Page 8 - Martin Downs Bulletin - May '23

Page 8, Martin Downs

Kids corner

GRE, LSAT, And MCAT Smythe. David’s name The mission of The Children’s Museum of the Treasure
lives on throughout the
Coast is to offer children and families a place to explore
Accommodations entire Children’s Garden. and learn through hands-on activities, educational
David was the lead donor programs and cultural experiences.
By Jim Forgan, Ph.D., for the outdoor educational For birthday party bookings, please contact Tom Burns
School Psychologist space, contributing at The Children’s Museum of the Treasure Coast for more
The Graduate Record over $200,000 since the information at (772) 225-7575, Ext. 208 or birthday@
Examination (GRE), Law garden’s groundbreaking childrensmuseumtc.org.
School Admission Test in 2010. After David’s
(LSAT), and the Medical passing, his son, Tom
College Admission Test Smythe, continues the
(MCAT) are standardized wonderful relationship
tests that are used to evaluate with The Children’s
a student’s readiness for Museum. “My dad always Tom Smythe
graduate school, law school, believed that children need
and medical school. These enriching programs that promote health and wellness. He
examinations are among the most challenging and believed in the Children’s Museum’s mission and he was
important tests a student will take in their lifetime. honored to lead the charge to see the project thrive and
However, for a student with a disability, testing can be even grow, even after his passing,” says Tom.
more challenging. In these instances, requesting testing Thanks to the generosity, time, and talent donated by
accommodations can help a student perform to the best of Allgreens Landscaping, ShadeMakers, Bullpen Turf and
their ability by leveling the playing field. David Smythe, the Children’s Garden has a new outdoor
Accommodations provide students with disabilities classroom and event space. The beautiful new space
or special needs with the necessary support to complete now includes colorful sail shades, vibrant astroturf, and
the exam under conditions that allow them to fairly natural grass beds. This newly renovated space will be
demonstrate their knowledge. Some examples of used to welcome students here for field trips, educational
accommodations include extended testing time, additional programs, and guest speakers. On weekends the space
breaks, a separate testing room, assistive technology, and hosts outdoor garden birthday parties. It’s a great outdoor
large-print materials. Each institution and exam has its venue with scenic river views for children’s birthday Tom Smyth, Abraham Breckenridge with Allgreens
own policies for accommodations, and you must submit parties. The event space is now available for birthday Landscaping, Greg Kuklinski with ShadeMakers, and Tammy
documentation of your disability to request them. parties and small event rentals. Calabria with The Children’s Museum of the Treasure Coast
For students with disabilities, taking a standardized test
can be an especially challenging task. Accommodations
help ensure that they are accurately evaluated based cLeveLand cLinic
on their knowledge and abilities and not impeded by
their disability, which would otherwise affect their
performance under standard testing conditions. It does
not change what the test measures or its expectations. martin heaLth news
The type of documentation required will depend on
the specific testing organization or the institution’s policy
for the requested accommodations. The documentation
should explain how a disability impacts the student’s Minimally Invasive
ability to take the test under standard conditions and must
demonstrate the need for accommodations. Most students Procedures For Patients
with a disability have a history of accommodations With Structural Heart And
provided on the SAT or ACT or from when in school,
either from an IEP or a 504 Plan. Valve Diseases
For example, if you have a learning disability and
are requesting extended testing time, documentation Open-heart surgery has long been the standard of care for
that includes a diagnosis of the disability, a description most patients with valve disease. More recently, however,
of how the disability impacts your ability to take tests minimally invasive procedures, such as transcatheter aortic
under a standard condition, and a recommendation for valve replacement (TAVR) and the MitraClip procedure,
™
the specific accommodation of extended testing time may have emerged as safe and effective alternatives for patients
be required. The documentation will need to be provided with advanced and complex valve disease. Michael Howard, M.D. Ronald Cossman, M.D.
well in advance of your desired testing date and can take There are a variety of minimally invasive approaches to
up to six weeks for review. valve repair or replacement, but all offer the same benefits: a may be candidates for less invasive, catheter-based options,
Call as we complete GRE, LSAT, and MCAT smaller scar, lower risk of infection, less bleeding and trauma, such as MitraClip , the first device approved by the FDA to
™
evaluations for dyslexia, learning disabilities, ADHD, a shorter hospital stay and a shorter recovery period. treat high-risk patients with degenerative mitral regurgitation.
depression, anxiety, and other processing disorders. Call Transcatheter Valve Replacement (TAVR) Cleveland Clinic participated in the COAPT clinical trial
(561) 625-4125 or JimForgan.com. Open procedure valve replacement has been the for MitraClip, which has shown the device provides a
Children’s Garden Redesigned standard of care for most patients with aortic stenosis. tremendous benefit and improvement in survival and quality
However, in recent years the minimally invasive
of life when used in patients with reduced heart function.
For Educational Programs transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure Not all patients are candidates for minimally invasive
has revolutionized management of this condition. It is
treatment for structural heart or valve disease. Cleveland
And Birthday Parties now a treatment option for some patients with severe Clinic Florida’s multidisciplinary team evaluates each
aortic stenosis who are too ill to have traditional open- patient for the appropriate solution to their structural
The Children’s Garden at The Children’s Museum of heart surgery to replace the aortic valve. heart disease or valve problems.
the Treasure Coast continues to grow and flourish. Over MitraClip To schedule an appointment with Dr. Ronald
™
the years the Garden Exhibit has received some unique Mitral valve degeneration disease is often treated with Cossman, Dr. Michael Howard or another Cleveland
one-of-a-kind installations, including a 12-foot Carrot medical therapy. However, patients for whom medical Clinic Martin Health heart specialist, call (844) 630-
Rock Climber, a 30-foot Squash Slide, and 15-foot Bronze therapy fails and for whom surgery is too much of a risk 4968 or visit ClevelandClinicFlorida.org/Heart.
Bunny. The museum is super excited to share a recent
renovation thanks in big part to Legacy Donor David
Dyslexia, ADD/ADHD,

Gifted Testing

NOW OFFERING: Dr. Jim Forgan & Associates
• Jupiter & Stuart Offices Licensed School Psychologist
• Testing for Processing www.JimForgan.com
Problems, Anxiety,
Defiance (561) 625-4125
• Weekend and After
School Appointments

“Helping Parents Help Children”
Meditation guest speaker at Earth Fest 2023