NEWSLETTER_9_06 Colorized
Transcription
NEWSLETTER_9_06 Colorized
Vol. XVI, No. 2 SEPTEMBER 2006 Magic Glasses By Carol Stacy Inside This Edition Helen’s Corner 2 Around The World 3-4 9th Irlen International Conference & Keynote Speakers 4-5 New Irlen Directors & Irlen Diagnosticians 6-7 “Tim, it’s your turn to read.” He sat gaping at the bright white page The blurry black letters and curvy white rivers That made him fidgety and gave him shivers. “Please, I think I need some magic glasses to help me read.” “When I read, I’m dizzy, my eyes get sore. I stop, ‘cause I just can’t take any more! I know how to read but just can’t do it!” Tim might respond well to an Irlen screen Which will bring into focus the problems we’ve seen Irlen Filters smoothed the wobbles and wiggles The too-bright white that made letters jiggle And finally helped Tim to make his escape To a place where letters could take their shape. “Reading is a blast! With yellow filters I can read fast!” Research 8-9 Special Recognition 10 Recommended Courses 11 New Screeners 11-12 Visual Motion Sensitivity and Reading Reading is more difficult than speaking because an arbitrary set of visual symbols must be rapidly identified, ordered, and translated into the sounds they represent. Many poor readers have particular problems with the rapid visual processing required for these tasks because they have a mild impairment of the visual magnocellular system. This paper shows how important low level visual processing is to reading. It presents evidence that individual differences in the processing of visual motion by the visual magnocellular system correlate strongly with how well people can acquire orthographic skill. The reason why the visual magnocellular system is so important in reading, therefore, seems to be because it plays such a dominant role in stabilizing these brief fixations, in addition to directing the eye movements between them. eye fixation can be directed on letters in order to identify their correct order. Boosting the magnocellular function of poor readers and treating their eye movement deficits can greatly improve their reading. Stein, J. (2003). Visual motion sensitivity and reading. Neuropsychologia, 41, 1785-1793. Visual magnocellular sensitivity helps to determine orthographic ability because it mediates the precision with which visual attention and Irlen International Newsletter • SEPT 2006 Vol. XVI, No. 2 SEPTEMBER 2006 HELEN’S CORNER The term “twice exceptional” was coined by James J. Gallagher to denote students who are both gifted and have disabilities. Many schools refuse to recognize the needs of these students. Often, parents are told that their child is too bright to qualify for special services. With the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), for the first time the gifted students with disabilities are mentioned as a group whose needs can be addressed with federal funding. The extremes between the strengths and weaknesses for the twice-exceptional student create problems in the classroom and for the parent and affect the child’s self-concept. These students are expected to demonstrate appropriate skill acquisition which may be beyond their reach. I fight my fears I hide my tears Hoping no one Will notice I was fighting My fears Hiding my tears Caught in the Eye of the Storm The students who are the most challenged for the schools to recognize are the gifted students who are struggling academically. This appears to be an oxymoron of terms. How can a gifted child struggle with academic work? Schools are reluctant to recognize and provide for this dual diagnosis. Often, these students are caught in the eye of the storm and are neither identified as gifted or as having a learning disability. Tragically, neither their giftedness or their weakness is being addressed by the educational system. According to federal law, the schools must provide the twice exceptional student with appropriate services and programs designed to respond to both their giftedness as well as their weaknesses. Identification and appropriate interventions provide the safe harbor in the eye of the storm. Otherwise, these students are constantly dealing with feelings of failure, frustrations, and low self-esteem. The gifted students are often more aware of their learning difficulties and feel academic failure more strongly; and this affects their self-concept and self-esteem causing frustration, anxiety, and confusion. They cannot understand why they are good at some tasks and not others. They may avoid doing the more difficult tasks or rush through them not seeming to care if the work has errors or is incomplete. They anticipate failure and handle this by seeming not to attend to certain tasks or not caring. They may exhibit creative ways to try to mask their problems such as: avoiding homework, not studying for tests, losing homework, not interested in school work, not completing assignments, and not turning in assignments. It is hard for these students, or for that matter anyone, to cope with the discrepancy between ability and performance. Too often the educational system has difficulty recognizing the dual diagnosis child and will either only recognize the giftedness and ignore the learning disability, recognize the learning disability and ignore the giftedness, or ignore both. None of these situations are appropriate to meet the needs of these children and will not allow these children to reach their full potential. What should be done? The literature says that educators must gear instruction to the student’s strengths, rather than to their weaknesses. The literature advocates using a variety of adaptations, strategies, and accommodations to allow these students to access gifted education; but it is the experience of many in the field that these students often receive inadequate or inappropriate adaptations and accommodations, thereby making their access to gifted instruction problematic. The problem can be too many, too few, or the wrong accommodations. ... Continued on p.11 2 Irlen International Newsletter • SEPT 2006 AROUND THE WORLD WITH IRLEN Trademarks, Patents & Copyrights. Irlen has been trademarked in the following countries: USA, Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg), United Kingdom, South Africa, New Zealand, Singapore, and Australia. Israel. The first article on Irlen to be published in Israel is in the magazine Voices (www.voices-magazine.com). It is a delightful article written by a mother regarding the problems that her three children were having and the changes with Irlen Filters. Texas, USA. Natalie Hughes placed 2nd in her division at the regional Science Fair for her project on Irlen Syndrome and MS. She also won one of the Discovery Channel Young Scientist Nominations and the Naval Science Award. Jean Hughes, Mother Brazil. In June I gave a presentation to directors and teachers of about 100 private schools. I prepared brochures to give out explaining some of the principles and main symptoms of the Irlen Method. Dr. Márcia Guimarães, Clinic Director Florida, USA. The Florida Instructional Technology Training & Resource Unit (FDLRS/TECH) has listed changing foreground/background colors for students who struggle with reading or have visual problems as one of the 10 Classroom Strategies. In addition, they listed colored overlays as an example of an allowable FCAT accommodation. (www.fdlrs.com) California, USA. Clinic Director Susan Hughes presented as well as exhibited at the California Reading Conference held during November in Sacramento. California, USA. Dr. Andrew Yellen presented “Understanding the Brain's Electrical Activity by Means of the DESA®” in April 2006. Dr. Yellen is a Clinical Psychologist and an Irlen Clinic Director. He has closely examined the effects of Irlen Syndrome utilizing state-ofthe-art neuroelectrical evaluation of patients called DESA®. Hawaii, USA. Collin went to see the Navy recruiter who noticed his colored lenses and said, "I had another kid here to take the ASVAB again with these crazy color lenses. The lady who gave him the note said it would make a difference and it really did! He scored much higher." Ruth Ann Santos, Screener Ohio, USA. Clinic Director Elaine Gutowitz has trained 37 teachers who work in the Ohio prison system. 3 California, USA. The Irlen Institute has been busy exhibiting and presenting at the following conferences. We would highly recommend you contact your state or local association for information on exhibiting or speaking. National Association of School Psychologists California State PTA Conference West Coast Literacy Conference. Helen Irlen presented on "Visual-Perceptual Disabilities and Their Relationship to ADHD, Dyslexia, Learning Disabilities and Reading Efficiency." Christian Home Educators Association Convention (CHEA) California Association of Independent Schools Conference Delta Kappa Gamma International Conference Correctional Education Association International Conference California Homeschool Network Family Expo. Helen Irlen presented and Irlen Institute exhibited. Autism Society of America, LA Chapter Conference CTEVH Conference. Helen Irlen presented at a conference for educators and parents of the visually handicapped. 67-71% of this population suffers from symptoms that the Irlen Method can address: light sensitivity, glare, strain, poor contrast, & distortions. Oregon, USA. I attended an event with superintendents, principals, teachers, assistants, volunteers, and parents. Author and educator LouAnne Johnson was the guest speaker. Right in the middle of her speech, she stopped and proceeded to speak for five or ten minutes about Irlen. I was practically jumping out of my seat. My school district had "poo-pooed" Irlen. What a validation to have the guest speaker at this event recognize the validity of Irlen. My superintendent was now a believer in Irlen and even encouraged me to go ahead and try overlays with my students. I'm going to email LouAnne Johnson and thank her for opening doors. Susie Young, Screener. Oregon State Bill for Screening. The bill for Irlen screening is being held until next year before being presented to the State of Oregon (USA) legislature. Joan Craig, the Irlen Screener who designed the legislation, is asking for letters of support of the bill be sent to Rep. Andy Olson ([email protected]) with a copy sent to her at [email protected] and to the Irlen Institute. Joan Craig, Screener Irlen International Newsletter • SEPT 2006 California, USA. Clinic Director Susan Hughes did a presentation at her local Sports Club. The Sports Club advertised her speech in the newspaper and mentioned it after each Yoga session. California, USA. The Irlen Method is an assistive technology; and, as such, the Department of Rehabilitation is now using this category to refer clients and pay for screening and testing for the Irlen Filters. Pursue this with your state's Department of Rehabilitation. California, USA. Dr. Andrew Yellen, Clinic Director, presented on Irlen Syndrome utilizing a state-of-the-art neuroelectrical evaluation called DESA® at the Collegial Consortium which is comprised of therapists, ed. therapists, speech and language therapists, pediatricians, psychologists, and MFT's. He also presented to all the doctors at the hospital as part of their CME's. Ohio, USA. This year I am screening 4th - 8th grade students in a school awarded a state reading grant - so there is money for materials and consultants. Their objectives are to use the colored overlays as part of a system of reading interventions. Kathy Witherup, Screener Kansas, USA. Dr. Cathryn Hay, Clinic Director, has advertised in her local newspaper and offered to do programs for several groups. She has also investigated the YMCA which is playing a pivotal role in “Visioneering Wichita.” The 11th Annual Texas Irlen Association’s Meeting is scheduled for February 2007 in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Patricia Johnson, Clinic Director Minnesota, USA. At Coon Rapids Middle School, we screened 270 poor readers and numerous special education students. Only one didn't get overlays and a handful have been slightly affected. Most are severe to moderately severe and admit to chronic headaches or other physical symptoms daily. The kids are buzzing, and now kids are coming saying they tried their friend’s overlay and want their own! Judy Palapala, Clinic Director Texas, USA. The 10th Annual Texas Irlen Association Meeting was held in Austin, Texas, on February 16-18, 2006. There were representatives from 44 school districts throughout Texas (most paid for by the school districts). One of our keynote speakers was Kim Brannan, Manager of the Student Assessment Department for the Texas Education Agency (TEA), which has been very positive about allowing accommodations for students with Irlen Syndrome. Michelle McDaniel, MA, a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology and an Irlen Screener, presented on how screening for Irlen Syndrome fits in with the Response through Intervention (RTI). Michelle also was awarded the Texas Irlen Association Screener of the Year Award. Irlen International Conference Keynote Speakers Professor Max Coltheart, DSc, FASSA, FAA, FBA. Learning to Read and Some of Its Difficulties. Professor Coltheart is Scientific Director of the Macquarie Centre for Cognitive Science, an inaugural Australian Research Council Federation Fellow, Professor of Psychology at Macquarie University, Academic Director of the Children’s Hospital Education Research Institute, Sydney, and James Packer Professor of Educational Research. He has published 13 books and 234 journal articles or chapters. His research interests are in cognitive neuropsychiatry and cognitive neuropsychiatry, and he has published extensively on how children learn to read and why some find it so difficult. Associate Professor Greg Robinson, PhD, MAPsS. Irlen Syndrome: Important Features, Effects on Reading and Possible Underlying Causes. Professor Robinson has worked and researched in the area of literacy problems and dyslexia for 35 years. He is at the University of Newcastle, teaching and researching in the areas of underlying causes of dyslexia and the development of effective diagnostic and support systems. Professor Robinson has published widely in the area, with numerous book chapters, over 60 articles in peer-reviewed journals, and many other articles. 4 Margaret Creedon, PhD. Irlen and Autism. Dr. Creedon is a member of the Panel of Professional Advisors of the Autism Society of America as well as the Autism Society of Illinois. She is a cofounder of the Autism Network for Individuals with Hearing and Visual Impairments with an international membership. Previously, she developed a demonstration school program integrating specialized services at Michael Reese Hospital, Chicago. Currently, she is a consultant to parents and school systems nationally in the U.S and in Ireland. Additional Sessions Dyslexia Research Dr. Karen Waldie, Auckland University Irlen in Correctional Institutions Dr. Patricia Johnson Dyslexia: Visual and Auditory Dr. Bev Steffert Forum on Marketing and Business Growth Traumatic Brain Injury and Irlen Fritz Steiner Brain Gym Clair Hocking Sessions on Irlen Screenings for Screeners, Diagnosticians and Directors Tinting Sessions for Directors and Diagnosticians Irlen International Newsletter • SEPT 2006 Irlen Center Boston with Cambridge College 9th International Irlen Conference SKYCITY Convention Centre – Auckland, New Zealand Wednesday 3rd to Saturday 6th January 2007 IRLEN – THE WAY AHEAD Registration Form Spouse/Partner’s Name: (if attending) Postal address: Business Phone: Fax: Email: Special diet or disability needs: Category: Mobile: Clinic Director Diagnostician Screener Registration Type: Conference dinner: Standard NZD$300.00 $ Late (after 2 Nov) NZD$350.00 $ @ NZD$65.00 $ TOTAL NZD $ Friday 5th, number of tickets Form of payment: Bank Draft (in NZ$) to: Irlen Conference Telegraphic Transfer to: Irlen Conference A/C ANZ Howick 01 0170 0234782 02 (Add NZ$25 Fee to all Telegraphic Transfers) Visa or MasterCard: Name on card: Card No: Expiry Date: Amount NZD$ Signature: Contact Details: Postal 5 9th International Irlen Conference Box 39690, Howick, Auckland, New Zealand Fax: +64 9 576 5394 Email: [email protected] Ph: +64 9 576 5390 Irlen International Newsletter • SEPT 2006 NEW IRLEN DIRECTORS & DIAGNOSTICIANS Bonnie Bartels, MA, Clinic Director, Des Moines, Iowa, USA. Bonnie Bartels is in private practice at West Des Moines Psychology and Counseling in Iowa. Her specialty is AD/HD coaching which focuses on creating individualized strategies. She started screening for Irlen Syndrome in 2005. Helen Brauer, Diagnostician, Cornwall, Helen Brauer has worked as a Learning England. Development Adviser/Trainer/ Consultant and managed learning centres for adults with basic skills needs and a range of specific learning difficulties for nearly 20 years. She has a Masters degree in Adult Education/ Rural Social Development and a PostGraduate Certificate in SpLD/Dyslexia (AMBDA). She was trained as an Irlen Screener in 1999 and initiated awareness-raising in other organizations such as the Royal Navy, local universities, Probation Service, and Employment Services. She will be working as an Irlen Diagnostician under Clinic Director Stephanie Jamison. Mary Holloway, Diagnostician, Cornwall, England. Mary Holloway lives and works in Cornwall, in the far South Western area of England. Fifteen years ago, she trained to be a support tutor. Since then, she has been gaining City and Guilds qualifications in Literacy, Numeracy, and ESOL. She is training with the British Dyslexia Institute. Mary is now the Senior Tutor in her centre and runs a section of 12 tutors who solely support dyslexia-related difficulties. She trained as an Irlen Screener in April, 2005. As an Irlen Diagnostician, she will be supporting Stephanie Jamison in her position as Clinic Director, Southwest and South Wales. 6 Nerida Crowe, Diagnostician, Sydney, Australia. Nerida Crowe has taught in various Catholic primary schools in Sydney, along with regular after-school tutoring, for over ten years. Her interests include family, bike riding, cooking, bushwalking, reading, kayaking, and the theatre. Nerida will be working as an Irlen Diagnostician under Clinic Directors Gloria and Darren Thomas at the Irlen Centre in Sydney. Avril Johnson, Diagnostician, Hull, England. Avril Johnson has worked at the University of Hull for the last six years with students with specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, ADHD, and Aspergers Syndrome. Since qualifying as an Irlen Screener, she has assessed over 300 students. Before joining the University, Avril worked as a Pediatric Occupational Therapist with children with a range of physical and learning disabilities. The city of Hull is a busy port on the North-East coast of England. Avril will join Clinic Director Celia Stone as an Irlen Diagnostician. Leanne Greeff, Diagnostician, Pretoria, South Africa. Leanne Greeff is an experienced Irlen Screener, psychologist, lecturer, teacher, writer, and public speaker. She has been an Irlen Screener for more than 4 years in Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. Leanne has had a busy private practice as an Educational Psychologist for more than 9 years. Her focus in private practice is Irlen screening, emotional problems, scholastic problems, career guidance, and school readiness assessment. She is currently busy with PhD studies on Irlen Syndrome. Leanne will work as an Irlen Diagnostician with Clinic Director Martelean Venter. Irlen International Newsletter • SEPT 2006 Louise Parker, Diagnostician, High Peak, England. Louise Parker began her career in education working with children and teens with learning and behavioral problems. She later moved on to working with adults with similar problems. Louise was diagnosed, as an adult, with dyslexia and Irlen Syndrome. She has subsequently been involved with dyslexia support, but her main area of interest is helping others with Irlen Syndrome. Having trained as a Screener, she has used her knowledge and strong belief in the benefit of assessment in Irlen to spread the word to both individuals and the wider audience. She will be working under Clinic Director Joan Hillary as an Irlen Diagnostician. David Petersen, LCSW, Clinic Director, Clearfield, Utah, USA. David Petersen is a clinical social worker in Ogden, Utah, which is located 30 miles north of Salt Lake City. He has been doing clinical mental health work for over 30 years. David works at the Clearfield Job Corps Center where they have about 1,300 students in their residential job training program. He also has a private practice located with a group of Family Practice Physicians. He began screening for Irlen Syndrome in 2004. He works as a private contractor for the Management Training Corporation who manages 23 Job Corps Centers throughout the U.S. for the Department of Labor. David will only be working as an Irlen Diagnostician with the Job Corps clients. He has been married for 38 years; and he and his wife, Kari, have three grown children. David enjoys fishing, skiing, snowshoeing, biking, reading, and writing. Tehnaz Ragi, Diagnostician, Hong Kong. Tehnaz Ragi provides Learning Integration Foundation and Empowerment services in Hong Kong. She is a licensed Consultant, Diagnostician, and Facilitator for Specific and Global Learning Differences, Difficulties and Disabilities and a licensed Brain Gym® Instructor/Consultant. Her other qualifications include B.A. (Lang & Lit) IN; PGCE (TOEFL/TOESL) HK, and DIP. SpLD (Hornsby) UK. Tehnaz has worked with children experiencing mild to severe learning difficulties and disabilities since 1996. She will work under Clinic Directors Patricia and Steve Stanley as an Irlen Diagnostician in Hong Kong. 7 Sherri Schultz, Diagnostician, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Sherri Schultz has a degree in Psychology and has also taken The Brain and Irlen Syndrome course offered through the Applied Neuroscience Certificate Program at Cambridge College. She has been an Irlen Screener since 2002. She is now working at the Irlen Center Boston as an Irlen Diagnostician under Clinic Director Georgianna Saba. Sherri has introduced information on the Irlen Method to the Watertown Public Schools. This past year, she gave testimony regarding Irlen Syndrome to the Committee on Education at the Massachusetts State House. Sherri spoke both as a professional who also wears Irlen Filters and as a parent of a child who has benefited. Debbie Sniderman, Canada. Diagnostician, Alberta, Debbie is a reading specialist working with Reading and Writing Consultants of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, which is also the Irlen Centre Alberta. She works with students with reading difficulties, doing assessments, tutoring, and Irlen screenings. Debbie obtained her Master of Education degree, with a specialty in Language Arts, from the University of Alberta in June, 2000. She was trained as an Irlen Screener in 1999. Helping students improve their visual perception and ease their comfort with the printed page has been very rewarding, as many of them succeed in school, post-secondary education, and careers with greater ease due to their Irlen tints. Debbie will be working as an Irlen Diagnostician under Clinic Director Judy Pool. Moira Usher, Diagnostician, Suffolk, England. Moira Usher has been a high school teacher for 32 years, first as a musician and then as a specialist in special educational needs and child protection. She trained as an Irlen Screener 15 years ago. Moira stopped teaching last July and is now working freelance as a consultant to schools in special needs, teaching music to adults at home. She plays the recorder, cello, and piano and does a lot of conducting of adult amateur groups around the UK. Moira and her husband enjoy traveling and have been to Antarctica, Kenya, Tanzania (where they climbed Mount Kilimanjaro), Peru, the USA, and many countries in Europe. Moira will be working with Director Christina Yates at the Irlen East Centre. Irlen International Newsletter • SEPT 2006 RESEARCH Oregon Project with At-Risk Youth Coloured Overlays and Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Ben Wright and Arnold Wilkins have conducted research using coloured overlays. The title of the paper, which is in submission for publication, is called “Spectral Filters Can Improve Reading and Visual Search in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis.” Patients with multiple sclerosis experience symptoms of visual discomfort and perceptual distortions. Coloured overlays have been shown by the research study to reduce symptoms of visual stress, increase reading speed, and improve visual search. 25 of 26 patients with multiple sclerosis reported fewer symptoms of visual stress when using an overlay of their selected colour. The same patients also improved performance on both the Rate of Reading Test and a test of visual search when using their selected overlay colour. 24 patients who reported that the coloured overlay was helpful were still using the overlay four months after the completion of testing. Coloured overlays and their effects on reading speed: a review. Wilkins A, Visual Perception Unit, University of Essex, Colchester, UK. Ophthal. Physiol. Opt. 2002; 22: 448-454. Abstract: Coloured overlays can reduce symptoms of visual stress and improve reading speed. These benefits are reliable and are not attributable simply to placebo effects. Five percent of children in mainstream education read at least 25% more quickly with an overlay, provided they have chosen the colour. The suboptimal design of children’s text and the high level of classroom lighting may be partly responsible. Claremont McKenna College Research. We are just getting started collecting data. We have a very large sample now (over 400 students); and moderate to severe visual discomfort continues to show up for about 20% of the sample, although severe symptoms are very rare (1%) at the Claremont Colleges. Chris Chase, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Claremont McKenna College, Claremont 8 One pilot project in Marion County, Oregon, seeks to address the academic needs of students identified through a school counselor or the juvenile system as a child at risk of offending. These students are between the ages of 8-12. Early identification is done with the hope of providing resources to help students in a number of areas. One area of assistance is with tutoring by a Learning Specialist who works with each student one hour a week for up to a year. During 2005, 26 students were screened for SSS. All of the students screened were found to have SSS. Seventy-seven percent were severe, twenty percent were high, and three percent were moderate SSS. There were six children in the program who were not tested, so they represent missing data. These findings also represent a significantly higher rate of SSS when compared to those in the general population. Countryman and Davis, 2005 Sparkes, D.L., Robinson, G.L., Roberts, T.K. & Dunstan, R.H. General health and associated biochemistry in a visual-perceptual subtype of dyslexia. (In Press). University of Newcastle. Abstract The general health of adults and juveniles with a visualperceptual subtype of dyslexia known as Irlen Syndrome (IS) was assessed by a self-administered questionnaire, and the responses were investigated in relation to changes in urinary and plasma biochemistry. The prevalence and severity of a number of the symptoms assessed by self-report for a oneweek period showed significant differences when compared to their control peers. Increases in symptoms for the IS subjects indicated possible problems with the dysregulation of the immune system, photophobia, neurocognition, mood, and with muscle cramps and twitches. The significant increases in these problems suggested that in IS, reading difficulties were accompanied by re-educations in the general “well-being” of the individual. The reported severity of both the IS and the general health symptoms were associated with alterations in the levels of specific plasma lipids and urinary metabolites for the IS cohort. The results suggested that in IS the general health of the individual may be poorer and that these changes, along with the symptoms that define the syndrome, may be associated with anomalous biochemistry. Examination of these associations provides further insight to the understanding the etiology of this learning disability. Irlen International Newsletter • SEPT 2006 RESEARCH “The Irlen Syndrome represents an intriguing and controversial spectrum of symptoms that remain invisible to most clinicians. During 32 months at the Amen Clinic, I have confirmed diagnosis of approximately 210 patients with Irlen Syndrome. Irlen Syndrome, depending on the severity and presence of co-existing disorders, contributed to anxiety, with a resulting spectrum of fatigue, irritability, and vulnerability with a diminished cognitive reserve. Irlen Syndrome should often be expected within the following clinical composites: Bipolar Spectrum Disorder, Sensory Integration Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, School Phobia, Cranial Cerebral Trauma, Visual Dyslexia, Tic Disorders, Reactive Attachment Disorder, Migraines, Mood Disorder Spectrum, Recurrent Automobile Accidents, Excessive Daytime Fatigue, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.” Robert Dobrin, M.D., F.A.A.P. THE EFFECTS OF SCOTOPIC SENSITIVITY/IRLEN SYNDROME ON EVALUATING ATTENTION DEFICIT WITH STANDARDIZED TESTING By Andrew G. Yellen, Ph.D. Due to the nature of IS, various subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition (WISC-IV), and of the Woodcock-Johnson Pyschoeducational Battery, Third Edition, Cognitive and Achievement (WJ-R), are adversely affected. In addition, continuous performance tasks reliant on visual processing, such as the Test of Variables of Attention-Visual (TOVA-Visual), are also negatively impacted and may, in some cases, produce false positives for ADHD. Irlen lenses may bring the standard scores into the Average range with no other intervention; thus those suspected of ADHD should be screened for IS and, if appropriate, tinted prior to administration of such visual tasks. Those not yet done in formalized research, empirical evidence suggests that standard scores may be as much as one and one-half standard deviations higher when individuals with IS utilized Irlen lenses. The more heavily reliant a task is upon visual processing, the greater the improvement once the IS has been appropriately addressed. Specifically, caution should be taken before concluding that a diagnosis of ADHD is accurate when the assessments are heavily dependent upon visual processing and a screening for IS has not been performed. PILOT PROJECT AT EDWARDSVILLE ELEMENTARY by J. Kay Shevling, LCPC The main objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the possible presence of Irlen Syndrome/Scotopic Sensitivity in children in School District USD 204. Of the 30 students evaluated, 21 showed evidence of moderate Irlen symptoms, as indexed by self-reported visual distortions (scores of 14 or higher on the Irlen Perceptual Scale) and self-reports of moderatesignificant improvements in visual perception with colored overlays. Eight additional students showed some evidence of mild Irlen symptoms. All students were given the appropriate overlays with explanations as to how they should be used and stored. Although the present study evaluated a select population of students, it is noteworthy that none of the 9 students evaluated were in Special Education. Nevertheless, they were struggling with reading, headaches, frustration, and discomfort from bright lights. The study indicates that a number of children in Edwardsville Elementary School demonstrate Irlen Syndrome. More formal and systematic evaluation and treatment of this condition is likely to lead to improved reading skills and less frustration for many of these students. With minimal information, many parents can be taught to recognize the signs and symptoms of Irlen Syndrome. Teachers should be taught to recognize the symptoms so that the children who do not take notes home can be identified. There should be at least one staff member in each school who is trained to screen students and use the Irlen interventions. Irlen International Newsletter • SEPT 2006 SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE Irlen Ambassadors The Irlen Institute would like to acknowledge those individuals from across the nation and around the world who work tirelessly to help spread the word about the Irlen Method. These individuals come from all walks of life – some are Irlen Screeners, some are parents, and others are professionals who work in the field of education. The following people deserve special recognition and special thanks: Wendy Clifton, an experienced Screener and occupational therapist in Ontario, Canada, has made numerous Irlen presentations to educators and to other occupational therapists. Wendy screens clients as part of her perceptual testing protocol. Vern Hyslop, a member and former Governor of the Toronto Rotary Club, was instrumental in arranging for Helen's visit to the Toronto Rotary Club in June, 1992, and in obtaining funds through the local Rotary Service Club to provide Irlen screening and testing for a number of children. Most of the students now have their lenses. Christine Lee-Archer, a newly trained Irlen Diagnostician working with Gloria Thomas in Melbourne (Australia), has helped to ease the entry of children into class wearing Irlen Filters AND to make some money for the school to help needy students pay for the cost of the filters. She started the “Cool Sunnies for Reading Program.” She purchases little bears and decks them out with little colored glasses in all the colors of the rainbow, which she sells in order to raise money for the program. Ronnie Valenti, an Irlen Screener, documents the need for overlays and results of using overlays with students at Forsyth Technical Community College. She presents Irlen to other community colleges. Michael Harris has provided funding for training screeners for the Adult Basic Skills program at Forsyth Tech Community College. Teri Hall, an Irlen Filter wearer, arranged for an article in her local newspaper and screens students on a volunteer basis in schools. 10 Robert Devitt is in his 60's and receives a disability pension. He was instrumental in having Sondra Fyffe appear on a Cable TV program to talk about Irlen. It was Robert who convinced the reporter of the Lindsay Post to write an article on Patricia Johnson and Irlen in January, 2005. Thank you, Robert, for being a true Ambassador for Irlen! Patricia Johnson is the focus of the Educational Today article and the newspaper article in the Lindsay Post. Patricia, along with her father, addressed the screeners at the Screener Cluster Meeting in Toronto last January. Patricia shared her Irlen experience with a community in Peterborough in June of 2005, organized by screener Sandra Herage. Patricia has agreed to allow the use of her story to increase a greater awareness of Irlen. She speaks on her Irlen experience whenever she can. Pamela Benn has written and illustrated a booklet entitled Germs Under Arrest, printed on a variety of coloured backgrounds to point out the importance of colour for some people. The final page of Pam's book gives an outline of Irlen Syndrome and provides yet another way to promote Irlen. Pam's son has been tested for the filters, and her daughter is to be screened. Many thanks to Pamela for her contribution to the publicity of Irlen Syndrome through her books. Sam Lalonde is a grade 12 student who participated in an information booth at the Ottawa Learning Disabilities Conference in April during our Irlen Awareness Week. Sam is an excellent spokesperson for the Irlen method. His grandmother is funding a project so that he can create an 'awareness' of Irlen within his school and Ottawa Board Of Education. Gloria Westerman, Pat Phillips, and Teresa Poteat all advocate for Irlen on their community college campuses and arrange for training or screenings of their students. Irlen International Newsletter • SEPT 2006 RECOMMENDED COURSES Irlen Center Boston with Cambridge College Professional Development The Distance Learning Program (DLP) “The Brain and Irlen Syndrome” EED 641 May be taken as a Three Credit Graduate Course Option TWO OPTIONS: 1. Two Day Non Credit with PDP/CEU”S or 2. Two Day plus DLP Practicum & Online component with three Graduate Credits HIGHLIGHTS: 1. Earn 3 Graduate Credits 2. Apply for Recertification in your field 3. Earn PDP/CEU Points in your State 4. Earn Irlen Institute Recertification 5. Coursework done partially at your worksite and on the internet 6. Take DLP from any location The Distance Learning Program (DLP) is designed exclusively for Irlen Screeners and those who have already taken the two day Irlen Screener Training. The DLP can be done in part via the internet. Course may be taken separately or as part of the Applied Neuroscience Certificate Program. For Details Contact: Irlen Center Boston Georgianna Saba [email protected] (781) 396-3321 www.irlenboston.com Helen’s Corner Continued from pg. 2 Interventions, such as Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic, are often mentioned in the literature as a method for allowing gifted children with reading difficulties to progress. Although well meaning and totally appropriate, these interventions have limitations: many textbooks are not available on tape, many books for outside reading assignments are not available on tape, and some students are not auditory learners and cannot learn by listening. But, more importantly, a critical step has been bypassed. The school needs to be testing the twice exceptional learner for perceptual processing deficits, such as Irlen Syndrome. For the twice exceptional child, often this is the only problem holding back the learning. Their profile differs from the learning disabled child who often has more than one disability. For the twice exceptional child, being able to identify Irlen Syndrome and remove this barrier may actually eliminate the only area that is causing a difficulty, resulting in rapid changes in academic progress, self-esteem, motivation, and interest in school. Why provide a crutch when you can let the child run free? For the twice exceptional student with Irlen Syndrome, the school system is clearly providing the wrong accommodations. How tragic when the technology to diagnose processing problems and the method for eliminating these problems is available and has been for the past 20 years. 11 New Screeners SOUTH CAROLINA: Sandy Bailey, Jackie Blackwell, Miriam Blue, Pegyy Campbell, Traci Crisco, Jamie Edwards, LaVoice Faison-Stevens, Suzanne Glattli, Tommiann Hill, Holly Hodges, Jean Kinyon, Sharon Mickey, Jane Owens, Robert Porter, Sheila Swift, Pat Wheeler, Kimberly Worley / TEXAS: Carol Abernathy, Kay Adams-Traugott, Angelia Ainsworth, Jane Allcorn, Laura Arena, Elizabeth Batto, Carol Baumann, Melissa Bell, Jami Bihl, Carolyn Brinson, Toni Brooks, Tena Brunson, Jennifer Caddell, Dayren Carklisle, Rebecca Cervantes, Judy Chumchal, Pam Clark, Karyn Collins, Lucille Dominguez, Valerie Dykstra, Sherri Eads, Gayle Eblirg, Kenzie Fairchild, Vicky Ferguson, Yvonne Fifer, Jeanne Flanagon, Rosa Flores, Joley Flowers, Patti Foyt, Paula Gallagher, Dianna Gilmore, Tanya Goldbeck EdD, Janet Gray, Joy Hall, Brandee Hamilton, Patrick Harkins MD, Dianne Hearn, Shirley Helton, Stephanie Hendrix, Jan Hook, Barbara Kettler, Herbert Kunkel, Craig Lira, Deanna Lynch, Vickie Maertz, Peggy Martin, Wanda May, Eva Mcbeth, Kaci Mcbryde, Sue Medford, Pam Meers, Cyndi Miesner, Donna Moffett, Raymond Morazan, Pam Morlan, Darla Myatt, Kimberly Navejar, Vivian Nichols, Alicia Pacini, Nancy Pesek, Karen Quinn, Bree Reid, Mindy Rice, Robin Rice, Sydney Rieff, Heather Ries, Andrea Rosenbusch, Janie Ruiz, Holly Rush, Debbie Schiller, Cynthia Smith, Legih Steen, Edith Stephens, Patti Tessen, Becky Turner, Grenna Vasquez, Doris Vardell, Stephanie Villalta, Karen Wenzel, Ann Wilson / VIRGINA: Ursula Allen, Nancy Kochl / WASHINGTON: Erica Almeda, Barbara Haas, Karen Lamoreux, Cheryl Mclean, Maria Latimer, Lorraine Necaise, Dee Olson, Stephanie Peyser, Judith Robinson, Kaila Spring / WEST VIRGINA: Ruthie Haden, Sharon Leasure, Christy Spicer / WISCONSIN: Tracy Fleck Irlen International Newsletter • SEPT 2006 New Screeners AUSTRALIA: Julie Bellingham, Jonathan Bishop, Alexandra Brown, Christine Casey, Valda Natalie Davey, Dianne Duncan, Karen England, Cheryl Gates, Fiona Graham, Vanessa Hardy, Annie Laughton, Carolyn Lord, Martha Mack, Kim Mathews, Joanne Miliambro, Barbara Moore, Jenni Mullen, Susan Paul, Amanda Redmayne, Gloria Robinson, Janet Stuart, Louise Thomason, Doris Tiong, Margot Tugwell / AUSTRIA: Marilyn Donaldson, Fiona Hart, Jan Hart, Eva Liakas, Joan Morice, Kerrie Peden, Eva-Maria Spiwak, Doris Stoeckner / CANADA: Jo-Ann Campbell, Gayle Conway, Janet Fowler, Beverly Franchuck, Lucia Fredette, Maria Gallie, Felicia Guzzo, Joanne Heckbert, Laurel Hood, Elizabeth Lacey, Charla Langevin, Jane Lanktree, Elayne Lorenz, Jeannie Lundgard, Cyndy Lutz, Anee-Marie Millette, Susan Mouris, Ginett Palin, Loraine Pare, Susan Peacock, Janet Porter, Heather Reid, Janet Shepherd, Lorianne Smith, William Smith, Katherine Toope, Diane Vandemeent, Natalie White, Catherine Widjedal, Patricia Wright-Bodig / ENGLAND: Elizabeth Andrews, Julie Andrews, Tracy Ashbridge, Linda Ashbrook, Aletta Ashmore, Kerry Aston, Rachel Barnes, Samantha Barnett, Jean Bates, Joanne Bennett, Sue Beresford, Beryl Blair, Emma Buckley, Diana Carr, Susan Cartwright, Lynne Clarke, Lynda Clark, Rebecca Clegg, Pamela Coates, Cynthia Cotterill, Glynis Cox, Julie Craig, Laura Dolby, Robert Duffioud, Julie Dunn, Trisha Dunk, Rowena Entwistle, Irene Evans, Wendy Fairman, Jean Flounders, Bernadette Gartside, Victoria Grange, Susan Greaves, Rebecca Gregory, Stephen Hall, Alison Harper, Chris Hazard, Susan Hazzledine, Carolyn Hempton, Gillian Heywood, Maureen Hickman, Sarah Higgins, Craig Holden, Evelyn Holdstock, Clarke Holmes, Sandra Holtappel, Julie Houghton, Patricia Howell, Carole Hurst, Wendy Husemann, Melanie Jones, Susan Kelsell, Jane Knight, Tina Lavender, Yvonne Lawton, Pauline Lockstone, Julie Machin, Susan Manente, Thelma Marshall, Liz McKelvie, Karen Middleton, Dorothy Nettel, Jean Norton, Zoe Norwood, Fiona O’Connor, Sheila Penn, Angela Pilkington, Frances Platten, Jacqui Poole, Nicolette Poulton, Penny Rea, Diane Ridings, Sarah Roberts, Sandra Sadowska, Philip Smart, Kay Smith, Dena Stote, Donna Sykes, Rachael Taylor, Barbara Thomas, Kath Thomson, Jane Wade, Sue Walker, Rachael Wardle, Andrew Wheeler, Jane White, Janice Whittome, Judith Willetts, Clive Williams, Shan Williams, Ann Williams-Neil, Lesley Woodhouse, Michael Woollard / HONG KONG: Laura Self, Connie Yuen / JORDAN: Maisa Al-Tarawneh, Rana Matar / NEW ZEALAND: Heather Kershaw, Candice Larson, Michele Meyer, Noeline Sharplin, Jennifer Scott / SLOVENIA: Aine LeePedersen / SOUTH KOREA: Hyun Do MD, Insuk Han MD, Shin Heui, Chung Kang PhD, Seok-Cheol Kang MD, Kyung-Ran Kim PhD, Bong-Ho Lee MD, Eun-Ah Lee MD, Sang-Heg Lee OMD, Ho-Seob Lim, Chae Park, Chan-Il Park MD, Lee Ran, Joung Soo MD, Park Yeong PhD, Sung Yoon MD, Lee Young / SPAIN: Sara Garcia, Elena Jodra, Derlinda Moreno / SWITZERLAND: Sylvia Huber / WALES: Jane Edwards / USA: ALASKA: Sharon Canadine / ARKANSAS: Donna Dyson, Jennifer Muckelrath, Trissy Pitkin, Cheryl Richardson / CALIFORNIA: Susan Arasmith, Shenikka Barnes, John Cunha, Glenda Custard, Howard Ferquson, Deborah Fox, Varan Garro, Maraya Hamilton, Susan Hunt, Vikki Kirin, Edward Krouse, Susann Krouse, Lisa Lamedman, Derette Layne, Dr. Aylene Lazar, Virginia Minami, Karen Palmerlee, Stephanie Parsons, Anastacia Patrick, Jeff Rutherfurd, Karen Schnee, Shmuel Stoch, Susan Warda, Brent Weaver / CONNECTICUT: Heidi Clement / FLORIDA: Dr. Chidiebere Ekenna-Kalu, Melissa Seib / HAWAII: Karen Caires, Verna Choy, Amy Ogasawara-Fukumoto, Carolyn Gregory, Bess Jennings / ILLINOIS: Barbara Blaylock PhD, Donita Kaare, Peg Kennedy, Matthew McNatt, Jan Parker EdD, Rene Soulvie-Ostapuk, James Thilker, Jo Anne Waggoner, Dena Weber, Patricia Wintyr / IOWA: Ann Francis, Alice Hadley, Elizabeth Hagedorn, Carol Kenkel, Shari Lohrmann, Julie Monson, Cindy Peterson, Diane Schwartz / ILLINOIS: Barbara Wendel / KENTUCKY: Mary Clark, Holly Cookus-Stoneburner, Jason Morris, Jennifer Nelson, Beverly Stewart, Connie Wilson / MAINE: Sarah Lovejoy / MASSACHUSETTS: Janeen Abrams, Karen Anderson, Robin Berube, Melissa Cote, Lisa Hartman, Linda Irons, Susan Jurgensen, Maude Le Roux, Valerie Lizotte, Katherine Lyon, Heidie Manthei, Michael Morse, Stephan Nadel, Crystal Nardini, Jenna Nelson, Kathleen Rafuse Parnell PhD, Barbara Piscitelli, Marianne Porto, Amy Schlaefer, Deborah Scortico, Lynda Serodio, Rosemary Spauldine, Suzan Theodorou, Nancy Tulla, Victoria Waite / MICHIGAN: Sandra Cumper, / MINNESOTA: Jennifer Amundson, Nancy Hamm / NEVADA: Charlotte Courson, Pamela Doto, Tammie Moniz, Stacie Nelson, Susan Owens, Patti Ponton, Dana Porello / NEW MEXICO: Sharon Brock, Thomas Mcgaghie, Kim Rasmussen, Janene Scott / OHIO: Jennifer Boles, Nancy Bridgeman, Christopher Brockmeyer, James Boakye-Dankwah, Linda Burwinked, Jeffrey Cole, Priscilla Colon, Ronald Davis, Mary DiCiero, David Dickson, Terri Duncko PhD, Jerry Fitzgerald, Molly Fitzgerald, Anne Fornal, Jennifer Fornal, Taryn Grinker, Frances Hagen, Deborah Hercsek, Robert Holzhhauser, Robert Hutton, Keith Jennings, Cheryl Joesting, Caren Karlage, Julie Kastner, Sare Kavak, Linda Lafferre, Susan Lafferty, Bernadette Maes, Joan May, Susan May, David Mitten, George Moroschan, Beverly Odoms, Michael Peck, James Poling, Carolyn Powers, Linda Rhodes, Roger Rhodes, David Ricker, Deborah Roberts, Mary Ruscin, Jennifer Sanders, Dean Scheiderer, Annette Scheve, Vera Scott, Marilyn Shroyer, Ange Siemer, Dianne Siereveld, Carmen Skinner, Jan Smith, Kimberly Smith, Lisa Stirk, Maxine Thompson-Frost, Erica Wardlaw, Benedict Zella / OREGON: Kathleen LaCombe, Cherie Countryman, Gary Ives, Maria Latimer, Lianne Lennert PsyD, Rose Roth, Linda Schmechel, Staci Simmelink-Johnson PhD, Carmen Vargas, Fawny Vernon, Pamela Watts / PENNSYLVANIA: Janice Buckwalter, Christine Hughes / NEW HAMPSHIRE: Roberta Holt / NEW JERSEY: Pam Warehime / NEW YORK: Dr. Ruth Duldberg, Diana Holloran, Ruth Isaacson, Catherine Spinella / NORTH CAROLINA: Penelope Bowie, Edison Cano-Serrano, Shirlene Davis, Karen Forster, Lavette Henderson, Amy Johnson PhD, Judy Lawrence, Peggy Murdock, Jenny Overbey, Edna Stanback, Vicki Wilson New School District Screeners (Training funded by and conducted on-site at school districts) ECTOR COUNTY ISD, Texas: Regina Albidrez, Dana Christian, Sofia Elmore, Cathy Gilleland, Wanda Haynes, Betty Hubbard, Joan McCown, Sharon Meister, Gwen Newton, Lorri Petty, Vivian Proffitt, Dorma Rex, Sandra Roberts, M. Salcido, Misty Stewart, Leann Tacker, Judy Wagoner / EL PASO ISD, Texas: Dolores Benavidez, Lorraine Bentley, Hilario Chavira, Norma Corral, Sandra Denton, Angel Haney, Cynthia Laroche, John Laroche, Martha Martinez, Rebecca Montes, Geraldine Nitzburg, Connie Perez, Cynthia Rincon, Patricia Sanchez, Imelda Tejeda, Carolyn Thomas, Diane Valverde, Hermila Valera, Johnnie Vega, Gustavo Vega Jr., Yvette Zarur / HOUSTON ISD, Texas: Macarena Aravjo-Rivera, Janeen Crayton, Blanca Gonzalez, Kathleen Hejjali, Graciela Lazo, Manuel Manzano, Rosemary Matthews, Hilda Ortiz, Bernadine Powell, Frances Salinas, Diana Samano, Samiah Sultan, Zoraida Ravenhorst, Phalkuny Yos / POST ISD, Texas: Gini Aldridge, Tonya Dunn, Consuelo Flores, Kim Green, Amy Guthrie, Julia Hudman, Lea Hudson, Pam Humble, Katy Mock, Sharon Morrison, Steven Phillips, Dena Potter, Mary Short, Tim Tatum, Angela Walden / REGION IV ESC, Texas: Evelyn Allen, Elizabeth Andrews, Sylvia Baker, Patricia Baldwin, Tina Banner, Deborah Cowie, Susan Frazier, Jessica Gabbanelli, Virginia Gilland, Mike Grissom, Jean Henderson, Kimberly Harlow, Rosalind Jones, Margaret Kelly, Angela Kinman, Cheryl Lafleur, Holly Lamb, Michelle Machin, Maria Mamaux, Loree Munro, LaDonna Pope, Leslie Russell, Robalyn Snyder, Efrain Urbie / RENTON TECH. COLLEGE, Washington: Gail Dugan, Karma Forbes, Linda Hart, Cathy Jenner, Elizabeth Jewett, Denise Jordan, Michele Lesmeister, Donna Maher, Susie Navone, Wendy O’Reilly, DeEtta Ryan Irlen Institute International Headquarters 5380 Village Road • Long Beach, CA 90808 (562) 496-2550 • Fax (562) 429-8699 www.irlen.com• [email protected] Change Service Requested PRST STD U.S. Postage PAID Anaheim, CA Permit No. 134 es en Conferencrence l r I g in m o c p U l Confe rnationa n Inte nd 2007 Irle land, New Zeala 7 Auck -6, 200 January 3 rm Inside! Fo n o Registrati nference 006 2 Calif Co Irlen So — October 21, alif. C , h c a e ng Long B on Meeti Associati ary 2007 n le Ir s a Tex Febru exas — Dallas, T nference rican Co 08 e m A th r 0 Irlen No n, Texas—July 2 Housto rmation, ence info om r fe n o c For w.irlen.c go to ww 12 Irlen International Newsletter • SEPT 2006
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