NACD, that is, Robert Doman Jr.

[Ursus]

The National Association for Child Development sounds like a pretty mainstream organization, one that is probably littered with credentialed academics and citing lots of peer-reviewed studies and the like... Not so when you dig beneath the surface.  It is primarily the efforts and brainchild of one man:  Robert Doman Jr.  Perhaps this guy has some unique slant on child development that everyone else should take a listen to, perhaps not... I am devoting a thread to this because some things on this site have what are potentially red flags popping out all over.

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Overview of the National Association for Child Development
What is NACD?

NACD provides neurodevelopmental evaluations and individualized programs for children and adults, updated on a quarterly basis. As a family-centered organization, NACD stresses parent training and parent implementation of the program. NACD is an eclectic organization, gathering and utilizing the newest strategies that yield success and incorporating them into programs custom-designed for each client. Support is provided to families through video reviews, e-mail and telephone sessions. Through frequent contact with staff and other families, parents are well informed and well educated in relationship to their child’s progress. NACD chapters can be found across the United States. International locations include the Bahamas, India and Guatemala. International services are also provided through videotaping and phone conferences.

NACD 549 25th Street Ogden, Utah 84401-2422 | Phone: (801) 621-8606 Fax: (801) 621-8389

[Ursus]

Here is Doman's bio from NACD's site.  Note that, outside of a semi-monthly column on parenting in the Ogden Valley Newspaper, essentially all of his other publications appear in the Journal of the National Academy for Child Development.  Note also that the National Academy of Child Development (the "publisher" of said journal) is the forerunner/parent of NACD, and was also founded by Doman himself.

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[li]Director of the Visual Motor Testing and Training Center[/li]
[li]Educational director of the Delacato-Doman Autistic Unit[/li]
[li]Educational director of the Center for Neurological Rehabilitation[/li][/list]
Within a few years, he had also designed:

• Neurodevelopmental programs for the TIKVA organization in Israel
• The APATHE organization in Spain and the Canary Islands

By the time Bob founded NACD in 1979, he had worked side-by-side with some of the greatest innovators in related fields; together, they developed a multitude of neuroeducational programs.

Over the years, tens of thousands of parents and children have benefited from Bob Doman's educational and therapeutic techniques through his seminars and audiotape programs. The methodologies he cultivated from conception through proven maturation allow today's children and adults to significantly develop their own sequential-processing skills.  Working with a broad range of individuals—from the exceptionally challenged to the supremely gifted—he helps people all over the world overcome brain injuries, unique mental-processing habits, and other mental and behavioral challenges.

Thirty years of research and hands-on treatment have made the NACD approach to neurological development an enormous success. Numerous commendations and a demand from those who have witnessed the results of his work have inspired him to create an educational program designed for the average individual—NACD's "Project 9 +/- 2."

Today, Bob is a leading innovator in neurodevelopmental research. More importantly, he is an educator and caregiver who values the strengths and works to overcome the challenges of each individual who comes to him for evaluation and treatment program.  Through the National Academy for Child Development, a nonprofit entity that gathers, evaluates, and disseminates information, Bob continues to play a role as both founder of the organization and pioneer of the latest methodologies for overcoming developmental inefficiencies and achieving peak mental processing performance in people of all ages and sensibilities.

An unwavering champion of the innate potential within every human being, Bob continues to serve individual clients and their families as well as promote the benefits of the neurodevelopmental approach to educators and public leaders in the United States and around the world.

Training and Certification

1974 Studies in Behavior Modification; Teaching Research
Monmouth, Oregon

1971–1975 Studies in Developmental Vision
Michael Markow, O.Dd.; Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania

1971–1972 Studies in Clinical Psychology as applied to the treatment of brain-injured children
Rose Elfaman,Ph.D.; Wellingford, Pennsylvania

1971 Certification in Hypnosis and Relaxology
Institute of Relaxation; Blackwood, New Jersey

1970 Teaching Certificate
Pennsylvania Department of Education

1970–1971 Graduate Studies in Educational Psychology
Temple University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1969 B.A. Degree in Psychology
University of Dubuque; Dubuque, Iowa

1965–1977 Training in Child Development and Rehabilitation
Robert J. Doman, M.D.; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Positions and Clinical Experience

1985–Present; President, National Association for Child Development, Inc.
Ogden, UT

1979–Present; Founder and Chairman of the Board
National Academy for Child Development
(6 Regional Centers, 6 Chapters Nationwide)

2006-Present; Member, The Society for Research in Child Development

1979–1999 Founder, NACD Children's Academy Private School
Mountain Lakes, NJ

1979–1980 Director, Associacion Nacional Para El Desarrollo De Nino
Barcelona, Spain

1979–1980 Program Director, New Jersey Organization for Child Development
Mountain Lakes, NJ

1979–1980 Program Director, Help for Brain Injured Children
La Habra, CA

1977–1978 Evaluator and Programmer, Developmental Christian Schools of Delaware
Wilmington, DE

1976–1980 Director, Doman Developmental Academy
(5 preschools for developmentally delayed, normal & accelerated children)
Paoli, PA

1976–1978 Director, Morton Center(Parent training center)
Morton, PA

1976–1977 Director, Montgomery County Pennsylvania Department of Mental Health
Mental retardation funded program for preschool education of retarded children

1975–1978 Evaluator and Programmer, Help for Brain Injured Children
La Habra, CA

1975–1977 Evaluator and Programmer, Delacato-Doman Autistic Unit
Morton, PA

1975–1977 Evaluator and Programmer, APALCE
Barcelona, Spain & Canary Islands, Spain

1975–1977 Educational Director, Centre for Neurological Rehabilitation
Morton, PA

1975–1976 Evaluator and Programmer, TIKVA
Haifa, Israel

1975–1977 Educational Director, Institute for the Rehabilitation of the Brain Injured
Morton, PA

1974–1975 Director, Delaware County Mental Health-Mental Retardation
Funded program for preschool education of mentally retarded

1974–1975 Program Director–Federal Title I Grant Demonstration program for preschool multi-handicapped children

1973–1974 Program Director, Developmental Disabilities Federal Grant Early identification and treatment program for children with developmental disabilities

1971–1975 Consulting Lecturer and Instructor in Child Development
Weidner College Chester, PA

1971–1975 Consulting Lecturer and Instructor in Child Development
Pennsylvania State University; Lima, PA

1971–1975 Consulting Lecturer and Instructor in Child Development–Delaware County Community College; Newton Square, PA

1971–1975 Clinical Director, George Crothers Memorial School
Wallingford, PA

1971–1975 Clinical Director, United Cerebral Palsy Center of Delaware County
Boothwyn, PA

1970–1974 Director, Visual-Motor Testing and Training Center
Drexel Hill, PA

1968–1971 Special Education Instructor, George Crothers Memorial School
Wallingford, PA

Associations

1978–1980 Consultant, Children's Center for Therapeutic Activities
San Francisco, CA

1978–1980 Consultant, EINIU
Barcelona, Spain

1977–1980 Consultant, Spitz Clinic
Morton, PA

1977–1980 Consultant, Centre for Neurological Rehabilitation

1976–1980 Consultant, Developmental Christian Schools of Delaware

1976–1980 Consultant, Philadelphia Public Schools

1974–1980 Consultant, Institute of Relaxation
Blackwood, NJ

1974–1976 Chairman, Committee for Programs for Special Education Students
Delaware County Vocational-Technological Schools
Folsom, Lima and Newton Square, PA

1973–1974 Member of the Federal Government Regional Comprehensive Health Planning Commission

Publications

Audio Productions

"Guide to Child Development and Education–Miracles of Child Development"
"Guide to Learning Disabilities"
"Guide to Child Management"
"Guide to The Parent Teacher"

Published Articles

Ogden Valley Newspaper; semi-monthly articles on Parenting

"Cerebral Palsy", Journal of the National Academy for Child Development, 1980, Volume 1, No. 2

"Child Management", Journal of the National Academy for Child Development, 1983, Volume 3, No. 1

"Dominance and Emotionality", Journal of the National Academy for Child Development, 1982, Volume 2, No. 2

"Down Syndrome–Perspectives", Journal of the National Academy for Child Development, 1999, Volume 12, No. 2

"Establishing A Positive Environment Through Data Collection", Journal of the National Academy for Child Development 1983, Volume 3, No. 2

"In My Travels", Journal of the National Academy for Child Development, 1990, Volume 8, No. 1

"Language Acquisition in Children with Down Syndrome", Journal of the National Academy for Child Development, 1999, Volume 12, No. 1

"Learning Disabilities and Organization", Journal of the National Academy for Child Development, 1987, Volume 7, No. 1

"Learning Problems and Attention Deficits", Journal of the National Academy for Child Development, 1984, Volume 4, No. 6

"Philosophy and Rationale", Journal of the National Academy for Child Development, 1996, Volume 10, No. 5

"Samonas Sound Therapy", co-authored with Alexander Doman, Journal of the National Academy for Child Development, 1996, Volume 10, No. 4

"Sensory Stimulation", Journal of the National Academy for Child Development, 1980, Volume 1, No. 1

"Special Needs Children, Parents Are The Experts!", NATHHAN NEWS, Summer 1996, Volume 4 Issue 4 and Journal of the National Academy for Child Development, 1996, Volume 10, No. 6

"The Autistic Child", Journal of the National Academy for Child Development, 1986, Volume 6, No. 11

"The Home and the School: Conflict or Complement?", Journal of the National Academy for Child Development, 1987, Volume 7, No. 2

"The Learning Disabled Child", Journal of the National Academy for Child Development, 1986, Volume 6, No. 8

"The Learning Environment", Journal of the National Academy for Child Development, 1986, Volume 10, No. 10

"The Network", Journal of the National Academy for Child Development, 1986, Volume 6, No. 1

"The Role of Phytochemicals in Optimal Health", co-authored with Alexander Doman and Robert E. Morrow, M.D., Journal of the National Academy for Child Development, 1997, Volume 11, No. 1

"Your Father Said–Process Fathering", Journal of the National Academy for Child Development, 1986, Volume 6, No. 12

"Language Acquisition in Children with Down Syndrome–the significance of auditory function and the contraindication of signing or “Total Communication", Journal of the National Academy for Child Development, 1999, Volume 12, No. 3

"A Down Syndrome–Perspectives–A message to parents of Down Syndrome Children", Journal of the National Academy for Child Development, 2000, Volume 13, No. 1[/list][/list]
Other Acheivements

• Creator of "Simply Smarter Sequential Processing Software" – a software tool to improve sequential processing and short term memory. (A new and improved version of the former Brain Builder software.)
• Creator of "Brain Builder" software.
• Co-creator "The Listening Program" – a developmental auditory training tool.
• Internationally known lecturer having spoken to over 100,000 parents and professionals.
• He has appeared on numerous national television shows including the following:
  Inside Edition, July 2000
  Essence Awards, July 1999
  Ordinary, Extraordinary Show, August 1997
  The Other Side, April 1995

[/li][li]Has been interviewed on numerous radio shows including the following:

Bob Lee Show–KSL, Salt Lake City, UT
Jack Carney Show–KMOX, St. Louis, MO
Jim White Show–KMOX, St. Louis, MO[/list][/li][li]Has been featured in newspaper and magazine articles throughout the country.[/li][/list]

[Che Gookin]

Does newest strategies mean peer reviewed methods or new age hookey crap?

Though.. at one point even Skinner had people peer reviewing his garbage so I'd have to go one step further and say, 'Peer reviewed and endorsed by a legit medical organization'.

[Ursus]

Does newest strategies mean peer reviewed methods or new age hookey crap?

I think it means whatever they can get away with charging parents and schools the most for.  Don't get me wrong, I am sure there are some legitimate kernels of truth in there somewhere.  But, by and large, this smells a little like a Utah version of Hyde School's The Biggest Job project.  That is, a packaged program of DIY behavior mod that you can buy for use at home or school, along with the requisite training that you also have to pay for...

I imagine liability issues are apt to be a great deal cheaper than the going rate for insurance coverage for a full-fledged RTC.  Tsk tsk.  Cynical old me.

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Here is the bio of NACD's Research Director, W. Bruce Haslam.  (This was the position that Merav Nagel allegedly used to hold back in 2005.  See HERE for news of her recent appointment as Clinical Director and Therapist for the Manuia Plantation of Samoa.).

He seems to wear the righteous stamp of good old BYU.  When I see that associated with the term "social psychology," I'm apt to to immediately flash "RickRoss! RickRoss!" but don't mind me.  I digress.  I'm just a grumpity old bear this morning...

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Research Director
W. Bruce Haslam, Ph.D., Social Psychology

Bruce Haslam comes to us from Weber State University, where he is currently a Professor Emeritus of Psychology. He received his Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Brigham Young University. While at Weber State he was a Research Advisor to the Department of Nursing, advised about a dozen faculty members on their dissertation research, worked jointly on several research projects with other faculty, advised students on research projects and coauthored with students on papers presented.

He has taught Introductory Psychology, Social Psychology, Statistics, Motivation, Industrial/Organization Psychology, Theories of Personality, Human Relationships and Communication, Attitude Measurement and Change, Tests and Measurements, Psychology of Adjustment.

Memberships and organization officer include American Psychological Association, Rocky Mountain Psychological Association, Utah Psychological Association, Western Social Science Association, Vice President of WSSA, Social Psychology Section Chair of WSSA, Psi Chi honor society, Rocky Mountain Region Vice President of Psi Chi, International Council of Psychologists, Utah Representative to ICP, Interamerican Society of Psychologists, International Council of Latin American Studies, Council of Teachers of Undergraduate Psychology, regional officer of CTUP, Western Gerontological Society.

[Ursus]

Oooo, now here we have the bio of good old Bob's good old sis, Ellen.  I know I shouldn't sound so sour, but I'm a wee bit miffed that we are denied most of the actual names of all those RTCs, girls' reforms schools, and other treatment facilities she gleaned such valuable experience from in the formative years of her career.  No doubt that coyness is part of her irresistible charm, more obvious to others less prone to spewing bile...

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Educational Director
Ellen R. Doman, M.A., Curriculum and Instruction

Ellen Doman's involvement in neurological rehabilitation began in childhood under the mentorship of her father, Robert J. Doman, MD, a prominent Physiatrist who developed successful therapies for patients suffering from brain abnormalities and injuries. From age twelve through her teens, Ellen accompanied her father to the rehab clinics where he taught her about diagnosis and rehabilitation, and allowed her to participate in hands-on therapies for severely brain-injured patients. By the time she entered college, Ellen had experienced years of training in rehabilitating a wide spectrum of brain disorders in patients of all ages.

Attracted to the fields of mental health and education, Ellen earned her Bachelor's Degree in Sociology from Albright College, then went on to St. Louis University to obtain a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Over the next decade, Ellen applied her unique synthesis of education and experience to positions ranging from Social Worker for a girls' reform school, to Director of children's programs for Philadelphia United Cerebral Palsy, to several years as Principal for Philadelphia's three Doman Developmental Academies (private schools for special needs children).

In the 1980s, Ellen moved to North Carolina to run a treatment center for abused children who had been removed from the foster care system due to severe behavior problems and other complex issues. Here she pioneered diet and educational strategies achieving excellent results with the children, many of whom displayed significant jumps in IQ scores. Her success at the treatment center led to lecturing at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill and area school districts on topics including the etiology of hyperactivity and the impact of diet on behavior.

Ellen's career continued to reflect her interests in both mental health and education. She served as Director of Social Services for a large residential treatment facility in Florida housing 360 people ranging in age from four to forty. She then moved to California to work with the National Association for Child Development founded by her brother, Bob Doman. Years later, Ellen returned to St. Louis and opened her own private school for brain-injured and learning disabled kids, including those with Down syndrome. She went on to become Director of Education at a large facility funded by Catholic charities for abused, neglected and emotionally disturbed children, directing the educational programs for 150 residents and day students. Like many of her previous positions, this job required constant advocacy on behalf of the children, fighting for the rights of those who were doing well to be placed in regular schools.

Ellen left the residential facility in the late 1990s to work for the state mental health Wrap-Around Services, an innovative program sending Behavior Specialists into the homes of children at risk to help the families learn strategies to improve their child's behavior in order to avoid state residential placement. While still working as a Behavior Specialist, Ellen opened a new chapter for NACD in West Chester, PA, where she now serves full time as a Neurodevelopmentalist and Director of Curriculum for NACD.

Ellen currently enjoys a full caseload of NACD clients of all ages and abilities including severely brain-injured clients, gifted youngsters, and a 73-year-old stroke patient. She loves the fact that NACD is constantly evolving, finding new and more efficient ways to solve problems. Having raised five children of her own, Ellen says, "I chronically have the mother hat on my head saying 'Isn't there another way to do this?'" And, after decades of professional experience with children severely damaged by poor parenting (or none at all) she finds "NACD parents are a constant source of amazement for me. You get really spoiled working with NACD parents because there's no such thing as a bad parent in NACD. It's a tremendous blessing to get to work with everybody."