Archive for the ‘Cerebral Palsy’ Category

Great Gains In Learning with LGS Neuro-Educational Programs

Little Giant Steps (LGS) has seen thousands of students from ages 5 to 54 gain functional abilities that allows them to learn with ease and discover their full potential.  “How?” You may ask.  It has to do with a paradigm shift in ones thinking, because we look at the brain first, then the educational materials to be learned.  They go hand in hand, but if you have brain that is disorganized, with low processing abilities, and mixed dominance is a problem, then learning is very difficult and for some it seems impossible despite how hard they try. Our system addresses the foundational issues of learning, which reside in the brain.  We assess where the low or dysfunction is (in relation to educational models ~ we work from an educational model, not a medical model) and it can be a person showing symptoms of dyslexia, autism, ADD, ADHD, PDD, or many other such labels.

Then we look at where the individual is regarding their neuro-development. From that  evaluation, a plan is written and directed by a neuro-educational specialist.  The plan will include neuro-activities to address the issues that are hindering their ability to learn.  As some of our clients have explained, “It’s like going from an Internet dial-up line to high speed.”  They begin to experience what it is like to have their mind and body communicate and function at lightening speed.  Their eye-hand coordination becomes unified, the hyer/hypo sensitivities are normalized, in fact, all systems get a tune up when the brain is functioning efficiently and the neuro-connections are increased.  Read our success stories.

How Much Time Does This Take?

Each individual is different, but we re-evaluate our students every four months.  It’s not surprising when we see a student go up a full grade level in four months, in fact most do better than that if they follow the recommended individualized program that’s been designed for them.  Here is a graph that will show you how a group of nine year old students did in a period of four months. Note the first bar in a series of color is the level where they tested when they started, the second bar are the results shown in four months.  They are tested in math (blue), reading recognition (red), and comprehension (yellow).  Each horizontal line
respresents a full year of school.  To see more testing results click here.

 Little Giant Steps Makes Life Changing Programs

I read a story today about a mom who had a daughter that couldn’t read, she was reversing her letters, she couldn’t organize her thoughts, let alone organize anything in her environment.  She looked high and low with no results.  They have a large family, so finding a solution they could afford was another hurdle to mount.  Then, as God will always provide, she was ranting to a friend about her dilemma of finding the right kind of help for her child who was fast slipping away from being a confident, curious little girl. She was anxious, frightened, and depressed because she recognized she couldn’t do what she should be able to due. She saw how lacking her performance was in comparison to her classmates. The friend then mentioned Little Giant Steps and she’d heard they really had done wonders for children with the same kinds of symptoms and disabilities.  The mother saught information on the Christian Neuro-Educational Consulting and Training Group out of Plano, TX.  She read about the neurodevelopmental programs designed to bring about function in academics for children who were struggling.  She scheduled an appointment for an evaluation. She was given an individual neurodevelopmental program for her daughter.  She witnessed her daughter coming up one and a half years grade level in four months!  She can’t wait to see the rest of the story.  And I’ll give you the rest of the story soon!  God bless.

 Ready To See LGS Up Close and Personal?

As Little Giant Steps has grown in our manner of serving those with learning disabilities, we have also grown into new technology and I realized I’ve not encouraged you to take advantage of all the things you can watch, so you can see first-hand from those who have experienced our Neuro-Educational Programs utilizing the Neurodevelopmental Approach. It’s a natural way to improve the ability to think, remember, increase processing abilities, improve lower level brain organization and much more than will be discussed here today!  Today, get some popcorn and watch our movies. 

If you are new to Little Giant Steps (LGS) we have articles we usually recommend.  However, on YouTube Little Giant Steps Channel I’d recommend you watching “Our Heroes” a 6 part overview of who we are, what we do, and what others have gained by working our Neuro-educational Programs.

Some of the most recent information regarding Rapid Recall being used in Kindergarten. See the reaction to them taking a speed and accuracy test on math facts, it’s really neat.  The Principal of Summit Christian Academy has a few recommendations to other teaching professional, as well.

Another school who has been with us, going on three years because they’ve seen such dramatic improvement in their students academic scores and learning improvement is Jone Elementary School. I’d invite you to review what the teachers and administration has to say.

A mother with a son who was suffering from dyslexia describes her and her son’s journey from him feeling he wasn’t smart enough to his moment of truth.  Also, there are other mothers who share about autism, sensory disorders, reading dysfunction, and many others.  Each is worth a listen.  Please let us know if you liked what we have to offer in our video library.  God bless.

P.S. The good news is that is doesn’t matter what your age or I.Q. is when it come to the Neurodevelopmental Approach!  All brains can be trained to do better!  We just fix some of the functional problems, as well.

 Everything Begins With Gaining Knowledge

Little Giant Steps has many free articles that can give you insight into sound brain-based methodology to  assure improved learning abilities. The premise of this is that God’s natural order is perfect. However, in an infant’s early experiences, there can be vital steps missed, or distorted due to environmental conditions, health issues, trauma, or just plain lack of stimulation that was needed.  In the case of most of our children today, they are placed in seats, jumpers, walkers instead of having enough “tummy” time, which is how God intended for the brain and body to become neurologically wired for efficient communication between the brain and body.  If a baby does not receive enough stimulation to all the parts of his body (trunk, limbs, eyes, ears, mouth, muscles, hands, and feet) then they continue to develop, but they carry with them unfinished connections between their brain and body. Sometimes parents are aware of these “glitches” as early as two or three years of age. Some just think, “Oh, this is just the personality of this particular child,” and ignore it. But, typically these “unique” features are usually revisited after they get into school and it surfaces that they are struggling for some mystifying reason! These children also learn to cope and compensate in order to perform in a way the world is telling them they need to do, either by example or language. Some of these coping skills are very sophisticated and almost genius by design, but they all take additional energy (emotional and physical) to run. Typically we see the gaps showing up when they are in their first or second year of school. Some children reach the “wall” or limits of their coping and compensating skills at age 9 as the complexity of their curriculum will no longer work, therefore we see them “falling” off academically.

What Can Be Done?

First, gain knowledge of the problem.  I would suggest you read Learning Disabilities in our article library.  Next, read about the Neurodevelopmental Approach.  I would encourage you to spend some time with our videos.  Our Heroes is an excellent place to start.  Next is to understand what we have to offer.  Check out Evaluations Tab on our website.  Scroll down and you’ll find more videos there.

What If I Can’t Afford A Professional Evaluation?

Jan Be-dell, M.Ed., Certified Neuro-Educational Specialist, understands many families have limited resources.  With a heart for those who home school and have only one income, or for those who have different circumstances, she has developed two programs that can provide remedies from Tiny Tots to Seniors.  Remember, improving function by training our brain is always possible regardless of I.Q. or age.  The three programs to serve needs at-home are as follows:

• Early Learning Foundations (used in Pre-schools-Level 1, Kindergarten-Level 2, and First Grades- Level 3) typically for 2-5 years of age. It is also very effective for challenged individuals whether brain trauma, physiological limitations, or mentally challenged. This program provides brain stimulation, plus addresses readying the individual for reading, writing and math.
• Developmental Foundations- (used for school age through college) It is based on The Neurodevelopmental Approach and is beneficial for people of all ages but especially for families with children who are struggling academically, behaviorally, or with low self-esteem. The activities included in the Developmental Foundations program are a very fundamental level of neurodevelopment, chosen from thousands of neurodevelopmental activities proven to address brain inefficiencies. Working on root causes of inefficiencies, these brain stimulating activities advance many areas, from fundamental brain organization which controls what we are able to do, to increasing abilities in short term memory, as well as reading and math.  For an overview of Developmental Foundations benefits — click here.  Unfortunately, there is no “magic pill.” It takes consistent effort to reap the rewards that The Neurodevelopmental Approach has to offer. Developmental Foundations may be only the first step toward academic success for some individuals. Please see Frequently Asked Questions for more details.

• Memory & Motion - by Ruth Young,ND,  An Adult/ Senior ND Program. Keep It Simple ~ Keep It Fun. We are healthier when our lives are balanced and the confidence in our abilities is strong. Little Giant Steps (LGS) is an organization that has worked, for close to two decades, in helping individuals discover improved brain function, better long term retention of information, accelerated short term memory skills and most importantly a reduction in stress and anxiety that often robs our dignity and confidence.

Neuro-Education Success

It’s All In The Wiring

When we provide education to parents, teachers, and para-professionals they often feel a bit of confusion, because we don’t focus on the “subjects” being taught, or the techniques of teaching those subjects.  Little Giant Steps’ (LGS) contribution to those who are doing the educating of the children require them to begin to think about a more basic requirement that all too often is overlooked or even taken for granted, but is really the KEY to a child’s learning potential.

So, what is it that is the key?  We are talking about the basics of making sure the brain’s lower levels are organized, the processing abilities are at grade level, and the connections between the brain and body are functioning at maximum efficiency.  It’s an inside job! We address the vital developmental steps that are being missed in today’s society which result naturally in efficient function of the brain, all the senses, for both input and output.  As we say, it’s all in the wiring!  We are foundation builders for thinking, comprehending, memory, motor, manual, language, auditory and visual processing, and basic organizing of those processes required to become educated.

How Does One Prepare The Brain?

It’s natural stimulation that is focused on improving function.  If there are learning issues, gaps, difficulties, then those specific areas of the brain are addressed through brain-based activities that will result in the “wiring” or “neuro-connections” to be created, corrected, and strengthened.  You see, when a child misses a step in the devlopmental processes,(and unfortunately our children are being effected with learning disabilities and difficulties in epidemic proportions due to many of our societal practices in our child rearing ~ that’s another article in itself.)  then they show areas of lagging function, or in some cases serious dysfunction.  All of the Little Giant Steps’ Neuro-Educational Programs focuses on providning educational subject matter, but the modality of the activities are the bonus features that create what is called neuro-efficiency.  For instance, LGS has created a preschool program [Early Learning Foundations] that is great fun to interact with your child twice a day for two minutes that will accomplish getting them functioning at their highest potential, and readying them for school with reading, writing and math skills.  Check out the information on this program, as there are many issues it addresses.  In fact, a school put this program into their kindergarten, which also incorporates Rapid Recall, a neuro-educational math facts porgram and at the end-of-year tests the kindergarten class was having the same speed and accuracy as the third graders!  Now, that’s what we call neuro-efficiency.

Hearing Is Believing

Some of us need to have those professionals who are in the thick of the solutions in school let us know the truth about possibilities and potentials of programs for our children.  Little Giant Steps has been creating multi-sensory Neuro-Educational Programs for 20 years. Why? Because we are in and have been in a slow decline in our children’s learning abilities.  In fact, we actually are experiencing an epidemic within the U.S.  The ranking of our national academic scores is in 9th place worldwide!  What happened?  Our society has changed from an auditory society (listening to people talking, high verbal interactions several times a day with family, gaining instructions verbally) to a visual society.  The rub comes in the fact humans are set up neurologically to retain short term memory via our auditory system. Each person’s auditory processing ability has a global affect on their lives and functional capabilities.  Auditory processing is vital for picking up on social cues, following conversation, reading comprehension skills, following directions, attending, ability to read with a phonetic approach and many other skills needed to be successful in school and life.  For instance, behavior is greatly influenced by one’s auditory functioning.  If you have a 12 year old who is functioning (processing) on a 4 or 5 year old level, he is developmentally more like a 4-5 year old. He will be socially more immature, getting along better with younger children and interrupting conversations so that he won’t forget what he wants to say, because he has trouble retaining information in his short term memory. (We have free auditory test kits so you can check your child.)

Look, Listen and Learn

I would invite you to view videos from a school as to what an impact our programs have made in their students lives.  First let me introduce Liz Sweet, Dean of Curriculum.  She has insights you will enjoy hearing that reflect their school’s results and responses to the Little Giant Steps Neuro-Educational Programs.   Next, listen to the principal’s remarks.  Now let’s drop into a classroom taking their 2 min. speed test.  Why are the children excited?  Because it’s always a confidence builder when you get the answers right!  Once these children have mastered (integrated these math facts into their brains) they will have rapid recall for a lifetime.  Now that’s exciting whether you are a student or a student’s parent!

 Working With The Brain Pays Big Academic Dividends

“From the beginning, EVERYTHING about Little Giant Steps has been exactly what we needed. Jan Bedell, The Brain Coach, has been a tool in God’s hands to literally begin to transform my son’s life in a few short months. Luke has struggled from day one with an array of challenges from physical to learning (dysgraphia, dyslexia, processing issues and at age 9, he still was unable to read). Once evaluated, we began our Individualized Neurodevelopmental Program (INP) and within 6 weeks Luke was reading. His retention seemed to double, his tactile issues lessened and over all our son’s confidence began to change.”

Little Giant Steps has been seeing these kinds of results for the past twenty years with thousands of children.  Typically we see every four months a full year gain via academic testing. 

Incremental Success Builds The Base

One thing that has been so much fun working with Jan Bedell’s neuro-educational programs, is seeing the children improve and succeed each day as we see the lower levels of their brains get organized (they begin to think and comprehend in organized ways ~ a big advantage especially in gaining math skills). While her programs provide curriculum supplementation, like Rapid Recall for math facts, they really ready the child for better processing of what they hear, see, say and touch.  Their short-term memory improves with the practiced design of ”The Brain Coach’s” educational programs.  These programs deliver life-long imprinting on the brain, because they actually create new neuro-pathways.  They close developmental gaps that may exist.  It is exciting to see more and more learning disabilities being remedied via the use of neurodevelopmentally focused supplemental curriculum and educational tools. 

Seeing Is Believeing 

This past year we had the pleasure of working the the Summit Christian Academy.  It is an elementary school (NAUMS) and therefore we had a great deal of participation not only with the teachers, but parents.  We kept hearing reports about how the kindergarten loved doing their Rapid Recall (Math Facts) each day.  So, here it is for you to see for yourself.  Kindergarten 2011 Math Speed Test!

If interested in more information on our work at schools, go to Little Giant Steps’ YouTube Channel.

 There are two kinds of people… 

 There are those who are always skeptical and really don’t believe in much outside themselves.  What they don’t know about is outside their realm of tolerance in many cases.  Then there is the other individual who is a believer, and their biggest cross to bear is being discerning enough to keep their life on track with their faith and beliefs.

I must say we see both kinds of individuals.  Some time it is the wife who is the believer, and often will notice and recognize things are NOT  going quite right for her child. Then, we often see the husband a true skeptic.  What I have noticed is that when a child is struggling with school, often times it is seen by the skeptic that his or her child is just misbehaving or hasn’t developed a good ethic and is seen as lazy or disobedient.  Being a mother, having worked as a nurse therapist with children and family services, I’m still astonished that at the root of many of these father’s perception of the situation lies in denial, “There is nothing wrong with my child.”   Regardless of which which your propensity seems to be, your child will change in relation to the parent stepping back, and looking objectively at their children when they’re struggling in school.  Expect lots of questions to be asked and answered as you seek out what’s happening.

How Do We Find A Way To Help Everyone In The Family?

A few things are important at the outset: 

First, we must agree if your child is struggling in school, failing to remember from one day to the next things he knew, seems disorganized in thinking, doing chores, is super emotional and melt-downs are a part of his/her M.O., and is having  bad days associated with learning new things; it makes sense to me to look at the root causes. Our brains come into this world in a pretty under-developed state.  God made us that way so we can get our brains and bodies efficiently wired neurologically during those early years as random movements signal the brain where the arms and legs are, then with each month that refinement of functional movement improves, and helps to develop sight, focusing abilities, and on down the line our language skills become a useful tool for us. Each year of a toddler, is an act of refining the neuro-pathways, mind/body interaction, organizing the brain, and preparing children for learning from experiences.  We are very complex creatures! 

Secondly, we want each parent to fully investigate resourcesavailable for children with learning issues. It doesn’t matter whether your child is gifted, typical, or challenged.  Anyone (child, teen, adult) can all have a gap in their developmentthat renders them helpless in some learning environments.  See these test results of many of the children we’ve worked with over the past twenty years.  Then look at the test results of the work we’ve done in schools these past few years.

Third, when you find a methodology, or resource that makes sense to you pursue it with all your heart, mind and soul. You hold the keys to your child’s academic future.  Gain as much knowledge as possible.  That is why Little Giant Steps has provided free articles that contain enough information if you studied what has been set before you, there is enough information to help your child in the next 4 months! 

Fourthly, parents must commit to solving this problem with their child.  Our intervention is natural, no drugs, it will cost you some time, and if you were to check our costs verses some of these other “learning programs” on the market today, you will see we have a mission first to God. We make our services available and priced so home-school families can participate.   No one knows your child better than you.  Only a parent has enough compassion to look beyond the bad behavior to seek something new and effective. Only a parent will hear from his/her child’s heart what the daily toll  of being unable to learn (even some simple things) costs your child day after day and basically feeling like are a failure.  Often these children will drift along until a real crisis come up and then we’ll see parents begin to mobilize.  If your child is better, your life will become amazing and wonderful, as well.

How do we give parents the ability to look at a “root cause”? 

Like so many of our “Neurodevelopmental and Neuro-Educational Programs,” it’s simple. If you can follow directions, work with your child daily for a short time in their lives, you can literally begin to see their full academic, reasoning, and curiosity potential emerge.  Where do we recommend you start?

• 1. Order An Auditory and Visual Test Kit. Read all the benefits and when you give your child these two tests you’ll see and know their processing abilities and whether  they are functioning up to grade level.  It takes two minutes each.

 2. Read All The Articles.  Not only will you gain knowledge, but you will soon understand our Neurodevelopmental Approach, Philosophy and Methodology.If you are looking for an answer, we have the solution.  Oh, and don’t forget to read about our services in “Evaluation Overview“     If an “At-Home Program” appeals more to you than a professional evaluation, the check out our curriculum.  There are two complete programs Jan Bedell, The Brain Coach, has created for different age groups. These kits have access to our online resources available we use with our client Early Learning Foundations (ages 2 – 5, and good for those challenged). For students (from first grade through college) The Brain Coach create Learning Foundations.  These are rich in instruction, optional ways to complete the activities (some on the computer, some done with the parent).  If you decide you recognize your child needs more professional help…. there is even a discount coupon enclosed!

3. Stick With The Program Until They Achieve Freedom From Their Learning Disability.  We work with our students on one program for four months, then re-evaluate and adjust the activities based on what the child need.  One thing that always makes me smile when parents who’ve worked diligently with their kids and they discover that for ever four months on the program, the child has come up one full school year.  One mother just used recommendations from one of our seminars she’d attended. When she began to talk to me about the success she’d experienced with her 7 year old son, her eyes welled up with tears.  She said, “He was such a disruptor everywhere he went. He couldn’t sit still, learn what was being taught at school, or anything.  I listened and took notes while Jan (The Brain Coach) gave a seminar about the Neurodevelopment Approach.  I went home and started doing what Jan had told me to do twice a day 5 days a week  for two minutes.  It’s been four months and he’s like a different child. He’s compliant, gone is all the disruptive behavior, and most important was he had seemed like a little kid that hated himself…..no confidence, difficult to communicate with….  Now, he’s excited about learning. His curiosity about things outside himself haveexpanded immensely!  Finally, we have the son we always knew was there.  Little Giant Steps just had to help us discover him and discard the learning issues.”   

 Smile!  I am so glad I write this blog as a part of my daily act!  There are so many stories from parents who found “this right answer”.  I thank God it’s something I witness each and every day!  Now, go get’em tiger.

 This mother would like others to know how life can change dramatically with the Neuro-Educational Programs for children that struggle.

“Where does one begin to share about one of the greatest gifts God has given our family? Little Giant Steps (LGS) has been part of our lives for almost 2 years and has truly changed our son’s life. Luke was 9 when he began the program. To understand the miracle LGS has been, you need to know a bit about Luke’s story.

From birth, Luke was not making the normal “mile stones.” Since he was our third child we knew what to expect. It was at his 9-month appointment we started a battery of tests to search for answers. His diagnosis ended up being mild to moderate Cerebral Palsy. The doctors shared that they did not know if he would ever walk or talk. Eventually, our son mastered both. From 9 months on, Luke has always had some form of therapy and he has slowly progressed. Then at age 4, Luke began to have complex partial seizures. These were controlled by medication. Luke went to our local elementary school and we were pleased with the care he received. But, he always seemed to take one step forward in mastering something, to take three steps back. We tried many various options, from repeating Kindergarten to trying more time in “therapy.” Nothing ever seemed to help.

In fourth grade, we moved and our new school was not able to accommodate his special needs. We were distraught to say the least. As we looked into other options, each one had roadblocks. Weeks before the new school year were to begin; a friend asked if I had heard of LGS. Unfortunately, we had not up to this point. Quickly, we watched a video, hopped around on the website and made an appointment to be evaluated. (To be honest, we had to be very creative in our finances and even at this point, God provided).

From the beginning, EVERYTHING about LGS has been exactly what we needed. Jan Bedell, M.Ed., M.ND. Certified Neuro-Educational Specialist (The Brain Coach) has been a tool in God’s hands to literally begin to transform Luke’s life in a few short months. Luke has struggled from day one with an array of challenges from physical to learning (dysgraphia, dyslexia, processing issues and at age 9, he still was unable to read). Once evaluated, we began our INP and within 6 weeks Luke was reading. His retention seemed to double, his tactile issues lessened and over all our son’s confidence began to change.

Recently, our journey has been marred with more challenges in regards to Luke’s health. Last year, he was diagnosed with a low grade, brain tumor. Sadly, Luke’s hippo-campus was removed, along with part of his temporal lobe. We had to take a break from LGS and months ago begun the program again. While Luke is healing, there is clear evidence that his memory is hindered. Our hope is God will use LGS once again to do what no other program or therapist has ever accomplished.  So far, we see good progress.  I am not sure what would have become of Luke had God not placed LGS in our lives. It has done miracles in our boy…and we are forever grateful for Jan’s evaluations, Michelle’s constant contact, guidance, encouragement and Alysa’s administrative gifts.”

We will keep up with Luke and let you know as he moves through this setback.  In the meantime, pray for recovery and that he be restored.  The plasticity of the brain is amazing, and no one knows it’s boundaries in cases like Luke’s.  We’ll keep you posted.  May God bless all children who struggle with learning.