Aloha Notes: My career as a School Psychologist in Hawaii

It's not my first time out of the country but last month I was lucky enough to visit Japan. I was so excited as it's always been on my bucket list but communication was difficult to say the least. "Speak English?"  I'd smile and ask the (taxi driver, clerk, hotel employee....) Sometimes they spoke some basic words but many times they just shrugged or just "No English."...to which I'd comment foolishly to myself something like:  "Oh. Never mind. No biggie. Thank you though. I'll figure it out. " ((sigh)) I talked to myself a lot in Japan. I was that crazy American tourist--walking into men's restrooms (yes. really), smiling to the air or pantomiming to small children, or buying sour cream when I thought it was yogurt. Oops.  When I was looking for laundry detergent, I stared at rows of identical looking soaps. I couldn't read the labels and I worried that I'd pick one with bleach in it or get the fabric s...

SELF STIMULATING BEHAVIORS AT SCHOOL.  Underwear Matters.  Trust me on this.  Over the past couple years, I have had numerous teachers shyly approach me for consultation, looking for strategies on for their students who are engaging in "self-stimulation" during class, at school, and even on field-trips. In one case, just finding the appropriate pair of underwear solved the problem. Basketball shorts and no underwear was not working out so well... but once discussed, it was a trail and error and a simple fix.  Many times, the teachers biggest concern is how to discuss the problem with the parent. Sometimes the behavior is suspected but not as obvious... But it is always better to have a conversation with the parent as soon as possible. To ignore the issue can be extremely problematic and can create habits that later will be difficult to break.  I think it is important to be mindful of parents cultures when bringing up the topic with them. Initially, it'...

HOW CAN PARENTS PREVENT BULLYING?  Some of the following information was gathered from  Growing Pono SchoolsProject 1. Know What Laws Are in Place to Protect Your Child   Act 214, passed by the 2011 Legislature, requires the Board of Education to keep track of how the Department of Education enforces its rules against bullying, cyberbullying and harassment. It does so by requiring at least annual reporting of what schools are doing to make their schools safe.   Chapter 19 is the set of rules that define bullying and other student misconduct and spells out what disciplinary measures will be taken, and how parents will be informed of student misconduct.  What if teachers or any school staff post a comment on their Facebook page about a student? They may have not said their name exactly but it is obvious that they are referring to my child...is this ok?    No!   They are protected by POLICY 4211, Hawaii State Law.  T...

What is the difference between a Section 504 plan and an IEP: Section 504 Plan: ( Chapter 61) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1974  is a FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS LAW   that protects students with disabilities from discrimination. In Hawaii, Chapter 61 (previously Chapter 53) is the Hawaii Administrative Rule that ensures the applicability of § 504 in the public schools and assures a  Free Appropriate Public Education  (FAPE) to eligible students with disabilities. To qualify for a 504 Plan, a student must have a disability that is affecting a major life function. Unlike an IEP, a "major life function" does not have to be educational impact. A student can be doing well academically, but need social skills assistance or organizational skills due to   ADHD. With either plan, a direct connection must be made from the disability to the impairment in school.  A 504 Plan is usually a good option when the student is able to function well in a regular...

What do Honolulu School District school psychologists do over summer when classrooms are mostly empty and  students are enjoying their time at the beach?   May 2013 The last week of school at any school is always chaotic and for Kaiser High School, it was no different--seniors were getting ready to graduate, teachers were busy preparing and grading exams, and counselors and administrators were frantically wrapping up the school year. In the middle of the end of the year madness, the counselors and I got word that we all had to pack and move our offices....  (((Ah! Really?!)))  You really don't realize how much stuff you have in an office until you have to pack it all up and move. It really wasn't so bad though considering i was moving one building over. By mid June, I had packed my office and unpacked my files into their new home. Being a 12-month employee, I don't get summers off like my fellow school psychologists in California (iusd). Summers a...

Section 504 Accommodation Plans: Every month, the diagnostic team (Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Speech and Language Pathologists, School Psychologists, Clinical Psychologists, Social Workers, and Communication aides) meets in their complex groups. Last week was the first time I met the Kalani Complex Diagnostic Team and I feel fortunate to be working with such a solid team. During our complex team meetings, everyone shares updates, questions, and concerns for the district/school/complex. During our meeting, someone noted, “My school doesn’t do 504 plans. The administrator won’t allow it. What should I do?” In discussing this with the team, there were similar concerns shared. Someone mentioned that this is a problem nationwide, as she had a similar problem with a school on the mainland. Within every district, there seems to be a handful of schools who “do not offer” 504 Accommodation Plans (AP) and had a higher percentage of students with an IEP (Individu...

School is out! Glorious!! For most families this means going on vacation, relaxing at the beach or the pool, and organizing play dates with the neighborhood kids....and mainly just entertaining your kids and making sure that they don't get into trouble. For families who have a child with Autism or Asperger's Syndrome, summer can be just as exciting---as long as families are prepared with a transition plan.  During the school year, students are provided with a predictable schedule, and their unique needs and behavior difficulties are supported with behavior plans, accommodations, and interventions through an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or a 504 Plan.  How can parents prepare for summer?  1)  ESY (Extended School Year):  Parents may consider ESY for their child if they have documented regression of academic or behavior skills when they are away from the school setting for long periods of time.  2) Social Stories!  Parents ...