Who's Gonna' Drive You Home Tonight?*

KOG'S JUNE FEATURE ARTICLE

*You have choices!!!

The nationwide debate continues regarding the new RtI vs. the old traditional discrepancy model.  I'm not certain of the reason(s) why, but I hardly ever hear the many other models being discussed and debated.  I keep bringing this topic up because I'm not certain that RtI or the traditional model is the best we can do to serve students.  Below, the KOG just reminds all that there remain other options... maybe even preferred options. 

If you're going to make a choice, why not make an informed choice?  Below are a few you maybe haven't yet seriously considered:
 
 

Model:	Response to Intervention (RtI)
Description:	Uses a "three-tiered" model of research-based interventions; seemingly mostly behaviorally based.
Pros:	It's an easy model for those new to the field of school psychology to learn:  basically the psychologist engages in research-based practices (such as George Bush's DIBELS Program) intended to help the student emit reading-like behaviors and then provides the student with research-based reinforcement ("Nice job!") when/if the student tries; Excel spreadsheets can produce nifty RtI graphs showing students progress or lack thereof.
Cons:	RtI still labels children; no real research indicating it works; takes the psychologist out of "school psychologist;"  the psychologist becomes a reading teacher; lack of effective "research-based" interventions in existence;  RtI seems to be a passing fad, just like so many others.

 

Model:	Traditional (IQ-Discrepancy) Model
Description:	Administer IQ and achievement tests.  If discrepancy exists, label child as LD and exclude/quarantine from peers.
Pros:	It's the way we've always done it!  Paperwork already exists.  When so many children are identified as possessing disabilities, a great amount of job security is provided for those in the field.
Cons:	This model really doesn't seem to work;  overidentification and misdiagnosis are relatively common.

 

Model:	Clinical Model (DSM)
Description:	Uses DSM-IV, meds, and clinical techniques to make the world a less unhappy place.
Pros:	Student can obtain a lifetime of therapy, enroll in anger management class, and get on some pretty heavy-duty meds.
Cons:	Uses DSM-IV, meds, and clinical techniques to make the world a less unhappy place; DSM isn't that, um, valid. So many medications (i.e., magic pills") have been prescribed that our drinking water now is now contaminated with pharmaceuticals.

 

Model:	Neuropsychological Model
Description:	Uses the Halstead-Reitan Test Battery to reveal, you know, previously unknown and invisible weaknesses.
Pros:	Neuropsychs get paid well.
Cons:	Uses the Halstead-Reitan Test Battery to reveal, you know, previously unknown and invisible weaknesses.

 

Model:	Real-Life Model (§504/ADA)
Description:	Federal program already in place to protect civil rights and provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities.
Pros:	ADA/§504 is already in existence; works well in the real world; if special education was eliminated and replaced with §504 (just like in the rest of America), the taxpayers could save millions or billions of dollars.
Cons:	Education is often a "make believe" environment; the make believe world of special education won't ever go away.

 

Model:	Positive Psychology Model
Description:	Will make the world a happier place; emphasizes optimism and happiness.
Pros:	Could help millions of Americans, young and old.
Cons:	Most haven't ever even heard of this; doesn't seem to fit with the present failure-based punishment model of education.

 

Model:	Rights Without Labels/Noncategorical (RWOL/DIN) Models
Description:	Provides services to students based on needs -- not on a label.
Pros:	Provides services to students based on needs -- not on a label.  Treats students with respect and dignity.
Cons:	Psychologists and modern educational systems apparently don't want to give up diagnosis and labels, whether they're valid or not.

 

Model:	Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Model
Description:	Administers behavioral techniques and interventions to students with intense/severe behavioral needs.
Pros:	M&M's work well with 1-8 students in a small exclusionary special education class for severely handicapped.
Cons:	Can't adequately address the needs of the other 99% of the students in the school.

 

Model:	Other Model(s)
Description:	Many more psychological service delivery models exist (consultants, program specialists, researchers, authors, phenomenologists, reciprocal-determinists, professional educators, crisis interventionists, workshop presenters, counselors, religious based, directors... even, um, a few Rogerians, etc.)
Pros:	There exist  many ways to help students.
Cons:	There is always potential risk to harm students when you call them bad names.

Many, when they read the new IDEA, thought (or hoped -- or told everyone) RtI was mandated. 

I know one school district that has proclaimed they do RtI, "because it's the law!"

RtI wasn't mandated... and RtI isn't the law... states were merely told the following:
 

IDEA Regulations
Procedures for identifying children with specific learning disabilities
From:  http://www.ldonline.org/article/11202?theme=print

A State must adopt, consistent with 34 CFR 300.309, criteria for determining whether a child has a specific learning disability as defined in 34 CFR 300.8(c)(10). In addition, the criteria adopted by the State:

• Must not require the use of a severe discrepancy between intellectual ability and achievement for determining whether a child has a specific learning disability, as defined in 34 CFR 300.8(c)(10);

[I'm not a lawyer, but here's what this means to me]:  You don't have to use the discrepancy model, but you can if you want.

• Must permit the use of a process based on the child's response to scientific, research based intervention; and

[I'm not a lawyer, but here's what this means to me]:  You can use RtI if you want, but you don't have to.

• May permit the use of other alternative research-based procedures for determining whether a child has a specific learning disability, as defined in 34 CFR 300.8(c)(10).

[I'm not a lawyer, but here's what this means to me]:  Other options -- and there are many -- can be utilized.

So, RtI isn't mandated.  The traditional model isn't mandated.  And in fact, alternatives are allowed.  I'm just pointing out that there are alternatives.  Maybe you might want to consider one or more of them?  It's almost as if you had real professional freedom... almost.

And no one ever mentions the differences between "research-based methods" and "the scientific method;" the two are very different.

KOG SPOTLIGHT on Positive Psychology... "Dr. Seligman's main mission has been the promotion of the field of Positive Psychology.  This discipline includes the study of positive emotion, positive character traits, and positive institutions.  Dr. Seligman is now turning his attention to training Positive Psychologists, individuals whose practice will make the world a happier place, parallel to the way clinical psychologists have made the world a less unhappy place." http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/Default.aspx

KASP ACTIVITY June Luncheon! KASP's End-of-the-Year Celebration Luncheon is on for June 4th, 2008.   Enjoy!

CASP Info... Signup now for the California Association of School Psychologist's Annual Summer Institute.  Click on the link below for all the information and to signup! For registration information: http://www.caspsurveys.org/NEW/current_event2.asp

Still More Revolutionary Thought (Continued from May)... Disability Is Natural http://www.disabilityisnatural.com The KOG is honored to be mentioned in Kathie Snow's May DIN Newsletter:  "Thought-provoking, funny, and wise are just some of the words to describe The KOG (www.kernschoolpsych.org/maykog23.htm) -- the brainchild of Don Asbridge and his cohorts.  Parents and teachers:  bookmark this site and check out all the previous editions while you're there." Thank you Kathie, and the feeling is mutual.  All KOG readers are once again encouraged to visit DIN.  You are encouraged to signup for the monthly DIN newsletter and you should also know Kathie is presenting at a location near you in the future, including the following: July 17-18 - Las Vegas, Nevada  July 17 - "Disability is Natural" - Two mtgs, both open to the public  1:00-4:00 pm & 6:00-9:00 pm July 18 - NV Partners in Policymaking Sponsored by NV Family TIES. Contact Nichole Schomberg at:  nicole@familytiesnv.org October 16 - Etiwanda, California  "Living Real Lives" Conference Sponsored by Inland Regional Center Contact Gina Kuruppu at:  rkuruppu@inlandrc.org To signup for the DIN E-Mail List and to review the full presentation schedule, follow this link:  http://www.disabilityisnatural.com/presentations.htm "Our words reflect the way we think, so let's get rid of descriptors like "handicapped, physically disabled, mentally retarded, learning disabled" and other words that focus on the condition instead of the person.  People First Language promotes dignity and respect for all!"  Kathie Snow, DIN

Hello All,      Just a brief reminder before summer break that there are three kinds of persons with disabilities:         1. Those with real disabilities;         2. Those who choose to be disabled or have learned to be helpless (as per Seligman); and         3. Those who have been, um, misdiagnosed.      Hope this helps.  Have a restful summer drive,           Miss Diagnosis

To become a KASP member...
...contact Traci Taber Rivas directly at:  rivast@gfusd.k12.ca.us

Dear KOG Editor,    Wow!  I didn't know I had so many choices regarding my service delivery and professional philosophies!  I was told I had to do RtI... that it was the law.                 Signed, "Starting To Think About Things" Dear STTAT,    Yes!  I encourage everyone to think about what they're doing!                Signed, KOG Editor Dear KOG Editor,    I've been a classroom teacher for the past ten years and I went back to school for one year and obtained my Masters to become a school psychologist so I could, you know, get a few extra bucks.  I'm an expert at teaching reading and  know how to teach reading and I'm going to teach reading through RtI... do you have a problem with that?                Signed, "School Teacher Psychologist" Dear STP,    I don't have a problem with that.  Someone has to teach the children to read.  If the expert reading teacher can't do it, then why not pay you the extra bucks to do it!  You can let someone else (i.e., the B.S. level mental health worker) worry about the psychological and mental health needs of the student, eh?                Signed, KOG Editor Dear KOG Editor,    When will the next KOG be published?                Signed, "Anxiously Awaiting" Dear AA,    Probably about September 1st, 2008.  Have a great summer drive.                Signed, KOG Editor Dear KOG Editor,    What is the future of the KOG?                Signed, "Wondering" Dear Wondering,    I am happy to answer that question, but I need to tell you that I charge one million dollars to predict the future.  Upon payment in full, I will be happy predict the future of the KOG.                Signed, KOG Editor

Dear KOG Editor,    Are you trying to tell me that I still have professional freedom?                Signed, "In my 50's" Dear In My 50's,    No.  I'm trying to tell you that you still have a little professional freedom left and you may wish to try to hold on to it while you still can.                Signed, KOG Editor Dear KOG Editor,    I'm in graduate school and my professor is telling me that I have to be a "behaviorist" to graduate, but I think people think.   I don't know what to do now.                Signed, "Need My Degree" Dear NMD,    As long as your professor isn't aware that you are thinking, you should be okay.                Signed, KOG Editor Dear KOG Editor,    I heard you had a pretty good month.  First, you were the Keynote Speaker for CSUB's Psi Chi Induction Ceremony and then you were recognized by Kathy Snow of the revolutionary Disability Is Natural website.                Signed, "HITTG" Dear HITTG,    Yeah, it was a great month.  Good things happen when your message is related to providing outstanding services for students, the future of our country.                Signed, KOG Editor Dear KOG Editor,    Are there really only two kinds of people... those who are mindful and those who are mindless?                Signed, "Have Been Studying This" Dear HBST,    Yep, pretty much.                Signed, KOG Editor NOTES & DISCLAIMERS:  Any opinions expressed in the KOG are opinions only and are not necessarily approved or supported by the KASP organization or anyone else, including the KOG Editor.  On the other hand, any facts expressed or implied are indeed, facts.  Just as is true for everything else in this world, you get to decide what is opinion, what is fact, and what is research based, and if and how they may or may not all go together.  Please note that just because something is research based doesn't necessarily make it a fact;  and not all facts are research based.  Some opinions are facts and research based.  Some opinions are not facts, yet are still research based.  Just because something is research based doesn't necessarily make it a fact, or ethical.  Some facts are facts for some but not facts for others; the same concept holds true for opinions and research.  The same can be said for humor, satire, parody, and serious notes.  Some opinions are just opinions.  However, one thing is always certain...      ...everything counts.

"Have a great summer drive!"