Becoming the solution

Hoping to break the pattern of what she sees as limited resources for those with learning disabilities in Northern Nevada, Angela Trombley, a licensed school psychologist, is offering an "Introduction to Understanding Disabilities" course at Western Nevada Community College.

The two-day course begins Feb. 26 and ends March 5.

"This is going to be the nuts and bolts on autism, on learning disabilities, on ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and on social and emotional issues," said Trombley. "The class will focus on the ideology of what learning disabilities are about and intervention and resources."

Trombley is fairly new to Northern Nevada, coming from the Bay area to work in the Douglas County School District. She has a master's degree in counseling and 10 years experience working in schools with students with disabilities.

"As far as ADHD, I see a huge explosion in this valley," she said. "I don't know what it's from. There's lots and lots of diagnoses, more so than in the Bay area."

The Bay area has more resources, she said.

"In this area, a lot of people have to keep going over to Sacramento or San Francisco. There just isn't the help for parents to pinpoint what's happening with these children. That's really frustrating. I think this area really needs more training and more experts. I see a huge need for expertise."

Cheryl Pawluck, is the director of psychology at WNCC. After she met Trombley a few months ago, she suggested she put together a course together for WNCC.

"I think there's a lot of confusion about disabilities," Pawluck said. "I thought this was a great tie-in to have somebody who's a school psychologist and works with this on a daily basis to give some information."

The course is open to everyone, including parents of children with disabilities, teachers, students who want to learn about disabilities and college students with disabilities.

"A lot of people think that when you graduate from high school, (a learning disability) kind of goes away," Pawluck said. "But it doesn't."

Much of the information shared in the class will be about resources, home-based interventions, workbooks, behavior charts and simple things to do with children.

"One of the things I'll talk about is creating a distraction-free environment for kids to do their homework," Trombley said. "Instead of sending them to their room to do their homework, where they get on a computer or play with video games, send them to a room where it's quiet and there's no distraction. After 20 minutes, have a snack break."

The course will include lectures as well as a group project and presentation. If the class is a success at WNCC, the department will look at offering similar follow-up courses.

"You have to be careful because there's a lot of people selling parents systems," Trombley said. "And if you get a parent trying to fix their children, there's a lot of stuff out there that's not conducive. It's not proven. It's fly by night."

n Contact reporter Maggie O'Neill at moneill@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.

If You Go

What: "Introduction to Understanding Disabilities," a one-credit course

When: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturdays, Feb. 26 and March 5

Where: Western Nevada Community College

Cost: $53

To register: Online at www.wncc.edu for PSY 299, Sec. C01, call number 19304.

More information: Call Lisa Pierrot at WNCC at 445-4253.