Re: Dual diagnosis school speech

July 5, 2006

I've used the book "We'll Paint the Octopus Red" by Stuve-Bodeen in both a kindergarten and first grade classroom. It is very simple and also provides a question and answer book about DS at the end. Books are great tools to generate questions, which you can then answer in nontechnical terms, and not make it feel like a lecture.

Janice Troy

Down Syndrome Association of San

-----Original Message-----From: Down Syndrome Treatment [mailto:Down Syndrome Treatment ]On Behalf Of GTCand4@...Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2006 9:11 AMdownsyndrome Cc: down_syndrome ; Down Syndrome Treatment Subject: Dual diagnosis school speech

Hi All,

I have a question for those of you that have a child with a dual diagnosis or even those that don't but can also help.

I am trying to get together things I have to do before school starts in the fall (yes, like I don't have enough to do! :-) and one thing I am trying to do is get a classroom "speech" together.

Now, my problem is ... my daughter (5) has DS and diabetes and I am trying to write a letter to the parents of her classmates as well as get my thoughts written down for a "talk/Q & A" with the children of her class.

How can I include both diagnosis without sounding overwhelming to the children and parents? Since DS and diabetes is kinda involved I am having a hard time getting my point to them and not sounding to clinical.

Have any of you with dual diagnosis ever done this and if so, please help. :-)

I am hoping to get something really awesome written so I can just update as needed throughout her schooling days.

I have a diabetes book geared towards the kindergarten age that I thought I'd read and I am trying to find the right DS book too.

in VA

July 5, 2006

When my son was in kindergarten, I used the " My Friend Isabelle " book, read it

to the class, talked about differences and how we are all different but more

alike, than different, etc. Then after the talk, (my son) presented the

copy of the book to his teacher (in front of the class) to keep in the classroom

for her to use that year and in future years.

Hope that helps -

DSANI - Fort Wayne, IN - mom to , 8 (almost 9-yikes!!) Ds and Hannah, 7

=====================

From: GTCand4@...

Date: Wed Jul 05 09:10:46 CDT 2006

downsyndrome

Cc: down_syndrome , Down Syndrome Treatment

Subject: Dual diagnosis school speech

Hi All, I have a question for those of you that have a child with a dual

diagnosis or even those that don't but can also help. I am trying to get

together things I have to do before school starts in the fall (yes, like I don't

have enough to do! :-) and one thing I am trying to do is get a classroom

" speech " together.Now, my problem is ... my daughter (5) has DS and diabetes and

I am trying to write a letter to the parents of her classmates as well as get my

thoughts written down for a " talk/Q & A " with the children of her class. How

can I include both diagnosis without sounding overwhelming to the children and

parents? Since DS and diabetes is kinda involved I am having a hard time

getting my point to them and not sounding to clinical. Have any of you with dual

diagnosis ever done this and if so, please help. :-) I am hoping to get

something really awesome written so I can just update as needed throughout her

schooling days. I have a diabetes book geared towards the kindergarten age that

I thought I'd read and I am trying to find the right DS book too. in VA

July 5, 2006

When I have talked with Faith's class, both K and 1st, the children's questions are pretty basic. Like "Why does she talk different?" I used an example of talking with a mouthful of licorice or marshmallows, they got the idea. "Is she REALLY 8?" Yes, she's just small. And how about "Where was she born?" After I explained DS a couple of times, probably over their heads, a boy asked "But what IS Down Syndrome?"

It will probably be even harder to explain "what" diabetes is, but at least there is the physical (injections, I assume) to show.

I don't really like the children's books I've found, they all seem to have something objectionable to me. So I used a photo album of Faith as a baby, talked about how she was born early, then about her heart surgery. How it takes her longer to do things, like walk, talk, learn to read, and do math. Let them know sometimes she wants help, but sometimes she wants to do it herself, just like they do. I tried to reference how much she is like them, they know the differences already.

Good luck!

ette

mom to Faith (8)DS

-------------- Original message from GTCand4@...: --------------

Hi All,

I have a question for those of you that have a child with a dual diagnosis or even those that don't but can also help.

I am trying to get together things I have to do before school starts in the fall (yes, like I don't have enough to do! :-) and one thing I am trying to do is get a classroom "speech" together.

Now, my problem is ... my daughter (5) has DS and diabetes and I am trying to write a letter to the parents of her classmates as well as get my thoughts written down for a "talk/Q & A" with the children of her class.

How can I include both diagnosis without sounding overwhelming to the children and parents? Since DS and diabetes is kinda involved I am having a hard time getting my point to them and not sounding to clinical.

Have any of you with dual diagnosis ever done this and if so, please help. :-)

I am hoping to get something really awesome written so I can just update as needed throughout her schooling days.

I have a diabetes book geared towards the kindergarten age that I thought I'd read and I am trying to find the right DS book too.

in VA

July 5, 2006

has this been mentioned? www.ndss has educational tools to help with class discussions.

July 6, 2006

Have you seen the book “Pieces of Me” ?

http://piecesofme.741.com/index.html

kathyR

From: Down Syndrome Treatment [mailto:Down Syndrome Treatment ] On Behalf Of GTCand4@...

Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2006

10:11 AM

downsyndrome

Cc: down_syndrome ;

Down Syndrome Treatment

Subject:

Dual diagnosis school speech

Hi All,

I have a question for those of you that

have a child with a dual diagnosis or even those that don't but can also help.

I am trying to get together things I have

to do before school starts in the fall (yes, like I don't have enough to do!

:-) and one thing I am trying to do is get a classroom " speech "

together.

Now, my problem is ... my daughter

(5) has DS and diabetes and I am trying to write a letter to the

parents of her classmates as well as get my thoughts written down for a

" talk/Q & A " with the children of her class.

How can I include both diagnosis without

sounding overwhelming to the children and parents? Since DS

and diabetes is kinda involved I am having a hard time getting my point to them

and not sounding to clinical.

Have any of you with dual diagnosis ever

done this and if so, please help. :-)

I am hoping to get something really

awesome written so I can just update as needed throughout her schooling days.

I have a diabetes book geared towards the

kindergarten age that I thought I'd read and I am trying to find the right DS

book too.

in VA

July 7, 2006

Wow, great book and great sites in the links!

Thanks for posting,

Kathy

RE: Dual diagnosis school speech

Have you seen the book “Pieces of Me” ?

http://piecesofme.741.com/index.html

kathyR

From: Down Syndrome Treatment [mailto:Down Syndrome Treatment ] On Behalf Of GTCand4@...Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2006 10:11 AMdownsyndrome Cc: down_syndrome ; Down Syndrome Treatment Subject: Dual diagnosis school speech

Hi All,

I have a question for those of you that have a child with a dual diagnosis or even those that don't but can also help.

I am trying to get together things I have to do before school starts in the fall (yes, like I don't have enough to do! :-) and one thing I am trying to do is get a classroom "speech" together.

Now, my problem is ... my daughter (5) has DS and diabetes and I am trying to write a letter to the parents of her classmates as well as get my thoughts written down for a "talk/Q & A" with the children of her class.

How can I include both diagnosis without sounding overwhelming to the children and parents? Since DS and diabetes is kinda involved I am having a hard time getting my point to them and not sounding to clinical.

Have any of you with dual diagnosis ever done this and if so, please help. :-)

I am hoping to get something really awesome written so I can just update as needed throughout her schooling days.

I have a diabetes book geared towards the kindergarten age that I thought I'd read and I am trying to find the right DS book too.

in VA

July 7, 2006

This was so cool! We laughed at the pictures because Evan has those

same expressions on his face a lot!

Priscilla K

--- Kathy Ratkiewicz <Kathy_R@...> wrote:

> Have you seen the book " Pieces of Me " ?

>

> http://piecesofme.741.com/index.html

>

> kathyR

>

Priscilla Kendrick, married 28 years to Darrel and parents of 9 kids including

Evan, 10, born with Down Syndrome and Spina Bifida

" My strength is made perfect in weakness. "

" My grace is sufficient. " II Corinthians 12:9 KJV

__________________________________________________

July 11, 2006

I thought about all this last year when entered kdgr and I decided to do 'nothing'. ;-) Well ,I did loan some of my books on DS to the teacher when she did her unit on differences. Nothing earth shattering, just the ABC book featuring kids with DS, Paint the Octupus Red, and My Brother has DS. She does the same unit each year that covers everything- glasses, deafness, skin color, general disability etc, so my books fit right in and they read them with out much reference to other then the same kinds they made about the different color of people's eyes. I opted out of the speech and bringing a lot of attention to . I wasn't really sure if it 'worked' or not, other then the fact that the school year went really well and no one seemed to think much about her being there... as in- no one questioned her being there. Towards the end of the year on the way home from a

field trip, one of the other moms who spent a lot of time in the room told me at the beginning of the year her dd came home talking about all the time. All this mom knew was couldn't talk as well as the other kids, but it was 'no big deal' to her dd. uses sign language' which kids seem to find fun and enjoy picking it up. The mom said her dd had no idea about DS, or what it meant, or even that there was such an animal. ;-) Therefore, she treated the same as she would any other kid who didn't talk so well, that really seemed to be the most interesting thing about her with the other kids. This mom was shocked ( her words ) when she did come to the class room and found out toad had DS. The reason she was shocked??? Her cousin has DS and I guess he was quite the handfull and not very capable of things. She had lots of 'ideas' about what people with DS could and

could not do. She had no idea from her dd's descriptions that Chrisitne was anything other then deaf. She went on to tell me that had totally changed her mind about people with DS and what they CAN do given the chance and some kid friendly pushing in the right direction. So I was happy I hadn't made a big deal of the DS and just let everyone kind of find their way. was present at all the concerts, so anyone who came ,knew! I DID print and give them lots of things from these two sites as the need arose - http://disabilityisnatural.com/ http://www.normemma.com/index.htm I was very blessed with the teacher who is my idea of a REAL teacher. She just loves teaching and kids in general. Has a real heart for people and just accepted was a kid like the rest and since she had never been around a person with DS,

she really had no idea what to expect and I kinda just let make her own impression on everyone. This is really one of my very favorite articles and one that I made sure everyone dealing with had read http://www.normemma.com/arhellbe.htm I think it really sets the 'tone' I like to use regarding her DS. Carol in IL

Talk is cheap. Use Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1¢/min.

July 11, 2006

I haven't done much in regards to addressing Mac's differences at school either. I've offered if they need me / want me to do something I will but haven't requested it myself. Actually, speech is the place where most kids notice Mac's differences the most, too. The question that has been asked frequently since he's been in K is "why can't he talk right?". Now they also see his stubborness sneaking in from time to time and I'll hear in the cafeteria or somewhere "Mac wasn 't very good today" or "Mac didn't want to do his math today" or "Mac is having a very good day"--so they know he's "different" but it's not a bad thing or a good thing--it just is and it's no big deal.

I do always put together a booklet for his new teacher each year...an "All About Me" booklet that has pictures of family and friends and of him doing just ordinary things. It also has a page of likes/dislikes, a few pages of "Ways to Help Me Learn" where I list various strategies that I know have worked with him in the past and a page of resources--books, articles, websites, list servs, etc... I usually also give each teacher a book that relates to Ds--in K and 1st I gave "Paint the Octopus Red" and last year "Be Kind to Eddie Lee"--not sure what to give this year, any suggestions? I also give the new teacher a pocket sign language book. I don't tell them to use them or even say anything...just a packet of goodies to use (or not use) as they choose to start the year.

Jill

Mom to Mac & Kit

Re: Dual diagnosis school speech

I thought about all this last year when entered kdgr and I decided to do 'nothing'. ;-) Well ,I did loan some of my books on DS to the teacher when she did her unit on differences. Nothing earth shattering, just the ABC book featuring kids with DS, Paint the Octupus Red, and My Brother has DS. She does the same unit each year that covers everything- glasses, deafness, skin color, general disability etc, so my books fit right in and they read them with out much reference to other then the same kinds they made about the different color of people's eyes.

I opted out of the speech and bringing a lot of attention to . I wasn't really sure if it 'worked' or not, other then the fact that the school year went really well and no one seemed to think much about her being there... as in- no one questioned her being there.

Towards the end of the year on the way h ome from a field trip, one of the other moms who spent a lot of time in the room told me at the beginning of the year her dd came home talking about all the time. All this mom knew was couldn't talk as well as the other kids, but it was 'no big deal' to her dd. uses sign language' which kids seem to find fun and enjoy picking it up. The mom said her dd had no idea about DS, or what it meant, or even that there was such an animal. ;-) Therefore, she treated the same as she would any other kid who didn't talk so well, that really seemed to be the most interesting thing about her with the other kids.

This mom was shocked ( her words ) when she did come to the class room and found out toad had DS. The reason she was shocked???

Her cousin has DS and I guess he was quite the handfull and not very capable of things. She had lots of 'ideas' about what people with DS could and could not do. She had no idea from her dd's descriptions that Chrisitne was anything other then deaf. She went on to tell me that had totally changed her mind about people with DS and what they CAN do given the chance and some kid friendly pushing in the right direction. So I was happy I hadn't made a big deal of the DS and just let everyone kind of find their way.

was present at all the concerts, so anyone who came ,knew!

I DID print and give them lots of things from these two sites as the need arose - http://disabilityisnatural.com/ http://www.normemma.com/index.htm

I was very blessed with the teacher who is my idea of a REAL teacher. She just loves teaching and kids in general. Has a real heart for people and just accepted was a kid like the rest and since she had never been around a person with DS, she really had no idea what to expect and I kinda just let make her own impression on everyone.

This is really one of my very favorite articles and one that I made sure everyone dealing with had read

http://www.normemma.com/arhellbe.htm

I think it really sets the 'tone' I like to use regarding her DS.

Carol in IL

Talk is cheap. Use Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1¢/min.

July 11, 2006

I have a bag of books that follows each year to the gen. ed class --

includes Teaching Reading, Teaching Math, Classroom Language, Sue People's book

on teaching kids w/ Ds and My Friend Isabelle, NDSS Inclusion booklet - this

year I will add the NDSS Everyone Counts program -- our group has given the same

bag (plus the Gross Motor and Fine Motor books) to all the elementary schools in

our 11 counties so my elementary school has 2 sets but I know that one is always

available to the teacher in 's classroom.

DSANI - Fort Wayne

mom to , 8, Ds and Hannah, 7

=====================

From: Jill <thrill@...>

Date: Tue Jul 11 12:46:26 CDT 2006

Down Syndrome Treatment

Subject: Re: Dual diagnosis school speech

I haven't done much in regards to addressing Mac's differences at school

either. I've offered if they need me / want me to do something I will but

haven't requested it myself. Actually, speech is the place where most kids

notice Mac's differences the most, too. The question that has been asked

frequently since he's been in K is " why can't he talk right? " . Now they also

see his stubborness sneaking in from time to time and I'll hear in the cafeteria

or somewhere " Mac wasn 't very good today " or " Mac didn't want to do his math

today " or " Mac is having a very good day " --so they know he's " different " but

it's not a bad thing or a good thing--it just is and it's no big deal. I do

always put together a booklet for his new teacher each year...an " All About Me "

booklet that has pictures of family and friends and of him doing just ordinary

things. It also has a page of likes/dislikes, a few pages of " Ways to Help Me

Learn " where I list various strategies that I know have worked with him in the

past and a page of resources--books, articles, websites, list servs, etc... I

usually also give each teacher a book that relates to Ds--in K and 1st I gave

" Paint the Octopus Red " and last year " Be Kind to Eddie Lee " --not sure what to

give this year, any suggestions? I also give the new teacher a pocket sign

language book. I don't tell them to use them or even say anything...just a

packet of goodies to use (or not use) as they choose to start the year. JillMom

to Mac & Kit Re: Dual diagnosis school speech

I thought about all this last year when entered kdgr and I decided

to do 'nothing'. ;-) Well ,I did loan some of my books on DS to the teacher

when she did her unit on differences. Nothing earth shattering, just the ABC

book featuring kids with DS, Paint the Octupus Red, and My Brother has DS.

She does the same unit each year that covers everything- glasses, deafness,

skin color, general disability etc, so my books fit right in and they read

them with out much reference to other then the same kinds they made

about the different color of people's eyes. I opted out of the speech

and bringing a lot of attention to . I wasn't really sure if it

'worked' or not, other then the fact that the school year went really well

and no one seemed to think much about her being there... as in- no one

questioned her being there. Towards the end of the year on the way h ome

from a field trip, one of the other moms who spent a lot of time in the room

told me at the beginning of the year her dd came home talking about

all the time. All this mom knew was couldn't talk as well as the

other kids, but it was 'no big deal' to her dd. uses sign language'

which kids seem to find fun and enjoy picking it up. The mom said her dd had

no idea about DS, or what it meant, or even that there was such an animal. ;-)

Therefore, she treated the same as she would any other kid who

didn't talk so well, that really seemed to be the most interesting thing about

her with the other kids. This mom was shocked ( her words ) when she did

come to the class room and found out toad had DS. The reason she was

shocked??? Her cousin has DS and I guess he was quite the handfull and not very

capable of things. She had lots of 'ideas' about what people with DS could and

could not do. She had no idea from her dd's descriptions that Chrisitne was

anything other then deaf. She went on to tell me that had totally

changed her mind about people with DS and what they CAN do given the chance

and some kid friendly pushing in the right direction. So I was happy I hadn't

made a big deal of the DS and just let everyone kind of find their way.

was present at all the concerts, so anyone who came ,knew! I DID

print and give them lots of things from these two sites as the need arose -

http://disabilityisnatural.com/ http://www.normemma.com/index.htm I was very

blessed with the teacher who is my idea of a REAL teacher. She just loves

teaching and kids in general. Has a real heart for people and just accepted

was a kid like the rest and since she had never been around a person

with DS, she really had no idea what to expect and I kinda just let

make her own impression on everyone. This is really one of my very favorite

articles and one that I made sure everyone dealing with had read

http://www.normemma.com/arhellbe.htm I think it really sets the 'tone' I

like to use regarding her DS. Carol in IL

Talk is cheap. Use Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates

starting at 1¢/min.

July 11, 2006

--

Do you know if the NDSS Inclusion booklet is still in print and available? I also have given that every year--I was just going through my "stuff" and I only have two copies left. I heard there may be a new updated one, but haven't seen anything about that.

I also give the Sue People's book. One thing that disturbs me, not about the book, but about a presentation I went to this spring by Sue was that she made a statement, actually in her words she said she was quoting an NDSS study about inclusion and that the study showed that children with Ds learn academics best in 1:1/small group settings, not in large group settings--to me and to my son's teachers who went and are anti-inclusion this meant general ed classrooms are not an appropriate placement for him. My heart sunk when I heard and read that in her handouts and I was the one that really encouraged the special educators who work with my son to attend this conference and that was one of the main things they got from it--fuel for THEIR fire--her comments were quoted several times in his MFE and in his IEP. I was so disappointed. I did find the "study" and in reality it is not a study at all, but a survey of a limited number of people and their opinions about inclusion. It was NOT a study that really looked at inclusion or how children learn--probably most any child (disability or not) learns best 1:1 or in a small group setting, but typical classrooms (where I want my son to be) are not usually considered small group. This was just a vent I felt like sharing when you reminded me of the People's book--which I do think is excellent.

Jill

Mom to Mac (8 yrs, 3rd grade, Ds) and Kit (almost 5, preschool, Ds)

Re: Dual diagnosis school speech I thought about all this last year when entered kdgr and I decided to do 'nothing'. ;-) Well ,I did loan some of my books on DS to the teacher when she did her unit on differences. Nothing earth shattering, just the ABC book featuring kids with DS, Paint the Octupus Red, and My Brother has DS. She does the same unit each year that covers everything- glasses, deafness, skin color, general disability etc, so my books fit right in and they read them with out much reference to other then the same kinds they made about the different color of people's eyes. I opted out of the speech and bringing a lot of attention to . I wasn't really sure if it 'worked' or not, other then the fact that the school year went really well and no one seemed to think much about her being there... as in- no one questioned her being there. Towards the end of the year on the way h ome from a field trip, one of the other moms who spent a lot of time in the room told me at the beginning of the year her dd came home talking about all the time. All this mom knew was couldn't talk as well as the other kids, but it was 'no big deal' to her dd. uses sign language' which kids seem to find fun and enjoy picking it up. The mom said her dd had no idea about DS, or what it meant, or even that there was such an animal. ;-) Therefore, she treated the same as she would any other kid who didn't talk so well, that really seemed to be the most interesting thing about her with the other kids. This mom was shocked ( her words ) when she did come to the class room and found out toad had DS. The reason she was shocked??? Her cousin has DS and I guess he was quite the handfull and not very capable of things. She had lots of 'ideas' about what people with DS could and could not do. She had no idea from her dd's descriptions that Chrisitne was anything other then deaf. She went on to tell me that had totally changed her mind about people with DS and what they CAN do given the chance and some kid friendly pushing in the right direction. So I was happy I hadn't made a big deal of the DS and just let everyone kind of find their way. was present at all the concerts, so anyone who came ,knew! I DID print and give them lots of things from these two sites as the need arose - http://disabilityisnatural.com/ http://www.normemma.com/index.htm I was very blessed with the teacher who is my idea of a REAL teacher. She just loves teaching and kids in general. Has a real heart for people and just accepted was a kid like the rest and since she had never been around a person with DS, she really had no idea what to expect and I kinda just let make her own impression on everyone. This is really one of my very favorite articles and one that I made sure everyone dealing with had read http://www.normemma.com/arhellbe.htm I think it really sets the 'tone' I like to use regarding her DS. Carol in IL Talk is cheap. Use Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1¢/min.

July 11, 2006

Jill --

I have not heard Sue say that but will listen for it the next time I talk to her

and I haven't sat in on a presentation for a couple of years -- she is actually

a member of our group and her son attends the same school district mine does. I

know she has been working on some new techniques to teach our kiddos but in our

last (lengthy) conversation she didn't mention this study.

Last I checked the NDSS Inclusion brochure was still available.

=====================

From: Jill <thrill@...>

Date: Tue Jul 11 20:38:38 CDT 2006

Down Syndrome Treatment

Subject: Re: Re: Dual diagnosis school speech

-- Do you know if the NDSS Inclusion booklet is still in print and

available? I also have given that every year--I was just going through my

" stuff " and I only have two copies left. I heard there may be a new updated

one, but haven't seen anything about that. I also give the Sue People's

book. One thing that disturbs me, not about the book, but about a presentation

I went to this spring by Sue was that she made a statement, actually in her

words she said she was quoting an NDSS study about inclusion and that the study

showed that children with Ds learn academics best in 1:1/small group settings,

not in large group settings--to me and to my son's teachers who went and are

anti-inclusion this meant general ed classrooms are not an appropriate

placement for him. My heart sunk when I heard and read that in her handouts and

I was the one that really encouraged the special educators who work with my son

to attend this conference and that was one of the main things they got from

it--fuel for THEIR fire--her comments were quoted several times in his MFE and

in his IEP. I was so disappointed. I did find the " study " and in reality it is

not a study at all, but a survey of a limited number of people and their

opinions about inclusion. It was NOT a study that really looked at inclusion or

how children learn--probably most any child (disability or not) learns best 1:1

or in a small group setting, but typical classrooms (where I want my son to be)

are not usually considered small group. This was just a vent I felt like

sharing when you reminded me of the People's book--which I do think is

excellent. JillMom to Mac (8 yrs, 3rd grade, Ds) and Kit (almost 5, preschool,

Ds) Re: Dual diagnosis school speech