NACD Newsletter: Volume 1, Issue 5

NACD - The National Association for Child Development Newsletter

Volume 1, Issue 5

May 2008

Quick Links

NACD Home Page

Simply Smarter

The Project: 9 +/- 2

Send Us Your Questions

Since more people are reading the new NACD newsletter than the old message boards, we are going to have an ASK THE STAFF section in the newsletter. Please send your questions to askstaff@nacd.org

Your questions will be forwarded to an appropriate staff member who can answer it - e.g., Nutrition answers from Dr. Neil, Speech and Language answers from Lori Riggs, and Program Questions from Sara Erling. Bob will answer some himself, too. By having the questions and answers in the newsletter, we can all learn and benefit.

If your question is very client-specific, you will receive your answer privately.

ASK BOB:

I really don't know what to do. My son continues to stim off of traffic lights. What would this problem be related to? How do I fix it? His language has actually improved quite a bit over the last couple of years of home school, and his processing is in normal range. (6 conceptual objects, 7 or 8 auditory digits, 7 or 8 visual digits) We went to an amusement park today, and as we sat at the picnic table, all he wanted to do was look at the traffic (even though he was sitting by friends). When I was able to engage him with conversation, he was appropriate, asking me what my favorite ride was. But once the conversation ended, he was back to looking at traffic. Every time we drive in the car, he obsesses over looking at the traffic lights (even with pinholes on). What can I do?

Thanks,

Natalie (w/ 14-yr-old son with high functioning autism)

To read Bob's answer, click here

NACD KIDS: Mary Beth

By Monique Cunningham

My daughter Mary Beth had been diagnosed by the first grade with several labels - ADHD, dysgraphia, dyslexia, and auditory processing. Our small private school had a program called Discovery Lab where children with learning disabilities were helped on a one-on-one basis. They used a multi-sensory approach to teach our kids. Knowing no other alternative, we enrolled Mary Beth in this program.

Homework was still a struggle every night. What would take any other child about 15 minutes, would often last 2 hours. Studying for tests took at least a week of looking over the material every night. Mary Beth attended Discovery Lab during school hours, often missing some class time instruction for 3 years. At the end of 3rd grade a friend told me about NACD. I was very excited about what it could do for Mary Beth but still dragged my heels on getting her evaluated. In August of 2006, we went to Dallas to be evaluated by NACD. I'll never forget the first thing her evaluator Lyn Waldeck said to me. She said, "It seems to me that Mary Beth is a big mystery to everyone. She's not a mystery to me and we can fix her."

To read more, click here

NACD Makes Audio Input Easier

by Lyn Waldeck

Finally . . . A method to make audio easier!

NACD is in the process of starting an electronic audio lending library for families. For years we have placed a great significance on feeding the auditory channel in order to develop better listening and language skills. Many of you know the challenge of keeping up with tapes - whether they are initial words and sounds, math facts, or World History.

In order to assist families we will be starting an MP3 lending library comprised of Public Domain Recordings and audio recordings submitted by our families. We need your help! If each family would take the time to record a few short MP3 files, the files could be shared with others, thus increasing the variety of auditory input that our children are exposed to.

I am in the process of placing MP3 files on a hard drive to use in this project. We are asking families to send us what you may already have and to consider making some additional ones for sharing.

Please send files to lyn@nacd.org

NACD: Doing What Works for Homeschooling

School Kid For nearly thirty years, NACD has helped over 30,000 people of all ages and ability make exceptional strides in their mental and physical development. Helping people with significant neurological issues has given NACD profound insight into how typical and gifted individuals can achieve highly advanced abilities.

NACD has a long tradition of actively supporting Homeschooling. They have developed tools to help every Homeschooling parent.

Simply Smarter™

Like a program to upgrade your brain's "RAM," Simply Smarter™ increases your auditory and visual sequential processing, providing greater access to your innate intelligence.

Simply Smarter™ can help your child to:

expand short term and working memory
learn faster
remember more
express him or herself with greater clarity
solve complex and multiple step problems

Simply Smarter™ has a simple, fun, easy-to-use format, with automatic record keeping built in.

Individually Customized Homeschooling Plans

NACD can provide a specific Homeschooling plan for your child as part of a TDI - Targeted Developmental Intervention™. Based on a complete neuro-educational assessment of your child, the NACD can design a program of teaching strategies to help your child make rapid advancement. The program will address your child's educational needs as well as providing activities to improve your child's cognitive functioning.

NACD provides continuing support through phone conferences, video reviews, and a support staff to answer any and all questions.

For more information