Pride Product Approval Form
Submitted to Product Approval Committee
Name
Date (s) submitted
Research Topic / Area of Study
Connection to research paper
Goal of product / what problem or
need solved or addressed
Estimated time to complete
People who will assist (if applicable) My mentor
Estimated cost / investment
What will judges see at
presentation? (evidence of work
and development)
Personal stretch (area of growth)
Rachel Figard
10/12/16
Pediatric and Adolescent Neurology -- With the Future in
Mind: A Career in Pediatric and Adolescent Neurology
My paper focused on the career of neurology-- included
historical breakthroughs in neurology and psychology, education
required, the glass ceiling in medicine, and potential job growth.
I completed my mentor hours with the same person I
interviewed, who works in the field full time.
To educate others on Dysautonomia, a neurological disorder
affecting the patients autonomic nervous system. Whenever
first diagnosed with Dysautonomia, the most frequently asked
question is, What do I do next?, since there is no cure and it is
a relatively unknown disorder, many teachers do not know how
to approach teaching the child. Also, many parents do not know
how or what to include in the childs 504 or IEP plan. My goal
is to educate lower school teachers on different ways to educate
a student with Dysautonomia. I also plan to educate lower
school students about Dysautonomia and the circulatory via
Power Point presentation that I will present.
Two months to plan, create, and design the informational packet
for Pine Lakes Lower School counselor.
This product would have no cost.
The informational packet about teaching a child with
dysautonomia -- will provide three copies
A video of me presenting the information about
Dysautonomia to the lower school students.
I am a naturally shy and not very outgoing person, so
presenting the information to lower school students will
put me out of my comfort zone and help me with my
public speaking abilities.
No medical training (concern for patients compromised
nervous systems)
Product Description:
Many members of my family, along with myself have been diagnosed with Dysautonomia. Whenever I
was first diagnosed, I thought I was alone-- there was not much knowledge about this disorder at the
time, so my first question was, whats next? I understand the confusion a patient may feel upon
diagnosis, motivating me to create something impactful, that will help patients in need. The DYNC is a
website that acts as a support group and informational setting for youth Dysautonomia patients, however,
there are not any methods listed on the website for dealing with this disorder in a childs everyday life,
specifically in a school setting. I have tried almost every alternative and experimental form of treatment,
so from a personal standpoint, I know what does and does not work for me and can offer suggestions of
what to use in a school setting. For my project, I would like to create an informational packey that will
be distributed to the Lower School guidance counselors on how to educate a child with Dysautonomia,
along with different suggestions on creating a 504 or IEP plan. I will do research and work alongside my
mentor in order to create safe and reliable information that teachers and guidance counselors can utilize.
I will also be presenting information about the disorder and about the circulatory system to lower school
students. Although this disorder is not very well known, it is a relatively common disorder, meaning that
many of the students may know someone who is affected by this or a similar disorder. To present my
product, I will present the packet that I created and tell the judges about suggestions for educating a child
with Dysautonomia. I will also show a video of me presenting information about Dysautonomia to lower
school students.