Download the article: Update: Attention-Related Disorders (ARD) Study
Research Team
Kim Payne and Bonnie River
Research Advisors
Richard Fried, MD
Martha Hadley
Steven Johnson, MD
Alicia Landman-Reiner, MD
Arthur Zajonc
Advisory Team
Michaela Glöckler, MD
Charles Hopkins
Talu Robertson
Dee Coulter
New Developments: Spring 2000
Interviews
The interview phase of the project is now complete. Doctors, speech therapists, art therapists spatial dynamic/movement therapists, neurologists, eurythmists (both curative and educational), class teachers, subject teachers, and remedial teachers have offered a rich and fascinating insight into the way they see ARD and how they work with it. The interviews ranged from 2-5 hours each with either audio tape or detailed notes being the record-taking method. The information that has been gathered gives a solid foundation for future research steps.
Case Studies
Detailed case study work has continued with six new children being taken on. These case studies have implemented a multi-modal approach that involves class and home visits by a researcher, and parental interviews to gain detailed biographical information. The next phase in our case study methodology involves in-depth child studies by the faculty of the school where the child is in attendance. These have raised consciousness in the school and informed the support circle meeting that is held afterwards. A research team member is present at both faculty child study and support circle meeting. Detailed notes continue to be kept at each phase of the case study.
Medical/Pastoral Research
With the endorsement of the Medical Section at the Goetheanum, a medical/therapeutic arm of the research is being actively pursued by a small team of mainly US based anthroposophical school doctors in conjunction with the core research group.
The members of the medical research team are Dr. Michaela Glöckler (Medical Section, Dornach); Dr. Richard Fried (Kimberton Clinic, School Doctor, Doctor at Camphill Soltane), Dr. Steven Johnson (Hawthorn Clinic, School Doctor, Doctor at Copake Camphill); Dr. Alicia Landman-Reiner (Pioneer Valley Family Practice and School Medical Consultant).
A research framework and methodological description is at present being developed in conjunction with Dr. David Riley.
Education Research
Kim Payne and Bonnie River are now developing a draft research workbook. This will be given to 20-30 selected teachers across the USA and Canada. It will have three sections:
- An ARD diagnostic implement, designed for the Waldorf Kindergarten, Lower Elementary (1-3) and Elementary (4-8). It will be designed to give Waldorf class teachers observational assistance in recognizing ARD. In each case a school doctor will also fill out a diagnostic form that will enable the researchers to cross-reference the information.
- A description and checklist of classroom and playground accommodations/adaptations and points of emphasis that help a child with ARD will be given. These will be appropriate for each class level in a Waldorf setting.
- Questionnaire and case study guidelines for the participating teachers will also be included.
Outreach
Information and presentations on the social questions surrounding ARD and the project are continuing in conferences, workshops and Waldorf school communities.
Following on from last year's workshop at the Medical Section Conference, this year we were given the opportunity to run six hours of work group discussions on ADHD/ARD. The workgroup, facilitated by Alicia Landman-Reiner, Kim Payne and Steven Johnson, consisted of eighteen doctors, nurses, teachers and therapists all of whom brought with them years of theoretical and practical experience.
We explored the different perspectives of ARD, case studies, and treatments. 'What emerged as a particular focus was how ARD expresses itself in the lower or motoric senses, and in particular the senses of movement and balance, and how this inter-relates to the higher cognitive capabilities.
New Research Team Members
Education/Therapeutic Team
Bonnie River, M.Ed. Bonnie has many years of experience as a Kindergarten and Class teacher in Waldorf Education. She has a BA in education with a focus in Special Education. In her capacity as a remedial specialist she is the director of the Therapeutic Education Training Program and has a private practice in Boulder Colorado. She is the Co-Director of Gradalis Institute. She travels extensively throughout the world consulting in schools and lecturing for teacher training institutions, conferences and the general public.
Medical /Pastoral Team
Dr Richard Fried, MD Richard has for many years been a physician to Camphill Soltane and the Kimberton Waldorf School. He has private practice at the Kimberton Medical Clinic.
Advisory Team
Dee Coulter, Ph.D.
Dee is a nationally recognized neuroscience educator who has worked for 14 years teaching and directing special education programs.
Talu Robertson, Ed.D.
Talu is the director of the experienced educators program at Antioch New England Graduate School.
Charles Hopkins, Ph.D.
Charles is the Director of Special Education for the South Hadley Region MA