Showing posts with label Awareness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Awareness. Show all posts

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Working with Children with Autism: Tips and Collaboration Ideas

I am SO excited about this post today!  To continue with Autism Awareness, I invited Sasha, over at The Autism Helper, to write a guest post about working with children with autism and their classroom teachers.  She teaches in a self-contained classroom with 10-14 year olds with autism! She is currently working on her Master's degree in Applied Behavior Analysis!



Working with Children with Autism: Although I am sure I could write an overly long book about this topic I would love to share - what I think - are the most important things to know and consider! SLPs are BEYOND important in the world of autism! In my mind, building communication is priority number one. Communication opens the door to a wide range of other skills, environments, and opportunities. 

My tips :) 

Collaborate with the Teacher: One of my favorite parts of my job is collaborating with the clinicians that work in my classroom. I love getting another perspective and having someone to bounce ideas off of. I have been very fortunate to have some amazing therapists to work with. These therapists have melded perfectly within our classroom dynamic. I appreciate a clinician who: respects our classroom schedule {it's there for a reason and my students know when they are supposed to have therapy and when they aren't}, asks my opinion {we are a team, right?!}, communicates with me, and is flexible {sometimes things just don't go as planned!}.

Teach the Teacher: Like I said, I love collaborating. Leave the classroom teacher suggestions for how to incorporate your ideas and techniques into the student's day to day schedule. Give realistic suggestions that are doable! Yes, I would love to embed a communication opportunity into each and every activity we do - but sometimes I just honestly don't have time with a full classroom on my hands. Don't be offended if your suggestions aren't immediately taken up :)

Understand and Use the Behavior Plan: This might actually be the most important point. Children with autism can sometimes have very challenging behavior. If the teacher is using a behavior intervention that is successful - use it! Consistency is beyond important when implementing some interventions and it is imperative that expectations stay constant throughout the student's day. If you have questions about the behavior plan - ask! Make sure you feel comfortable with the system. 

Reinforcement: This is probably important point #2! Really look at what reinforces each students' behavior (behavior meaning communication!). Some children with autism are not reinforced by social praise as many other children are. Some types of communication may be initially challenging for students with autism because the social attention the communication results in is not reinforcing to them! Social skills deficits are a diagnostic criteria of autism and is something that needs to be targeted! When working on social communication skills or other new communication skills, use high magnitude reinforcers! Let the student work for break time, iPad, snacks, etc. You can always fade it out later - but many times you will need this to develop new skills! The example I always use is - you wouldn't come to work if you didn't get paid, would you? Our students need a reason to work!

Keep it Structured: Since most children with autism struggle with communication, unfamiliar transitions or activities can be difficult for them because they do not know what to expect. Children with autism thrive when the environment is structured and routine based. Make sure to come at a regular time. Ease in new activities slowly to allow students to adjust and become familiar with the task expectations!

Less is More: I am probably preaching to the choir on this one - but so often with my students less is more when it comes to language. Even some of my highest functioning students, have deceivingly low receptive language. They are often good fakers and can play along like they understand. But many times they do not.

Sasha has a lot of great activities in her TpT store.  She is the queen of file folder activities :) She also has a Facebook page where she will post pictures, tips, and activities!  To see her website, click on the picture below: 


I hope you learned a lot from her!! I know I certainly did! I will definitely be implementing these strategies with some of my students.  

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Tuesday, April 2, 2013

World Autism Awareness Day

Today is Word Autism Awareness Day!  It's also Autism Awareness Month!
 

First, let me tell you why I care about autism.  One of our family friends has a daughter that was recently diagnosed with it.  I think when something hits close to home, it really starts to have an impact on you, and this certainly did for me! I heard stories of frustration over seeing specialist after specialist and getting rejected from various things.  I can't remedy their situation, but I can spread awareness, in the hopes that it is a way of giving back (kinda!).  

There are a lot of theories out there about where autism comes from/what it is caused by. I'm not interested in discussing that, because a lot of it is political. Quite frankly, there isn't enough research on it yet, either!  What I do want to talk about is basic facts and resources that can be used with children with autism.

FACTS:
-Characteristics include difficulties with social interactions, verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive behavior
-Autism is a SPECTRUM and includes autistic disorder, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, PDD-NOS, and Asperger syndrome  (NOTE: These will be all under the term ASD when the DSM-V comes out in May 2013).
-Associations: intellectual disability, difficulties with motor coordination, difficulties with attention, some difficulties with physical health
-roughly 1 in 88 children have autism (1 in 54 boys and 1 in 252 girls) in the United States...that's more than diabetes, cancer, or AIDS combined

RESOURCES:
-Autism Speaks 
-Autism Facts Sheet
-List of Autism Apps here
-The Autism Helper (blog)

WAYS TO GET INVOLVED:

 -Find an Autism Speaks walk near you
-Build-A-Bear Autism Speaks Bear (they donate money from each sale)
-Clothing companies with positive messages about autism (more info on Autism Speaks website)

By the way, Smart Apps for Kids is throwing a giveaway just for this day!  You can enter to win an IPAD 2!!!  Enter here

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Thursday, March 21, 2013

World Down Syndrome Day

You may or may not know that today is World Down Syndrome Day!  Many places around the world are hosting events today to raise awareness for Down Syndrome.  The motto this year is "Let's Change" and is focusing on equal rights, inclusive education, employment, health care, and independent living for those with Down Syndrome!  Pretty cool, right?  You know what else is amazing??  The United Nations recognizes this day!

How you can get involved:
It's quite simple.  Just wear lots of socks!! You read that correctly.  Wear bright, mismatched socks today!  Here's the thing--they have to be on display so that people can ask about them!  Maybe it's 3 socks (or an EXTRA sock) for an extra chromosome!  Get creative and find out more info here.

Image: World Down Syndrome Day

Myths/Facts about Down Syndrome (from Down Syndrome International):
-Myth: People with down syndrome do not live very long.
-Fact: People with down syndrome can live long lives thanks to medical advances.

-Myth: Only older mothers have babies with Down Syndrome.
-Fact: Older women do have a higher risk to have a baby with Down Syndrome. However, more babies with Down Syndrome are born to younger mothers.

-Myth: People with Down syndrome cannot achieve normal life goals.
-Fact: They can, with the right support. They can learn to walk, talk, etc. A lot of children with down syndrome are now mainstreamed in school and can live semi-independent adult lives.

Language guidelines for talking about Down Syndrome (from Down Syndrome International):
-Don't say "mongol"...instead say "person/baby/child with Down Syndrome"
-Don't say "suffers from" or "is a victim of"...instead say "has Down Syndrome"
-Don't say "a Downs baby/child/person"...instead say "a person/baby/child with Down Syndrome"
-Don't say "retarded/mentally handicapped"...instead say "learning disability"
-Don't say "disease/illness/handicap"...instead say "condition OR genetic condition"
-Don't say "Downs"...instead say "DS" when abbreviating

Hope you found some of that interesting. I certainly did!!  Spread awareness and wear some socks :)



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