Joshua Center
Staff Development Program
Understanding
Neurological Disorders
and Strategies to Deal with Them
A one-day training session delivered at your school to your teaching staff
Overview
Teachers often describe children with neurological disorders as
impulsive, immature, inattentive, disorganized and craving predictability. While
bright, the children often appear to be clueless about everyday situations,
conversations, and social conventions. Common behavior management techniques
usually do not work with neurological disorders and require different
treatments.
Participants will learn how to:
Recognize symptoms and understand behaviors associated
with the neurological disorders of Asperger Syndrome, Tourette Syndrome,
High-functioning Autism, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Bipolar, and Pervasive
Developmental Disorder.
Develop a framework for action. Discover effective
intervention strategies. Learn how these strategies impact the role of the
educator, the education of those affected and the overall classroom environment.
Identify teacher and auxiliary staff characteristics that
lead to success.
Identify appropriate accommodations and strategies to
help the child succeed in the classroom, in extracurricular activities and at
home.
Program Leaders
Mike Sumler, LMFT., is an experienced and knowledgeable
counselor at the Joshua Center. For several years, Mike has worked up close and
personal with children, adolescents and adults diagnosed with neurological
disorders. His work makes a dramatic difference in the lives of those in
desperate need. He works closely with teachers to help address difficult
classroom issues. Mike’s work has received high praise and recognition from
school administrators, hospitals and parents. Mike provides down-to-earth,
practical advice including both strategies and tactics.
Becky Ottinger, B.A., Ed. After teaching school for several years,
Becky’s son Joshua was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome. She soon devoted
herself to full time research and advocacy. Her work led to the founding of the
Joshua Center for Neurological Disorders where she serves as executive director.
Today, Becky is widely recognized as one on the preeminent
leaders in the field. Throughout her career, she has worked with thousands of
kids, families, teachers and healthcare professionals. Her social skills classes
and other teaching programs are in constant demand. Becky’s annual American
Camping Association accredited camp program for children with neurological
disorders is recognized as one of the best.
Becky served on the National Tourette Syndrome Association Board
of Directors for two years and has been recently asked to serve the University
of North Texas Autism Advisory Board. In her widely-read book Tictionary,
she addresses almost 500 topics associated with neurological disorders.
Jack Southwick, M.S.W., is a renowned author and expert
on the behaviors associated with neurological disorders. Jack has over fifteen
years experience working directly with affected children. Mr. Southwick is the
author of Individual Home Plan and Individual Classroom Plan and co-author of
Asperger Syndrome and Difficult Moments.
Program Fee
$1,500. (plus travel expenses if applicable)
Like to ask some questions about the program? Call Becky at
(816) 763-7605. Or fill out the following form and we will get back with you right away.
Or if your prefer to discuss the program on the phone,
call Becky at (816) 763-7605.
Staff Development Brochure
(PDF format)
Never forget that the purpose for which a man lives is the improvement
of the man himself, so that he may go out of this world having, in his
great sphere or his small one, done some little good for his fellow
creatures and labored a little to diminish the sin and sorrow
that are in the world. William E. Gladstone
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