Diagnoses Specific Resources

For any diagnoses not found on this page, reference this link to the OTF: Diagnosed Medical/Psychological Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Effective Educational Practices for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder is a resource put out by the government of Ontario to guide teaching practices when supporting students with autism

The OTF website has a variety of guides for how to support students with ASD, with recommendations for instructional, environmental and assessment accommodations. 

This Ted talk is presented by a woman with Autism that helps to understand the experiences of people with Autsim

The website Autism 101 has recent and relevant resources to help better understand ASD. they have resources related to understanding autism in girls, how theory of mind applies to autism, traits and characteristics of autism, etc..

Do2learn has a variety of printable visual resources to support students with ASD

Paula Kluth's site Inclusion Rules is host to a variety of ASD-related resources including those that focus on differentiating instruction , inclusion and literacy.

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)

The OTF website has a variety of guides for how to support students with ADHD, with recommendations for instructional, environmental and assessment accommodations. 

Help.org: Classroom Accommodations 

Classroom accommodations

Seating:

• try to choose and create quiet, distraction-free spaces in the classroom for students to work in

• seat students away from doors or windows where passers-by may create a distraction

• for some students being sat nearer to the teacher or in the front of the classroom can help reduce distraction/keep sustained engagement

Information delivery:

• give instructions in steps and repeat as needed

• use audios, visuals such as charts, videos, bright colours, etc. to help foster engagement

• create outliine to help students follow along with the information being taught

Students work:

• chunk projects, worksheets, questions, quizzes, etc. to allow for breaks and for students to rest their focus

• allow for choice/flexibility to accommodate for students unique work/learning styles

• Accept late work and mark partially completed work for students to receive partial credit

Organization:

• Keep all work in one space: create a master binder divided by subject

• colour code materials

• Provide a three-pocket notebook insert for homework/assignments, completed homework, and items being sent between school and home

• work with students to develop a functional system for keeping track of assignments and important dates

• Allow time for the student to organize materials and assignments

Teaching techniques

Starting a lesson

• Signal the start of a lesson with an aural cue

• List the activities of the lesson on the board

• give an overview of the lesson before you start teaching

Conducting the lesson

• give simple and structured instructions 

• vary your pacing and include a variety of interactive learning activities 

• allow and build in breaks through instructional time

• provide/allow for the use of fidget toys (infinity cubes, stress balls, pop-its, fidget cubes etc.)

Ending the lesson

• Summarize key points

• give repeated  and varied reminders about assignments (say it, post it in the classroom, have students repeat the information, etc)

• be specific about what goes home and what stays at school

The Sick Kids website has some basic information to help better understand ADHD

This Ted talk is presented by a woman with ADHD that helps to understand the experiences of people with ADHD

This Ted talk is presented by a woman with ADHD that Strategies to Support Students with ADHD

Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD)

The OTF website has a variety of guides for how to support students with ODD, with recommendations for instructional, environmental and assessment accommodations. 

The We Are Teachers website helps provide a better understanding of students with ODD and how to support them

The Mayo Clinic website provides an outline of symptoms and diagnosis as well as suggestions for how to support children with ODD

the Kids health website helps provide insight for understanding and how to support students with ODD. 

The Teacher Certification website provides insight into how ODD is diagnosed, how symptoms manifest and supports + interventions for students with ODD both inside and outside of the classroom

Learnalberta provides a variety of perspectives on how to support students with ODD

Learning Disabilities/Disorders (LD)

The OTF website has a variety of guides for how to support students with Learning Disabilities, with recommendations for instructional, environmental and assessment accommodations. 

the Smart Kids website provides a list of accommodations and modifications to help support students with a learning disability

PBS Misunderstood Minds provides a variety of insights into the different impacts Learning disabilities have on students as well as provides some resources to support students

Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario (LDAO) provides a variety of parent and educator resources for both English and French Immersion students to help understand and support students with LD's

LD Online provides articles, instructional strategies and additional resources for supporting students with LD's

Snow Inclusive Learning and Education provides resources for using technology to support students

Sickkids offers insight into signs, symptoms, diagnosis, supports and resources for students with LD's

this Understood article Classroom Accommodations for dyslexia provides insight into the needs of students with dyslexia and different ways to accommodate these students

Anxiety

The OTF website has a variety of guides for how to support students with anxiety, with recommendations for instructional, environmental and assessment accommodations. 

Worry Wise Kids offers a list of accommodations for students with anxiety as well as other insights and resources to better understand and support students with anxiety

We Are Teachers provides a list of 26 ways to support students with anxiety categorized by types of supports 

Kids Health provides a list of different types of anxiety disorders and what teachers can do to support students with anxiety in the classroom

this Understood article Classroom Accommodations for Anxiety provides insight into the needs of students with anxiety and different ways to accommodate these students

Selective Mutism

This Animated Teacher Fade-In video explains the Fade-in technique

Brave Voices explains what the fade in technique is and provides insights into the advantages and disadvantages of using the fade-in technique for students with selective mutism

The Selective Mutism Association provides a case study example of the Fade-in technique

Visually Impaired

The OTF website has a variety of guides for how to support students who are visually impared, with recommendations for instructional, environmental and assessment accommodations. 

Snow Inclusive Learning and Education provides resources for using technology to support students

CNID has information and resources on how to create an inclusive classroom for students who are blind or have low vision as well as to understand the ableism these students often face and how to prevent this ableism

Sick Kids has resources connected to an eye clinic with a site to help connect families to eye specialists as well as a list of eye conditions and disorders to better understand students

We Are Teachers provides a list of tips for how to support students who are blind or have low vision

Kids Health provides insight into what teachers should know and what they can do to support students who are blind or have low vision

Deaf

The OTF website has a variety of guides for how to support students who are Deaf, with recommendations for instructional, environmental and assessment accommodations. 

Snow Inclusive Learning and Education provides resources for using technology to support students

Brighthub Education provides information about classroom and assessment adaptations, communication considerations, and visual strategies to help support students who are deaf or hearing impaired 

the Deaf Culture Centre provides information and additional resources for supporting deaf or hearing impaired students