CAN-DO! offers consulting services to families with children or adults who want to improve their current level of functioning. We work with those who may have come to us with labels including: Learning Disabled, Dyslexic, Distractible, ADD, ADHD, Hyperactive. We also work with those who are considered: Normal, Accelerated, and Gifted, to improve their overall function and continue making progress in all areas of learning. And finally, we work extensively with those who have more serious dysfunctions and who come to us with a plethora of labels including: Autism, Down Syndrome, Aspergers Syndrome, Developmental Delay, ASD, Chromosome Disorders, Cerebral Palsy, Brain Injured...
Since many of our families prefer to home educate their children, parents can request a complete home school program. Program can also be designed to supplement the activities of a private or public school.
Many of CAN-DO's families are Christians who have chosen to educate their children at home. As such, the goal of these families is to rear Godly sons and daughters. Thus, consistent with their faith, they reject educational philosophies and activities which may incorporate pagan or New Age ideas or practices. Cyndi Ringoen is a Christian and is in agreement with, and sensitive to, these concerns.
An overview of the process:
Consulting services are based on four month time periods or trimesters. Each trimester begins with an evaluation. Evaluations are conducted by Cyndi Ringoen, B.A., B.S., an experienced neurodevelopmentalist. This evaluation is based on neurodevelopmental models developed by several outstanding researchers and organizations in the emerging science of neurodevelopment.
A home neurodevelopmental and educational program is specifically designed for the client based on the information gathered in the evaluation.
The client or the client's family is trained in methods of program implementation.
The family is supported in the utilization of their program by CAN-DO. The family and developmentalist maintain close communication for the four month period to ensure that program is implemented properly and to help the family maintain their motivation.
The client's success on the program is based upon several factors. Ongoing communication and input between CAN-DO and the client, or the client's family, is important because, to be most effective, program needs to be dynamically implemented. Progress is obtained when the program activities are performed consistently and properly. It is our experience that program is implemented more consistently when the family is in close communication with the consultant. Therefore, the family is urged to maintain regular communication with CAN-DO.
CAN-DO's role is to provide evaluations, write programs, train families in the implementation of the program activities, and to provide ongoing support and expertise for our clients and their families. The family's role is to provide information on the client history and evaluation forms and additional information as requested from time to time, receive training in program procedures, communicate frequently with CAN-DO, consistently implement the program activities, and schedule revisit appointments each trimester. The family is urged to remain on program for at least one year in order to maintain the skills the client has learned on the program.
Our Services Include:
The evaluation:
The client's developmental, medical, educational, nutritional, physiological and social/behavioral history is reviewed.
The client's function is evaluated. This includes an assessment of how the client receives, processes, stores and utilizes information, along with the client's tactile function, auditory perceptual function, visual perceptual function, receptive and expressive language, fine and gross motor skills, auditory and visual processing skills, short and long term memory, learning strengths and weaknesses, cognitive function and thinking skills, and behavioral and social function. Where indicated, academic function is also assessed utilizing standardized achievement tests.
Following the assessment of the client, the client's parents and the developmentalist discuss the results of the evaluation, and together devise a plan for implementing the program which will be generated.
The family is urged to bring a tape recorder and notebook to the parent/developmentalist interview in order to retain the maximum amount of this information.
A specific program is designed:
A program is designed specifically for the client based on the results of the evaluation and input from the parents.
The total amount of program is based on the family's available time and circumstances.
The program activities are listed by frequency (number of times per day) and duration (in minutes). Generally, program activities are short in duration and implemented several times per day.
The program is designed to specifically address inefficiencies in neurological development, visual and auditory perception, tactile sensitivity and perception, mobility, manual function, speech and language, social development, behavior and academics. Program activities are designed to influence dominance, increase processing, encourage development and teach academic subjects.
The program is taught to the family:
The parents, or individuals who will be carrying out the program activities, will be trained in the specific methods of each program activity. Beginning at the parent interview following the evaluation, certain program activities and equipment which will be needed will be described to the family. The program will ( in most circumstances ) be delivered to the family immediately after the evaluation. The person who will be implementing the program will be trained by the developmentalist or a trained parent volunteer in the specifics of each activity on the program.
The family implements the program:
Neurodevelopmental programs are generally implemented 5 days per week for most activities and 7 days per week for several additional activities. During the four months between evaluations CAN-DO will be available to you through phone, fax and e-mail to help you carry out the program activities properly.
Program activities are recommendations only and are not medical, therapeutic or psychological prescriptions. They are based on the experience of neurodevelopmentalists and represent our suggestions to the family. Every parent needs to assume the responsibility for their own child and make their own decisions as to which specific techniques and methodologies they wish to utilize with their child.
Neither Cyndi Ringoen, nor CAN-DO are licensed to practice medicine, psychology or any specific therapy. Cyndi Ringoen is a neurodevelopmentalist with experience in the evaluation of neurodevelopmental function and in the implementation of neurodevelopmental and education programs. If the family wishes to have, or needs medical or other licensed professional advice, the family is encouraged to consult with a licensed physician or other licensed professional.
The family is provided with support:
CAN-DO is available to help you with your program questions by phone, fax or e-mail. We encourage you to call us for advice within two weeks after starting your new program. Thereafter, you should call in every 2 weeks so we can advise you as your child progresses. Monthly reports should be sent in at the end of each month and you may occasionally receive a call or e-mail to give you important information or feedback. If at any time you have questions about the program you should contact the developmentalist as soon as possible.
The family returns for a re-evaluation in four months:
The re-visit evaluation is usually scheduled with the family at the end of each evaluation. It is important that your family maintains regular evaluations in order to keep the program and instructional level appropriate to your child's progressing neurodevelopment. After the revisit you will receive a program based on that re-evaluation. This program may be modified for your child's, and your family's current needs, and will be based on the functional changes observed in the evaluation. Thereafter, the process of parent instruction, implementation and support continues once again.
EVALUATION PROCESS AND FEE SCHEDULE
Client History and Program Application: Word Document, PDF File