1. Managing and Accommodating Students on Psychotropics and Other Medications that Affect Mental Health Dr. Suzanne Gosden Kitchen A free service of the Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor

2. Presentation Overview 1. Learn to use the Job Accommodation Network. 2. Identify accommodations for students. 3. Learn from past cases at JAN.

3. Established for 25 Years Funded by the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) Based in Morgantown, WV Serves a national audience Provides electronic and telephone consultation, expert training, and comprehensive accommodation and compliance information JAN Overview

4. So… What can JAN do for Job Corps?

5. What JAN can do for Job Corps Identify accommodations for students with: Mobility impairments Sensory impairments Cognitive or neurological impairments Accommodations for: Classroom On-the-job training In the workforce

6. Let’s accommodate students with mental health impairments!

7. Common limitations experienced in the classroom: Concentrating / Attentiveness Communication Memory Conduct

8. Concentration limitations auditory distractions (heard) visual distractions (seen) tactile distractions (felt) distractions in classroom include: student chatter activity in/around classroom noise from equipment temperature variances

9. Concentration accommodations To reduce auditory distractions: wear ear protection install sound absorption panels provide a white noise machine

10. Concentration accommodations

11. To reduce visual distractions: environmental enclosures walls, panels, carrels privacy curtains strategic placement of student

12. Concentration accommodations

13. Communication limitations may be shy may interrupt others may be argumentative may lack confidence may experience anxiety

14. Communication accommodations To improve classroom communication: have clearly understood rules provide consistent feedback model acceptable communication schedule time to speak in private provide advance notice of discussion topics allow support person to attend meeting

15. Communication accommodations

16. Memory limitations the ability to complete tasks remember classroom rules or duties recall actions or activities (even those activities done daily) Turning things on or off Retrieving typical classroom items

17. Memory accommodations Provide checklists Prompt student verbal or written cues Provide refresher training as needed Use visual cues to prompt Color-code items Label items (1-2-3 or A-B-C)

18. Memory accommodations

19. Conduct limitations verbally disruptive disrespectful class clown physically disruptive interference with other students, furniture, equipment

20. Conduct accommodations To improve classroom behavior: strategic placement of student non-verbal signal to the student redirect student give student opportunity to regain self-control

21. Case Study #1 Student with severe ADHD Vocational choice: Automotive Repair Limitations: Inattention / Easily distracted Difficulty with time management Limited preparedness for classroom activities How did we accommodate him?

22. Case Study #1 Mechanic’s stool with organization shelf Instructor “loads” stool with regularly used tools Increases productivity Decreases time student might lose while looking for tools

23. Case Study #2 Student with Bipolar Disorder and LD Vocational choice: Health Care Limitations: Sub-average reading skills Sub-average writing skills Anxiety in classroom due to her limited academic abilities How did we accommodate her?

24. Case Study #2 “ talking” medical products Electronic Medical Speller Talking thermometer Talking pill bottle CPR for PDA

25. Questions

26. Contact JAN (800) 526-7234 (V) (877) 781-9403 (TTY) http://www.jan.wvu.edu jan@jan.wvu.edu Please call, e-mail, or visit us on the Web!