We All Have Superpowers: Helping Your Child Understand & - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

We All Have Superpowers: Helping Your Child Understand & Interact with Peers with Differences

Presented by: Nicole Kertyzak, Maury Lead Special Education Teacher

• ADHD
• Autism/Asperger’s
• Learning disorders
• Psychiatric conditions
• Seizure disorders
• Brain injury
• Tourette’s syndrome
• https://www.washington.edu/doit/videos/index.php?

vid=36&t=1

Not All Disabilities are Visible

• Academic
• Reading, writing, math, science, social studies, etc.
• Behavior
• Time on task, independent work, hands to self,

volume/tone/language, etc.

• Social skills
• Initiating interactions, social communication, working/playing

cooperatively, etc.

All Students Have Different Strengths and Weaknesses

• Talk with your child about how no two people are the

same; everyone has strengths and weaknesses.

How to Support Your Child

• Remind him/her: Just because someone learns

differently does not mean that they are unable to learn.

How to Support Your Child

• Emphasize: All children want to be accepted and

respected, no matter how they present in the classroom.

How to Support Your Child

• Explain to her: Everyone gets what they need to learn.

Some students may need additional time with an adult, have a special chart, or use another resource (e.g. tablet

• r calculator).

How to Support Your Child

Role play and model empathetic responses

• Instead of labeling a classmate as “the bad kid,” help your child understand that

they sometimes people act out when they’re overwhelmed, struggling, or frustrated. A caring response from teachers and peers can make a big difference in the

• utcome.

How to Support Your Child

Instead of … Try… Thinking, “What a jerk.” Thinking, “Maybe my friend is sad or frustrated. How can I help?” Saying, “Teacher, Sam is bothering me.” Saying, “Teacher, we’re having some problems at

• ur table. Can you help us work them out?”

Staring or laughing at a classmate who’s having a meltdown Give your friend space. Later, when they’ve calmed down, ask if they want to play or work on an assignment together.

Younger Kids

• Sesame Street- often

includes children with disabilities in episodes; some characters have disabilities (e.g. Julia, a preschooler with autism)

Books/Videos to Support Your Discussion with Your Child

Grades 1-3

• Issac and his Amazing

Asperger Superpowers Discusses how every child has superpowers, they just look different for everyone (e.g., you might be great at math, but need help playing with your friends appropriately, whereas your classmate may be great with making friends but need help with math)

Books/Videos to Support Your Discussion with Your Child

Grades 4-5

• Wonder- good chapter book

about a student with physical disabilities and his experiences at school. Shows same experience from different perspectives.

Books/Videos to Support Your Discussion with Your Child

• Special Education Administrator (Suzanne Hess)
• Special Education Teachers
• Nicole Kertyzak (K-1)
• Janelle Freeman (2-3)
• Ambyr Hinton (4-5)
• Special Education Paraprofessionals
• Da’Mon Smith
• Anna Spratt
• Kim Purce
• Related Service Providers
• Speech Language Therapist (Kerry Corso)
• Occupational Therapist (Rebecca Rath)
• Physical Therapist (Mickie Monsheimer)

Special Education Team