Software, games or books that promote nonverbal learning? (special ed)?

Question

Maybe some of you special ed majors would know about this. Are there software, games or books specifically designed to stimulate nonverbal learning in someone who has a nonverbal learning disorder? Specifically, an adult who has probablem in visual discrimination and executive functioning. Thanks.

Answer 1

You might want to look into the Brain Fitness program. It's not designed specifically for adults with disabilities, but the exercises may work on areas in which you would like to see progress. Check the links below:

Answer 2

It appears that this student is an adult with multiple severe disabilities diagnosed.

It is interesting that you identified the primary area of need as "nonverbal learning." The term nonverbal clearly indicates a communicative disorder. Such disorders respond to techniques used by Language and Speech Specialists, even adults with severe disabilities in adult transition programs (which I have worked with for years). Consult with your district LSS for a collaborative approach on general communication development, and specifically on productive communication. This may involve total communication methods (sign language, facial expressions, body language), writing, typing, picture systems, or voice-output devices. While this has some impact on all communication, nonverbal techniques specifically address productive communication.

Receptive communication is another issue. Executive functioning (or cognitive processing issues) may well impact the same part of the brain that deals with all modes of language, including reception and general processing. With a diagnosis of MR, for example, MR techniques can be utilized -- basically lots of simplified, direct instruction, and tons of repetition. Along with this topics and items of high personal interest and frequent reinforcement and praise is helpful. Many, many students with severe and multiple disabilities, benefit from total physical response methodologies. They tend to learn tacitly, motorically and spatially, more than visually or auditorialy. Multimodality learning is recommended.

The third term that you reference is visual discrimination issues. Visual discrimination tends to imply a diagnosis of a visual processing disorder of a severe degree, given visual correction through glasses, seat placement, and enlarged instructional visuals. Even with all these things in place, it seems that this may be another manifestation related to the neurological deficiencies in cognitive and verbal processing.

Putting all these things together, you may see amazing new growth in this student, especially if you also use ABC behavior modification as well. Good luck and thank goodness that there are teachers like you willing to take on students with needs like these.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_functions