OMS Manual/Chapter 26

CHAPTER 26 - BEST BETS AND OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION

Discussion:

One thing is sure about OMS; not every OMS child is the same. What we mean by that is that OMS children will learn in different ways, respond differently to treatments, act in different ways, and require innovative approaches to be successful in life. We have found that while one child will react positively to a treatment, stimulant, educational approach, or behavior modification, the next child may not. So, in this chapter we will list some approaches that have been successful at least for some OMS children. Your results may vary.

Setting a Regular Baseline for your OMS Child:

A very important task for all OMS caregivers is to continually have a record of baseline activity for your OMS warrior. The reason for doing this on a regular basis is two-fold; in the battle of active OMS, it is easy to forget dates and specific details over time, and once in remission, it is easy to want to forget all of this ever occurred. However, during the height of the OMS battle, having logs and video is important to ensure the clinician gains a better insight into this OMS warrior. It is important for remission in the event that a relapse would occur. In both cases, without established baselines, delays may occur as doctors try to establish that baseline.

One approach is to have a wellness check with your neurologist annually to establish the baseline and to keep the doctor updated on progress.

Another approach is to prepare a monthly video of key milestones for the OMS warrior. Most doctors want to see how the eyes are working, use of fine motor skills, gait in walking, speech, and gross motor skills. The progression of tasks might look something like this:

- With head still, track an object with eyes (left, right, up, down)

- Use left index finger to point to an object

- Use right index finger to point to an object

- Use left index finger and thumb to pinch the same object

- Use right index finger and thumb to pinch the same object

- Use left index finger and thumb to wind up small toy

- Use right index finger and thumb to wind up small toy

- With left arm outstretched, place safety pin in small bottle

- With right arm outstretched, place safety pin in small bottle

- Close eyes and touch nose with right index finger

- Close eyes and touch nose with left index finger

- Grab small cup of water with right hand and take a sip

- Grab small cup of water with left hand and take a sip

- Place objects into a shape sorter toy

- Identify animals in a picture book

- Sitting on ground, stack 8 blocks with right hand

- Sitting on ground, stack 8 blocks with left hand

- Walk down hall

- Run down hall

- Jump

- Catch a ball

- Throw a ball

- Stand on tip toes

- Kick ball

- Stand on left leg

- Stand on right leg

- Say ABC’s

- Count to 20

- Count backwards from 20

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Education Approaches:

http://www.lindamoodbell.com/default.aspx - Founded in 1986 by Charles and Patricia Lindamood and Nanci Bell, Lindamood-Bell is dedicated to enhancing human learning. Our founders are the authors of research-validated instructional programs that teach children and adults to read, spell, comprehend, think critically, and express language.

http://www.ldonline.org/ - This is a web site focused on overcoming learning disabilities. Motivation, the key to academic success - Too many factors can lessen a student's motivation: fear of failure, lack of challenge, and lack of meaning, to name a few. But for some students, small efforts at home can have big payoffs toward supporting and motivating a struggling learner. Find out ways parents can help support their learner.

Web sites and Applications:

http://www.ABCMouse.com - Designed for children in preschool through Kindergarten. Costs $7.95 per month but you can get a first month trial for free.

http://www.Teacherspayteachers.com - This is advertised as a place where people share ideas and resources.

http://www.Starfall.com - Starfall is designed to teach children to read with phonics. Our systematic phonics approach, in conjunction with phonemic awareness practice, is perfect for preschool, kindergarten, first grade, second grade, special education, homeschool, and English language development (ELD, ELL, ESL). Starfall is an educational alternative to other entertainment choices for children.

http://www.ABCYa.com - ABCYa provides free educational kids computer games and activities for elementary students to learn on the web. All children's educational computer activities were created or approved by certified school teachers

http://www.lumosity.com - Brain games.