Heads Up-Epilepsy and Computer Curriculum

[roo]

Hi,

Just a "heads up" for any parents who have a child that is on a computer for their school work.

I home school my child who has epilepsy and has absance and complex partial seizures.

The school informed me that they were getting a new computer software in for math, (Aleks), and suggested that my child try it.

My child was doing better than he has in along time getting A's & B's in his math in his books before trying Aleks.

After being put on the computer for math, grades dropped dramatically in less than 20 days, as all work was performed on the computer.

The reason I am informing you of our experience is because I TRULY feel that my childs seizures and hitting the wrong keys on the computer while in a seizure was cause of grades dropping so fast.

I am now battling the school as they praise this computer curriculum as they feel it is right for EVERY child.

As I sent an e-mail to the director of the school and recieved no response.

I sent another one to the Superintendent of the school district and still have yet to a response.

A teacher approached me today on this subject but stated she didn't read her e-mail regarding seizures as I had educated her about my child.

I feel that the school is pushing this on my child as I feel I made a big error in trying it.

I stood my ground today telling the staff that I spoke to that I would be going back to educate my child with the book as I feel that Aleks is unhealthy for my child as grades go down so does the spirit.

Do any of you have any input on this situation?

Do you think I have done the right thing?

I try to speak up as I educate my child, but this new "cure all" computer work, as I see the school seeing it, is not the cure for my child.

I wish there were a cure for alot of things....

I will keep thinking positive.:)

:rolleyes: roo

[lor]

Hi roo, I just looked at this now & since it's been a few days, maybe you have an answer. I'm the one with epilepsy not my child, so it's not the same angle, but I did think of something. Are there ever any blinking objects/lights on the screen? Blinking lights can cause problems for many ppl with epilepsy. If she is experiencing something how can she concentrate on her studies? Maybe have her Dr tell them, but then maybe he doesn't even know it yet either.

[Doodles]

roo,

I was very interested in your child's problem. I have a contition known as Myoclonus. It is muscle jerks - very similar to epilepsy only it's just a quick message from the brain to certain muscles.

What lor was saying, I wanted to know, too, because I am an online college student going into animation. As technology goes on, animation is done prodominately with computers. I do have some problem with typing if I have been on for a long period of time. It could be your childs visual reaction to the lighting in the room and/or the lighting on the computer. If the school fails to let up (and I will bring this topic up a bit later) then perhaps he can turn the brightness on the computer down. That helps with me.

On the topic of school. I am a military brat and have been through dozens of schools. I know how, these days, the school system has gone down hill in regards to children with any kind of dissability. Even learning dissabilities, they don't seem to put forth the effort to assist those who aren't in the "normal range". (please don't take that the wrong way, I, myself am far from normal, but school districts tend to set a "normal" standard on their students) I am a firm believer that every person is different. Each child (or adult for that matter) has a different way of learning.

I find it sad that students can't be delt with on an individual basis. I understand that there are pressures for teachers, but even standards for those teachers have changed since I was a young kid. I'm 25 now. I don't have any children of my own, but I have deep feelings on the teachers that I had in high school. None of them seemed able to challenge me and I ended up living "under the radar". In hind-sight, I was really shortchanged through no fault of the teachers. Classes these days are jam-packed, the teachers can't be payed enough to care (which is what I find most disturbing). Those teachers that can't be payed enough are (understandable) wondering whether or not they can pay the bills this month instead of "well, Timmy was having some trouble today. I wonder what I can do to help". I thought about being a teacher myself, but I don't want to be one of those who, because of my financial situation, can't be an effective teacher for everyone in my class.

Okay, I'm off my soap box, for now.

I think that you've done the right thing in letting your child try the school's new system. But, again, every child is different and (especially if that child has a dissability) must be dealt with accordingly. Unfortunately, some kids just (and I hate even saying this) slip through the educational cracks.

I think that the school is thinking this as "the cure all" remedy for math testing because it's easier. It's the "new technology" so it must be easier, right???? It's not always the same. With someone with a condition such as epilepsy, having them in front of a computer screen that is obviously causing problems....(there has to be some point where the teachers or administrators look at your child's records and say "hmm, timmy's grades plummeted reciently. I wonder why?")...isn't going to work. There has to be an alternative.

I have to say at this point that I didn't have (or rather know about) my condition until after high school. I was just the artistic kid who's art program was nearly cut 2/3 times every year in favor of an upgraded football program. The teachers felt useless, because what could they do to stop it?...nothing. I as one of their students felt useless, because I could do even less to put an end to it. At that point I only cared about graduating and then I was done with the whole thing.

I do think that you did the right thing. If the school is unwilling and/or unable to budge, then you really had no choice.

Good luck to you and your child. Let us know how things are going....ooh and thank you for putting up with my ranting. When it comes to school, especially now that I have to pay WAY TOO MUCH for mine, I am adiment in my ideals. Even if you dissagree with me, please let me know how you guys are doing. I'm a good ear.

[Aubrae]

Hi, Roo - I just read your message. I am a public high school design instructor. I also design online curriculum for students. I teach a general population of students (much of the curriculum is computer-heavy) - some of the students do have various illnesses and disabilities.

I do not know if you reside in the US, Canada, or elsewhere - but I work in the US and I can tell you that students with epilepsy are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Does your child have an IEP or indvidualized educational program? Even if your child is being home-schooled, you have the right to have your child assessed and working with a special education professional/educational psychologist. Do not accept what the school is saying - if your child is having difficulties with computer testing, an alternative adaptation should be given and be accepted - such as them allowing your student to take a written test or have the questions read. Understand, however, that you will get much farther in requesting these adaptations if you have these written into the IEP (this may necessitate you having some documentation from medical/other professionals to prove that your child requires these).

The earlier reply was also correct - lighting and screen regeneration could possibly be a key. I once had a student with ADHD who needed to wear specially tinted glasses when around fluorescent lighting. I have had students with depth-perception problems/dyslexia who simply cannot read large bodies of text on the computer - but can on a piece of paper. I also currently have students with no known visual/disability problems who simply do much better taking traditional hand-written tests.

The point is - even though it may take more time to grade a written test by hand - if it means the difference between a student being successful or not - then the school/teacher should be willing to do it - particularly when you do have a student with a disease that is very connected to visual/light stimuli.

Check out this website about Job Accom. and look under the part about "Employees With Photosensitivity". http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/epilepsy.html

You sound like a very caring parent. Continue to be an advocate for your child. Do some internet searches - get all the supportive evidence you can, including getting special needs educators involved. Hope this helps!

[Tootsie]

roo, your post is dated last November but I just happened to be cruising through the index here at BT tonight, and saw it.

You are correct in removing your child from the computerized math program. I do not know, the exact mechanism, that causes some people to have such difficulty with screens, flourescent lights, shadings, etc. However, many years ago, I heard of a situation described, that involved, an unusual number of one car accidents, on a particular stretch of road. This road was shaded by precisely placed, large, shady trees. When driving at a particular speed,the light pattern produced some kind of seizure is susceptible people.
It seems to me that this was in France, but I can't remember, for sure.

My daughter could not study in the library at college because of the lighting. That pulsing flourescent light gave her a headache in 10 minutes. I'm sure there are others who have similar problems. I have seen in discussed on BT, but not recently. Cheerio.

[Daisy]

E-mail is not always the best means to communicate with teachers and school administrators. It is always possible that they don't get the chance to read it and frankly you have no means of insuring that they do.

Go in person and request a meeting with the principal through his/her secretary at the front desk of the school. Call the superintendent's office, speak with his secretary and request to speak with him/her or if not available request a meeting. It is much harder to ignore someone in person than it is to ignore an e-mail.

One of the current annoying trends in education is the one miraculous program solves all problems and we know it isn't true. Some kids do well with computer aided educational programs and some kids still do much better with alternate learning styles. It is one of the reasons we educate teachers on multiple learning styles, because we want them to know they need to reach children through different teaching methods. We teach them that, then we give them a program and tell them to fit all the children into it ignoring all the research that tells us otherwise.

So while it is challenging make sure you do follow up and get the answers you need.