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Successful Social Skills for Individuals with ASD
Students with autism or Asperger's Syndrome or related learning needs can have significant challenges in developing appropriate social skills. This department is filled with ideas to help teach appropriate skills for participating in social environments.
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People are Invading My Home Plan
Tahirih Bushey M.A. C.C.C.
First of all, like all difficult moments, it is better if one has a plan predetermined so I would suggest making a plan with your child before people come to visit your home. If caught unprepared, however, one more step will be needed (see below). In this case, the plan is for a verbal child who can read--the plan would need to include pictures (hand drawn, line drawings would be fine as the pictures are just to remind your child of the various steps.) Sit down with your child and tell him or her that people will be coming to visit. If you know . . .
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Throwing Rocks
Aileen Hecht
I tried very hard to be friends with the kids in my neighborhood, four of which were my cousins, and four or so others living within a hundred yards as well. I really only followed them around (mostly the girls), observing, mimicking, assimilating, trying to learn to be like them so that I could not only be their friends but to make friends at school as well. They weren't necessarily popular but as far as neighborhood cliques go, I very much found the breaks from solitude appealing and somewhat more comforting than those provided by the classmates at school considering that half of the neighborhood playmates were family. Family is an entirely different entity than the classmates who were . . .
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Teaching Austic Children to Respond When They Can't Be Seen
Linda Hodgdon, M.Ed., CCC-SLP
I received a letter Dear Linda: At our last parent support meeting we went around the room and found that every parent had difficulties getting their child to answer to their name when called. We have kids on all levels of the spectrum and the problem seems to be across the board. How can we teach our kids to visually or verbally respond? We want to address this especially when they cannot be seen (i.e. in another room, or around the corner in a store, or behind a rack). Do you have a strategy for getting them to respond? Sincerely, Jane . . .
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More Than Eyeball-to-Eyeball: The Importance of Eye Contact with Autistic Students
Linda Hodgdon, M.Ed., CCC-SLP
Looking is a critical part of communication and social interaction. We learn information when we pay attention to people's facial expressions, their gestures and other body movements. We learn more by observing what is going on in the surrounding environment. Problems with eye contact. . . Students with autism are frequently described as having a lack of eye contact. More careful observation can reveal a variety of looking behaviors. Sometimes students: . . .
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Do You See What I Mean?
Paula Kluth
Many learners with disability labels are visual learners and are best able to understand and remember content when they can see it represented in some way; in other words, they need to "see what we mean." Visual and spatial learners often think in terms of pictures and learn best from things that can be seen including diagrams, checklists, charts, and graphic organizers; movies; illustrated books; curriculum-related objects (e.g., dioramas, math counters, models); and . . .
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Thinking Ahead: Anticipating Negative Situations with Children with Autism
Linda Hodgdon, M.Ed., CCC-SLP
What was a recent situation you had to deal with where you did not have a visual support? Could you have anticipated the situation? Is the situation likely to be repeated? Is there some kind of generic visual cue that could have helped? For example: "wait" or "something is going to change" or some other phrase that could work in a lot of situations. We can't anticipate every situation that requires our intervention. There will always be surprises. But planning ahead for those most common events and needs will create environments where students can become increasingly appropriate and successful. . . .
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Caity Meets Her Countdown Visual
Marianne Bryant
I'm sure you will all know what I am talking about when I re-tell this next story. Your child finally gets invited to a birthday party and then you begin to get nervous. There is this little tiny part of you that almost wishes it hadn't happened because of all the anxiety that you, the mom, will go through. I used to always worry about how Caity would . . .
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When Everything is the Not Same: Handling Change with Autistic Students
Linda Hodgdon, M.Ed., CCC-SLP
That is what the new school year feels like When a new school year begins, there are two common scenarios. One is where an autistic student makes a huge change. Going to a totally new school. Changing buildings. Like moving from elementary to middle school. This is not the kind of change we will be discussing. The second scenario is returning to where you were last year. It might be the same classroom or some place very near by. Perhaps it's a move across the hall to another room, but the rest of the surroundings are the same. Many teachers and school staff are the same. The school bus routine is the same. The lunch room ladies have returned. . . .
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Positive Effects of Owning a Dog for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Lauren Padgett
For someone with autism, a dog can be a great way to teach friendship, empathy and responsibility. When my autistic son Lucas was 16, his older brother left for college. Within a few months, my husband and I began to notice how much Lucas missed his big brother and best friend. There was no one at home to get Lucas laughing at stupid videos on the internet, or to gently harass him with a "You're It", beginning an impromptu game of tag through the house. And while my husband and I both tried our best to fill that gap, it was painfully obvious that Lucas was lonely without Robert here. How could we provide someone like Lucas with a true, genuine friendship? . . .
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What ARE Social Skills
Linda Hodgdon, M.Ed., CCC-SLP
Learning social skills is challenging for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Social skills are identified as a prime area for educational intervention. But what are social skills? Before determining HOW to teach, it is critical to decide WHAT to teach. What areas need to be considered? Here are three core areas of social development. They encompass skills that lay a foundation for social relationships and social behavior. . . .
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Understanding and Preparing Autistic Students for Change by Spotting 'Transparent Information'
Linda Hodgdon, M.Ed., CCC-SLP
As a new school year begins, most students "go with the flow." They embrace everything new or different. Changes in rules and routines are mastered quickly. But most important, typical students quickly understand the transparent information that is a part of a new school year. Our students with communication or behavior challenges may not transition so easily. One of the reasons they have difficulty is transparent information. Transparent information refers to what we understand because it is obvious or we assume it. We just figure it out. . . .
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A Simple Solution: Tackling Common Life Activities with ASD Children
Linda Hodgdon, M.Ed., CCC-SLP
Attending family activities, going shopping, participating in sporting events. . . all those things that families do. . . Sometimes they go well. . .sometimes not. Parents desire for their children to be a part of family activities. Yet parents can experience challenges trying to expose their children with special needs to those activities and opportunities that other children cherish and enjoy. A family outing or a special activity that should be fun ends up being a disaster. . . .
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What Can We Learn From Breakfast Wraps: Understand Learning Differences in Students with ASD
Linda Hodgdon, M.Ed., CCC-SLP
Do you get my point? We all don't think alike or learn alike. Are you one of those people who reads all the directions and then follows them step-by-step? Or do you just figure it out without consulting them? Can you see how this applies to more than just breakfast wraps? Does your style match your students? Your own style will guide how you teach all those routines of life. The challenge is to pick the right steps to help each student succeed. . . .
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