Monday, June 8, 2009

Teaching Resources





This list of websites is made up of input
from parents who have a child with Agenesis
of the Corpus Callosum (ACC) and input from
adults who have ACC. They have been helpful
teaching methods for SOME kids who have ACC
or a corpus callosum disorder.

These websites are not a guaranteed method
for teaching kids with ACC.

Every child with Agenesis of the Corpus
Callosum is not alike in terms of how they
learn and what they might struggle with.
As convenient as it would be to pull a
'How to Teach a Child with ACC' book off
the shelf and have the exact magical miracle
teaching method at your fingertips...it just
doesn't exist yet. What does exist is good
old-fashioned roll up your sleeves, put on
your thinking caps, pay close attention to
that child and what motivates that child
and offer as many teaching tools and methods
as it takes until something works. Oh, and
one other very important ingredient is
essential to that equation...
P A T I E N C E.

Each person with ACC is different in terms
of how they are affected as a result of
having ACC and each child's method of
learning is unique.

This list of Websites is here for you to
explore as a possible teaching method for
your own child who has ACC or a student in
your class who has ACC.




TouchMath
TouchMath video demo
Many parents report using this program for
their child with ACC and consider it to be
helpful.

Making Math Real

Math U See

Math U See (Special Ed)

Math U See (Demo)

AplusMath




ACC Reading and Comprehension:
Personal stories about the reading challenges
that some kids and adults who have ACC struggle
with. Contains advice, potential resources and
teaching strategies.



Starfall.com




Bob Books


A little girl with partial ACC learning to read
Read a personal story about a 6 1/2 year old child who has
partial ACC who learned how to read using Bob Books.


Clicker 5
Reading and Writing Tool


Earobics

Fast ForWord

S.P.I.R.E

Orton-Gillingham.com
Orton-Gillingham method of reading instruction
Institute for Multi-Sensory Education

Lindamood-Bell
(used by teacher with ACC student in class)

Read, Write & Type

Living Books CD Rom Information
This link includes my personal experience with
using Living Books Interactive Animated Stories
on CD Rom with my son, Matthew, who has complete
Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum.


Colored Overlays & Colored Rulers



Some parents have mentioned that using a colored
overlay has helped their child who has Agenesis of
the Corpus Callosum be able to read words better
and also line up columns in math more easily.

Learn more about Colored Overlays

View Video

Colored Overlays by irlen

Talk to your child's school about colored overlays or
please search online for more information on where
to purchase colored overlays.

One parent of a child with ACC wrote:

"My son's school tried this with him (7yrs old/c-acc)
and he did much better with a blue background. It
was interesting for us to hear this because the index
cards that the kids get from school with their sight
words on them are blue and he was doing well at
recognizing the words. But then if he tried to read
a book with many of the sight words he knew on the
blue cards, it was like he had never seen them
before. He is getting better at reading on a white
background but it's nice to use the blue for initial
learning purposes."

*note: c-acc stands for complete agenesis
of the corpus callosum. It means the corpus callosum
is completely missing.






Handwriting Help
This link gives detailed information about two teaching
tools to help promote handwriting that have been
mentioned/recommended by parents as helpful for some
kids who have ACC.

Handwriting Without Tears





Twist'N Write Pencils by PenAgain.
Twist'N Write also makes pens. Pencils
and Pens
can be purchased at local stores near you: Staples, Office Max, Office Depot and a few other stores or can also be purchased online.

AlphaSmart - Laptop Writing Tool for Students

An Adult who has ACC wrote:

"I was taught how to type instead of learning
cursive when i was in 3rd grade. Now i type
really good and its a lot easier for me to get
my thoughts out and on "paper" instead of having
to slow down my thoughts and to write them
all on paper."

Wikipedia Info for AlphaSmart

Clicker 5
Reading and Writing Tool






Laureate Learning (Special Needs Software)

Laureate Family 50% Discount

Laureate Free CD Demo

Laureate Learning Information:
This link includes my personal experience with
using Laureate Learning with my son, Matthew, who
has complete Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum.





Starfall.com

Starfall.com Information
This is my personal experience with using
Starfall.com with my son, Matthew, who has complete
Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum.

Living Books CD Rom Information
This link includes my personal experience with
using Living Books Interactive Animated Stories
on CD Rom with my son, Matthew, who has complete
Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum.





AIT-Auditory Integration Training Services

Beckman Oral Motor




Movement Based Learning
Cecilia Koester's current website

I Am The Child
Cecilia Freeman (Koester) 1st website

Cecilia Freeman Koester is a certified Brain Gym
instructor and is known for her work with children
who have special needs. Read more About Cecilia Freeman Koester, M.Ed.

Brain Gym Books by Cecilia Freeman Koester:

"I am the Child: Using Brain Gym with Children Who
Have Special Needs"

and

"Movement Based Learning For Children of All Abilities"

Read an excerpt of Movement Based Learning for Children of All Abilities here.

Cecilia's 2010 Brain Gym Class Schedule

Brain Gym website

Brain Gym Find a Course: (US and other Countries)

Brain Gym Find an Instructor: (US and other Countries)






Slant Boards:
My son, Matthew, used a slant board in school. He
did not do well with using a pencil or markers or
focusing if the paper was flat on the desk. It
helped him to be able to have his paper slanted up
in front of him. A slant board was written directly
into his IEP.



Learning Colors
A compilation of input, tips, advice and teaching strategies
for Learning Colors from several parents who have a child
with ACC. Click on the link above and you can print a copy
for yourself or your child's teacher.



Eye Can Learn
eye exercises




Marvelous Music - A Musical Pathway To Learning For
Kids Who Have Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum

This Article was written (with input from many parents
who have a child with ACC) about the effects of music
and learning on kids who have ACC.





Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
Handout presented at ACC Conference 2003

Polyxo.com
(Behavior & Social)





Teaching Social Skills by Andy Paulson, Ph.D.
Handout presented at ACC Conference 2004

Social Skills for Younger Children with Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum by Donna R. Doherty, M.S., R.N.
Handout presented at ACC Conference 2003

Adolesence and Social Issues in ACC by Lynn K. Paul, Ph.D. and Janiece Turnbull, Ph.D.
Handout presented at ACC Conference 2003

ACC-Social Skills & Challenges
If you would like a copy of this document sent
by e-mail please E-Mail Me.

An Introduction to Social Stories-polyxo.com

Social Stories-polyxo.com




It is my hope that each child with ACC or a
corpus callosum disorder will have a very
positive educational experience and find the
methods that best help them to be successful
in their learning adventures and have fun.

If you have found a particular teaching method
to be helpful for your child who has ACC or for
a student in your class with ACC please click on
"comments" and tell us what it is.

If you have used any of these programs mentioned
with your child or student who has ACC and have
additional input please share your comments.
Your comments are so very valuable to others.

Please E-Mail me with a teaching resource/
website you have found to be a positive and helpful
learning tool for your child who has Agenesis of
the Corpus Callosum and I will include it on this
page.


*note: I do not personally guarantee or endorse any of the websites
listed here. I have, however, made a personal note under some
websites about how they helped my own child, Matthew, who has
complete Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum.


9 comments:

  1. Wow, what a great compilation of resources for other parents and teachers out there! Very impressive, Sandie :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rachel,

    Thank you for your very nice comment. I am very thankful for the input from parents who have a child with agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC) and for the adults who have ACC who have given their input. Without the team effort this Teaching Resource list would not be possible. I truly hope that it will help others. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. We are new to this -- our 8 year old recently diagnosed with ACC. I am trying to find everything I can to help and this is a great resource to me! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kim,

    Thank you for your very nice comment. I
    am so glad that you find the resource helpful. Please let me know if you have any questions or if you would like any other information about ACC.

    Sandie
    E-Mail: hope@aracnet.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. It's cool how clipboards are brought up as a tool for use by almost all students, having this condition or not.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Can you pleas write me a website that would help me practice with my 2 year old child how has partial ACC, thanks

    ReplyDelete
  7. Olá sou Brasileira e minha filha tem DCC descobri a pouco tempo e pesquisando encontrei o blog este blog tenho muitas dúvidas e por isso vou seguir-los, conheça o nosso blog!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sure wish I could access the documents on ABA and social skills. I am an ABA therapist who works with a child who has ACC and a diagnosis of Autism. I was hoping to find some resources to better work with the child. :(

    ReplyDelete
  9. Mr. Khasin, Thank you for your comment. I also wish that you were able to access the ABA documents and social skills information links on this posting, however, please be aware that those documents (and links) you mention come from the National Organization for Disorders of the Corpus Callosum (NODCC) website. And, the NODCC's website is currently under construction--and I do not know for how long this renovation process will take. I suggest that you consider sending an e-mail to the NODCC to inquire if they perhaps have access to their website information/links during the (website under construction process) and request the specific documents that you are interested in, giving explanation that you are an ABA therapist working with a child who has ACC and Autsim.

    NODCC website: http://www.nodcc.org/

    email: info@nodcc.org

    In addition, if you email me, I would be happy to send you some information regarding ACC and Education as well as social skills info via e-mail if you are interested.

    Sandie Davis
    email: hope@aracnet.com

    ReplyDelete

I am very interested in reading your comments and
look forward to hearing from you. Thank you.