Over the last 18 years, I've had many children and teens with hidden disabilities tell me, "It would be easier for me if I was in a wheelchair or blind. At least then my teachers and classmates might be more understanding."

Knowing that most educators welcome practical knowledge and tools that they can use, I created this site to help educators learn about neurobehavioral disorders -- the "hidden" disabilities that can impair a student's academic, behavioral, and social-emotional functioning and that can occasionally create chaos in your classroom.  

DISORDERS
Learn about these conditions and get helpful tips for accommodations and strategies for students with: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, anxiety disorders, tics and Tourette's Syndrome, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Nonverbal Learning Disorder, autism and Asperger's Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, sleep disorders, "rage attacks," sensory integration disorder, and Executive Dysfunction. You'll find plenty of free handouts that you can download and take with you.

BEHAVIOR
In this section of this site, you'll find a general discussion of how to think about behavior in the classroom. Many teachers ask me, "How can I tell if what the student is doing represents a symptom or a behavior?"  In this section, you'll find my answer, and then go to the next step of "OK, so even if it is a symptom, what do I do about it?" 

MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS
A potpourri of articles and materials for educators, including a file on accommodating medication side effects in the classroom, some articles on bullying, pitfalls in parent-teacher collaboration, a bibliography of children's literature on disabilities, and much more!

SERVICES 
A description of the various professional services I offer to schools and parents.

NEWS AND NOTES
If your school building is hot, students who are on certain medications may be at risk of heat-related illness. The NYS Commission on Quality of Care has sent out an alert that is a "must read" for all administrators, school nurses, and concerned school personnel.

CAN'T FIND WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR?
Use the Search link at the bottom of each page to get to the search box.

TIC-RELATED SCHOOL PROBLEMS: IMPACT ON FUNCTIONING, ACCOMMODATIONS, AND INTERVENTIONS
Reprints of my article in Behavior Modification (November, 2005) can be requested via e-mail.

DO YOU HAVE ADOBE'S FREE READER?
Many of the free files on this site are in .pdf format. If you do not have the current version of Adobe Reader installed on your system (Adobe 6), you can download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat 6 Reader and install it.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
"Teachers are expected to reach unattainable goals with inadequate tools. The miracle is that at times they accomplish this impossible task."          -- Haim G. Ginott

AHORA EN ESPAÑOL:
Some of the files on this site are now available in Spanish, thanks to M.D. Cebrián-de-Miguel of AMPASTTA. See the listing of what's available.

MUST SEE:
If you are parenting or teaching a child with autism, I strongly recommend that you see "Autism Every Day." This 13-minute documentary is available for viewing free online and is a fabulous resource for gaining awareness and empathy.