Anthony Claro, Ph. D.

Recent estimates suggest that 5-11% of children aged 4-17 years present with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Beyond medication, numerous psychosocial interventions (e.g., behaviour management programs, organizational skill development, and executive functioning strategies) and Individualized Education Plan (IEP) strategies provided at school (e.g., movement breaks, visuals, differential seating, testing accommodations) have proven effective for children with ADHD.

The need to move in the classroom: A child's perspective https://youtu.be/lTMLzXzgB_s

Check out Chef on Call! Not only will they deliver some great comfort food, but they also support adolescents with special needs from Summit School! https://drive.google.com//1jxH87KK82NL8pvMrwH2bDBY3Ut/view

Lottery tickets as stocking stuffers? Not so fast. Adolescents may engage in risky behaviours (e.g., gambling) as an attempt to manage negative affect and stress during a difficult developmental period, yet using such a maladaptive coping strategy comes at a cost (e.g., increase in morbidity and mortality). A helpful resource for individuals struggling with a gambling addiction: http://www.youthgambling.com/... http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=1021236

An interesting blog post (from a few years ago) describing the struggle that parents of special needs children often face when deliberating between imposing what they believe is best for their child, versus allowing them to explore their own interests. http://www.myjewishlearning.com///04/the-truth-about-pink/

Learning disabilities (i.e., Specific Learning Disorder with impairment in reading, written expression, and mathematics) are characterized by persistent difficulties learning keystone academic skills, with onset during the formal years of schooling. Specific learning disorder occurs in 5-15% of school-age children and requires a comprehensive assessment for diagnosis. Intensive and individualized evidence-based intervention plans are recommended.

Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries (Concussions) are head injuries that involve a temporary loss of brain function. Common causes include sports injuries, bicycle/car accidents, and falls. A variety of physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms can persist for hours, days, or even weeks. The culture of contact sports often praises toughness, which may exist to the detriment of athletes mental health and overall well-being: "It's just a natural reaction for you to fib a little... bit and not give all the doctors all the information because you want to go out there and play. You don't want them to come back and tell you you're not able to play... People love the NFL. They want to see somebody get the snot knocked out of them. - James Farrior, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive player Should your child experience a head injury, take them to a doctor or hospital immediately if they present with any one of the following: unusual or confused behaviour severe/persistent headache not relieved by Tylenol frequent vomiting bleeding or discharge from the ear or nose a fit or convulsion; or spasm of the face, arms or legs difficulty in waking up difficulty in staying awake or if you are worried for any reason http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/head-injury.html https://www.aans.org//Neurosurg/Sports-related-Head-Injury

Not all books. Russell A Barkley, PhD has some great resources for parents: http://www.russellbarkley.org/books.html

"One in four Canadians will have at least one anxiety disorder in their lifetime," said AnxietyBC Executive Director, Judith Law. "What's more, children are at an increased risk of developing mental illness, as almost 70% of mental health problems begin in childhood. [...] With 1.2 million youth in Canada under the age of 19 living with some form of mental illness, it's important that we provide free, practical, and trusted resources to support children's mental health in Can...ada." Here are some helpful resources for parents: http://www.gozen.com/thankyousixtools/ https://www.anxietybc.com/parenting/creating-a-map

Almost a million Canadians live with an intellectual disability. There's #nogoodway to use the R-word. http://www.nhlpa.com/n/rielly-no-good-way-to-use-the-r-word As noted on the Special Olympics Canada website, Respectful and inclusive language is essential to the Special Olympics movement for the dignity and humanity of people with intellectual disabilities. However, much of society does not recognize the hurtful, dehumanizing and exclusive effects of the R-word."

ADHD: From homeopathic remedies to stimulants and antipsychotic medications, are there other options? Mounting evidence suggests that children with ADHD benefit from behavior therapy! In behavior therapy, therapists help parents build skills in guiding their childs behavior. Skills may include, but are not limited to positive communication, positive reinforcement, structure and discipline. https://www.cdc.gov//releases/2016/p0503-children-adhd.html... http://montrealgazette.com//the-right-chemistry-why-would- http://www.montrealgazette.com//many+y/12729278/story.html

Individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder often present with significant social challenges. Elizabeth Laugeson PHD and her team at the UCLA PEERS Clinic have developed a social skills training intervention (https://www.semel.ucla.edu/peers) that has shown some promising results. The program is offered to different age groups in PEERS Montreal! http://www.cbc.ca//dating-advice-for-adults-with-autism-1.

[email protected] (514) 805-1503 https://ca.linkedin.com/in/dranthonyclaro