Why am I so Emotional?

Recently, I have had the joy and honor to speak to others through a few different venues about autism spectrum disorders…and I tear up each time. I ask myself- why is something I do every day having such an emotional reaction when talking to others? Let me answer that…after much contemplation…I am so passionate about autism and making a difference not only for kids, but for families also, that speaking to others about it just makes me cry. I love making a difference for kids every day…and more importantly, for their families too! I do not take the work I do lightly and each moment and each accomplishment means so much to everyone involved. When a child says mama for the first time, we swell with pride…and the accomplishments my kiddos are making are just as phenomenal. It’s amazing when you look at the world with rose colored glasses because every single thing means the world to you and you just can’t wait for the next “little” thing. So, to my life of “little-not-so-little accomplishments,” I’m so happy to be a part of your child’s daily, weekly, monthly accomplishments.

Autism Public Meeting in Hattiesburg, MS

If you live in the Hattiesburg, MS area and have a child with autism or work with children with autism, you will not want to miss this opportunity to share your thoughts and feelings about what is needed for individuals with autism in the state of Mississippi! The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 22. 2013 from 6:00-7:30 pm at the Trent Lott Center in Hattiesburg. The Mississippi Autism Advisory Committee is seeking feedback from parents and professionals about what Mississippi can do to improve services in the area of autism.

If you are not in the Hattiesburg area, there will be additional Autism Hearings in the following areas soon: Starkville (T.K. Martin Center) and Meridian.

Autism Public Hearing to Gather Information in Jackson, MS

Families, teachers, therapists, and other individuals who are interested in the well being of persons with autism spectrum disorder should come to this public hearing on Tuesday, November 27 6-7:30 pm at the Eudora Welty Library in downtown Jackson, MS. This is an opportunity given by the Mississippi Autism Advisory Committee to be heard on topics that you believe are important to persons with ASD. I want to encourage you to take time out of your busy schedules to share your experiences with individuals who have autism as well as strengths and weaknesses and areas Mississippi needs to address to better assist these individuals. Every voice should be heard!

Mississippi Department of Education held Autism Institute on Gulf Coast

I recently returned from a conference sponsored by the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) put on for the Autism Institute which has yearly conferences in MS to train teachers and personnel to better meet the needs of kids with autism in our state. This year, it was our pleasure to have Emily Rubin, MS, CCC-SLP, talk to us about autism and strategies to make us more successful working with this population. Emily talked about how important visual strategies are for the organization of individuals who have autism. One idea she specifically talked about for school settings is the use of a “help box.” This is a visual/written strategy that gives reminders to children when they have many steps to follow. This universally designed help box assists students in an inclusive environment without pointing to learning differences.

Emily is one of the coauthors of the SCERTS model which focuses on goals related to the Social Communication, Emotional Regulation, and Transactional Supports needed to make kids with autism successful. SCERTS allows professionals to focus on the key aspects of development that are important for individuals with autism. Some of the key aspects of SCERTS are child-centered programming in natural situations and settings that are developed based on growth and development. Another great thing about SCERTS is you can use it along with other programs, such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), TEACCH, verbal behavior, and with Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).
SCERTS is a model that I personally have used for over six years with students who have challenges with social skills, communication, behavior, and those who need specific supports in place from the adults they work with. I feel confident using SCERTS because it teaches individuals with autism in a natural, fun environment. You can read more about SCERTS here or you can fill out a contact form to begin a SCERTS assessment for your child. If you are a professional or are interested in purchasing your own copy of the SCERTS manuals, follow the link below:

Parent Blogs Daydreams from the Spectrum

Sometimes I know parents and professionals working with kids who have autism feel lonely, disconnected, and like no one could understand them. I know I have felt that way before as a special educator. The great thing about the internet is it gives us opportunities to look up and around and realize we are not alone. I worry that parents spend a lot of this time in a lonely, disconnected world. So, as a great reminder that you are not alone, I wanted to share a blog that was posted on facebook. Among the challenges we face with autism, there are always rewards. Hold on to the good moments and the times when he or she surprise you doing or saying something new because these are the moments that make it all worth while. One of my recent favorite moments occurred recently when I ran into a student I taught many years ago and he said, “Bye Ms. Rebecca.” Most people wouldn’t think anything of that- but to me, it meant the world. This student didn’t really use my name much, so his sweet voice and remembering me was so special. It made my day!

 

Certified to work with Children using Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

I am very pleased to announce that I have completed the LAMP training through the Center for AAC & Autism aacandautism.com and am the second certified LAMP professional in Mississippi. The Center for AAC and Autism is helping more and more children learn to communicate using speech generating devices AKA Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).

LAMP stands for Language Acquisition through Motor Planning and is a therapy tool to help children with autism and other related disabilities to learn and use language to communicate. I personally have been using LAMP in the classroom for over four years and have been excited to help children not only learn to communicate better, but also increase communications by using core vocabulary. Core vocabulary are the words that are most used in every day speech. It helps kids with disabilities get “more bang for their buck” when communicating by teaching fewer words with higher rates of generalization. LAMP has a large focus on core vocabulary such as every day verbs and pronouns with less of a focus on teaching nouns. By focusing on core vocabulary, kids are able to communicate in more settings and with more activities because they are not pigeonholed into words like “cookie, hat, or Elmo” that only have one meaning. A typical core word LAMP may teach instead is “that” which after taught, can translate into many different scenarios and items. What a better use of a word!

To learn more about LAMP, check out aacandautism.com or join the Center for AAC & Autism on facebook!

What does this mean for the Jackson Autism Center? JAC will be able to help more children learn to communicate using AAC and LAMP! I am so excited about being able to help teach more children how to communicate. If you are interested in learning more, please fill out the information on my contact page: contact me.

Five great summer activities for children with autism

July is here and by this time of the summer, a lot of parents are saying “Now what? How can I keep my child interested and engaged for the rest of the summer?” If you are one of those parents, I hope this list helps you find something fun to do!

5. Stay cool indoors! Try going bowling- it’s a great activity that not only allows you to interact with your child plus many of the newer bowling alleys have a computer screen that shows silly scenes after you bowl which may catch your child’s attention and even motivate them to bowl again! It usually isn’t too crowded during the day and you might even save a few bucks. Put the bumpers up and if your child doesn’t have great fine motor skills, teach them to granny bowl (put between their legs and roll). The fan by the bowling balls that cools your hands may also be a sensory bonus.
Take turns bowling and move as quickly or slowly as your child prefers! I have even had kids who wanted to take my turn and their turn. We turned it into a great game and cheered each other on. It’s not about who wins or loses- it’s how you play the game…

4. Buy sidewalk chalk with the 3-D glasses. This is a great opportunity to draw pictures, write letters or words, make a hopscotch board, etc. The 3-D glasses just add more fun. Some ways to engage your child: take turns, ask questions about what color they want, get them to tell you what to draw or what color to use, and even “erase” the scene with water and watch it dry in the sun.

3. Another great summer activity is going to the movies. In the Jackson area, Tinseltown and Malco (maybe United Artists too) have weekday showings in the morning at a special summer price. It may be busy, but this is a good time to try going to a movie and not feeling self-conscious about your child being too loud or not sitting still. There are all ages at these showings and everyone is typically friendly. AND, if you have to leave early, it’s much cheaper than usual admissions, so you can always build up a child’s tolerance of the movie theatre while you are not paying full price.

2. A way to incorporate reading with fun in the summer is to set up a tent in the house or in the backyard and get cozy with books. Camping items are great for kids with autism- and add a lot of sensory fun too. You can use flashlights, glow bracelets, and sleeping bags. Step it up a notch and include a little fishing game with the magnet poles and circular moving pond, fishing hats, books about wildlife and camping, and stuffed animals that live in the forest. These toys allow you to interact with your child in ways that may not have occurred on your usual summer schedule. Of course, no camping trip is complete without a special snack like s’mores- and they can be made gluten-free as well. Happy camping!

1. One of the programs that I think is widely overlooked in the summer is the local library reading program. The Jackson Hinds Library System has an awesome summer reading program that not only gets your child reading or you reading with your child, but also plans lots of activities for the kids- almost daily! Activities are free to anyone and with lots of libraries, there are lots of special things going on usually including “The Snake Man,” a real helicopter, plus lots more! This is a great way for your child to not only be included, but be exposed to new and interesting things.

These are just a few things that stick out in my mind from the many summers that I have taken children with autism into the community. I hope you will try some of these activities and find them as enjoyable as I have. If you try any of the above activities or have any topics you would like discussed in news and updates, please let me know what you think by completing the contact form. Happy summer!

Webinar – Family Experiences with Autism and Speech Generating Devices

For those who want to know more about autism and speech generating devices, I will be doing a webinar next Thursday afternoon, June 7, 2012, 3:30-4:30 EST.  I will be sharing my research where I interviewed families about the use of speech generating devices with their son or daughter who has autism. My presentation will be not only informative, but also entertaining as I share family experiences. Registration is $39 through ATIA. The following is a link to register:
http://www.atia.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageID=4177

How One Child with Autism Found Her Voice Using a Speech Generating Device

A friend recently brought a success story to my attention about the use of technology with a child who was considered to have severe autism who is now able to express herself by typing. Carly had no way to communicate until the age of 10 when she began by typing three simple words: help teeth hurt. She has written a book about her experiences that came out on March 27, 2012.

Here is a link to an additional article:
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Health/20080217/favaro_carly_080217/