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The experience of Job Shadowing?

Shadowing child with Attention Defecit Disorder?

  • I started working in an OMRDD program in July. I just got a job shadowing a boy with ADD and possibly Aspergers. He's 6 years old, and in a typical classroom in a regular elementary school. Not only is this my first time shadowing, but I've never working with a child with ADD. I plan on just observing him the first few days to see how he interacts with other students and the teacher, and to see how they are working with him. I know they break up his activities and use stickers as reinforcers, but it's not a completely appropriate set-up. Does anyone have experience working with a child with ADD? I'd love some feedback and tips.

  • Answer:

    My son is ADHD . He use to take Ritalin but it stopped his growth. He doesn't take any med's at this time. He is doing great though, except in school. He's in 6th grade. We live in Southern CA. At 6 years old they just go,go and go. You will need a lot of patience. And It usually isn't easy (wasn't for us} to get the child tested for learning dissabilities. The 2 can go hand in hand allot of times. I held Dustin back in 1st grade because he would have been so behind. My son is awsome though. Kids with ADHD usually are very intelligent though. It was very hard for a while, but I wouldn't change anything about the experience. Kids with adhd usually have trouble focussing, paying attention for very long, organizing their things at home, and their school things. We used colored folders for each subject. We used allot of reward system things though. stickers, going to get ice cream on special days when he did really well. As they get older sometmes thsey aren't as active. Dustin is just like any other kid, but he is still having allot of trouble in school. Especially math. I firmly believe that all kids with ADHD and or a learning dissability should have their own special class where they are pretty much on the same level. Then they don't feel uneasy or insecure. When their self esteem is kinda stepped on by kids that will sometimes call them names it can make they sad and they might feel like they aren't as smart as other kids. I've been trying to have my son retested for learning dissability for the lasr 4 years. He had an IEP and got special help in some of first and 2nd grades. He did awsome. He learned to read really fast. He was having fun learning finally. He liked going to school and he was happy. That was so important to me. Then when he learned to read they said he didn't need help anymore. I've done alot of research since then. boy what I didn't know!ha I'm sure you'll have fun with this child. they are all different and special in their own ways. Eye to eye contact I think is very important in getting them to listen to you alittle bit better. Crossing streets was the scarriest thing for me everyday. He would not listen to me tell him to stop at all. Holding hands worked better. Very short attention spans. have trouble moving from one activity to another. it's best if child sits in front close to the teacher and away from anything distracting. might daydream alot. Might remember something taught today but might forget it by tomorrow. I hope i've helped alittle.

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Try to let him do as much as possible...I have seen many shadows enable children because they are doing everything. Try to set up a code word with the child - when you see him completely off task, say the code word so he knows to refocus. It may take a while to get him conditioned to it, but its worth a shot.

Margaret Z

There are several things to be aware of when working with ADHD children. If he is Asperger's that is another story. Let's Look at ADHD first. Many ADD kids get a lot of negative attention, so this becomes reinforcing. Try to ignore as much as possible and try to bring him back to doing what is right by offering praise and reinforcement. "I am giving you stickers for being in your seat and doing your work. Great, now you are working and I can give you a sticker!" You are telling him what you are going to do and you are giving attention to appropriate behavior. Make sure the reinforcement is fairly immediate at first. If they are asking him to wait all day for a payoff, that might just be a waste of time. He is ADD and can't wait all day for anything. The reinforcer will not work. Pay him off for five stickers in 20 minutes at first. You can lengthen the time later and gradually. Make sure he wants the reinforcer. For immediate reinforcement, two things work best. The best is food. Use Goldfish in tiny amounts. He is just a little kid, so you don't have to overload him. Gradually you are going to lengthen your time and move him over to praise. Be sure you pair giving him a treat and praise because gradually you are going to remove the treat. The other thing that works really well is to play a short game with him or allow him to do a puzzle or something if he completes work. This should only be about five minutes. If he is Asperger's he is going to feel a lot of anxiety when exposed to complex social situations. It may make the ADD worse. If I were you I would rehearse all the social situations that he may encounter. If he has trouble in the lunchroom, take him there when no kids are in the area. Show him how to go through the line, where to sit, go over the rules and how to empty his tray. Also, he may have trouble with specials, especially when he is being asked to perform. Take him to the music room and let him talk to the music teacher. She can privately show him how to do things. Do this with all the specials in which he encounters problems. Finally, you may need to teach him to converse with other kids. Rehearse this privately and then with a favored peers. You may want to make him a visual conversation starter card with stuff like: *What did you have for dinner last night? I had........... *Do you have a pet? I have a *What is your favorite TV program? Mine is>>>>>>>>> Etc. You catch my drift. Try to print a picture of each thing and put it on the card. Remember that Asperger's kids get most of their information through the visual field. Lecturing them is like lecturing a mouse. It will not go in! Use visual, hands on learning.

MissBehavior

okay i have ADHD my little sister has ADD and i went to school with a boy who had Aspergers if he does have Aspergers then loud noises ans sudden changes in environment are not a good idea as far as add goes just keep him busy 9 times out of 10 the work is too easy or not interesting enough as long as the class work it self is at the right level for him he should stay focused if not i found that if there is a goal set the child is more likely to want to finish rather than saying finish because you have to also a reward system can help... this show cause and effect you do the work to get good grades you get good grades and you get a prize ... you dint do the work you dont get good grades you dont get good grades and we have to call mommy or daddy also if you tell him that the home & or class wrok that he doent finish has to be done during resses then he will flip into turbo mode ADD // ADHD kids love the free time when they get to run around

Muslim by choice

good luck you will have to watch for what he likes to use as a reinforcer....

Clays mom

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