WHY won't he stay in his seat? WHY does she flap her hands? And WHAT should I do? As inclusion becomes the norm in general education, teachers are faced with behaviors they have never seen before. Special needs educators may recognize the telltale symptom of a sensory need or a textbook case of an avoidance behavior, but this is all new territory for the General-Ed crowd! Written by Director of Special Education Peter Gennaro, occupational therapist Beth Aune, and special needs mom and advocate Beth Burt, this book illuminates possible causes of those mysterious behaviors, and more importantly, provides solutions! Teachers can quickly look up an in-the-moment solution and learn about what the child is communicating, and why. The authors collaboratively address problem behaviors such as: out-of-seat behaviors, fidgeting, hand-flapping, covering ears, hiding or running away when upset, putting head down or "shutting down", difficulty with class work and homework, losing materials and missing assignments, poor handwriting, not following directions, saying rude or inappropriate things, clothing issues, difficulty making decisions, excessive talking, laughing excessively or being silly, little or no eye contact, temper outbursts, and many others! Teachers, it is possible to accommodate learning differences and sustain a positive learning environment for ALL students. This book is a must-have for every inclusive classroom!
Beth Aune, OTR/L, currently has a private practice as a pediatric occupational therapist in the Coachella Valley area. She and her dedicated staff provide intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder, developmental disabilities, and other diagnoses in a variety of environments: early intervention in the home, for general and special education students in the school setting, and in the clinical setting. Beth has developed and presented numerous workshops and trainings for parents and educators that focus on the care and treatment of children with disabilities. She lives in Palm Desert with her three children.
Beth Burt currently resides in Southern California with her husband, their two sons, two cats and a dog. Because of her experience with her own children, one with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the other with a learning disability, she became an advocate. She has over 13 years of experience collaborating and advocating on the behalf of students with ASD and other disorders. She has been actively involved in numerous task forces and committees related to children, disabilities and education. She has presented numerous times in Southern California to colleges, conferences, parent groups and businesses. She is currently President of the Inland Empire Autism Society and is a board member of the Autism Society California and Visions R Us, a nonprofit organization that assists young adults with special needs in making the transition from high school to desired employment.
Peter Gennaro is currently the Director of Special Education for the Alvord Unified School District in Southern California. He has served as Special Education Coordinator and as Program/Inclusion Specialist prior this. As a teacher, he taught classes for students with emotional disturbance and has taught direct service special education classes consisting of students with varying disabilities. In his current position he continues to work closely with teachers, service providers, and families to develop and implement successful student programs.
