Why You MUST Home School Your Child With Down Syndrome

The world is stacked against a child with Down syndrome. Children with Down syndrome come out of the womb genetically altered. The presence of an extra chromosome in each cell has far reaching biochemical and developmental consequences. If this is not bad enough, these children face a hostile world that has been tainted by centuries of misunderstanding. Gone are the days of "village idiots" and "mongoloid idiots," but the stereotypes still remains. Despite all the accomplishments of individuals with Down syndrome, the world assumes the worst about them. While parents are no longer routinely counseled to institutionalize their child with the disorder, they are still told their children are "mentally retarded" and will not accomplish much in life.

The public-education establishment, despite its self-proclamations of progressiveness, perpetuates the stereotype through a bureaucracy that fails to acknowledge the uniqueness of the condition. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 13 disabilities that are supported, including deafness, brain injury and mental retardation. Down syndrome--in and of itself--is not a recognized disability. In order for a school district to receive special-education funds for a child with Down syndrome, they must classify him as something else. Most children are epoxied with the label "mental retardation." And once the label is applied, an entire education system--which is not geared to the real education of a "mentally retarded" individual--washes over a family like tsunami. It is a rare parent who can come up for air, regain his footing, and make his way back to the shores of hope and progress.

The best way to avoid getting caught in the undertow of a system that under-serves children with Down syndrome, is to teach your child with Down syndrome at home. Homeschooling a special-needs child is your best--and only--choice if you want your child to reach his full potential. I say "only" choice because even if you do put your child in an institutional educational setting, you WILL need to teach your child after school.

The public-school success stories I have heard involving children with Down syndrome show that the success was the result of active parents who were totally involved with the child's education in--and especially out of-- school. I know a woman who has chosen to keep her smart son with Down syndrome in the public school system. But she has done most of his teaching after school. When they said he couldn't write, she taught him. When they said he couldn't write cursive, she taught him.

By the time he was in middle school, he had proved himself over and over again, yet every year, she had to insist that he be challenged in school. The last time I communicated with her, he was taking algebra. Even in schools where mainstreaming works, you cannot be assured that your child is being well educated. Few classroom teachers have experience with Down syndrome. And few classroom teachers can effectively manage normal students and students with special needs. Teachers I've spoken with have said that the special needs students disrupt the classroom routine, even if the students themselves are not disruptive.

While we can and should work to change a system that doesn't work for our children, there's little time for this. Time is not on your side when it comes to educating your child with Down syndrome. It will be a better use of your time and energy to direct your child's education at home than to fight the institutions. "But I'm not a teacher!" you say. "I don't know anything about teaching. And I definitely don't know anything about special education."

You know more than you think about teaching. Do you have normal children? Do those children pick up their toys, make their beds, go to the bathroom independently, or sit at the table politely? They just did all of these things by themselves, right? No! You TAUGHT them. And when it comes to "special education," you might not know the theories, the methodologies and jargon, but you know your child.

You are an expert in your child. You know what works and doesn't work. And likely, if you don't know, you will find out, because you love your child and want to be the best he can be in all areas. That more than anything else qualifies you to teach your child. You love. You care. And you will do more than a stranger to help your child reach his potential.

You are your child's first and BEST teacher. Believe in yourself. You CAN teach your child. And you must.

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Can Stimming Be Stopped?

In the past few weeks, I have been asked to give a therapeutic solution to problems that probably don't have a proven solution. It is very difficult to tell someone that the answer they are seeking may not exist. Unfortunately, certain conditions are very difficult to treat because they serve a purpose. Today I was asked to provide methods to stop a little girl from what therapists refer to as stimming, which is shorthand for self-stimulation. It is a stereotypic and repetitive behavior that is often seen in children with autism, but can be found in other disorders. Very often, low functioning children will self-stimulate.

As of now, there is no definitive explanation as to the etiology of stimming. It is believed to be a means of organizing and coping with whatever is going on in the environment. The behavior can be excitatory or inhibitory. Stimming can take many incarnations: blinking, staring, licking, clapping, flicking, rocking, hair twisting, jumping, grunting, lining objects up, sniffing people... the list goes on. Given that these behaviors are assumed to be helpful to the child, why is it viewed as a problem? Although these behaviors may be helpful to the child, they actually prevent the child from attaining better function. Most significantly, they interfere with the child's ability to focus and pay attention. They also stigmatize the child. And by their nature, they reinforce themselves and prevent the child from adopting alternative and more acceptable self calming techniques.

All of us display these tendencies at some time or another, but especially under stress. Who hasn't twirled their hair, or tapped their toes, or drummed their fingers? In the mainstream population, these habits are viewed as annoying outlets for nervous energy. When you think about it in these terms, it is more understandable. Everyone has a nervous habit or two which emerges in stressful or anxious situations. And unexplainably, it helps.

One goal that is important to all special needs children is that of social acceptance. Sadly, the more unusual the behavior exhibited by a child, the less likely this is to occur. That means that it is important to either suppress stimming, or to re-direct it to a more acceptable form. I personally prefer to try and suppress these behaviors. Although they provide some internal organization to the child which helps them cope, I like to work on improving social behaviors by using behavioral strategies. Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) has proved very effective in changing disruptive behaviors and eliciting more appropriate ones. Many practitioners who implement ABA therapy incorporate something called "discrete trial training" (DTT). This is very effective with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and also PDD children. Stereotypical, repetitive movements are common in both these groups. DTT helps by rewarding and reinforcing discrete events. Reward reinforcement is great for helping to build positive behaviors. With DTT, the components of a behavior are broken down, and each component is worked on individually and rewarded when achieved correctly. The components, when put together, form a new behavior. DTT can also be used to eliminate an unwanted behavior. The therapist rewards the child when they are told to stop, and the child does stop. ABA treatment has been demonstrated to work very well in stopping inappropriate behaviors such as stimming.

Another treatment approach is to replace the undesired stimming with a more acceptable method of self-calming. Obviously, if a child's stimming is manifest in licking objects, they need to stop. Aside from the fact that it might cause them to be ridiculed by peers, it poses a health risk. At a minimum, it is unsanitary. A therapist might try to find acceptable food items, like sugarless lollipops, which will replace the habit. Remember Kojak? Telly Savalas always had a lollipop in his mouth. If a child is touching others, the therapist could try to give the child a doll or a stuffed animal to touch instead. These solutions tend to work better with a very young population. Once the child is older there aren't as many substitutes available.

We know stimming plays an important role in children with certain disorders. We also know that the benefit to the child probably doesn't outweigh the downside. That is, the stimming diverts attention which is needed in order to learn and take in important information, and it opens the child to being ridiculed and stigmatized. It is difficult to treat because the child needs the behavior as a means to cope. Working with the child to gain purposeful skills and possibly giving them alternative ways to cope can help to diminish, and possibly eliminate, stimming.

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Parenting a Special Needs Child

If you have a child with special needs then your role as a parent will be decidedly more challenging that you might have expected. There are several illnesses that come under the banner of special needs. These can be related to learning, behavior, development, mental health or medical issues. Whatever the category, they all require greater support, patience and application than might have otherwise been necessary. There is a tendency for parents to feel isolated and alone, however, there are resources available to provide the information and support needed.

Parents must accept their special needs child. This is perhaps one of the first things that a parent should do. The discovery is oftentimes unexpected, and the initial reactions can include denial, blame, anger and sorrow. It can be a very difficult reality for any parent to face. However, it is important that parents accept the limitations that their special needs child has. Without this, they will not be able to move on, and give the support the child needs. With this support they can develop skills the skills they do have, and do the things that they are capable of.

Parents must be resourceful. They need to ensure that their child has the best care that they need. Very often the cost of caring for a child with special needs, can take a financial toll on a family. This is especially so in the case of long hospital stays, or if there is need for very costly equipment for treatment. Depending on the needs, there are government benefits that are available. Parents should become informed and seek these out wherever possible.

Parents must seek out support. This support might be from their medical doctor, who is able to provide information and clarification on their child's illness, or from a support group. Many of these support groups are an invaluable resource, as they provide information that parents might not otherwise have been aware of.

There are state wide support organizations such as Family Voices, which advocate for better policies for children with special needs. Family Voices focuses on ensuring that these children benefit from family-centered care. Their resources provide parents with the information needed to make informed decisions.

Parents must be patient. This is a very important characteristic. There will often be times of anguish and frustration, as a result of the pressure of caring for a child's physical, emotional and other needs. Consequently, parents become stressed, impatient and often lose control. However, when that happens, it is best to step back and take a break from the situation. If not, they are likely to say and do the wrong things.

Parents must remain positive. Despite the setbacks, they must try to focus on any gains and improvements that their child makes. Every accomplishment must be applauded and encouraged.

Caring for a child with special needs can be very difficult for parents. It is best to try and take each day as it comes, and not become anxious. There is need for patience during times of difficulty, but throughout it all, remember to celebrate the successes, no matter how small they may seem.

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Bookkeeping Career Preparation Opportunities

The management of an organizations financial record is an integral part to their success. Students can obtain the needed knowledge and skills to maintain monetary records by completing specific coursework. Educational opportunities from bookkeeping schools can have students stepping into careers in less than two years.

Bookkeepers monitor funds and manage expenditures by producing financial documents. These statements are used by supervisors and managers to show where a business stands financially and to ensure that the company is on the right track. Students learn to compile data by verifying payments, balancing accounts, making purchases, and more.

Completing a certificate degree program is the best option for students that want to enter bookkeeping careers quickly. These short, typically, one and half year programs train students to understand the fundamentals of accounting. Programs stress the use of computerized accounting software to prepare students for the profession. Bookkeeping basics such as payroll are heavily focused on within a program. Some common courses could include:

• Business Law
• Managerial Accounting
• Taxation
• QuickBooks

The ability to manage money is obtained as students work through courses that prepare them to become professionals. Double entry accounting, gross income, investment liability, and strategic planning are all subjects covered inside a certificate program. Students that successfully complete certificate programs are eligible to obtain entry-level careers. In a small business setting bookkeepers manage transactions, credits, and billing statements. Inside large businesses professionals are used for a specific job such as recording transactions for accounts payable or payroll.

Many students choose to begin their education at the associate's degree level by completing a degree in accounting. This educational path provides the best professional preparation and enables students to obtain several positions that require an associate's degree. Training develops the accounting and business knowledge needed so students can correctly manage career duties when they obtain jobs. Federal taxation, managerial accounting, microcomputer accounting, audition, and computer software are some major areas of study that are integrated into training. Each area of study prepares students to properly work with businesses books to ensure accuracy and balance. Accounting data is explored as students learn about the development of business and how it's directly related to strategic planning. Students will be able to find employment in numerous areas and begin careers in education, healthcare, and government.

Becoming a certified bookkeeper, although not required for a career, is extremely beneficial. Professionals that seek certification need to have a minimum of two years of work experience. The American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers award certification after students complete a four-part test that covers all professional areas of bookkeeping. Students that become certified have the skills needed to advance inside their careers. Many organizations and businesses promote certified bookkeepers into advanced and supervisory roles. Opportunities to transition into careers as auditors and accountants also exist for experienced professionals.

The career preparation opportunities available prepare students for every aspect of the bookkeeping profession. The programs that offer a quality education are fully accredited by agencies such as the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools. Students can begin their training at the certificate or associate's degree level and enter careers confidently. Begin bookkeeping training today and enter a career in two years or less.

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Milestones to Expect From Your Nine-Year Old

At some point children start to display signs of independence when it comes to relationships with older members the family. While it is important for children to develop healthy relationships with other children, parents need to be guarded against any harmful peer pressure. One way to address this issue is to help the child to grow up feeling good about him or herself. Children who have good self-esteems are less likely to succumb to peer pressure. This is one of the more important developmental milestones for 9 year olds.

At this point in their lives children will start to gain a feeling of responsibility, as they are becoming more independent. Physical changes will start to become evident more so in girls than boys. Children at this stage begin to form deeper friendships especially with children of the same gender.

For the most part it is to be expected that children will have to deal with peer pressure. Children are often in a situation where they feel the need to please their friends in order to cement the relationship. Adults are well aware that nothing could be further from the truth. Adults are able to quickly detect when they are being manipulated and then do something about it. Children however are very different. Despite attempts from parents to warn their child against this, the child will only be sucked in further to succumbing to peer pressure.

It can be very painful for parents to watch their child being manipulated by the child's supposedly best friend. Nagging the child about this will only push the child further away from the parents. This can cause quite a dilemma, as parents may not know how to deal with the situation.

The best way to deal with the situation is to spend time with the child and discuss his or her friends. Explain to the child about right and wrong and very importantly the consequences of poorly made decisions. Explain to the child the pitfalls of succumbing to peer pressure on any level.

Children should be taught to never waiver on anything that they strongly believe in. Examples of this are having good manners, being respectful towards elders and their religious convictions. Parents have spent many years nurturing the child so that the child grows up to be a member of society that will make contributions to society and not become a parasite of society.

In terms of developmental milestones for 9 year olds standing on principal is one of the most important for children. It can also be one that will be tested to the limit if children are permitted to associate with the wrong kinds of children. Parents need to be both patient and resilient with regards to their child's sense of right and wrong.

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