CBS just aired an interesting segment on apps for individuals with autism and communicating with the iPad. You can watch the entire segment here:
There’s also an interesting follow-up segment interviewing teachers who feel the apps for people with autism are “overblown”:
Are you using apps with your students with ASD? If so, which ones? What do you think the value of the iPad and other tablets is to the learning needs of the autism population?
As Summer has turned into Fall, it’s important for children to understand the changes that come along with the shifting of the seasons. This deck of Seasons Flashcards shows the activities of each season and what clothes we wear so that children understand how the things we do both inside and outdoors are affected by the time of year. The included cards depict how we snuggle under the covers in the winter cold or splash in the pool in the summer heat. With Autumn in full swing, this is the perfect time to introduce this concept.
To save 15% this week only on the Seasons cards, enter the Promo Code BLOGSF11 at checkout.
*Offer expires on October 25, 2011 at 11:59 pm EST. Not compatible with any other offer. Be sure there are no spaces after the Promo Code when you enter it at checkout.
You’re probably all familiar with the excellent Time Timer. These visual timers have been a staple at home and in classrooms for students with special needs for years now. This week, save 15% on all three sizes of the Timer Timer: 3-inch, 8-inch and 12-inch. The Time Timer is ideal for transitions, scheduling, getting ready and so much more.
Save 15% on the Time Timer today through April 5 by entering the promo code BLOGTTR at checkout.
*Offer expires on April 5, 2011 at 11:59 pm EST. Not compatible with any other offer.
The File Factor Emotional Empowerment System literally came into stock this morning and we’re thrilled! This is a new tool from TD Social Skills that helps individuals regulate strong emotions and constructively resolve conflicts to advance social learning and emotional growth. The File Factor is a wall pocket filing system that provides a structure to learn self-control. By breaking down complex negative emotions into understandable concepts, users can learn to analyze situations from different perspectives and change unproductive thought patterns to resolve conflict. The idea is for children to ‘file away’ negative emotions triggered by disappointment and highlight the positive events in their day.
You can save 15% on The File Factor through March 15 by entering the promo code BLOGFF11 at checkout.
*Offer expires on March 15, 2011 at 11:59 pm EST. Not compatible with any other offer.
I’ve recently moved from one apartment to another one only two blocks away. The funny thing is that it has left me completely discombobulated. I leave the house improperly dressed for the weather because I have no idea where the hats, scarves and gloves are. I’ve fallen behind in several tasks and generally just feel a bit ‘out of it’.
This started me thinking about what families with a child on the spectrum most likely experience when moving. Many children with autism are disrupted by change and any variations in the daily routine can dramatically impact their level of functioning. It would be important when moving, like most predictable events, to prepare your child ahead of time. I only have one first hand experience working with a family who moved. It went pretty smoothly because they were relocating in the same city and had family close by where therapy could take place while the new apartment was being set up. Additionally, this particular child is pretty easy going and isn’t as bothered by change as many of my other students. However, I have a feeling that this is the exception to the rule rather than the norm.
Clearly, all children are different and this should be taken into consideration when preparing them for the move but in general there are some things to consider for all children. I would suggest the following ways to try and lessen the stress and help facilitate a smoother transition.
Prepare your child for the move. – This one goes without saying but I’m going to say it anyway. Just because you think your child might not conceptually understand a discussion about moving doesn’t mean you can’t begin to prepare them for the change. There are many great children’s books about moving and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to start reading these together several weeks before you move. You can create social stories about what changes can be expected and even talk about some of the “what if’s” that can be encountered when moving. If you are moving within the same city or town you can become familiar with the new neighborhood before hand by going to the new playgrounds or any other place you might frequent. If you are not able to visit the new places you can put pictures of them in a photo book to review and discuss. You can also count down the days until the move on a calendar so that the arrival of the actual day is predictable.
Keep the schedule the same as much as possible. – This is always a safe starting place when unsure about how your child might react to change. Whether a holiday or moving to a new apartment if you’re able to keep the schedule the same it will make everyone’s life a little easier. It might also be helpful to reintroduce a visual schedule for a few weeks surrounding the move if you don’t have one in place already.
Keep favorite and comforting items accessible. – If there is a particular toy or item that plays a critical role in your child’s ability to self soothe when upset you will want to make sure you know where it is during the move. The location will be changing but you want to make sure that it still feels like home by having familiar items available. It is also a good idea to have the child’s room set up in a similar way in the new house so there isn’t too much of an adjustment in their personal space. This isn’t a good time to update furniture or purge old toys as you will want to keep things as similar as possible.
Use Positive Reinforcement. – Moving is one giant transition but you can be sure that within that there will be a lot of little transitions and adjustments too. It’s important to not lose sight of any success your child experiences with these smaller transitions up until and even after the move. When your child transitions smoothly REINFORCE it! Reserve a favorite toy or snack as reinforcement for transitions so that it remains powerful and meaningful to the child. Even if these are transitions that no longer require reinforcement you can use it as an opportunity to emphasize their ability to transition and remind them up the upcoming move.
What is your personal experience with moving? Were there things that were crucial to your child transitioning smoothly? Are there things you tried that you would do differently if you had to move again? What tips would you share with other families who are preparing to move? We would love to hear your story!
You’re in luck because this week’s pick is a whole CATEGORY of products! We’re highlighting our wonderful Emotions flashcards this week and offering them to you at a 15% discount. Click here to see the full list of products on sale this week. There are basics such as the Emotions Language Cards which are an ideal introduction to teaching feelings to young learners as well as the more advanced Faces & Feelings Listening Lotto which is a creative way to work on auditory processing and emotions. With 9 different sets of Emotions Flashcards on sale this week, you’re sure to find a set that’s right for your child or student.
Today through March 1, visit Difflearn.com to save 15% on our Emotions Flashcards by entering the Promo Code BLOGEM22 at checkout.
*Offer expires on March 1, 2011 at 11:59 pm EST. Not compatible with any other offer.
President’s day is on Monday and it is likely that there may be some gaps in your child’s home program or perhaps they are home without therapy because school is closed. Either way we all know that structure and the maintenance of routine play a big role in a child’s success. Your best bet is to not leave anything to chance. Create a picture schedule of the planned activities for the day substituting any gaps with activities that your child has had success with independently or activities you can facilitate. Depending on your child’s abilities and his or her individual interests this schedule may include some new activities mapped out by using pictures of each step involved. I’ve really enjoyed simple cooking activities with my students lately. The simple act of making lemonade together provides so many opportunities to expand language, turn-taking, following directions and sequencing. The best part is that when you are done you have delicious lemonade to drink. Whenever I include kitchen activities I like to draw up a pictorial recipe before hand that the child can follow along with. It is also important to keep in mind that not everything has to be explicitly therapeutic or educational. You can have structure without it necessarily including direct instruction. In fact I think that holidays are the best time to mix in some more varied activities. Try printing out images of your child’s favorite storybook character and paste them into a journal while writing your own story to go along with the pictures. Parents and caregivers sometimes shy away from incorporating novel activities into a schedule but with some preparation and guidance it can be an enjoyable “day off” for all.
What does at day off look like in your household? Maybe you can share a fun activity you’ve recently tried?
This week’s pick is the delightful Shopping List Memory Game. The goal of the game is to fill your cart with all of the items on your shopping list. The fun is twofold as the classic memory game also develops personal and social skills.
Today through February 15, visit our site at https://www.difflearn.com to save 15% on the Shopping List game by entering the Promo Code SLDRTL2 at checkout.
*Offer expires on February 15, 2011 at 11:59 pm EST. Not compatible with any other offer.
Readers! We’re excited to introduce a new feature on our blog. Every week, we’re going to showcase a particular product that we love and offer you a chance to purchase it with a discount! We hope you’ll tune in to see what the Pick of the Week will be, obtain the promo code and start saving.
To set this new feature off, this week, we’re highlighting three brand new sets of sequencing flashcards at a 15% discount! These card sets feature crisp, clear and engaging photos that relate to every child’s daily experiences. The Learning to Sequence Cards come in 3-Scene, 4-Scene and 6-Scene sets.
Today through February 8, visit our site at https://www.difflearn.com and enter the Promo Code SEQDRB1 at checkout to save 15% on the Learning to Sequence series.
*Offer expires on February 8, 2011 at 11:59 pm EST. Not compatible with any other offer.
The HollyRod Foundation is raising money to provide free iPads to families in need. Applications are being accepted until December 31, 2010. In trying to donate to the those in the most need, the guidelines stipulate that the child is non-verbal or minimally verbal and that the family falls below a certain income level. We applaud the HollyRod Foundation for trying to make a real difference in the lives of families in our community.