Where there is good research to dispel myths about psychology – that’s a book worth reading. In a nutshell, stop trying to raise your child’s self esteem … And YES it really is better to hold in anger and work on solutions rather than splat anger out … Continue reading “Aptos psychologist: book about popular myths in psychology”
Category: Education
Aptos psychologist: Parents should “represent” students at the bargaining table with public teacher unions
“Residents of California are now confronted with the long-term costs of running a large state for the benefits of its public employee unions… President Obama seems intent on fostering the growth in the number of government employees …” This is from the Wall Street Journal 2/12/201- page A 22, letter by John Henderson
So, let’s focus on what to do:
One way to save money re the school teacher unions and change how decisions are made: 1) every child has a “representative” (typically their parent) and these “representatives” sit down at the bargaining table able to decide education costs.
Does Aptos High “need” 6-8 custodians to pick up the garbage that the kids strew around? Parents like me would vote require students to clean the campus. And keep “clean up” cots to a minimum.
Let the “education dollars” follow the child to private, charter or public schools. And let competition improve the quality of the schools. Let schools hire who they want — with or without credentials so long as the teachers can pass general tests that show competency.
written by Dr. Cameron Jackson www.DrCameronJackson@gmail.com
Aptos psychologist: parents teach autistic children via distance learning www.freedomOK.net/wordpress
Exciting news how parents CAN successfully help autistic children via distance learning!
Too often Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) commercial programs come into the home, work exclusively with the child and parents are not the central players in helping autistic children to communicate.
The tools for helping the child need to be in the hands of the parents. DVD is one promising tool for giving parents the necessary tools they need.
“Pivotal response training” is the lingo used by ABA to discuss what normal folks call “generalization” — the ability to perform the skill in other settings. Clearly whatever is taught via ABA methods needs to be “generalized” to the home setting and implemented by the parents and other family members.
By instructing the family members in a flexible manner — on their schedule — generalization of skills may happen much faster.
See the article below. This is based on research done at the University of California at Santa Barbara. Exciting! written by Cameron Jackson, Ph.D., J.D. DrCameronJackson@gmail.com
Distance Education For Parents Of Children With Autism Found Effective
Article Date: 02 Feb 2010 – 7
“Through the use of instructional DVDs, parents of children with autism can learn how to teach their child to communicate and improve their behavior, according to research published in the January 2010 issue of The Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions (published by the Hammill Institute on Disabilities and SAGE).
“Family members play a central role in the education and treatment of children with autism. However, training parents in appropriate techniques can provide unique challenges.
“Often, mothers and fathers are not available at the same time to participate in training. Contemporary work schedules no longer conform to a traditional 9 to 5 schedule, further complicating efforts to help parents with their child. And, many families are simply too far away from training opportunities to participate on a regular basis. Providing family members with the type of flexibility they need to participate in training is often beyond the capability of most of these programs.
Researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara (Nicolette Nefdt, Robert Koegel, George Singer and Michael Gerber) explored whether providing training to parents through DVDs could help bridge this gap. The good news is that parents did improve their skills through watching the training videos, and there were improvements in child behavior as well.
“Many parents of children with ASD are motivated and able to implement evidenced based intervention with minimal support,” said researcher Nicolette Nefdt. “Once provided with a rationale, step by step instructions and video examples, parents were able to change their behavior and begin teaching their child to communicate. Parents who completed the program commented mostly on the ease and flexibility of use of a program such as this one, the value of the video examples and the enjoyment of working with their child”.
“This is very exciting to us, as we are now able to help many more people more quickly than we could otherwise,” said co-author Robert Koegel.
The article “The use of a self-directed learning program to provide introductory training in pivotal response treatment to parents of children with autism” is available free for a limited time at http://pbi.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/12/1/23. SAGE
Source:
Jim Gilden
SAGE Publications
Aptos psychologist: How to STOP gang violence? www.freedomOK.net/wordpress
How to stop–at least put a major crimp — in gang violence? What are YOUR ideas?
These are mine. By the way, this is NOT a Saul Alinsky COPA approach ….
1. UNIFORMS: Public schools will agree that they will require that all students (K- grade 12) wear uniforms at school and to and from school. To and from school, note. Schools will enforce the uniform rule Consequences for breaking the uniform rule will be clearly set out and enforced. The parents will choose what kind of uniforms and what consequences for breaking the rule. The uniforms must fit the students in a reasonable, normal manner — not extremely tight or loose. Top of the pants can be no lower than an agreed upon number of inches from the waist.
2) NO TATOOS, MAKE UP AND CLEAN APPEARANCE. Girls and boys are to be clean and wear clean clothing. No cosmetic make-up or visible tatoos allowed for school age boys or girls. Consequences stated for breaking the rule. Dirty hair and clothing? Go to thegym and take a shower and put on clean clothing.
3) FAMILIES WILL CONTROL WHERE & WHEN CHILDREN GO. Families commit to control where & when children go out from after school to time to be home for the night. Both schools and faith organizations can assist in making these Agreements. This has to be by choice and made indvidually by families and children with schools and thier faith organizations.
4) COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WILL SUPPORT FAMIY COMMITMENT TO CONTROL CHILDREN’S BEHAVIOR. Strengthen School/ Parent and Faith Organization/ Family Agreements with school/ community events (pot lucks, park activities, athletic events for families) which provide structured time for families to do fun, safe activities together. Provide weekly safe activities for families.
COMMUNITY NON-PROFITS. Faith organizations and community organizations should collaborate to strengthen values of honesty, non-violence, and cooperative behavior. Possible ways could include Affirmation of Family Values (akin to renewal of baptismal vows) done by faith organizations with their members.
POLICE: Spread Neighborhood Watch (know your neighbor, make your neighborhood safe for children, report suspicious behavior, increase more police walking the beat).
This is to start a conversation… What say you? written by Cameron Jackson, Ph.D., J.D. DrCameronJackson@gmail.com
This site is a member of web ring
Monterey Bay Forum is a member of various Web rings
Web Rings which Monterey Bay Forum has joined include: Asperger’s Web Ring, Assistance Dog World, Children’s Advocacy, Northern CA Webring and Home Education Special Needs …
f=j;y=cameronjacks;u=defurl”>
Parents need to say to infants what they mean and mean what they say.
Topic: Why infants don’t sleep as they used to when left with babysitters & what to do about it. written by Dr. Cameron Jackson, licensed psychologist PSY14762 cameronjacks@gmail.com
I take care of a grandchild 2 mornings a week. He is 3 months old. This last week he did not sleep much as he used to do. His mother said that happened also this past week when left with the babysitter that comes the other 3 mornings.
I think the 3 month old knows mommy is gone and he is staying awake until she gets back. The child is vigilant concerning the loss of the most important object in his young life — mommy’s presence and mommy’s milk.
What might reduce this infant’s vigilance and mild anxiety? Knowing that she will return soon and that she will do what she says. Can this be taught to an infant? Certainly worth trying.
This infant and all infants need to hear a simple explanation ahead of time: Tomorrow, Mommy goes to work. Mommy comes back in 5 hours. While Mommy is gone, Grand-ma takes care of you. This is a picture of grand-ma. When gone you have a picture of me. I will do what I say. I come back soon.”
Parents need to say what they mean to infants and clearly and simply say what goes on. And then do it. The KISS principal.
Puppets are a wonderful way to teach the stories that infants need to hear. Use a simple, repetitive song to sing the story. It is not too young — in fact it is never too young — to tell infants ahead of time important things that affect their lives. Say clearly and simply, “tomorrow ma-ma goes and grand-ma comes….I come back soon….and fun things will happen while grand-ma cares for you…
Parents need to mean what they say and say what they mean in simple, clear terms talking to their infants. Tell them the important things that are happening in their young lives. And sing it as a simple song.
For example, Old MacDonald Had a Farm can be changed to “Mommy & Daddy have a House… eeeiiii eeeiiii eeeeiiii ooooo. And in that House there lives a boy…. eeeiiii….eeeiiii….eeeeiiiii…oooo. And Grand-ma comes to care for (name of child)….eeeiii…eeeiiii…eeeiiii ooooo. And Grand-ma brings fun things to do…. eeeiiii….eeeiii…eeiiii oooo.
Long before a child can look at a book he or she can hear stories sung in simple rhymes telling them the important events in their lives.
Here is an example: The child’s father wants a BOB stroller so he and mom can jog with their child. Ahead of time, They could improvise Yankee Doodle: The real tune goes like this: “Yankee Doodle went to town Riding on a pony; He stuck a feather in his hat and called it macaroni. Yankee Doodle fa, so, la, Yankee Doodle dandy, Yankee Doodle fa, so, la, Buttermilk and brandy.”
Instead, sing the tune to different words:
“Yankee (baby L) goes to town, A riding in his Bob-Bob. Dad sticks a flower in (name of baby) hat and calls it macaroni…..” And then Dad in fact puts a flower, or feather or whatever in Baby’s hat and off they go on their jog to town.
Done repetitively the child will connect the song with the coming ride in the stroller ahead of time. Knowing what is coming down the line can reduce anxiety about the future. This is a wonderful, easy way to teach language to infants. Use simple, repetitive rhymes sung to simple tunes. Sing the words slowly and clearly sometimes and sometimes quickly. Children need to hear the words clearly and distinctly and see the words illustrated by actions.
For just a few dollars you can get a used nursery rhyme book full of the old classics. Get the old rhymes and improvise. Teach your children your stories about the important events in your lifes. At Logos in Santa Cruz, for $4.00 I got Stories and Rhymes for Every Bedtime. It is full of all the classics.
Here is one I’m going to do next week using puppets to illustrate:
Ding Dong Bell
” Ding Dong bell, Pussy’s in the well. Who put her in? Little Tommy Green. Who pulled her out? Little Tommy Trout. What a naughty boy was that, to try and drown poor pussy cat. Who never did him any harm, and killed the mice in his Father’s barn.”
I have some small bells that I will ring. Ding, dong Bell (ring the bells). Ba-ba (bottle’s) in the Well (glass container to warm the milk) Who put it in? Ma-ma put it in. Who takes it out? Grand-ma takes it out (when nice and warm). Who gets it NOW? (name of child) gets in NOW!
This is one way that young infants hear stories ahead of events using language and song to talk about important events about to happen. Getting a warm bottle is a very important event in the life of a 3 month old. The old stories and rhymes are still useful today.
Let me know your favorite rhymes and stories that might be improvised in new ways with young infants.
written by Cameron S. Jackson, Ph.D., J.D. licensed psychologist DrCameronJackson@gmail.com
831 688-6002
How reduce autism? Teach ALL first time parents how to socialize infants. Cheap and easily done.
Undoubtedly Nancy Marks means well by establishing a new 30 million foundation at Mass General Hospital to reduce autism. However, sometimes it is not money that is needed. Nor another Chair established at Harvard.
What is needed? Put on the Internet simple ways for ALL first time parents how to socialize infants and young children. And put those tools in the hands of pediatricians who can follow up with contacts with appropriate professionals. Think of it like strengthening muscles. See the following article and my comments:
“A recent donation from a foundation will help establish an autism center at Mass General Hospital.
The $29 million donation is been given by Nancy Lurie Marks and her foundation, and will help establish the Lurie Family Autism Center at the hospital. The center will base itself on the hospital’s LADDERS program, which helps deal with autism in young people.
Lurie Marks said that it has been a “lifelong dream” to help establish a center that can treat people with autism with compassion and dignity.
“I believe it is so important to address their many lifelong needs, from the medical care of the child or adult, to learning to find an effective way to communicate, to planning lifetime living and learning opportunities, to advocating for families,” Marks said.
Founded by Dr Margaret Bauman in 1981, the LADDERS program covers a variety of disciplines, including neurology, developmental pediatrics and gastroenterology. Many of the children helped by the program are grown up now, which is where the Lurie Family Autism Center will come into play.
The center will provide for a number of areas, including occupational and physical therapy. Furthermore, it will help create a two-year fellowship program for physicians and researchers who deal with autism. The fellowship will give young physicians the chance to work more closely with patients who have autism.
The hunt is on for a director for the new center, who will hold an endowed chair at the Harvard Medical School. The director will be responsible with guiding the center toward providing new treatments for people with autism.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average ratio of children with autistic disorders is one of every 150. That ration can be as much as one in every 100, to one in every 300 children.
Licensed psychologist Dr. Cameron Jackson says:
Why not spend very little money and ask licensed professionals for their views re “new treatments for autism�
I have spent 8 years assessing children of all ages for autism. I am a psychologist not a medical doctor.
My view: teach ALL first time parents how to socialize infants, how to get early and regular eye contact, how to create “joint attention†(focus on breast or bottle or toy) how to teach eye gaze that follows a point, how to teach imitating.Etc.
Teach the skills that when not present get labeled under “autistic spectrum disorders†This is better done by psychologists — not by medical MD type people.
If we teach for ALL children we will also pick up those who are late in developing skills that eventually get labeled “autisticâ€.
This does not take 30 million and a chair at Harvard. It does take collaboration by professionals trained in speech, occupational therapy, sensory issues, psychology and medicine.
Too bad to spend so much on so little.
Dr. Jackson cameronjacks@gmail.com
Licensed Psychologist PSY14762
Monterey Bay Forum www.freedomOK.net/wordpress
How much time is sufficeint notice when parents move child to private school?
Four hours a week of school during the summer for a 4 year old autistic child is NOT sufficient. Understandably the parents sought another solution. But the parents did not NOTIFY the school when they sought private school solution. See below story. Lesson to be learned: put it in writing. give sufficient notice before seeking other solutions. How much time sufficient notice? Enough to get the accounting department to operate — so 30 days should be sufficient notice.
Parents of autistic boy got only $2,957 compared to 20 K they sought
BY SADIA LATIFI,
“A state review officer awarded partial reimbursement to an Orange County family who enrolled their 4-year-old special-needs son in a private preschool.
“Both parents and the Orange County Schools system made procedural errors in providing services for Owen McWhirter, who has autism, according to review officer Joe Walters.
“The school system’s errors deprived Owen of educational services for months, the decision said. Because of this, they failed to provide him with the “free, appropriate public education” required by law.
The school system did provide an adequate Individualized Education Program for Owen at the time, however, according to the decision.
Families work with the school district to create an IEP. While Owen’s IEP team agreed on goals last summer, the family thought the services prescribed — about four hours a week of special instruction — were inadequate.
“When the family and school reached an impasse, Owen’s parents enrolled him in a private preschool that let him have specialists on hand. Even after they enrolled him, they continued to request services from Orange County and filed for due process last fall.
Owen’s parents, Nicole and Arran McWhirter, took the matter to an administrative court in Raleigh where a state judge agreed.
The original decision, which the school system appealed, said the school system should reimburse the McWhirters for their educational expenses.
The new decision awards the McWhirters $2,956.60, which is about $20,000 less than the reimbursement they sought. Review officer Walters said this was partly because the McWhirters failed to give the school system adequate prior notice when they enrolled Owen in a private preschool.
The school district and the McWhirters now have 30 days to file an appeal in state or federal court.
Note the legal time both sides have to file an appeal: 30 days. Had the parents given the school district 30 days more than likely award would have been larger.
Cameron Jackson cameronjacks@gmail.com 831 688-6002
sadia.latifi@newsobserver.com or 919-932-2002
Aptos psychologist: service dogs more than a friend for autistic children
Federal law allows service dogs to go where ever they are needed in public — including to school. Think of what a dog can do for any child: give unconditional love, exemplify loyalty, faithfulness, courage. For autistic children they can offer a special bond and assist the child to become more social.
Check out what is necessary for your dog to be certified as a service dog. For any person with disabilities a service dog could assist in important ways. And it is simply right that the dogs be able to assist in public places including schools.