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The PARAgraph, Utah's Newsletter for School Paraprofessionals (Back
to the Table of Contents)
Volume 1 Issue 1 (Fall 2002)
ADHD
Jan Pace
Paraeducator, Davis School District
ADHD is short for Attention Deficit Disorder with or without Hyperactivity.
It is caused by a neurological inefficiency in the area of the brain that controls
impulses, screens sensory input and focuses attention. This means that ADHD:
has a biological cause; is not an excuse but is an explanation; can be hereditary
but is no one’s fault; and is a disability. People diagnosed with ADHD
may experience such things as:
finding it hard to sit still
- being easily distracted
- having a hard time taking turns, playing/working quietly
- difficulty following instructions
- blurting out in class or during a conversation
- talking too much
- being forgetful and/or losing things
- poor social relations
Children who have ADHD may seem uncooperative, lazy or just plain stubborn.
Learning about and understanding ADHD is the first step towards helping them
cope with their disability. Parents and educators are then able to use accommodations
at home and in school to facilitate greater success.
It is easy to focus on the negative qualities of a child with ADHD. However,
these students are typically spontaneous, creative, inquisitive, resilient,
resourceful and energetic. Turning their high activity level, inquisitive minds
and sensitive natures into productive and happy people while providing the structure
to assure individual success is no easy task but certainly not impossible. We
need to provide opportunities for:
- self-discipline - frequent discussion of rules and expectations is very
important
- school success - monitor assignments, teach keyboarding, teach good study
habits.
- getting organized - teach them to use a student planner
- communication - talk about feelings, check that they understand directions,
be positive.
These students and adults can and will be successful in life if we will channel
their ADHD traits.
You can learn more from:
CLASS ACT,
Davis School District, UT (801)402-5143
CH.A.D.D. of Northern Utah
Davis County Branch (801) 296-2264
Utah Attention Deficit Disorder Guide
Utah State Office of Education (801) 538-7700
Utah Parent Center
2290 E. 4500 So. SLC (801) 272-1051
Information taken from handbooks compiled by Dauneen Abel, Davis School District,
CLASS ACT
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