Fwd: August 2010 Monthly Featured Products Back to School Tools

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Monthly Newsletter

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Autism Resource Center

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Autism Teaching Tools.net

August 2010

This Month!

ARCOFSF Member Announcements

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FIU Research: Attention in Autism & Developmental Disabilities

Researchers at FIU are seeking children with autism, children with developmental disabilities, and typically developing children up to 5 years of age to participate in a study of perception and attentional shifting to social and nonsocial events.

The study requires up to three visits of 1½ - 2 hrs each.

Children will watch interesting videos and engage in several play-based tasks with our trained lab staff.

Parents will be with their child at all times.

Parents may be asked to provide information about their child’s development and behavior.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact the FIU Infant Development Lab at .

Looking for a Autism Related Job for the Fall?

Now is the time to submit or search our Free Employment Opportunity Database.

Click on the words " submit or search " above to start!

Free Autism/ASD Screenings

Face Autism Inc., a non-profit org, is providing FREE Autism/ASD screenings for children ages 15 months through 4 years of age for children in Manatee, Sarasota, and Charlotte counties. For more information on free screenings, please contact: Susie Tromley at .

STAND Pinellas Accessing Resources Conference,

Largo FL, September 11, 2010

This is a Statewide Conference. Registration for attendees opens May 10th.

For more info, please contact: Tremblay at .

Get a Handle on Neurodevelopmental Differences

12 Hour Course: Saturday August 14 & Sunday August 15, 2010

The Fountains at Lake Pointe Woods, 7979 south Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, Florida

For more information contact: Amy F. Weinberger, Founder/Education Director at

.

Helpful Back to School Tools for

Parents, Teacher & Service Providers

Behavior Solutions

for the

Inclusive Classroom

WHY won't he stay in his seat?

WHY does she flap her hands?

And WHAT should I do??

As inclusion becomes the norm in general education, teachers are faced with behaviors they have never seen before. Special needs educators may recognize the telltale symptom of a sensory need or a textbook-case of an avoidance behavior, but this is all new territory for the general-ed crowd!

This book illuminates possible causes of those mysterious behaviors, and more importantly, provides solutions! Teachers can quickly look up an in-the-moment solution and learn about what the child is communicating, and why.

This book is a must-have for every inclusive classroom!

Price: $14.95

>> More Info

1001 Great Ideas for Teaching and Raising Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Winner of a 2006 Teachers’ Choice Award! Parents and professionals can now bypass countless hours spent seeking answers to the mystifying day-to-day challenges of autism. In a snappy, can-do format, this book offers page after page of try-it-now solutions that have worked for thousands of children grappling with sensory, communication, social, behavioral, and self-care issues. Not only does it provide ideas and activities that can be put into action immediately, but it also explains WHY these methods work so that adults can better understand the children they are working with. This book is a time-saver and a life-saver!

Price: $24.95

>> More Info

Lang-O-Learn Flashcards: 50 Everyday Object Cards

The cards in this series are bright, colorful, and current photographic images for teaching basic language skills. Each card is labeled on the reverse in 17 common languages (English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Chinese simplified, Chinese traditional, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Polish, Filipino, Portuguese, Greek, Thai, Arabic). Cards are 3 ½? x 5? with consistent horizontal presentation, and printed on a durable card stock with glossy, protective varnish.

The Lang-O-Learn cards are great for teaching basic language skills to preschool age children, children and adults with autism, developmental delay, or speech and language delay, or to anyone first learning or re-learning basic language skills. With the multi-language labeling, the Lang-O-Learn cards are particularly popular with ESL, ELL and foreign language programs.

Price: $19.95

>> More Info

View all FLASHCARDS!

View all FLIP CARDS!

View all WORKBOOKS

Answers to Questions

Teachers Ask about

Sensory Integration

You know them: they can’t get their coats on straight, are easily distracted, impulsive, over- or under-sensitive to sounds, lights, textures, etc. In this book, you’ll find tried and true instructions for developing their fine motor, “organizing,” and motor planning skills, and providing an appropriate “Sensory Diet” that will benefit all your students.

Price: $14.95

>> More Info

CAT-kit

World-renowned expert on Asperger's Syndrome Dr. Tony Attwood has teamed up with Dr. Kirsten Callesen and Dr. Annette Moller Nielsen of Denmark to create a powerful yet user-friendly tool that gets straight to the core of the thoughts and emotions behind behavior. The CAT-kit offers an easy, hands-on way for young people to communicate with adults, and each other.

Years in the making, the Cognitive Affective Training (CAT) kit is a program that consists of visual, interactive, and customizable communication elements for children and young adults. It is designed to help students become aware of how their thoughts, feelings and actions all interact and, in the process of using the various visual components, they share their insights with others. It is an easy and effective way to work with neurotypical children and young adults as well as with people with developmental disabilities.

The CAT-kit has been proven valuable in a variety of environments: Parents report that the materials are excellent resources in conflict resolution among siblings, and for clarifying differing perspectives between age groups. The uncomplicated design and situation-specific uses of the kit will simplify day-to-day conversation and allow parents to deal with displays of emotion or misconceptions that ordinarily would be difficult to manage.

•Teachers and counselors appreciate the CAT-kit for its visual and concrete design. The kit attracts students’ attention and encourages them to talk about their thoughts and emotions in a non-defensive manner. Children are able to communicate their attitudes and emotions by means of the visual aids and are not inhibited by their lack of exact wordings.

•Therapists and other professionals consider the CAT-kit an easy, hands-on adaptation of the cognitive-behavioral strategies they are already familiar with. The kit allows professionals to obtain valuable information regarding the thoughts and feelings that exist behind students’ behaviors, while providing a non-stressful environment where professionals can work on students’ self-awareness and self-control. The CAT-kit elements can easily be integrated into comprehensive CBT programs.

Price: $199.95

>> More Info

View all Communication Books!

View all Social Story Books!

New Release

A QUEST for Social Skills

for Students with Autism or Asperger's

Ready-to-use lessons with games, role-play activities, and more!

Teachers don't want complicated curriculum. They want ready-to-use lesson plans that address their students' needs. QUEST is a great social skills program because it can be easily integrated into a teacher's existing curriculum. Plus, a CD of printable worksheets comes with the book so teachers do not have to constantly make copies and request copyright permissions. Proven effective by evidence-based research, this program has it all.

Price: $24.95

>> More Info

ARCOFSF Member Article Submissions

Advocacy Skills

Kids with autism have limitless possibility. For most, the degree of success comes as a result of early intervention and appropriate educational strategies and supports. No parent or provider should ever view a challenge as a hopeless situation. That’s true for the parent and school relationship as well. Yes, at times there are hurdles to overcome in communication and collaboration with those that you entrust your child’s education to; however in almost every situation the efforts that you make are well worth it.

The IEP is a more powerful document than most parents realize. A well written IEP can drive the educational program for a child and provide documentation needed should a situation arise where your child is not making the progress anticipated. Information within the IEP must be detailed and specific to truly capture the needs, strategies, supports and services necessary for a child to find success. Children whose private therapists work in collaboration with teachers consistently show the greatest amount of progress. A well rounded program that includes educational programming that target the child’s needs, evidence based interventions and components of differentiated instruction, can offer amazing outcomes.

YOU are your child’s best advocate! You are the only one that truly has a vested and passionate interest in the development and progression of your child. There are specific skill sets that will allow you to effectively advocate for your child during the IEP process. We offer some of those here:

1. Be well informed about your child's needs

Learn as much as you possibly can about your child's disability. Find out what the best practices are and how your child's needs can best be met in the school setting. You cannot begin to educate others, until you understand the disability yourself. Learn as much as possible to fully understand how the disability impacts the child.

2. Be Prepared

It is vitally important to acquire the requisite knowledge to advocate successfully. Never stop learning. School districts receive parent education dollars through IDEA and many offer ongoing trainings for parents. Attend as many as is possible to learn not only more about your school system, but the federal and state laws that govern them. In addition, there are several trainings and conferences offered by specific disability agencies. A plethora of information can be gained by consulting with parents struggling with the same issue. Local parent support groups can offer feedback from parents who have traveled the path that you are now following.

3. Remain focused on the child

Oftentimes IEP meetings can become heated situations. More progress can be made when collaboration takes place. This is unlikely to happen when tension is in the air. Remain confident in your attainment of knowledge, know that you are protected by procedural safeguards and focus on the needs of your child.

4. Communication

The ability to communicate clearly and effectively is one of the most important skill sets which a successful advocate brings to educational planning. Too often communication from the school is given in vague educational jargon. Their “lingo” is oftentimes through acronyms that are beyond the parent’s knowledge base. On the other side, parent’s communication tends to be highly emotional; at times focuses on what has happened in the past rather than the present situation; and sometimes fails to convey their true goal. By using effective communication strategies, a bridge can be built to close the gap between home and school.

5. Be proactive, not reactive

It is important to be prepared for your meeting. Make a list of the items that you want to cover and what your objectives are. During a meeting it may be necessary to take strategic “breaks” to allow time for cool down, consultation, and regrouping. Sometimes it is more beneficial to terminate a meeting that is failing to move in a positive direction and protect the record and procedural rights.

6. Ask Questions

If you don't understand terms being used, ask for clarification. Be sure to completely understand the process, procedures, planning and interventions being discussed on behalf of your child. Getting the answers to any questions you may have will help to avoid a sense of frustration.

7. Remain Positive and Supportive

Sometimes this is the most difficult step. You want to feel good about dropping your child off at school each day. The IEP Committee should be a “team” that works together to build a strong educational program for your child. You can be assertive without being aggressive. Working collaboratively with the school will help to build a two way trusting relationship. Remember: anger, hostility, aggression and frustration will not be productive in ensuring the best program is in place for your child. 2-way trusting relationships will maximize your child's benefits.

8.Know your rights

Knowing what alternative actions you have available in advance of the meeting will help you stay focused on the course of the meeting. Your Procedural Safeguards will provide direction should the outcome of the meeting not support the needs of your child. Stay strong, know that the school must provide for his/her needs and be confident in your ability to passionately and vehemently represent your child.

Article submitted by Stacey Hoaglund; Family Support Specialist with Family Network on Disabilities of Broward, and CEO of S.H. Consultants, Inc providing advocacy services outside of Broward County. To contact, please call: or .

Your Event/Article Could Be Here.

The Autism Resource Center of South Florida is currently accepting your events/announcements/articles for our upcoming September 2010 Newsletter.

Please send all submissions to: Autismresourcesf@...

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