Meet Hannah Toale, Client Sales & Relationships Coordinator

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Hannah ToaleWe’re so pleased to introduce you to the newest member of our team, Hannah Toale.
Hannah joined us in October and has been brightening our days since. That warm and welcoming voice you hear when you call? That’s Hannah. She joins us out of Smith College with a degree in Physics and fresh off a stint as Onsite Sales Supervisor at the illustrious High Line here in NYC.

Hannah has been hard at work coordinating all of our conferences and events, presenting Different Roads from Philadelphia to Ohio, New York to North Carolina (we’re trying to make our way West!). If you have an upcoming event, be it a conference, support group meeting, or professional development day, shoot her an email at hannah@difflearn.com and she’ll find a way for us to participate.

In addition to planning all of our conferences and outreach, Hannah is also our primary customer service person. It’s Hannah’s lovely, helpful and kind voice you hear when you call. She’s a delight to have in the office with her can-do attitude and willingness to always go the extra mile for all our customers. We’re sure anyone who has talked with her will agree!

Natasha asked Hannah a few questions about how she’s settling in so far…

Tell us a bit about yourself. You were a physics major and worked at the world famous High Line. How is the transition to client sales and conference coordinator going?

I studied physics at Smith College with the end goal of being a teacher. I think that many people are so intimidated by math and science they find it difficult to even approach the subjects. I truly believe that people are much more capable then they believe themselves to be and that with patience and approaching a topic from different angles there is so much room to learn and grow. These ideas were what drew me so strongly to Different Roads to Learning. The people and products here help teachers, parents, and care givers work with young children to accomplish a great deal with conventional and unconventional tools. For example the MotivAider, which can be used to help form or break habits for children and adults. Or the Time Timers to help visualize the passing of time. All of the products that Different Roads to Learning has cultivated over the past 19 years are to make learning and developing less intimidating and more fun and attainable and I am very excited to be a part of it.

What part of your day do you most enjoy?

I have really enjoyed answering the phone, even if that sounds silly.  I love being able to help people in whatever way I can and to make the ordering process as easy as possible. I have been able to speak with people all over the U.S. and occasionally receive calls other countries. It is so amazing to me that there are people all over the world with the same goal -helping young learners and Different Roads to Learning seems to be a place they can all go for materials and guidance. Being the first person a customer will talk to and either helping them, or asking someone who can makes it so much fun to work here. Also… working in an office with all of these games and toys is indisputably awesome.

Pick of the Week: “Expanding and Combining Sentences” Interactive Workbook

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For students who are already able to talk or write in simple, choppy sentences, this interactive workbook will open gateways to success in language and literacy! Save 15%* on your purchase of Expanding and Combining Sentences by speech and language pathologist Marilyn M. Toomey this week only, by applying or mentioning our promo code EXPAND8 at check out!

Color picture pages, along with specific instructions, provide a means of evoking interesting and descriptive sentences from students.

Students will learn how to expand their sentences by using the color cues provided in the book, as pictures become progressively colorful and a new detail is added to the sequence. In no time at all, young learners will be able to tell an entire story by using complex and detailed sentences!

97 pages in total with 40 colored pages.  Preview the book.

This interactive workbook will be the perfect resource to teach the challenging task of making sentences more interesting with descriptive words.  Don’t forget – this week only, take 15% off* your order of Expanding and Combining Sentences by applying code EXPAND8 at checkout!

Marilyn M. Toomey is also the author of several other popular speech and language workbooks, such as Talking in Setences, Verbal Reasoning Activities, The Language of Perspective Taking, and much more.

*Offer is valid until 11:59pm EDT on 6/10/2014. Not compatible with other offers. Be sure there are no spaces or dashes in your code at checkout!

Modified Instructions for Shopping List Memory Game

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We’re excited to bring you the fourth installment of our series of Modified Instructions, created by Sam Blanco, BCBA.  Sam’s Modified Instructions present 3-4 additional ways to play a mainstream game to make it most useful and accessible for our students with special needs.  These alternative instructions break down each adapted game by:

  • Age/Skill Level
  • Number of Players
  • Object
  • Skills Required
  • Materials Needed
  • Prep
  • Instructions
  • Considerations

In this installment, we’re introducing Sam’s Modified Instructions for Shopping List, one of our favorite memory games. Shopping List is an adorable memory game that also develops personal and social skills.

The goal of the game is to be the first to fill your cart with all of the items on your shopping list.  It is designed with the objective to have players fill a trolley with the items on their shopping list. However, there are multiple games and activities that can be played with these materials to meet the specific needs of your learners.

Included in the game are 4 cardboard carts, 4 shopping lists, and 32 beautifully illustrated items with dry-erase surfaces. Don’t forget to download our free Modified Instructions for Shopping List today!

Pick of the Week: Robot Turtles – The Game for Little Programmers

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We’re thrilled to announce the arrival of the highly-rated game Robot Turtles: The Little Game for Programmers to our store. Robot Turtles an innovative board game that teaches the fundamentals of computer programming to kids as young as 4 years old without a screen. That’s right – no screen, no keyboard, no special effects; just great design and an innovative concept! And this week only, we’re offering a 15% discount* on this great new game. Just enter TURTLES3 at checkout to redeem your savings on your set of Robot Turtles.

With its origin as the most backed board game in Kickstarter history, Robot Turtles sneakily teaches the fundamentals of programming, from coding to functions, while making silly turtle noises! This game takes seconds to learn, minutes to play, and provides endless learning opportunities. With 4 different levels of play, including basic game play, unlocking obstacles and lasers, unlocking a “write program,” and unlocking the function frog, Robot Turtles is a wonderful game for preschoolers to grow with.

Each set of Robot Turtles comes with:

  • 1 game board
  • 40 game tiles
  • 4 robot turtle tiles
  • 4 jewel tiles
  • 4 code card decks, with 45 cards each

As the best selling board game in all of Kickstarter history, Robot Turtles has been highly anticipated by game creators and consumers alike, and has received a considerable amount of mainstream press. In a recently published New York Times article, creator of the game Dan Shapiro explains his rationale behind creating the game. “Those [game] pieces are intended to represent the commands of a computer program.” Children are required to select cards to move their pieces around the board, pushing or destroying obstacles in their way. With the glowing reviews it has received on trending social media sites, Robot Turtles is sure to teach young learners the fundamentals of a necessary skill in modern technology in a fun and interactive way.

Don’t forget – this week only, take 15% off* your purchase of the brand-new Robot Turtles game by applying code TURTLES3 at checkout!

*Offer is valid through 11:59pm EDT on June 3, 2014. Not compatible with any other offer. Be sure there are no spaces or dashes in your code at checkout!

Tips for Traveling with Kids with Autism

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Taking any long trip when you have a child with autism can be daunting, especially when it involves long periods of time in the car or on an airplane. Below are a few tips for reducing stress during travel time.

  • Create a visual or textual schedule for your child.  Because trips don’t always go as planned (e.g. planes are delayed, you get caught in traffic), it’s probably not a good idea to list specific times that activities will be occurring. But it is helpful to show the order in which they will be happening.
  • Prepare your child for potential problems.  If possible, talk about coping methods ahead of time and practice them if possible. What can you do if you’re stuck in traffic that isn’t moving? What are your choices if we experience turbulence on the plane?
  • Provide information for your child.  Show photos, books, maps, etc. of the locations you’ll be traveling to. You can also read books or show photos of activities you’ll be participating in, such as swimming or skiing.
  • If possible, pack more than one activity bag.  Bags filled with a few favorite activites or small toys can be useful for keeping kids entertained on trips. For long trips, your child may get bored with items in an activity bag. It’s useful to keep a second one stashed in a suitcase or other bag if you’ll be on a very long flight or car ride. It can also be useful to have a separate activity bag for the return trip if you know your child may lose interest in the first one.
  • Provide options when possible.  Access to choices can go a long way in keeping kids calm. Choices can include what videos to watch, snacks to eat, etc.
  • Check in advance with guest services at hotels, resorts, or theme parks.  Ask what modifications and accessibility options they may offer. Many places offer special accommodations and are open to any unique requests you may have.
  • Prepare in advance for any sensory concerns.  Bring noise-cancelling headphones, ear plugs, fidgets, etc. to have available, as needed.

Remember that long trips are difficult for all children, and many of the tips listed above are beneficial for siblings who do not have special needs.

Urge U.S. Congress to Cover ABA for Military Kids with Autism

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A new bill was introduced requiring TRICARE to cover Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for all military children with developmental disabilities, including autism. The Caring for Military Children with Developmental Disabilities Act of 2014, sponsored by U.S. Representatives John Larson (D-CT) and Tom Rooney (R-FL), marks the latest effort in Congress to improve and standardize medical coverage of ABA therapy for military families affected by autism and other developmental disabilities.

It is estimated that 23,000 military dependents, including children of active duty, reserve and guard families, are affected by autism.

Excited returning soldier hugging her son

Given frequent duty station changes and social turmoil of military service, military children affected by autism often face additional challenges that their civilian counterparts do not necessarily face every day. “Our common sense bill helps ensure that the children of our troops and military retirees have access to the health care services they need,” Rooney said.

The bills, HR.4630 and S.2333, would provide access to ABA for all military children with developmental disabilities, improve coverage to address medically recommended treatment levels, and allow for coverage of the ABA tiered service delivery model which includes Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts and ABA Technicians.

TRICARE now has three different programs delivering ABA services in three different ways, and not one of them is permanent.

Please urge your U.S. Representatives and Senators to pass the new bill to make ABA coverage a permanent medical benefit under TRICARE for all military children affected by autism and other developmental delays. Visit Autism Speaks and take action by sending an email with your message of support for these military families in need.

VOTE to Name Our Worm!

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Thank you to everyone who participated last week in suggesting a name for our worm! We had a blast reading through all the wonderfully quirky and creative suggestions. Out of hundreds of submissions, we’ve narrowed down the choices to our top 4, and now we’d like for YOU to vote on the best name!

Vote to Name Our Worm!

Cast your vote here! Results of the poll will be shared next week, so don’t forget to check back here or our Facebook page.

Pick of the Week: Coin-U-Lator & Worksheets – Teach Money Skills in a Fun and Interactive Way

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Learn about money with this fun and interactive coin-counting calculator! Use the Coin-U-Lator to count money, teach the value of different coins, determine how much money is needed to make a purchase, and more! This week only, save 15%* when you order the Coin-U-Lator and/or the Coin-U-Lator Worksheets when you apply our promo code COINU7 at checkout!

Each realistic coin and dollar button on the Coin-U-Lator makes a sound when pressed. These sounds are inherently reinforcing and make learning about money and counting all the more fun for students! Use the simple +/- switch on the Coin-U-Lator to change the math activity from addition to subtraction, as well as amute button to turn on or off the variety of fun, realistic sounds. There are also two fun learning games, and when the correct answer is entered, players are rewarded with a “Good Job!” or “Way to Go!”. There’s also an Oops button to go back and fix mistakes. Batteries and instructions come included.

The Coin-U-Lator Worksheets comprise a hands-on program of 100 reproducible worksheets that teach the value of coins and money. These worksheets come compiled in a binder notebook and can be used with or without the Coin-U-Lator. The worksheets are arranged in progressive levels of difficulty for students with varying knowledge of math and money.

The Coin-U-Lator and Coin-U-Lator Worksheets are  available only in US Dollars. 

Don’t forget — this week only, you can  take 15% off* your order of the Coin-U-Lator and/or the Coin-U-Lator Worksheets by applying COINU7 at check out online!

*Offer is valid until 11:59pm ET on May 27, 2014.  Not compatible with any other offer. Code is case-sensitive—be sure there are no spaces or dashes in your code at checkout!

Introducing Little Mixers: A Weekly Social Skills Playgroup in Brooklyn

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Little Mixers BklnStacy Asay, one of our wonderful and beloved consultants, is launching the Little Mixers series, a social skills group based in Brooklyn! Headed by Stacy and Sharon Alkalay, this weekly Little Mixers series will be a special mix of fun, food, and friendship for young children between the ages of 3 and 7. Sessions will be held at Beansprouts at 14th Street and 6th Avenue in Park Slope.

Each meeting will consist of a guided lesson, group discussion, interactive games and a cooking activity, all thematically focused around a particular social skill. Each week a new social skill will be introduced with the session, culminating in an expanded repertoire of social skills and perhaps a new friend!

Parents will be provided a hand-out with suggestions and strategies to practice throughout the week in order to facilitate carry-over of a target skill.

Little Mixers will be holding 2 sessions for Spring/Summer 2014:
Mondays: 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (ages 5-7)
Thursdays: 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (ages 3-5)

For more detailed information, please visit the Little Mixers website at www.littlemixersbrooklyn.com, or email Stacy Asay at littlemixersbrooklyn@gmail.com.

About the Group leaders

Sharon Alkalay, MS, CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist with over 8 years of experience working with infants, toddlers and children. As a classically-trained musician, she enjoys incorporating multi-modal/multi-sensory techniques into her therapy sessions through use of music, art, movement, sensory integration and dramatic play. She believes that successful engagement with a child should be accomplished gracefully with creativity, humor and compassion. Her special interests include working with children with social-language difficulties, apraxia of speech, autism spectrum disorders and language/learning disorders.

Stacy L. Asay, LMSW, is a licensed social worker, providing home and school based services to children and their families in the New York City area. With nearly 16 years of experience, her work with special needs children integrates a strengths-based, holistic approach to child and family augmented with the tools of Applied Behavior Analysis, a methodology that allows for reliable measurement, objective evaluation of behaviors, and the systematic teaching of language and learning skills.  This results in an individualized curriculum that equips children with the tools they need for learning and living while honoring their unique spirit.