Special Education.

Traumatic Brain Injury.

Traumatic Brain Injury.
What is Traumatic Brain Injury?

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when a sudden physical assault on the head causes damage to the brain. The damage can be focal, confined to one area of the brain, or diffuse, involving more than one area of the brain. TBI can result from a closed head injury or a penetrating head injury. A closed head injury occurs when the head sudde  . . . more

Developmental Language Delay

What is developmental language delay/ developmental language disorder?
These terms are often used interchangeably to describe the general problems of children who are not developing language as expected for their age, although their development in other areas appears to be appropriate. A third phrase often used as a general term is ?specific language impairment?. The important distinction to gr  . . . more

ADHD.org.nz

A New Zealand ADHD online support group with information, causes, treatment, management suggestions, links and information about local support groups in your area.
http://www.adhd.org.nz  . . . more

Teenadders Inc.

Teenadders Inc.( a non profit organisation) offers support and assistance to ADD/ADHD teens and their families. http://www.teenadders.org.nz has information about treatment, entitlements, teenage issues, links and resources.  . . . more

Word Retrieval activities for Children

What is a word-retrieval problem?

The terms ?word retrieval problem? or ?word finding difficulty? imply that the person knows and understands the word, and has used it correctly before. However, they have difficulty retrieving such known words at times. Children and adults with language disorders are frequently found to have word retrieval difficulties. Often when a person (child or adult) is h  . . . more

Ongoing and Reviewable Resourcing Schemes (ORRS)

The Ongoing and Reviewable Resourcing Schemes (ORRS) help students who have very high or high ongoing special education needs by providing extra teaching, specialist programming and education support, wherever they attend school.

These guidelines will help you to decide whether your child or student is likely to be eligible for help under the schemes, and to complete the application form. This  . . . more

Central Auditory Processing Disorder

Jennifer, 9, seems to pay attention when the teacher works with her one-on-one. But when there are group discussions, she spends most of her time looking out the window. The teacher is complaining she doesn't participate in class, and is giving Jennifer lower grades as a result.
Shawn, 12, was supposed to be home in time for his dentist's appointment at 3:30. But when he finally walked in the hou  . . . more

Williams Syndrome

Williams Syndrome

Williams Syndrome is a rare disorder. Like Down's Syndrome it is caused by an abnormality in chromosomes, and shows a wide variation in ability from person to person.

Williams People have a unique pattern of emotional, physical and mental strengths and weaknesses. For parents, teachers, and care workers, learning about this pattern can be a key to understanding a Williams   . . . more

Spectacles (Glasses) Subsidy for Children

Enable New Zealand administers the Ministry of Health spectacle subsidy for children. This subsidy provides assistance for children with vision problems in low-income families.

Who can apply?

The spectacle subsidy can be accessed if your child:
has a disability as defined by the Ministry of Health,
is under eight years of age,
has undergone a professional eye examination and has a prescri  . . . more

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)- An Overview

Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is a disability that affects how the brain processes spoken language. Kids with APD have difficulty interpreting and storing information despite normal hearing. In addition to hindering speech and language development, APD can affect other areas of learning, particularly reading and writing.

What is APD?

Ask a parent, teacher, audiologist, speech-language   . . . more

Aspergers Booklet

After a longer than anticipated wait, Asperger?s Syndrome ? 'What Teachers Need To Know', has finally been printed!

The many people who have received the free electronic version of this booklet have commented on how easy to read and understand the book is. It has been put together with busy teachers in mind so that they can quickly get the most essential information on Asperger?s Syndrome.   . . . more

Autistic Spectrum Disorder Resources and Initiatives

Rau rangatira maa, tenei te mihi ki a koutou i runga i te kaupapa o te ra.
Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutoa katoa.

[Distinguished guests, greetings to you gathered here for this purpose today. Greetings once, twice, three times to you all.]

Good morning and thank you for the opportunity to speak today.First I would like to take this opportunity to applaud you for your ongoing wor  . . . more

TalkLink- Assistive Technology Service

The TalkLink Trust

The TalkLink Trust was established in Auckland in1991 to provide assistive technology services for people who have communication disabilities. The TalkLink Trust operates two centres, one in Auckland and one in Wellington.

TalkLink centres employ assistive technology specialists who have qualifications and/or experience in speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, neu  . . . more

Teaching children with Dyspraxia.

WHAT IS DEVELOPMENTAL DYSPRAXIA?
Developmental Dyspraxia (DD) is a neurologically based impairment or immaturity of the organisation of movement. Associated with this may be problems of language, perception and thought. Affected children have a normal intelligence for their age but may have difficulty in both processing information and in communicating what they know or understand. It affects eac  . . . more

Resource Teachers: Learning and Behaviour

Resource Teachers: Learning and Behaviour or "RTLB" as they are usually called, work within schools around the country to provide advice and guidance to teachers of students who are at risk of low achievement due to learning and/or behaviour difficulties. This may include direct teaching, demonstrating practice, and providing teaching strategies so that students receive appropriate learning progra  . . . more

What is Asperger Syndrome?

Asperger Syndrome is a developmental disorder characterised by difficulties in these main areas:
? Social interaction
? Communication
? Imagination
? Sensory sensitivity
? Motor clumsiness
? Special interests and Routines
The first research into the field was by Austrian psychologist Hans Asperger in 1943. It is only in the past 20 years that there has been greater awareness and treatment   . . . more

Homeschooling Your Child with Special Needs

The Best Place to Learn?

For families who have kids with special needs, the decision to homeschool is usually a desperate move. Parents are often frustrated by the inability of schools to provide the services their children need. Others are discouraged by the way their child is treated by his classmates or even his teachers. Motivated by an intense desire to overcome labels or individual chal  . . . more

The role of Behavioural Optometry in Learning Difficulties

Learning Difficulties
Many children who are experiencing learning difficulties, have a vision problem. Visual abilities are the skills which give us the means to locate, identify and remember what we see. In addition to visual acuity - the ability to see the small letters on the chart, there are a number of other abilities necessary for the child to perform at school. These abilities include the  . . . more

Strategies to Work with Students with Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Many teachers are "pulling their hair out" wondering if they will survive another day with a student with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). These students can be confrontational, disruptive, vindictive, and irritate the nerves of teachers who already encounter numerous challenges in the classroom. Unfortunately, teachers will face an increasing number of students with ODD and conduct disorders   . . . more

Individual Education Programme.

Individual Education Plan





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Summary how to develop an education support plan for students with special education needs

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Individual Education Programme

An Individual Education Programme or an "IEP" as it   . . . more