RESOURCES FOR HIGH
INCIDENT DISABILITIES
Speech & Language
Speaking of Speech.com is the first and largest interactive forum for speech/language pathologists and teachers to improve communication skills in our schools by:
- exchanging ideas, techniques, materials, and lessons that work,
- finding out about materials before you buy,
- seeking and giving advice on therapy and caseload management issues, and
- exploring a myriad of helpful resource links.
Kurzweil Educational Systems, the award winning text-to-speech and assistive technology, offers powerful reading, writing and test-taking software literacy solutions for struggling readers and writers. Kurzweil 3000 offers free trial downloads to see if the software is right for your student.
The new ProSlate™ series of AAC devices represent the most progressive innovations in the industry. FRS’s technological breakthroughs like the SoundPod™ voice output module, FlexABLE® Handle and Stand, and Magnetic Keyguards are just some of the reasons the ProSlate™ has become the device of choice throughout the country. Now with Switch Access incorporated directly into the operating system, the ProSlate™ is, without a doubt, the most capable AAC device available.
Welcome to the MITS Lending Library
The MITS Lending Library contains assistive technology equipment and software that is available to Michigan’s PK-12 Public Schools for short-term (8 weeks) use. They have AT like iPads, chin switches, Nova Chat 10, ProSlate 8, Pererro and PODD software
The MITS Lending Library contains assistive technology equipment and software that is available to Michigan’s PK-12 Public Schools for short-term (8 weeks) use. They have AT like iPads, chin switches, Nova Chat 10, ProSlate 8, Pererro and PODD software
Autism
Our mission is to offer financial and emotional support to each individual child and family with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with compassionate guidance, and delivery of therapies or services of that family’s choice.
Learning Disabilities
The Division for Learning Disabilities (DLD) is a international professional organization consisting of teachers, psychologists, clinicians, administrators, higher education professionals, parents, and others. The major purposes of DLD are:
- To promote the education and general welfare of persons with learning disabilities.
- To provide a forum for discussion of issues facing the field of learning disabilities.
- To encourage interaction among the many disciplinary groups whose research and service efforts affect persons with learning disabilities.
- To foster research regarding the varied disabilities subsumed in the term "learning disabilities" and promote dissemination of research findings.
- To advocate exemplary professional training practices to insure the highest quality of services in the field of learning disabilities.
- To promote exemplary diagnostic and teaching practices in a context of tolerance for new and divergent ideas.
The LDA is a great website for parents and teachers with lots of resources like journals, guides and a great resource page linking you to other great learning disability websites.
All kinds of minds believes we need to re-focus our efforts on understanding how the mind functions so that we can help each individual succeed.
It is time to recognize that each student has a unique learning profile that reflects his or her particular learning strengths, weaknesses, and affinities.
Emotionally Impaired
Emotional Impairment:
(A) An inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or health factors. (B) An inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and teachers.
(C) Inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances.
(D) A general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression.
(E) A tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems.”
(A) An inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or health factors. (B) An inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and teachers.
(C) Inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances.
(D) A general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression.
(E) A tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems.”
This website is a wonderful resource to see characteristics of emotional disturbance broken down into learning disabilities, socialization and behavior and affective characteristics. It then shows you strategies to implant for each of the above areas.
This site: National Institute of Mental Health has a great page about ADHD and defines it as one of the most common childhood disorders and can continue through adolescence and adulthood. Symptoms include difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior, and hyperactivity (over-activity). This site also explains the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments.
Cognitively Impaired
Cognitive Impairment (also known as an intellectual disability) is a term used when a person has certain limitations in mental functioning and in skills such as communication, self-help, and social skills. These limitations will cause a child to learn and develop more slowly than a typical child. It is diagnosed through the use of standardized tests of intelligence and adaptive behavior. It can be caused by injury, disease, genetic condition, or a brain abnormality. This can happen before a child is born or during childhood. For many children, the cause of their intellectual disability is not known.
The mission of The Arc Michigan is to ensure that people with Developmental Disabilities are valued in order that they and their families can participate fully in and contribute to their community.