tips-and-tools-for-behavioral-disorders

When Television & Hope Collide. Loving someone with Bipolar

Tue, 21 Jun 2011 03:25:03 +0100

From Law & Order SVU's Kathleen Stabler to David Silver on the original Beverly Hills 90210 and Erin Silver (nicknamed "Silver") on the current 90210, TV has featured characters with bipolar disorder. Do any of these characters offer hope that people with bipolar can live happy, productive, law-abiding lives? Listen to find out

Also, revealed are the results of 130 votes to the latest Flipswitch poll on Facebook, "Have you (or a loved one) ever been the victim of mental illness stigma?"

--Jessica

How do you help your child who does not fit in?

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 01:55:27 +0100

How do you help you child cope through being different? At some point in our lives we all feel like we are different from everyone else in the world. No individual is the same. Our uniqueness is part of what makes us interesting. But as a child we do not understand that. But when you have a child struggling with a disability which makes them stand out even more, how do you help them?

I found an interesting book which could help you "Understanding and Helping Your Child Who Doesn't Fit In" written By Perri Klass, Eileen Costello. I hope you can find some helpful tips here.

Teaching Social Skills

Sun, 05 Dec 2010 22:24:36 +0100

Social Skills are one of those area's, the school system does not focus on. In most individuals Social skills come naturally. But in people with disabilities, social skills is in a grey area, and these individuals need special training.

I believe that social skills are an area you need to concentrate on teaching people with social disorders; such as Bipolar, Autism, Aspergers and is an area which would help children with disabilities learn to fit in to a degree.

Teaching about emotions, and how to deal with them is vital. I have included resources for teaching Social Skills in the "Sites for Special needs" pages and will continually add more resources on this topic, because this topic is at present near and dear to my heart, and is where my current focus lies.

Social Stories. Tools for behavior modification.

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 05:26:10 +0100

Social Stories are an effective tool to be used for children with behavioral disorders. A social story is basically just a script, which helps the child understand inappropriate behaviors, and to teach them how they what they should do instead. The words are very simple, and to the point.

A typical script could look like this one:

Title:

"I am Mad"

Sometimes people feel

mad…

Sometimes I feel mad…

It is OK to feel mad.

It is not OK to hit

other people.

Hitting hurts my friends and makes them sad.

It is not OK to kick

other people or things.

Kicking hurts my friends and makes them sad.

It is not ok to bite my friends.

Biting my friends hurts them and makes them sad.

It is not ok to push my friends.

Pushing my friends hurts them and makes them sad.

When I am mad,

I will say, “I am mad.”

Then I will get to go to my special place to cool down.

Placing images with each page makes it more interesting. The great thing about social stories, is you can have other children join for the reading, and they could all learn how to better deal with being mad.

I recommend having a place where the child can go to cool off. Take a picture of the cool down place, and place it on the last page, for their special place to cool down. Many times when you have a child which is out of control, they are on sensory overload, and need a place away from the other children to let the senses calm down.

Their are many places where you can find scripts for social stories. Some which are ready to print.

Natural Learning Concepts

Region 2 Digital Lending Library

The Gray Center

and my all time favorite

Sandbox Learning

The reason I really like "Sandbox Learning" is because the books are completely customizable to each child.

Take a look at utilizing Social Stories as part of your childs modification plan.

What is Sensory Processing Disorder?

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 05:08:44 +0100

Sensory Processing Disorder, also known as Sensory Disorder, is not commonly recognized or diagnosed by Doctors. Many times it is diagnosed as ADHD or Autisim. Be aware that many times individuals with Autisim also have Sensory Processing Disorder.

Watch the video of a news broadcast on Sensory Processing Disorder.

Every individual with Sensory Processing Disorder senses things differently then you and I. As a matter of fact, the explanation from each of the individuals with Sensory Processing Disorder, would be different also. The videos I am sharing, are here for you to understand Sensory Processing Disorder, to a degree, and to help you see the world as they do. If you have a child with Sensory Processing Disorder, I am sure you will want to understand their world. It could assist you in your patience, and maybe assist you in helping your child.

So what does the world look like to a child with Sensory Processing Disorder?

Here is a video of a young man with Autisim and Sensory Processing Disorder?

If your child displays questioning behaviors, I recommend you utilize Observation Cards for documentation, or some other source of documentation. Documentation is vital when it comes to diagnosis and trying to determine triggers. Any documentation you can give to your Physician can help with a diagnosis and putting a plan together.

I will be posting soon on the research for tips and tools to help you and your child manage and understand life with Sensory Processing Disorder.

Body Talk Your Brain

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 02:55:08 +0100

I found this interesting technique for balancing the Cortices.

What are the Cortices? The outer layer of the cerebrum (the cerebral cortex), composed of folded gray matter and playing an important role in consciousness.

You may wonder why it is necessary to balance the cortices. Each side of the brain works independently. The right side of the brain is the more creative side of our brain, while the left side of the brain is the logical side of the brain. If you are left handed, you utilize the right side of the brain more, and if you are right handed, you utilize the left side of the brain. If you can stimulate and work both sides of your brain, you will find yourself calmer. Try this exercise 1 to 3 times a day for 3 months, and see if you find a difference within.

Tux Paint Drawing Program (Great free drawing program for children with Disabilities

Sun, 07 Nov 2010 18:20:42 +0100

Tux Paint is a drawing program. It is a free shareware software program.

Some of the key features to tuxpaint, which make me feel it is an exceptional program for children with disabilities, (especially children with Behavioral Disorders) is the option for sounds. Calming sounds have been incorporated in each drawing technique, which is an incredible feature. I have found that Tux Paint is age appropriate for any age. I even like drawing using the program myself.

In my years of working with children with disabilities, it has been my observation that these children are fascinated with the computer, and generally are creative. Being able to utilize software combining art and using soothing sounds utilizes sensory tectniques to stimulate the senses and create a calming affect.

Even though this may not be the perfect tool for all children, it is free software, and gives you an option to try.

Compatibility note: This version of Tux Paint is for modern Windows systems, including: Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows Vista and Windows 7. Download now

If you are using an older version of Windows (Windows95, Windows98, and WindowsME), you can download this version of Tux Paint for older Windows. Download now

Documentation. Use of Observation Cards

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 01:40:56 +0100

When working with people which have social disabilities, such as Autisim, Bipolar, severe ADHD, and maybe ADD, it is important to track information. Documentation is vital when you are trying to learn what triggers an individuals behavior, and trying to determine what works when trying to modify behaviors.

Simple things such as transition are frequently causes for bad behaviors in an individual with Social Disorders, and you want to be able to pick out events which trigger the change in their behavior, so that you can find ways to help the individual cope. De-escalation can be a tedious task, but if you become aware of the triggers, you can be ready to utilize techniques you have found which lessen the reaction.

Observation Cards are a great tool for documentation. They can printed in a format which you can simply carry in your back pocket, and have readily available for when the behavior arises. The amount of information is small enough, that it does not take much time to make the notes, and can be filled out once you have gotten everything under control. But there is enough information to track patterns, and results of techniques utilized for trying to control the behavior.

I have included a sample Observation Card, as well as a file you can simply print, so that you can have these cards in a pocket sized sheet, which only needs to be printed and cut down.

Feel free to print these Observation Cards and carry them with you, so that you have something to make your documentation on. Realize that it is important to document this information soon after the incident arises, so that everything is fresh on your mind.

Printable Observation Card File (Microsoft Word.doc)

OBSERVATION CARD

Name: _________________________________

Observer: _______________Date: ___________

Trigger:

Challenging Behavior:

Maintaining Consequence:

Possible Function: