Against All Odds: A Doctor's Story

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Against All Odds A Doctor's Story

• Sarah-Monique Williams, Psy.D.
• 5235 North Clark, Suite 2N
• Chicago, IL 60640
• [phone]
• www.drsarahmonique.com

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Four Areas of Focus

• Visual Processingn
• Executive Functioning
• Motor Skillsk
• Social Skills

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Writing Sample
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Visual Processing Strategies

• Use spell check.
• When taking notes from a book, use post-it notes,
  photocopy or enlarge the text.
• Use an index card to guide reading.
• Use books on tape and/or readers.
• Use picture cues for organization.
• Use digital watch.
• Assistants - Read, categorize/structure visual
  information.

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Executive Functioning Strategies

• Use visual organization strategies (e.g.
  bookshelf sticker system and room labeling
  system).
• Keep a daily schedule.
• Use self-mediation.
• Use timers.
• Keep an extra set of textbooks.
• Use picture lists for daily routines.
• Assistants - Plan, Organize, Maintain systems
  (Paying bills, filing, keeping focus, etc).

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Motor Skills Strategies

• Use note-taker or tape recorder as needed.
• Dictate to audio cassette or another person.
• Use a computer or voice activation software.
• Play appropriate athletic games, (e.g.
  Tetherball, hopscotch and swimming).
• Assistants - Dictation, help with fine motor
  skills, (e.g. cutting, drawing lines).

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Social Skills
Internal Strategies

• Realize that you may not understand abstractions
  and that you take things literally.
• Focus on your strengths.
• Know your rights.
• UsePositive Self Talk.
• Advocate for your needs.
• Assistant - Provide structure and bridge areas of
  difficulty.

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Social Skills
External Strategies

• Cope with teasing by asserting yourself.
• Participate in social skills groups.
• Practice role-plays of introductions, two-way
  communication. Eg Learn to read nonverbal cues
  and how to jump into conversations.
• Explain daily activities in detail to increase
  understanding of social interactions.
• To understand jokes or sarcasm, have a friend
  explain the meaning. Also, memorize some jokes to
  use.
• Assistant - Explain social skills and help
  understand them.

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Advocacy

• Understand yourself, your disability, and your
  rights.n
• Plan ahead.
• Give up the norm and become your own person.
• Pace yourself.

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CONSISTENCY consistency consistency
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nsistency CONSISTENCY Consistency consistency
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Major Qualities

• Determination
• Creativity
• Flexibility
• Resourcefulness
• Strong sense of self

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Accommodations used in this presentation

• Assistant read, typed and organized notes.
• Brainstormed out loud over several days.
• Kept a collection of all helpful materials.
• Asked for the audiences help with pacing.
• Used humor to ease the process.