Presenter: Susan Conners M.Ed.
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Ms. Conners gave a teacher’s perspective on what can be reasonably be done in a classroom as far as accommodations for Tourette, OCD and ADD. She gave concrete examples of situations that she has seen and techniques that have been helpful.
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I have some questions. Where can I ask them? Do I ask them here? Thank you for your help.
My 7-year-old daughter with TS has difficulty with getting invited to playdates and birthday parties as she is quite impulsive and inappropriate around parents and their children, such as in girl scouts. How do I educate the parents about this disorder and how do I get them on board with including my daughter?
My daughter also recently was exited from her IEP. How do I get the teachers on board with understanding that TS may not affect academics, but it certainly affects her educational experience? As of now, she no longer has an IEP and it is certainly frustrating as her symptoms wax and wane. Her specialist teachers are constantly reporting bad behavior of my daughter. I have requested numerous times for a TS advocate to come to the classroom to educate and it only gets denied.
My 7 year old daughter would like to ask a question who was able to also watch the webinar with me. She is quite upset and frustrated with a family member that she lives with who makes fun of her TS and often will tell her to leave a room when she has loud tics. I have tried several times to educate this family member. I also noticed that this member of the family has mild tics, but denies having them.
How can we advocate for our children with TS to get an IEP or 504 plan, when the team constantly reiterates that his/her TS is not affecting his/her educational experience?
Can you expand on the social skills defecit that some kids with tourette have?
When live on the webinar you would use the question box on your screen. If after the webinar this is where you post your questions.
Do change in seasons/allergies/asthma create tics?
Do you recommend the child with TS being in the classroom when their peers are being educated about TS? Particularly in 2nd or 3rd grade. Thank you
How do you deal with a set of parents who don’t see eye to eye about Tourettes? Escpecially when the pasrents are divorced.
How important is it for teachers to listen to the parents and not see it as excuses made for their child’s behaviors?
Susan its Heather could you tell the others how teachers could get further training on how to teach students that have Tourettes?
I am a HS Chemistry teacher but this question applies to any applied classes…what suggestions do you have for activities such as laboratory experiments?
Should middle school children be a part of the IEP meetings and if so should the parent coach the child for the IEP meeting?
Sue, is there a video/movie that you recommend for young children to watch to understand TS?
What would be the best way to get a teacher to truly understanding what occurrs at home after school, ie: rage, overwhelmed, letting tics out…cutting into quality homework time.
Any experience w/students who have these issues becoming internet/tech addicted as way to avoid doing hw, chores or social interaction? this seems to be a huge, ongoing issue in my teen’s life
How do u handle the social challenges w/older teens who were mis diagnosed and didn’t have early intervention to help them w/these skills? He has had a hard time making and keeping friends, and challenges w/getting overwhelmed w/trying to move into college classes.
Speak a little more about the embarrassment a child can feel when they tic and the discomfort they experience.
How do teachers differentiate strategies for inattentiveness or not attending to tasks, whether its sensory? Or motivational? Or ocd? Are there different strategies for each ?
How do you know you found the best doctor for your child and right meds.
There are lots of very good brochures about TS that can be down loaded and shared with family, friend’s families, etc. It is my belief that education is power. On another note, is your daughter receiving social skills training at school? this is something that schools should be providing. You may want to ask for an evaluation by the school’s speech language therapist to test for social skills deficits, pragmatic language disorder.
STAR 28 Exited IEP: The new IDEA when it was reauthorized in 2007 contains very specific language about teacher training and also about the fact that academic performance alone are not enough to deny a child services. They need to also look at social/emotional well-being and daily functioning. If you would like copies of these sections of IDEA, please email me at conners@roadrunner.com and I will email them to you.
Star 28 Family Members: This can be so frustrating to not be understood by family members. The HBO network produces a video a few years ago entitled I Have Tourettes but Tourettes Doesn’t Have Me which is an excellent way of educating family members. It’s onlt about 30 minutes and is all . kids with TS. It’s very powerful. You should be able to obtain a copy from NJCTS.
Advocate for our children: The new IDEA when it was reauthorized in 2007 contains very specific language about teacher training and also about the fact that academic performance alone are not enough to deny a child services. They need to also look at social/emotional well-being and daily functioning. If you would like copies of these sections of IDEA, please email me at conners@roadrunner.com and I will email them to you. There are also some very good advocacy agencies that could help you or your local TS chapter or agency. If you let me know where you are from, I could make some suggestions.
Change in Seasons: Although no specific research has been done, I have worked with many. many children with TS whose symptoms seem to worsen seasonly. Some peope think that it may be allergy related but again nothing has been scientifically proven.
Student present at Peer Inservice: Absolutely. They will always wonder what was said if they are not there. If the peer in service is done properly, the child with TS can be incorporated into the presentation which is very empowering for the child.
This discussion has been closed. Thank you to everyone who participated!
Thank you for the great webinar!