Downloadable Resources

Advocacy
Understanding STARFISH Advocacy
STARFISH Advocacy Association believes in and lives STARFISH ADVOCACY! To be an effective advocate one must learn to be a starfish! What does this mean? How do you learn to become a STARFISH Advocate?
Hearts and Minds by Kathie Snow
Great efforts are expended to help or treat the bodies and brains of children and adults with disabilities. But do we give much thought to their hearts and minds?

Learning About The Brain
Understanding about your child neurological disorder and how it impacts daily functioning and learning is essential to becoming a strong advocate for your child. Parents are instrumental in educating others on the structural and chemical differences that impact a child's behavior and daily functioning. To learn more about your child's neurological disorder click here

Disorders
Ten Core Principles for Managing Children with Neurological Disorders
Children with neurological disabilities need . . .
Anxiety Disorders in Children-A test for parents
Books to read if you have a child with Asperger's Syndrome or HFA
Looking for information about Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD);Anxiety Disorders; Pediatric Bipolar Disorder; Pediatric Depression; Dual Diagnosis- Brain Disorder and Substance Abuse; Eating Disorders – Bulimia/ Anorexia Nervosa; Schizophrenia; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder(OCD);Tourette ’s Syndrome(TS); Prader Willi Syndrome; Autism Spectrum Disorder(PDD); Seizure Disorders click here for FACT SHEETS on a variety of children disabilities
Sensory Integration Dysfunction
One of the things that is absolutely clear with Sensory Integration Dysfunction or Sensory Discrimination difficulties is that our children are being betrayed by their senses and their bodies . . .
Treatment Guidelines for Pediatric Bipolar Disorder
From the Journal of the American Adacemy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry
Left Brain Right brain Differences found in persons with Autism
Brains of people with autism recall alphabet in different area of brain
Finding supports theory that autism results from failure of brain areas to work together
Website for all your ABA Resource Needs
Effects of Kindergarten Retention Policy on Children's Cognitive Growth in Reading and Math
Grade retention has been controversial for many years, and current calls to end social promotion have lent new urgency to this issue . . .
Learning Disabilities Research Round up
Column by Sheldon H. Horowitz, Ed.D.,Director of Professional Services at the National Center for Learning Disabilities


Education
Educating the Child with Pediatric Bipolar Disorder Informational brochure for teachers and parents
Notification of Medical Disability
Forms that can be downloaded and filled out to provide the Basis of Knowledge Required by IDEA 2004 Protections for Children Not Yet Eligible For Special Education and Related Services.
Singing the Homework Blues
One of the challenges inherent to parents of children with neurological disorders is homework.
Information about Paraprofessionals
Classroom Aides, Paraprofessionals and TSS have very different levels of education, expertise and services.
The Great Debate OHI versus ED Classification for children with bipolar disorder
What is the most appropriate classification for students with bipolar disorder under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)?
What is Speech and Language Therapy?
Communication disorders include a broad range of conditions, which affect a person’s ability to hear, speak, understand speech, use language or read and write effectively. A speech-language evaluation is recommended if your child exhibits any of the following behaviors(cont.)
Easing the Transition or returning to school
Parents can often help ease the transition from summer to school by following some simple tips to help their child prepare for a successful school year. Everyone experiences some difficulty or resistance with the end of summer or school vacation and a more relaxed life style to the more structured school day.
The Joy of Learning: Essential Elements for the child with a neurological disorder
All children need to find meaning in the materials that they learn from. Education needs to be fun, exciting, and provide children with a sense of fulfillment. All persons are born with the quest to learn, to seek out knowledge, and a natural curiosity. Unfortunately, for those students that are alternative learners, right brain learners, or who have executive functioning deficits, the traditional left brain school system either leaves the child behind, beats the spirit out of them, or worse, the child chooses to "check out" of learning disengaging themselves from the academic environment.


Medication
Resource for parents who are considering placing their children on medication or are challenged by teachers about placing their children on medication.

Behavior Management
Teaching social skill scripts to your child
25 Tips for Building Success! Ways to teach your child to manage themselves as they move from Adolescence to Adulthood.
Child to Adult the Bridging Dilemma
Parents of children with bipolar disorder face many challenges as their children transition from childhood to adulthood . . .
Behavior Modification: What is it all about?
Behavior Modification programs are built upon the premise that children's misbehavior is willful, and by extinguishing the negative behaviors through behavior management, a child will change their negative behaviors and be more compliant.
Church and the Child with Invisible Disabilities
The name "invisible child" is both a descriptor of and a dedication to our children, who are invisible in the sense that their disabilities, though often severe, are hidden from view.
Dental Care for the Patient with Bipolar Disorder
Food, Behavior and Learning: How are they related? All of us are aware that our bodies need food as fuel and the importance of breakfast to increase alertness, control weight and provide our bodies with sufficient energy for the day. But what if the food we eat causes an adverse reaction, that manifests itself as hyperactivity, psychosis, gastrointestinal disorders, inattention, skin sensitivities, depression or many more diagnosable disorders.
Approximately three to seven percent of children and adults have food allergies or intolerances. Many of them are unaware of their sensitivities or that many of the neurological or physical symptoms that they suffer may be caused by the foods they eat.

Functional Behavioral Assessments
IDEA requires any student that has any behavioral concerns to have a complete Functional Behavioral Assessment and Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) written to address their behavioral needs and provide positive behavioral strategies to address the concerns.
Success Strategies for Life for Children with Learning Disabilities


State Resources

STARFISH Specialty Chat Transcripts
STARFISH Advocacy brings leading authors, researchers, practitioners and educators to our members multiple times a year. These chats are opportunities for members to ask questions and interact with these special guests gaining valuable information and resources to enhance their children's lives. It is with great pleasure that we offer members the opportunity to access the transcripts after the live session. Click here to access Chat Transcripts

Resources for Personal and Child Safety
Personal and Home alarms
Resources for Siblings of Special need children
Take the Families for Depression Awareness Mood test
Resources to combat bullying

I am a teacher in a unique situation; my 4th grade daughter is in my class this year. Aly is bright, friendly and has Bipolar disorder. School in general possesses many challenges for Aly; a class with a substitute teacher, being picked for the “wrong” team, or a classmate teasing her all requires a great deal of extra effort for her to deal with them in an appropriate way. During a manic or depressive period, brought on by outgrowing her medication or a seasonal change, these small “glitches” in her day pose a tremendous problem.

The girl that can normally transition to math now sits and cries; explaining that her head is already racing, she can’t possible think of numbers right now. Her handwriting gets increasingly more difficult to read; she leaves out words, punctuation, and sometimes misses the entire point of the assignment. Her spelling deteriorates and becomes completely phonetic, organization in essays (which she is very strong in) completely dissolves. Aly changes from a child that looks forward to learning new things to one that is overwhelmed by the task of reading a simple short story.

Education Tuesday starts 9:00p.m.Eastern this evening in the Education Room -

Come with your questions??? or just come to learn from others questions -

Invite a friend to join you at Ed chat - Just one of the many services that STARFISH offers its members!

Reminder Community Chat tonight at 9:30 p.m. EST

Individual Education Plans and Home Schooling

Home Schooling regulations are not consistent from state to state and at times can even differ from district to district within a state. Some states provide resources and accommodations to children with disabilities others do not. Some states require significant record keeping on the part of the home educator and others require simply notification and overview of curriculum. Click here to read more

PowerPoint Presentation- "The Brain's Inner Workings"