Children’s Academy for Neurodevelopment & Learning

Help for the Struggling Learner

 The Problem:

Learning Disability, Attention Deficit Disorder, Hyperactivity Disorder, Dyslexia, Minimal Brain Dysfunction, Neurological Impairment --these are just a few of the learning problems that plague some 30-40% of school age children today. 

What are the causes?  What are the solutions? It is generally accepted that there are no "cures."  The best "solutions" include learning to cope or adapt to the problem, taking medication to control behavior, and possibly mental health counseling.  In the classroom, the child encounters lower expectations, reduced academic workloads and standards, or even different curriculum from their peers.  The child is often stigmatized and even bored, resulting in more personal, social, and academic problems. 

Most of the help currently provided consists of identifying and compensating for the symptoms, rather than treating the root causes.  The root cause, in all the above-mentioned learning problems, is that the brain is not working very efficiently in one area or another.  This is called “Neurological Dysorganization.” 

The solution is
to help the brain become more organized. 

Many people believe the brain's development stops at about age 12. Thus, no real help is offered to the older child.  In fact, the brain is dynamic and ever changing; neurological development continues throughout the person's life.  Development often appears to stop simply because the brain is not receiving the input it needs to continue to develop.

The Solution:                           

The Neurodevelopmental Approach to human development, a pioneering and innovative methodology, is based on the gestalt perspective perceiving the individual and his or her function as an integrated whole, rather than a summation of fragmented parts.  Global areas of concern are identified, followed by an evaluation to determine the underlying neurological/developmental causes or inefficiencies producing the functional problems. Recognition and utilization of neural plasticity, of building connections between the countless number of neurons or brain cells in the central nervous system provided by the necessary frequency, intensity, and duration.  An individualized accelerated and targeted eclectic intervention program is designed.  We empower parents by providing the necessary training and support to implement their child’s program in their own home.  Progress is re-evaluated every 16 weeks (four months) to modify the individual’s program of activities to reflect changes and growth in their neurological function.

The central nervous system has four main functions: 

  1. receive information (visual, auditory, tactile); 

  2. process this information through auditory and visual short-term memory; 

  3. store in long-term memory;

  4.  utilize the input.  

"Neurological organization" refers to how well the brain performs these functions.  Neurological organization can be slowed or stopped by injury or environmental deprivation, or greatly increased and heightened by proper environmental stimulation.*

Neurodevelopment can, in many cases, eliminate the dysorganization of the brain including the learning problems listed above and other problems such as low or high pain tolerance, bed wetting, balance & coordination issues, perceptual delays, and behavior problems.  Children grow up to become adults, Neurological dysorganization in adults is displayed in several areas of mental health such as feeling overwhelmed or frustrated, inability to get or hold a job, inability to stay married, anti-social behavior and many others.

Information is gathered and reviewed from the detailed developmental, medical, and educational client history form that describes the level of function of the central nervous system.  After reviewing the history the child’s receptive areas of Tactility, Auditory and Visual channels (including processing skills) as well as the expressive areas of Language, Mobility and Manual competence will be assessed.  Academic performance is evaluated using the k-TEA (Kaufman Teaching Educational Assessment). An individualized accelerated and targeted eclectic intervention program is designed.  We empower parents by providing the necessary training and support to implement their child’s program in their own home.  Progress is re-evaluated every 16 weeks (four months) to modify the individual’s program of activities to reflect changes and growth in neurological function.

While the neurological dysorganization is being eliminated the parent will learn ways to increase and accelerate their child’s learning.  We use specific curriculum for reading and math that will accelerate, in most cases, their learning one complete grade level every four months.

Realistically, most neurological dysorganization can be eliminated within 18 months.  Your child will love learning, be above grade level, and no longer struggle to learn.

Learning is dependent upon the level of efficiency
 and organization of the central nervous system.

Who I Am:      

Now let me introduce myself.  My name is Toni Hager.  I am a Christian and veteran home schooling mom (since 1984) with two special needs daughters.  I’ve been blessed to have been support group leader, NATHAN coordinator, tutor and volunteer with organizations for disabled children for more than twenty years.  I hold degrees in Applied and Developmental Psychology, am trained in neurodevelopment and learning, am a Neurodevelopment Specialist and founder of Children’s Academy for Neuro development & Learning.

            As a parent of two children with very complicated neurological problems, I had gone on a personal quest for answers to my children's problems.  I found real solutions by addressing their neurological inefficiencies. I now have hope for a normal future for my children!  We had tried all the usual therapies; the program I used produced results we had not dared to hope for.

I was so impressed by the results that I decided I wanted to share these techniques with others who could benefit.  I went back to college earning degrees in Applied and Developmental Psychology then went for training in neurological development with NACD, National Association for Child Development, BOOST-Up with Chance to Grow School, Vision and Auditory Therapy Training. Oral Motor, Fetal Alcohol, Reading and Grammar Training. Oral Motor, Primitive Reflex Training.

I am available to speak at seminars, support groups, professional groups or book fairs. The purpose of choosing these particular topics is to teach and educate what Neurological Dysorganization is and how this dysfunction can, in many cases, be eliminated or prevented.

FREE IDEA TO BEGIN TO HELP YOUR CHILD TODAY
1. How to Build Sequential Memory

FREE PRODUCTS TO BEGIN TO HELP YOUR CHILD TODAY
1. Ditto Worksheets by CanLearn for multiplication, addition and subtraction. 
2. Online Flashcards for multiplication, addition and subtraction. 
 

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY:
Spokane, WA 99205  *   (509) 624-3109  

E-mail:   kidscanlearn___@___msn.com
(copy email and remove two ___ spaces to limit spam)

Being the 'Best I Can Be'  learning to live with prenatal exposure brain damage.
Alcohol - meth - cocaine - heroin - marijuana exposure in the womb.

PARENTS NOTE: "Programs and activities are recommendations only and are not medical, therapeutic or psychological prescriptions. They are based on the experience of a Neurodevelopmentalist and represent suggestions to the family. Every parent needs to assume the responsibility for their own child and make their own decisions as to the techniques and methodologies to use with their child. "
 ©2007  Children’s Academy for Neurodevelopment & Learning           web weaver:  www.betterendings.org
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