multidisciplinary team, so I tell the school staff that if they are concerned they sound refer the student on for assessment.
There are many conditions that have 'autistic like traits' as part of their profile. Nonverbal language Disorder (NVLD) is one that pops up regularly as the actual diagnosis of students that I am asked to observe.
Click here to read some simple information which explains the differences between a diagnosis of NVLD, ADHD and the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

The Coffee klatch Blogtalk Radio show has recently produced an excellent podcast about NVLD. Click here to listen.

Left Handed Writers

Hi Everyone,

During the week, in my role as an Autism visiting teacher, I spent some time observing a left handed 12 year old student, with dysgraphia, during his writing lesson. The teacher wanted to know if his current writing issues were to do with being left handed, autistic or dysgraphic !

Here are 2 very good, short videos which will help teachers and parents to sort out the' left handed' issues from the others.

Dys- Respect - Dyscalculia

An expert panel discusses the math learning disability called dyscalculia, which affects five percent of children, making it as common as dyslexia.

Dys- Respect: Watch this Sensational 4 Part Series About Dyslexia

Click here to access Parts 2 through to 4
Remember to check out my Twitter account - see the widget link in the left margin, for the reading linked to this topic and a whole range of inclusion issues.

Metacognition - What is it and how can we harness it in classrooms?

Metacognition: Dylan Wiliam (Learning and teaching)
- Watch more Videos at Vodpod.

Free Visual Making Program

http://connectability.ca/visuals-engine/

Many thanks to Angela, for showing me this terrific site for making visual supports for home and school. This program imports pictures from your computer straight into the frames. it is very useful for children who may not be ready to use symbols such as Boardmaker, but respond well to photographs.

Click on the links to explore the site for yourself.

Dyslexia Explained - Podcast and Written text Resource

Dyslexia explained - Better Health Channel

Click on this link to read or listen to information about dyslexia.

People with dyslexia - more often referred to as a specific learning difficulty (SLD) - have difficulties with reading, language and words for no apparent reason. Common problem areas include spelling, comprehension, reading and identification of words. Dyslexia isn't a symptom of low intelligence.