Parental divorce or separation marks a major life transition for any family. While it solves the situation for parents, it creates instability for the children of the family. Children rarely view divorce or separation as positive. For children, divorce feels…
Nonverbal Learning Disability and Social Anxiety: Understanding the Challenges
Explore the link between NVLD and social anxiety. Understand how difficulties with social cues contribute to anxiety.
Nonverbal Learning Disability (NVLD): Possible Signs of NVLD
As a clinician, I became aware of nonverbal learning disability or NVLD in the 1990’s. At that time, little was known about NVLD and the impact it has on people’s lives. Today we know that NVLD is unlike any other…
Fight, Flight or Freeze- Anxiety Explained
Starting a new job can cause anxiety. The first day of school also leads to anxiety. Meeting new people can be anxiety-inducing. Taking a test or giving a presentation can also cause anxiety. Anxiety is a normal reaction to life…
The Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
The Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is a written document that addresses any academic, behavioral, emotional, and/or social needs that the student presents with. It is also known as an Individualized Education Program (IEP), an intervention plan or a “Plan d’Intervention”…
What Dyslexia Looks Like: an Experiment
What is dyslexia? Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that impacts how the brain processes written and spoken language. Individuals with dyslexia often experience difficulties with accurate and fluent word recognition, spelling, and reading comprehension. Yet, these challenges are not…
Last One Picked, First One Picked On
The last of three videos by Mr. Richard Lavoie, an expert on special needs. In this video, Mr. Lavoie raises the issue of social skills. Children with special needs (learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)) typically experience difficulty…
When the Chips are Down
When the Chips are Down is another outstanding video by Richard Lavoie. In this video, Mr. Lavoie discusses how to control undesirable behaviors, and advocates for a more positive approach. Richard Lavoie is an international expert on special needs and…
How Difficult Can It Be: A F.A.T. City Workshop
Rick Lavoie is an expert on special needs. This award winning video illustrates what learning disabilities can look like in a typical classroom environment. It also demonstrates what teachers should and should not do when faced with students who may…
Is Bill 101 Responsible for the Declining High School Graduation Rates?
Political interest in language is not a recent phenomenon. It dates back to Ancient Egypt. Psamtik, ruler of Ancient Egypt (664-610 BC) believed that the Egyptian language was the origin of all languages. In order to prove this, he conducted…
Straight Talk About Dyslexia
Dyslexia is too often misunderstood. Although “dyslexia” is recognized to be a form of a reading disability, many educators and even some professionals believe that mirror writing, or letter or word reversals is a common characteristic of dyslexia. Today, however,…
Visual Processing Challenges
When we think of vision, we think of seeing…. seeing clearly and with accuracy…that is 20/20 vision. But the ability to see is more than just vision. Our eyes capture the visual information in the world around us and…