Talisman Camps and Programs, which has been offering accredited summer camp opportunities for special-needs children for more than 25 years, is currently accepting applications from families of children who have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or other types of learning differences.

Talisman offers three camps for children with ADHD, other learning differences, and related conditions:

Discovery is a two-week program for children between the ages of 8 and 11 who have ADHD or learning disabilities or who may be experiencing social anxiety. Discovery's activity-packed schedule and 1:2.5 staff-camper ratio allows campers to have a positive experience in a safe and supportive camping environment. Activities include rock climbing, rafting, visiting the nature center, and several other memorable experiences.

Foundations is a coeducational summer program for children ages 9 to 13 who have been diagnosed with learning disabilities, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and mild behavior issues. Activities during the Foundations camp include backpacking, rock and tree climbing, whitewater rafting, high ropes course, swimming, nature studies, and arts and crafts. Full-camp special events include 50's, 60's, and 70's dances, a carnival, Olympics, Backwards Day, Grand Council campfires, and a final banquet.

Explorers offers younger teens (ages 12 to 14) the opportunity to complete seven days of hiking on the Blue Ridge Mountains during a unique Pioneer immersion experience. Throughout the trip, instructors guide campers in improving social interaction skills and behavior management. Wilderness skills learned during the Explorers camp include flint and bow-drill fire-starting; making cordage, spoons, and bowls; storing water in gourds; and tracking.

For more information about these and other educational opportunities for exceptional students, visit www.talismancamps.com or call 888.458.8226.

Labels: summer_camp, social_skills, Attention_Deficit_Hyperactivity_Disorder, anxiety, learning_disabilites

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A bill that was recently introduced into the Texas legislature would provide scholarships to parents of children with disabilities. Those scholarships could be used for special education programs in either public or private schools.

Now, students who qualify for special education programs are defined as those with documented physical, mental, or emotional disabilities. They also can be students with autism, learning disabilities, or traumatic brain injuries, among other conditions.

The new bill would give parents more choices for where to place their special-needs students, giving them the freedom go outside their school district to other schools that have better programs.

Source: Beaumont Enterprise (TX)

Labels: education, special-needs, learning_disabilites

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Every year, thousands of students across the nation receive special education-related services. As the demand increases, schools continue striving to meet increasing challenges.

"School-age services are provided for each eligible student in accordance with an individualized educational plan (IEP) that describes the specific program for each student.... IEPs are reviewed with parents and new plans developed for the upcoming school year."

The Americans with Disabilities Act guarantees an IED for all students with learning disabilities, including those who have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The act also regulates the number of students per classroom, to help ensure that students get the extra attention they need. Source: Crescent News (Defiance, OH)

Labels: special-needs, learning_disabilites

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Becky McCall still remembers the cutting comment her son's schoolmate made when they were quizzing each other about science: "You're not supposed to be smarter than me; you're in special ed!" It seems to be a common misnomer that kids with learning disabilities are, by default, not as smart as those without them.

"A great many children with ADHD, dyslexia and Asperger's syndrome (just to name a few learning differences) can be taught to meet grade-level proficiency (or even exceed standards). Because of the unique ways in which these children's brains work, these students may require alternative or additional teaching strategies."

But just because they need unique teaching methods doesn't mean they can't learn or excel as much as their academic counterparts. Parents should prepare for low expectations from teachers and other students, and be ready to advocate for their child - who is just as capable as any other. Source: Reno (NV) Gazette-Journal

Labels: schools, learning_disabilites, peers

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British researchers have identified a new kind of learning disability - defects in working memory - that may affect up to 10 percent of all children.

Working memory is the brain's temporary "storage bin." It allows people to mentally store and manipulate an average of three to five items at once. Children with poor working memories often appear lazy or unintelligent in school. The disability seems to be linked to Attention Deficit Disorder.

"One little girl told me recently, 'Every time I read a sentence it erases the one that was before it,'" said Dr. Mel Levine. "That's a perfect example of an active working memory dysfunction." Dr. Levine is co-founder of All Kinds of Minds, a nonprofit institute in Durham, N.C., that studies learning differences. Children like this little girl cannot remember the first sentence on a page as they continue to read the rest of it.

"In children with learning difficulties, it becomes a huge issue, especially around middle school where the demands on working memory grow dramatically," Dr. Levine said.

Working memory is the single best predictor of academic success, said the study's author, Dr. Tracey Alloway of Britain's Durham University. Memory training exercises can help children with poor working memories, but the bigger problem is that the condition is rarely diagnosed.

Labels: learning_disabilites, memory, dysfunction

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The strategy is called SLANT and was developed by researchers at Kansas University. It was initially developed for special needs children, but researchers have since discovered that it works best with ADD or ADHD students.

"In the SLANT strategy, the S stands for 'Sit up straight', the L stands for 'Lean Forward', the A stands for 'Activate your thinking', the N stands for 'Note key idea' (littler ones, 'Nod and smile' works better), the T stands for 'Track the talker'."

Teachers can create posters to place around the room, or even note cards that can be taped to students' desks. Then, when a student is not paying attention, all the teacher has to say is "SLANT" or "everyone needs to SLANT". The students know what it means and are reminded to sit up straight and pay attention.

BoardingSchoolsInfo.com offers a list of the best learning disability boarding schools for kids with ADHD, NVLD, and other learning disorders.

Labels: education, teachers, learning_disabilites

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Students with learning disabilities like dyslexia and ADHD often have a hard time studying for tests and quizzes. Learning disabilities specialist Alexa Taylor has developed a list of strategies to help students who struggle in this area.

"Duplicate normal study places. If studying in the library is a habit when class is in session, don't switch to studying in the dorm, where roommates and television can be distractions."

Other suggestions include using different study styles throughout the day, and mapping out a specific written study schedule.

LearningDisabilitiesInfo.com is a great resource for parents of children with learning disabilities.

Labels: schools, learning_disabilites, studying

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Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities is a non-profit organization that was started in 2000 to support and encourage children with learning disabilities or ADHD and their parents. Every year, they offer a Youth Achievement Award for which kids can be nominated.

"This $1,000 award recognizing the strengths and accomplishments of young people with learning disabilities and ADHD will be given to a student 19 or younger who has demonstrated initiative, talent, and determination resulting in a notable accomplishment in any field  including art, music, science, math, athletics or community service.

Young people who have received the award in the past have overcome problems caused by dyslexia, ADHD, emotional traumas and more.

Learn more about how you can help your child with learning disabilities at LearningDisabilitiesInfo.com.

Labels: accomplishments, learning_disabilites, benefits

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Until now, there's been no official name given to kids who are unusually bright but also struggle with a learning disability such as ADHD. Because there's been no name, no distinct category, there's also been no strategy in place for educating these kids. But a non-profit group called IDL - Individual Differences in Learning Association - has begun taking corrective action on behalf of this unusual group of students that are being called "twice-exceptional learners".

"[Katharina] Boser and other members of IDL spent most of the summer in the county's Television and Media Production studio... interviewing students, teachers, parents and experts to create a two-hour video on twice-exceptional learners."

The video will be used to inform and educate school officials on the unique learning needs of twice-exceptional learners, which are also sometimes referred to as GTLD - gifted and talented/learning disabled. The goal is to help parents and educators learn how to consider not just a child's learning disability, but his learning skills and talents as well.

Schools for children with Asperger's Syndrome can help children get the most out of their education and find the best career path for them. Find one at Your Little Professor.

Labels: schools, learning_disabilites, advocacy

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Vision problems that go undetected and untreated can cause children to display ADHD-like symptoms. Due to the similarities, some children are being diagnosed with ADHD when - in reality - it's their eyes that are causing the trouble.

"A recent study by researchers at the Children's Eye Center, University of San Diego, uncovered a relationship between a common vision disorder, convergence insufficiency, and ADHD. The study 'showed that children with convergence insufficiency are three times as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than children without the disorder.'"

The new research supports existing opinions that vision problems are often found in children with learning disabilities. Parents are encouraged to have their children's eyesight tested if they're struggling in school. Read more at Canada.com.

Copper Canyon Academy, an all girls schools, offers residential treatment for girls in a caring, nurturing setting. In addition to their accredited academic program, girls can take part in traditional and equestrian therapy.

Labels: misdiagnosis, learning_disabilites, eyesight

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