Parents & Teachers Guide to Understanding and Helping
Children with ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD),
Conduct Disorder (CD), Asperger's Disorder and Bullying
& Aggression Disorders.

Why Did You Become A Teacher?

• To send unruly children to the principal's office - NO
• To became frustrated with out of control children - NO
• To get rich - NO
• To see students bullying each other - NO

Chances are you became a teacher because you love to work with children,
watch them blossom and become productive citizens.
You may have wanted to watch them grow and develop.
You may have wanted to be part of their solution and not part of their problem.

What You May Not Have Been Taught About Teaching

When you went to college to become a teacher you were taught teaching techniques and other skills necessary to impart information to children and adolescents. You became aware of the fact that as a teacher you have a profound impact on the destiny of each and every child you teach. However, you may not have been taught everything you need to know to maintain the classroom decorum necessary to facilitate your environment of learning. Classroom disorders and disruptions compete with your desire to educate children. In addition to knowing how to teach you need to know why children behave as they do, especially the behaviors of disruptive children. You know it only takes one or two disruptive students to bring learning to a halt in a classroom of 20 to 40 children.

Bridging The Gap

With my program you will not become a therapist, counselor, psychologist or psychiatrist. However, where another teacher will see a disruptive child as delinquent, lazy, or defiant, only worthy of suspension, you will see the child differently.

You will react differently because you will know the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) vs. Conduct Disorder vs. Oppositional Defiant Disorder vs. Asperger's Disorder. When you call his/her parents you will suggest a referral, to a mental health professional instead of the police. You will have suggestions for interventions at home and school. You will know what you are talking about. You will save a child's life. You will see through the clutter of emotional damage to the child crying out for help, understanding, hope and love. You will give a child a chance to develop. You will enhance the child's destiny.

Do any of these symptoms look familiar?

• Often argues with teachers/adults
• Often actively defies or refuses to comply with adult's/teacher's requests
• Often deliberately annoys people
• Often blames others for his/her mistakes or misbehavior
• Is often touchy or easily annoyed by others
• Is often angry or resentful
• Is often spiteful and vindictive.

Do these disturbances in behavior cause significant impairment in academic or social functioning? Will sending this student to the principal's office help the student? Suspension doesn't help. What is a teacher to do? Perhaps if you knew that these are symptoms of Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) you would refer this child for treatment allowing him/her to opportunity grow, learn and become a useful member of society. Treatment for this type of student would give you the opportunity to teach the whole class and diminish any frustration you may be suffering.

Here You Will Get the Knowledge You Need
To Help a Child Succeed
Without Breaking the Bank
To Keep Your Staff Trained And Up To Date

During my 30+ years in the business of mental illness/health I have worked with schools, outpatients in community mental health centers, in-home services, private practices, residential treatment facilities for adolescents and state hospitals. I have worked with inpatients as a staff psychologist and then as Acting Clinical Director at a large state mental health hospital. I have also worked as Clinical Director of two adolescent residential treatment facilities. I have worked in corrections as a consulting psychologist at state prisons, consultant forensic psychologist doing evaluations for Competency to Stand Trial (CST) and Mental State at the time of Offense (MSO). With this wealth of experiences I have functioned as a trainer for the Department of Juvenile Justice, Crossroads and Lorman Educational Services.

During this time as a counselor, therapist and psychologist I have seen what lies between mental illness and mental health or what is commonly referred to as normalcy. First let me tell you that there is no such thing as "normal". The term normal is an average of different personalities, persons and circumstances. As such there is no absolute way of being that can be defined as "normal". What is viewed as normal behavior in one circumstance may be seen as weird, unusual or crazy in another circumstance, person or culture. As such "normal' is not used by mental health professionals as the epitome of human functioning. Instead mental health professionals prefer the concept of "reality testing" as the benchmark of mental health, as proposed by Sigmund Freud. Reality testing is the ability to see the world as others or the majority of people do. So if an individual is seeing things that others cannot see i.e. visual hallucinations or hearing things outside their head that others cannot hear i.e. auditory hallucinations, they are said to have a symptom of psychosis or mental illness.

Even the concept of "reality testing" abilities is not always a useful benchmark of mental health. As a forensic psychologist and any one who has watched any one of the Law & Order shows knows, eyewitness testimony is not always accurate. You can have 10 people watch a traumatic event such a car crash or assault or some other crime and you will invariably get three or four different versions of what took place. As such "reality testing" abilities are not always an accurate estimate of mental health or mental illness. But what is mental illness?

Mental illness as dealt with by mental health professionals (psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, counselors, etc.) is based on a medical model of disease. For this reason a person with a mental illness is not held as responsible for their behavior. We do not blame people for contracting diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart attacks, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or major depression. After all it isn't purposeful that anyone would have these diseases. The problem with this point of view is that we become a nation of victims, helpless in our ability to enhance our health and avoid illness. My question is this, is there any thing between mental health and mental illness? Is there a malady between these two extremes for which we can be held responsible? I believe there is.

Delinquency Is Not Just A Behavior Problem
Sometimes It Is Evidence Of An Emotional Problem.

Between normal and abnormal and between mental health and mental illness is emotional damage. If mental health is like a new car and mental illness is like total wreck then emotional damage is like a fender bender.

What's The Point?

There are more minorities and boys not finishing high school than any other group. As much as we like the saying "no child left behind" we know that too many children are being left behind. The whole point of our educational system is first, to keep them in school and secondly to teach and prepare them to become contributing members of society. Every child that is suspended or expelled is our failure. And do you really think alternative schools are working? Do you really believe that putting disruptive children in classrooms together is going to enhance the child's chances of success? Do you really think that sending students to juvenile detention centers enhances success? Yes, this type of facility is necessary but it is often times the last stop before incarceration. Where else is an angry, emotionally damaged and uneducated adolescent going to end up?

The answers to these questions are found in your ability to redirect inappropriate behaviors, correctly identify the causes of emotional acting out behaviors, and refer them to professionals who can help the child. Information you need to accomplish these tasks is found in my manuals, audio books, and videos I have written. My information will give you the tools you need to help those that are emotionally ditressed so you are better able to teach your class.

What Seminar Attendees Have Said
About Dr. Williams' Seminar Presentations

All You Need To Know About Oppositional Defiant Disorder - Roanoke, Virginia

"Dr. Williams was informational and informative. He delivered the information in an interesting and creative manner. I enjoyed his stories/examples of real life experiences that related to information regarding ADHD, ODD and CS."

"I have worked as a teacher assistant with Special Education children. By gaining that experience and knowledge I was able to obtain employment as a mentor/therapeutic companion. I then felt a need for personal as well as financial growth and began seeking. I have now worked as a children's case manager at a mental health CSB for two and half years now. When I get up in the mornings, I no longer have the dreaded feeling of going to work. I am finally doing what I love to do - work with children. I loved this seminar!!"

"Great seminar! I thoroughly enjoyed it."

"Very educational and enlightening."

Writing Behavior Plans For Aggressive Children In Virginia - Norfolk, Virginia

"Dr. Williams was a dynamic informative and a well-spoken speaker."

Dr Earle H Williams II © 2008