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Kids With Special Needs

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Children with Challenging Behaviors

Over thirty years ago, Mary M. Wood, Ed.D. established Developmental Therapy - Developmental Teaching for educators and parents of children with emotional and behavioral disabilities, autism, Asperger's Syndrome, or other sensory-integrative disabilities (pre-K to high school). Her method has become a foundation for thousands of concerned families, educators, and mental health professionals -- nationally and internationally. These special education strategies have improved the quality of life for so many -- child by child.

updated 8/18/11

Use Adult Roles With Positive Strategies

Shy Leon, 3, clings to his bear and will not speak. Clint, 9, is hyperactive and disruptive in school. Allesa, 16, whines and manipulates. What is a teacher or parent to do?

One facet of Developmental Therapy-Teaching is the use of defined adult roles to promote participation and success.

The adult roles for Cheerleader, Coach, and Referee include 12 strategies to use when guiding children in positive ways. These focus on strengths, encourage participation, and ultimately decrease problem behaviors.

Adult Role - Cheerleader

The adult role of Cheerleader is used to anticipate and avoid problems.

Strategies include:
Encourage and praise
Motivate with materials and activities
Organize materials
Describe procedures
Model expected actions

Adult Role - Coach

The adult role of Coach is used to Keep Problems from Getting Worse.

Strategies include:
Move closer to the child
Redirect to activity
Reflect positive words of action
Remind child of the rules

Adult Role - Referee

The adult role of Referee is used to Control Highly Disruptive Behavior.

Strategies include:
Time out in the room
Hold firmly
Remove from the room

Developmental Therapy Institute

Developmental Therapy Institute
This site includes links to all of Dr. Wood's programs.
NEW - 50 DEVELOPMENTALLY BASED EARLY CHILDHOOD LESSON PLANS!
DEVELOPMENTAL TEACHING FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Add Developmental Teaching to your classroom strategies for students with social, emotional and...

Teachers' Professional Development Online

University of Georgia

Teaching Responsible Behavior

Wood, Quirk, and Swindle

You can order this practical guide from
pro-ed
or call
1-800-897-3202 and ask for
Teaching Responsible Behavior
IBSN 978-1416401346

Dr. Wood's Basic Approach

Dr. Wood's basic approach comes from her beliefs about helping others reach their potential:

Focus on strengths to foster self-esteem and responsible behavior.

Set goals that bring comfort and personally satisfying results.

Follow natural developmental paths that are sequential and predictable, while uniquely individual.

Make experiences relevant with emotional and cultural meaning.

Dr. Wood says:

"If you resonate with these beliefs, you are thinking developmentally. Put them into practice and you will see astounding changes in children."

Developmental Therapy - Developmental Teaching in Europe

ETEP Europe

Technical assistance for implementing this approach, advanced training, curriculum materials, and research reports are available in German and English.

(Entwicklungstherapie/Entwicklungspadagogik)

Website: http://www.etep.org or click ETEP above.

Contact: ETEP Europe, Dr. Marita Bergsson, Krahestr. 13 A, D-40233, Dusseldorf, Germany.
Email: info@etep.org

Special Education Websites

Developmental Therapy - Teaching Programs
University of Georgia
Register for Our Online Courses Now! Our new contact information is:
Phone - 706.542.4938
Fax - 706.542.4843
P.O. Box 5153
Athens, GA 30604
Developmental Teaching Objectives Rating Form
DTORF is an online functional behavior assessment (FBA) system for evaluating the social, emotional, behavioral and cognitive competence of students; it helps in planning classroom instruction by instantly creating Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs)
PEGS for Teachers
PEGS is a scientifically-based professional development program.
Interactive simulations help teachers across all subject areas gain the skills needed to help ALL students actively
PEGS for Teachers
Click on this link to watch a PEGS Preview Video -- Practice Effective Guidance Strategies
STEPS Professional Development USA - The Parenting Game
The Parenting Game program gives parents practice with 12 proven strategies for managing difficult and disruptive behavior in children. It also encourages parents to recognize and encourage children who are behaving in acceptable ways. The goal is to learn parenting strategies that will enable you t

Meet Mary M. Wood, Ed. D.

Founder of Developmental Therapy Teaching Programs

Dr. Wood, with a national and international reputation and recipient of numerous awards, currently serves as volunteer director of this program, affiliated with the University of Georgia. Her textbooks, interactive CD's, developmental assessment tools and other materials provide resources for all who work with special needs kids.

Thank you, Dr. Wood, for all that you have done and continue to do for our precious children.

Behave, Speak, Feel, Relate, Think

Comment from Dr. Wood

The value of exemplary education for children with special needs receives a major boost through the Lens of Joan Adams and Betty DeLorme. Congratulations on a well-documented piece about the developmental approach. I am impressed with the extensive research they have done to identify the resources available through Developmental Therapy-Developmental Teaching. For all of us, life is a series of developmental phases and stages. Good mental health and a well-adjusted life style demand that we make deliberate changes as we live and learn throughout our lives. This could never be more important than for those among us who have special needs. But then, doesn't everyone have special needs? Let's continue to look through the lens of development for solutions to life, day by day!

Mary M. Wood

Director, Developmental Therapy Institute
Professor Emeritus of Special Education
University of Georgia

Submit Site Reviews for this site to Isle of Squid, too:
The Isle of Squid

Thank you for visiting Peg's kids!

I hope this information has been helpful to you.

My sister, Betty DeLorme, will be answering your questions via the comment box. I am so happy that she has agreed to do this for us!

submit
  • Reply
    jamesjonesy Feb 14, 2012 @ 9:17 am | delete
    really well done :) a worthy cause
  • Reply
    Hugh Aug 23, 2011 @ 7:22 am | delete
    In terms of special needs eduaction - there's a great website called "Spellzone" which offers an online spelling course, ideal for dyslexics and those who struggle with spelling in general!
    Here's the link: http://www.spellzone.com/
  • Reply
    clouda9 Nov 12, 2010 @ 5:46 am | delete
    I had not heard of Dr. Wood or her Developmental Therapy Teaching until now. Thanks for sharing this information for all of us to learn from.
  • Reply
    crosscreations Oct 21, 2010 @ 12:07 pm | delete
    Excellent topic and perspective! Special needs kids are very special kids who happen to have different learning needs. I've worked with them and found them to be very loving and appreciative compared to our 'normal' student population. Above and beyond!
  • Reply
    OhMe Oct 21, 2010 @ 8:25 am | delete
    Children with special needs only want what we all want - to be accepted. It is Special Education week, and this is in honor of all children who learn a little differently.
  • Reply
    mukunda22 Sep 14, 2010 @ 6:54 pm | delete
    Back for a visit my friend! Children with special needs need all of our Love--and then some!!
  • Reply
    aj2008 Nov 24, 2009 @ 9:34 am | delete
    The Childrens and Parenting Group that this lens belonged to has survived all the recent changes on Squidoo and is now a Lensography. This lens is now featured at Children and Parenting HQ.

    And of course this visit gives me the chance to Bless this excellent lens.
  • Reply
    ldoone88 Nov 15, 2009 @ 5:40 am | delete
    Nice lens, good info. Thanks :0)
  • Reply
    OhMe Sep 7, 2009 @ 4:23 am | delete
    Just dropping by to let you know that this lens is featured on my PEEPS preschool lens. Thank you.
  • Reply
    Teddi14 May 25, 2009 @ 10:56 am | delete
    Thanks for tweeting this. I am going to lensroll it to my lens about Special Education Great job!!! Absolutely 5*'s.
  • Reply
    May 25, 2009 @ 9:42 am | delete
    My younger brother has Downs Syndrome - thank you so much for making this lens :)
  • Reply
    Heather426 Apr 22, 2009 @ 12:37 am | delete
    Joan,
    As a sister of a special needs child, and the mother of another, I really appreciate this lens.5*
  • Reply
    a_willow Apr 12, 2009 @ 12:31 am | delete
    My husband, as a teacher, will love this page! And me too! Blessings my dear Joan for your efforts to help both parents and teachers!
  • Reply
    GypsyOwl Apr 4, 2009 @ 5:41 am | delete
    Remarkable!
  • Reply
    Wysiwigs Apr 1, 2009 @ 4:24 am | delete
    Great lens and some wonderful tips for those involved with special needs :o) 5*
    Http://www.Squidoo.com/ConnieCrankpot
  • Reply
    Nourishing_hope Mar 18, 2009 @ 2:43 am | delete
    Great lens! You've put together a lot of helpful information here. I'd love for you to visit my lens and say hello when you have the chance.
  • Reply
    joshsmom Mar 11, 2009 @ 7:08 am | delete
    Good, informative lens for a parent of a pecial needs child.

    Thank you
  • Reply
    marsha32 Mar 7, 2009 @ 8:52 am | delete
    I really do like the information that you have put together here
  • Reply
    Karina Trautvetter Feb 27, 2009 @ 5:10 am | delete
    Ich bin ETEP- Trainerin in Berlin in Deutschland. Nicht nur das ich dieses Programm mit %uFFFDberzeugung vermittle, sondern meine t%uFFFDgliche Arbeit damit st%uFFFDrkt mich immer wieder darin, dass es f%uFFFDr viele unserer schwierigen Kids genau das Richtige ist. Nicht nur der Umgang mit den Sch%uFFFDlern, sondern auch meine eigene Einstellung und nat%uFFFDrlich auch der Umgang mit Kollegen hat sich mit ETEP ver%uFFFDndert und erleichtert mir einige der t%uFFFDglichen Situationen.
  • Reply
    Betty Feb 26, 2009 @ 6:14 pm | delete
    We are so appreciative of your many special comments! Touching the lives of our special children is so meaningful and so very important for their years to come. Thank you, thank you! b.
  • Reply
    sittonbull Feb 23, 2009 @ 10:46 pm | delete
    This is such an important subject and a great lens to explain it. We need a more collaborative and focused effort to support special needs children in all areas of our society!
  • Reply
    Krimhild aus Hamburg Feb 19, 2009 @ 5:02 am | delete
    ETEP ist in der Hamburger Schullandschaft inzwischen sehr bekannt . Es hat vielen Kolleginnen und Kollegen zum einen ein solides Handwerkszeug fuer die taegliche Arbeit gegeben, zum anderen frische Tatkraft und eine positive Einstellung zur eigenen Arbeitssituation erwirkt.
    Dank an Mary Wood und Marita Bergsson!
  • Reply
    monarch13 Feb 12, 2009 @ 12:39 am | delete
    Awesome as always. Rolled to "Parents Guide to Raising Healthy kids".
  • Reply
    Susanne TUNN Feb 8, 2009 @ 4:26 am | delete
    Ich arbeite nun schon seit gut 4 Jahren mit ETEP an der Bernhard-Rose-Schule in Berlin. Dieses Konzept erleichterte mir die erzieherische Arbeit an unserem Förderzentrum. Wir habe doch recht schwierige Schüler, die viel Aufmerksamkeit verlangen. Jeden Tag den Blick auf die Stärken dieser Kinder zu richten ist nicht immer einfach, aber diese positive Arbeitseinstellung erleichtert mir und den Kindern die Zusammenarbeit. Mit ETEP habe ich schon viele Erfolge gesichert. Ebenfalls bin ich Regionaltrainerin für Berlin.
  • Reply
    Susanne Feb 8, 2009 @ 4:26 am | delete
    Ich arbeite nun schon seit gut 4 Jahren mit ETEP an der Bernhard-Rose-Schule in Berlin. Dieses Konzept erleichterte mir die erzieherische Arbeit an unserem Förderzentrum. Wir habe doch recht schwierige Schüler, die viel Aufmerksamkeit verlangen. Jeden Tag den Blick auf die Stärken dieser Kinder zu richten ist nicht immer einfach, aber diese positive Arbeitseinstellung erleichtert mir und den Kindern die Zusammenarbeit. Mit ETEP habe ich schon viele Erfolge gesichert. Ebenfalls bin ich Regionaltrainerin für Berlin.
  • Reply
    spirituality Jan 30, 2009 @ 2:14 pm | delete
    Great way to introduce the topic. I used to teach in a school for special education - all the kids had special needs.

    I think you will like these lenses:
    Books about Autism
    Sensory Processing (aka Sensory Integration) explained: with tips on how to help your child.
    Information about sensory processing and tips for parents.
  • Reply
    PosterChildSmile Jan 29, 2009 @ 12:54 am | delete
    I have a grand daughter with speech needs, so I can back to read some more about your knowledge in this area. - Thank you so much Joan!
  • Reply
    sittonbull Jan 27, 2009 @ 10:13 am | delete
    Trying another comment here to test the system. Hope it comes thru BR, cause this is a great lens and you do great work! Wish I could give it another 5*****
  • Reply
    Sabine Jan 27, 2009 @ 1:53 am | delete
    Seit ich 1995 die ersten Informationen zu ETEP erhalten habe, beschäftigt mich die erfolgreiche Etablierung dieses Konzepts innerhalb von Schule. Als besonders wirkungsvoll empfinde ich die Veränderung, die ich als Pädagogin im Prozess der Umsetzung erlebt habe.
  • Reply
    sittonbull Jan 23, 2009 @ 12:43 pm | delete
    Joan and Betty... what a pro-active idea for a lens! I am sending this to a business associate with an autistic child, and several friends who work with or have special need children. I have been blessed to know a few whose needs (not the least of which was the understanding love of family, friends and teachers) were well diagnosed and well met. They were given and have accepted the opportunity to integrate into and become remarkable personality s and productive members of society. That's a wonderful thing and my hat is off to all those who work in any capacity to meet this worthy challenge. Faved and5*
  • Reply
    andyajsb Jan 23, 2009 @ 1:07 am | delete
    Great lens with really good information, thanks.
  • Reply
    Himu Jan 22, 2009 @ 9:33 am | delete
    Das Konzept hat mich überzeugt. Ich halte die ressourcenorientierte Sichtweise für sehr hilfreich und notwendig. Ich würde mir wünschen, dass auch Tagesschausprecher und Politiker von ETEP "infiziert" würden.
  • Reply
    Mélanie Vieillot Jan 21, 2009 @ 1:40 pm | delete
    I'm a teacher in Germany and work with this conception. I really love to work like this because it's right (positive attitude towards kids and their behavior) and it's helping! Even in personal life!!! Special thanks to Marita Bergsson who brought this programm to germany!
  • Reply
    Jo Wis Jan 21, 2009 @ 8:47 am | delete
    I´ve been in Developmental Therapy and Teaching for 12 years in Germany (Europe). It's the best program for supporting children with problem behavior I have ever seen.
  • Reply
    Ursula Jack Jan 20, 2009 @ 1:52 pm | delete
    Nach 25 Jahren Arbeit als Lehrerin habe ich Entwicklungspädagogik kennen gelernt. Es ist das Beste, was mir passieren konnte - für die Arbeit mit den Kindern, für meine Tätigkeit in der Lehrerfortbildung und für meine persönliche Entwicklung. Danke an Mary Wood und danke an Marita Bergsson, die das Programm nach Deutschland gebracht hat.
  • Reply
    Ursula Jack Jan 20, 2009 @ 1:52 pm | delete
    Nach 25 Jahren Arbeit als Lehrerin habe ich Entwicklungspädagogik kennen gelernt. Es ist das Beste, was mir passieren konnte - für die Arbeit mit den Kindern, für meine Tätigkeit in der Lehrerfortbildung und für meine persönliche Entwicklung. Danke an Mary Wood und danke an Marita Bergsson, die das Programm nach Deutschland gebracht hat.
  • Reply
    anton Jan 20, 2009 @ 10:57 am | delete
    Hallo,
    wir arbeiten in der Comenius-Schule in Bad Orb in Deutschland schon seit Jahren mit ETEP und dies sehr erfolgreich.

    Beste Grüße
    anton
  • Reply
    Rike Jan 20, 2009 @ 9:50 am | delete
    I`m glad to know this program since 1992! It`s very helpful every school day.
  • Reply
    Trainerin aus Marburg BRD Jan 20, 2009 @ 6:24 am | delete
    Ich bin Trainerin f%uFFFDP und freue mich, in Fortbildungen den Kollegen und Eltern ein wirksames F%uFFFDrkonzept vorzustellen, das endlich F%uFFFDgkeiten ins Zentrum r%uFFFDAgieren statt reagieren! Gr%uFFFDs Deutschland.
  • Reply
    Marita Beate Jan 20, 2009 @ 4:41 am | delete
    I´ve been in Developmental Therapy and Teaching für about 20 years - the best program for supporting children with problem behavior. We work a lot with this approach in Germany.
  • Reply
    PosterChildSmile Jan 19, 2009 @ 1:36 pm | delete
    How special! This is getting a lensroll!
  • Reply
    ElizabethJeanAllen Jan 4, 2009 @ 7:38 pm | delete
    Great information! I see so many kids in school with special needs. Some are identified and some are not. Every child needs a helping hand now and then.
    Great lens
    Lizzy
  • Reply
    Susan52 Dec 29, 2008 @ 9:43 am | delete
    I always wonder the cause for the growing number of children with mental illnesses and neurological problems. I'm very happy to see caring people with positive treatments for these disorders. Congratulations on tackling a subject that affects so many.
  • Reply
    Connie Rasbury Dec 23, 2008 @ 4:15 pm | delete
    This will be so helpful to so many many families. Thank you for sharing.
  • Reply
    mukunda22 Dec 23, 2008 @ 12:47 pm | delete
    Claus Jensen's music would be perfect if played for the programs for autistic children!! Just thought about it today!!
  • Reply
    MommaKnows Dec 23, 2008 @ 1:40 am | delete
    Very interesting information! I need to look into the materials more. The adult roles are great... things that make sense but I've never thought about the roles separately before. I have a son who has delays, sensory integration issues, and more. I need all the help I can get.
  • Reply
    mary wood Dec 21, 2008 @ 7:50 pm | in reply to Viktorson | delete
    Your question about fundraising... no. The important effort is to let concerned individuals know that the material is there and really produces positive changes in children.
  • Reply
    Kathy Dec 20, 2008 @ 9:53 am | delete
    This is a great lens! Thank you Mom and Aunt Betty for all your hard work! I love yall!
  • Reply
    Viktorson Dec 19, 2008 @ 4:25 pm | delete
    Very interesting Lens! Does this program benefit from any of the fundraising on Squidoo?

    Thanks
  • Reply
    heehaw Dec 18, 2008 @ 8:09 pm | delete
    the part i like most is "Use Adult Roles With Positive Strategies" , what about you?
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Joan4

My sister, Betty DeLorme, has worked with Dr. Wood and Developmental Therapy for over twenty years as editor. Dr. Wood is a dear friend to our family... more »

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