What Causes Learning Disabilities?
Successful intervention is dependent on finding the cause or causes of a problem. Most problems can only be solved if one knows their causes. A disease such as scurvy claimed the lives of thousands of seamen during their long sea voyages. The disease was cured fairly quickly once the cause was discovered, viz. a Vitamin C deficiency. A viable point of departure would therefore be to ask the question, “What causes learning disabilities?†In the literature on learning disabilities, it is generally assumed that learning disabilities are caused by a neurological dysfunction. This theory has so far, however, been unable to produce any tangible practical results. Another popular theory is...
LD early identification
The purpose of early identification is to determine which children have developmental problems that may be obstacles to learning or that place children at risk. Development in infants, toddlers, and preschoolers is characterized by broad variability in rates and patterns of maturation. For some children, differences and delays in abilities are temporary and are resolved during the normal course of development. For other children, delays may persist in different domains of functioning, necessitating the child's referral for targeted screening and/or comprehensive evaluation. At present, no clear distinction can be made in the early years between the children whose problems may persist from those who...
Mnemonic Strategies
A few years ago, we revisited an inner-city middle school where-about a year before-we had conducted an investigation on the effectiveness of mnemonic techniques in helping students with mild cognitive disabilities remember U.S. states and capitals. As we entered the classroom, Crystal, a student classified as mildly mentally handicapped, recognized one of our graduate students immediately. "Hey! I remember you!" she exclaimed enthusiastically. "You were here last year - you taught us states and capitals! I remember, go ahead, ask me one!" "Well, uh," replied our colleague, taken slightly by surprise, "How about…Florida? What's the capital of Florida?" "That's too easy!" she said, smiling...
Living With A Learning Disability As An Adult
Things change for a child diagnosed with a learning disability when he or she approaches adulthood. In general, the disability won't disappear. The reality is that there are even more issues and trials associated with adult learning disabilities. The disabled person will have to find out how to cope with just day to day living now that he's an adult, and factor in the extra challenge of a learning disability.. With advancing age you will want to be a part of many social events like marriage, parenthood etc. And your learning disability will require you to handle these challenges in way that will allow you to be a productive part of the society and even be successful in the career you choose to...
How Mnemonic Strategies Can Improve Your Child's Memory Skills In One Evening
What's one of the things all successful students have in common? The can memorize easily. They remember the facts and details of battles in history, the formulas in math and the unending list of elements in science.So what can you do to help your child develop memory strategies that can instantly help them be more successful in school...
Reading for Good
I found myself back in campus yet again last month. I found the students very busy doing exams. I recalled the days I was there and fast forwarded to my present life. There is a definite difference.At the time, I loathed reading. The mere thought of reading for a CAT was totally unwelcome...
Meridia Lawyer: Meridia Diet Pill Side Effects
Following the recall of Fen-Phen and Redux in 1999 (two diet drugs that cause heart valve diseases) Meridia was released. Meridia is a diet drug similar to the ones that were recalled...
Sexually Abused Children: There IS Hope!
PART 1: Warning - This article may be inappropriate for younger readers. Please seek the permission of a parent or guardian before reading further.Lately, I'm hearing a lot about suicide or suicide attempts. It's becoming increasingly clear to me, however, that what I'm hearing about even more often is childhood sexual abuse.It's everywhere.Some might say this epidemic of childhood sexual abuse is another "sign of the Apocalypse." After all, the Scriptures declare: "...in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers...
Self-Injurious Behavior and Learning Disability
The professional literature provides abundant evidence that individual with autism exhibits a myriad of uncommon form of social interaction, communication, and behavioral pattern that often present major challenges to their families and professional providers. However, there is a noticeable shortage of quality research targeting self-injurious behavior in respect to people with learning difficulties.One of the reasons that self-harming behavior remains largely an enigma is that when useful studies are done or appropriate theories developed they, too often, remain within a single domain such as mental health; and their broader application is not investigated. Therefore, a separate bodies of...
Creating the Ultimate Vision for Ultimate Success
Creating the Ultimate Vision for Ultimate Success I've been thinking a lot lately about the importance of having a clear, compelling vision to get you past all of life's challenges and obstacles. In fact, it prompted me to do a little research about some of our society's most successful people. For example, did you know that: · Einstein's teachers told his parents he would never amount to anything. · Thomas Edison went broke four times. · Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. · A newspaper editor fired Walt Disney for having no good ideas. · Steven Spielberg was put into a class for students with learning disabilities. · Colonel Sanders talked to 1005 people...
In Search of Integrity
When Merriam-Webster assembled their list of most searched definitions for 2005, they could easily reason why certain words would make the list. Levee, tsunami, filibuster, and refugee were tied to events during the year. Even insipid was explainable due to the timing of the hits and comments made by Simon Cowell of wannabe singers during American Idol. Yet one word, the top word, seemed to be more wide-spread than caused by a single event. The word: Integrity.More people searched for the definition of integrity than any other word during the year. The searchers were potentially hungering for the days when one's words coincided with their actions under an umbrella of honesty and morality...
How Depression Effects Learning Disabilities
Depression and learning disabilities are frequently misunderstood. Learning disabilities and depression are common mental illnesses that affect millions everyday.Studies has shown that children suffering with learning disabilities have complexity learning to speak fluently, take care of their health and bodies, and often suffer with the inability to cope with stress and the common pressures of everyday living.A lot of the patients that suffer depression and learning disabilities are claimed to be borderline retards...
Retire to Asia - And Why
Home-and-Family Specifications Of Granite Countertops 08th May 2007 Countertops are obtained from different varieties of natural stones like granite, marble, travertine, limestone, onyx. Especially granite countertops are said to be the essential and most required countertops by the people. Most of the people suggest gran... Author: ron victor Home-and-Family House Signs - The Case for New Legislation 08th May 2007 This document makes the case for the introduction of New legislation to set minimum requirements of standards for house signs across the UK. Clearly such legislation is currently in the early discussion stage but the strong social economic and environm... Author: Steve Walker Home-and...
Use Harry Potter Trivia in Effective Reading Lesson Plans
Why not change the format of your comprehension questioning in your reading lesson plans for each Harry Potter novel? This will in fact work with any novel study.After each chapter or section of the book is completed, ask your students to submit a trivia question about what they have just read. The questions can be both simple and complex. The teacher will also strategically add his/her own questions, making sure to cover the comprehension and/or grammar questions that are important. Spelling questions can also be added using new words learned from that chapter. Trivia can also include questions on other lessons such as science and math which relate to the passages that have been read.After all the...
Importance Of Involvement In The Process Of Learning
For learning to be effective, practitioners need to understand, current thinking on how learning occurs and the various ways in which adults learn. Learning can occur through observation and participation opposed to teaching through definition and theory, depending on the situation. How adults learn, is crucial to the whole learning and teaching process.This assignment will explore the teaching and learning process through a micro teaching relevant to practice. This will be evaluated through personal reflection and linked supported by the relevant policies.The teaching process can be defined in many ways. A learning approach/theory has been developed to cover each aspect, all of which are...
Child's Play: Treating The Insanity of the Mental Health System
In today's mental health system there is a pattern of fraud and coercion that takes way the freedoms and dignity of children and their families. Children are receiving stigmatizing labels and being prescribed psychotropic drugs with many untoward effects. Psychiatrist Thomas Szasz, MD made the comment that if an individual hit us with a blackjack and robbed us of our dignity we would call them thugs, yet psychiatrists label and drug children and rob them of their dingity and nothing is said. All in the name of profit. Rarely, if never are the families given informed consent. Szasz has also stated, "From a sociological point of view, psychiatry is a secular institution to regulate domestic relations...
Dance and Music Therapy
Dance and Music therapy are forms of therapy wherein the participants are taught to channel constructively and express their thoughts and feelings. These are very helpful in individuals, young and old, who feel that they are unable to truly let other people know who they are inside and what they feel by just using speech and writing.Dance and Movement TherapyHuman beings have the innate capacity to communicate and express thoughts and feelings through physical movements and body language. Dancing is common to all tribes and races of the past and present. Young children are able to express in this way without oral communication and without inhibitions. Unfortunately however, as people grow up in...
Get Started Your Career In Nursing
Qualified nurses are in highly demand in the health care market. Throughout the years, the field of nursing has brought millions and millions of people above the average paying jobs. There has never a more exciting time to join the nursing profession. As a nurse it is possible to work in, among others, hospitals, clinics, nursing and residential homes, occupational health services, voluntary organizations that run hospices or residential care and the pharmaceutical industry. Nurses also work in the prison service, university education, on leisure cruise ships or for the armed forces. Nurse Qualification It is possible to take either a diploma or degree course to qualify as a nurse. You can choose to...
Self-Injurious Behavior and Learning Disability
The professional literature provides abundant evidence that individual with autism exhibits a myriad of uncommon form of social interaction, communication, and behavioral pattern that often present major challenges to their families and professional providers. However, there is a noticeable shortage of quality research targeting self-injurious behavior in respect to people with learning difficulties.One of the reasons that self-harming behavior remains largely an enigma is that when useful studies are done or appropriate theories developed they, too often, remain within a single domain such as mental health; and their broader application is not investigated. Therefore, a separate bodies of...
What causes ADHD
Parents of children with ADHD often blame themselves for it. But studies show little evidence that ADHD is caused by social factors or child-rearing methods, indicating instead that genetics and neurobiology are to blame. Environmental factors do not give rise to ADHD completely, but only influence the situation and level of impairment the person may experience.There are six possible causes of ADHD-like behavior: learning disability, a sudden change in the child's life like loss of loved one, seizures, hearing difficulty, brain dysfunction, and anxiety.There are four major causes of ADHD, namely, environmental agents, brain injury, food additives and sugar, and genetics. Studies show that...
The Top 10 Secrets From Anthony Robbins
For more than 25 years US-based motivational speaker and success coach Anthony Robbins has been passionately pursuing the answers to questions such as 'What shapes human behaviour? And how can we create lasting change within oursleves and others?'.He has spoken in front of more than 3 million people around the world and sold around 35 million books and audio coaching products.After attending his 4-day 'Unleash The Power Within' seminar recently in Kuala Lumpur I learnt many strategies to perform at your best.I even took part in his famous barefoot walk over hot coals. This powerful physical metaphor shows how anyone can overcome their deepest and greatest fears with focus, passion and desire.Part...
Child's Play: Treating The Insanity of the Mental Health System
In today's mental health system there is a pattern of fraud and coercion that takes way the freedoms and dignity of children and their families. Children are receiving stigmatizing labels and being prescribed psychotropic drugs with many untoward effects. Psychiatrist Thomas Szasz, MD made the comment that if an individual hit us with a blackjack and robbed us of our dignity we would call them thugs, yet psychiatrists label and drug children and rob them of their dingity and nothing is said. All in the name of profit. Rarely, if never are the families given informed consent. Szasz has also stated, "From a sociological point of view, psychiatry is a secular institution to regulate domestic relations...
Cerebral Palsy In Infant- Ways To Prevent It
Half a million members of the population in United States are suffering from one form of cerebral palsy to another. This is a wide spreading congenital disorder experienced by both children and adults. It is a disorder that hinders the ability of a person to move in a coordinated and determined way. Infant cerebral palsy takes place even prior to the child's birth or during the first three or five years of his life. This is a crucial stage in the life of a child because the disorder can lead to the impairment of hearing, vision, speech and learning disabilities. The causes and treatments of cerebral palsy in infant are not definite. Although there are alternative cures such a therapy and surgeries...
How Mnemonic Strategies Can Improve Your Child's Memory Skills In One Evening
What's one of the things all successful students have in common? The can memorize easily. They remember the facts and details of battles in history, the formulas in math and the unending list of elements in science.So what can you do to help your child develop memory strategies that can instantly help them be more successful in school...
How Mnemonic Strategies Can Improve Your Child's Memory Skills In One Evening
What's one of the things all successful students have in common? The can memorize easily. They remember the facts and details of battles in history, the formulas in math and the unending list of elements in science.So what can you do to help your child develop memory strategies that can instantly help them be more successful in school...
Diversity in the Workplace
As you look around your office, is everyone just like you? Probably not. The demographics of the American workforce have changed dramatically over the last 50 years. In the 1950s, more than 60% of the American workforce consisted of white males. They were typically the sole breadwinners in the household, expected to retire by age 65 and spend their retirement years in leisure activities. Today, the American workforce is a better reflection of the population with a significant mix of genders, race, religion, age and other background factors.The long-term success of any business calls for a diverse body of talent that can bring fresh ideas, perspectives and views to their work. The challenge that...
Empower Yourself Through Advocacy
Recent statistics indicate that over sixty percent of the general public has managed their healthcare with some form of natural therapy, for example: acupuncture, yoga, meditation, vitamin and mineral supplements, chiropractic, nutritional counseling, etc. Over six billion dollars have been spent out-of-pocket for these services, as most are not covered by medical insurance.This is wonderful news indicating the awareness and acceptance of natural therapies as safe, effective and complimentary to allopathic medical care. Much has been done to educate the public about various forms of natural techniques, which support the whole person (not just the disease) to improve the natural working systems of...
Learning Disabilities
There are so many learning labels floating around these days ... A.D.D., A.D.H.D., Dyslexia, etc. Basically, these are labels pinned on children who are in some way learning disabled. I think most of these kids are learning advanced, but I'll try to stick to the facts ... somewhat ... ;-)Children who cannot sit still or are disruptive in a classroom environment are sometimes suffering from Attention Deficit Disorder (A.D.D.) When they are also extremely hyper, they earn the tag of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (A.D.H.D.) When children are prone to twisting their letters and numbers around, they are often called Dyslexic.There are definitely some children who need medication to control their...
Self-Injurious Behavior and Learning Disability
The professional literature provides abundant evidence that individual with autism exhibits a myriad of uncommon form of social interaction, communication, and behavioral pattern that often present major challenges to their families and professional providers. However, there is a noticeable shortage of quality research targeting self-injurious behavior in respect to people with learning difficulties.One of the reasons that self-harming behavior remains largely an enigma is that when useful studies are done or appropriate theories developed they, too often, remain within a single domain such as mental health; and their broader application is not investigated. Therefore, a separate bodies of...
Self-Injurious Behavior and Learning Disability
The professional literature provides abundant evidence that individual with autism exhibits a myriad of uncommon form of social interaction, communication, and behavioral pattern that often present major challenges to their families and professional providers. However, there is a noticeable shortage of quality research targeting self-injurious behavior in respect to people with learning difficulties.One of the reasons that self-harming behavior remains largely an enigma is that when useful studies are done or appropriate theories developed they, too often, remain within a single domain such as mental health; and their broader application is not investigated. Therefore, a separate bodies of...
Help I am Pregnant and an Addict
There are a lot of resources on the internet, in books, and from the medical community on the dangers of drug and alcohol use during pregnancy. However, there is not very much quality information on what you should do if you have a problem with alcohol or drugs and are pregnant. The simple answer is you need to quit. With all the treatment programs availabele; AA, treatment facilities, therapy, self-control, etc., why wouldn't a women be able to get help. Why would anyone use drugs or alcohol while they are pregnant. Most pregnant moms know or have read that using drugs or alcohol can cause numerous problems for their unborn baby. But there are many reasons women avoid treatment.Some do not...
Does Your Adware Remover Have Spyware?
For everyone who already has adware protection software running on their computer at this very moment, ask yourself how safe is this software? Adware and spyware one of the biggest pests on the internet is growing out of control. Remember when you used to get spyware and adware on your computer when you went to those particular websites...
Welcome and thank you for showing your interest in this free series which will explore the different treatment options available for bipolar disorder. In this series you can expect to discover:Part 1 - What is bipolar disorder and how is it treated. Part 2 - What medications are effective in treating bipolar disorder. Part 3 - Effects of nutrition on bipolar disorder, psychotherapy and other treatments. Part 4 - Co-occuring illnesses and genetics research. Part 5 - Brain imaging and what does it show. Part 6 - Treatment research Part 7 - Where to find helpLet's get to it :)IntroductionBipolar Disorder is a mental illness that causes people to experience extremes in moods from high to low...
Types of and Causes of Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is not a disease it is a condition. Cerebral refers to the brain and palsy means weakness or lack of muscle control. In addition, cerebral palsy is not a single problem, but a complex disease in which virtually all brain cell types could need repair. Approximately 90 percent of all cases are caused by brain injury during the prenatal period (before labor begins). This condition is caused by damage to brain cells that control the movement of muscles. A person with cerebral palsy can have mild to severe physical disabilities. There are varying degrees of therapies depending on the degree of condition. However, just because a person has cerebral palsy, it does not mean they will...
Learning Styles Questionnaire
A learning styles questionnaire will help you understand the unique way in which you learn. We all process information differently. For some of us, we may need to hear a lecture to learn, while others rely on videos, film and other visual aids to help the information sink in. There isn't a right or a wrong way to learn and none of the four learning styles is better than the other. The only thing that matters is that you find out which category you fall into with a learning styles questionnaire.A learning styles questionnaire will tell you which of the categories you are in- whether it's visual/verbal, visual/non verbal, tactile/kinesthetic or auditory/verbal. There are vast differences between...
Linking Music To The Heart Of A Child
Music is powerful and persuasive. It touches one's emotion, motivation, creativity and relaxation. It has the soothing effect that can calm our mental nerves. It inspires you to do something new and productive. It gives you ideas. It lulls you to sleep. The list is definitely endless. Music is many things. It makes us happy, annoyed, melancholic, afraid and mad. Music is also for every one. It invades almost anything and everything. Different milieus have their own music to recollect. Various races and continents also enjoy distinctive music. Young and old alike take pleasure in it. In every stages of life there will always be music for it is perpetual. In fact, there are unique types of music that...
The Metaphysical View of Death and Life After Death Part 1
Humanity throughout the ages have seen death as something loathsome and gruesome; something dreadful, something preferable to avoid at all cost--that is, if a choice were given--but without any other option, are forced to succumb for lack of any power over its occurrence. Anticipating the termination of life at an unexpected moment and the possible prospect of annihilation of self-identity, humanity views death as a state or condition to be feared. This fear is sustained when all around, most of the dying are seen to seemingly suffer in anguish and in agony in the death process. The fear of death is actually man's fear of the unknown, and it indicates man's bondage to his ignorance which ultimately...
What's one of the things all successful students have in common? The can memorize easily. They remember the facts and details of battles in history, the formulas in math and the unending list of elements in science.So what can you do to help your child develop memory strategies that can instantly help them be more successful in school...
"There Are No Superior Martial Arts, Only Superior Martial Artists"I've read, heard, repeated and written that phrase so often I can't even remember where it came from. The reason I like it so much is because it's true!This article is not another effort to debate the merits of one self-defense system over another. Nor is it to argue about which style will or won't work "on the street." All martial arts have components within them that are powerful fighting techniques. It's important to know which ones they are!Self-Defense Systems Differ, But Self-Defense Principles Don'tOn the surface, martial arts and self-defense systems seem different. However, if they are legitimate and effective, the...
Reasons for Domestic Violence Seldom Understood
A few weeks ago my community paper published a letter to the editor which asked the question, "When will society stop domestic violence?"The answer to the question is surprisingly simple, but difficult for people to accept, because domestic violence is ensconced in the deepest fiber of many families--religion. Many religions teach that 'spare the rod, you spoil the child' or that the Bible, specifically the book of Proverbs, commands spanking.There is a distinction, however, which is of key interest to fundamentalists, between the practice in King Solomon's day of beating people on the back for discipline. The latter is not prescribed anywhere in the Bible.Furthermore, it needs to be pointed out...
Tough or Smart - What's Your Most Powerful Self-Defense Weapon: Mind or Body?
There are as many approaches to self-defense as there are reasons why people study it.What are YOUR reasons and what approach are YOU using? How confident are you that your efforts will produce the results what you want?What is it about self-defense that interests you?You must be looking for something or you wouldn't be reading this, right?Some people learn self-defense to defend themselves from the violent actions of others! Duh!!!) They want to satisfy the essential need for security and control.Others are after self-confidence and an improved self-image.Then there are those who don't care much about "fighting" at all. They're just looking for an enjoyable, functional and "cool" ;-) way to get...
Hidden Riches
From a historical perspective, 'The DaVinci Code' is good fiction ...I do think the book has provided a very real cultural benefit, though. By weaving many tales of medieval Christian mysticism into its story line, the book has stimulated a multitude of readers to look beyond the veneer of printed words in search of higher meanings. This is good, because both literature and history contain them in abundance. The richness of the written word and the refining effects of time have produced works essential to our lives' inner guidance.Hopefully, more people will be inspired by this work of fiction to more fully explore other tomes that have even deeper meanings.I'm referring to the Bible, the Torah, and...
Types of and Causes of Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is not a disease it is a condition. Cerebral refers to the brain and palsy means weakness or lack of muscle control. In addition, cerebral palsy is not a single problem, but a complex disease in which virtually all brain cell types could need repair. Approximately 90 percent of all cases are caused by brain injury during the prenatal period (before labor begins). This condition is caused by damage to brain cells that control the movement of muscles. A person with cerebral palsy can have mild to severe physical disabilities. There are varying degrees of therapies depending on the degree of condition. However, just because a person has cerebral palsy, it does not mean they will...
How To Recognize the Symptoms of ADHD
An ADHD diagnosis is not formal until formal tests have been given by a licensed psychologist or other mental health professional. Unfortunately, these days school teachers are the ones making the diagnosis when they usually have no qualifications to be able to do so. I think it is good to be cautious in diagnosing disorders and loosely labeling children with ADHD when that may not truly be the case. Often times symptoms of ADHD look like a lot of other things, and it is extremely important to a child's well-being to be careful in the process of evaluating them. It is important and essential, though, that school teachers are keeping their eyes and ears open while teaching...
Four Cognitive Skills for Successful Learning
The word "cognition" is defined as "the act of knowing" or "knowledge." Cognitive skills therefore refer to those skills that make it possible for us to know.It should be noted that there is nothing that any human being knows, or can do, that he has not learned. This of course excludes natural body functions, such as breathing, as well as the reflexes, for example the involuntary closing of the eye when an object approaches it. But apart from that a human being knows nothing, or cannot do anything, that he has not learned. Therefore, all cognitive skills must be TAUGHT, of which the following cognitive skills are the most important:CONCENTRATIONPaying attention must be distinguished from...
Educational Software For Autistic Children
With technology becoming more important and useful every day, a variety of education software aimed at children with autism is now available. Many general educational software titles can also be tailored for autistic children. Because sensory output from a computer can easily be adjusts (i.e., volume can be turned higher and lower, the screen can be brightened or darkened, etc.), autistic individuals usually find this type of technology easy to use when other techniques may fail. Introduce your child to the following software to help them in their education. For young children, programs that focus on sounds are successfully used for many autistic children. These programs teach phonics through songs...
Self-Injurious Behavior and Learning Disability
The professional literature provides abundant evidence that individual with autism exhibits a myriad of uncommon form of social interaction, communication, and behavioral pattern that often present major challenges to their families and professional providers. However, there is a noticeable shortage of quality research targeting self-injurious behavior in respect to people with learning difficulties.One of the reasons that self-harming behavior remains largely an enigma is that when useful studies are done or appropriate theories developed they, too often, remain within a single domain such as mental health; and their broader application is not investigated. Therefore, a separate bodies of...
Helping Learning Disability Students Head To College
More and more of today's high school students who struggle with a learning disability are not letting that keep them back, but are heading off to college in spite of their disability. There are several steps of preparation that students who have learning disabilities can take to make the transition from high school to college as smooth as possible. These preparations start in high school.First, students who have learning disabilities need to work on developing self knowledge while in high school. They need to understand what learning style works best for them. They need to have an arsenal of learning strategies in hand that they know will allow them to achieve success in school. Such strategies...
Pulling The Roots Of Disease
"Anybody who tells you that disease has only one cause, and that drugs and surgery are the solution, is DEAD WRONG." Dr. Ward Coleman, N.D.Unhealthy aging and diseases of the body systems (such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, immune dysfunction, etc.) are MULTI-CAUSAL.Extensive clinical analysis by Four Mountains, Inc. has revealed the following TOP TEN "ROOTS OF DISEASE" (and their solutions).Note that these TOP TEN causes of disease are INTERCONNECTED and manifest SIMULTANEOUSLY in varying degrees underneath ALL disease of ANY sort.PROBLEM: THE ROOT CAUSES OF DISEASE: THE TOP TENChronic psychological and emotional suffering, pain and stress.ToxemiaAutonomic DysrhythmiaOxidative StressKiller...
Are ADD & ADHD Truly Learning Disabilities?
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are often referred to in the same breath by the general public as learning disabilities. However, they actually belong to a separate group of disorders. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) puts ADD and ADHD in the "Other Health Impaired" category. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that about 20 to 30% of children with ADD or ADHD also have a learning disability, which further complicates the process of distinguishing between the two. Both types of disorders share a similar host of symptoms, but should be regarded individually. Some of the possible signs of ADD and ADHD...
Adopting a Child with Special Needs
There are tens of thousands of children in the United States who have special needs and are waiting for permanent homes. In the past, children who have special needs have been generally considered harder to place for adoption than others, but in reality, many children with special needs can be successfully placed. The Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 has focused more attention on finding permanent homes for those children who have special needs as well as making certain that they have the post adoption services they need.When used in adoption, "special needs" may include several factors, and sometimes vary from one state to another. In general, children with special needs have physical or...