Author: Dr. Rebecca Mullican

About Dr. Rebecca Mullican

Received her Ph.D. in Special Education, Emphasis: Severe/Low Incidence Disability at the University of Southern Mississippi. She has seventeen years of experience working with students with autism. Learn more…

Oh, The Places Dr. Rebecca Mullican Will Go!

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January 2012 272Although this is not my favorite Dr. Seuss book, it is the most fitting for me on this first anniversary of the defense of my dissertation. Dr. Seuss’ birthday will never be celebrated in quite the same way for me. However, I saw it so fitting that I receive my PhD on Dr. Seuss’ birthday 2012 in honor of all of my students, past, present, and future, who love the books and ideas Dr. Seuss brought to us. He has come to mean so much to me over this past decade as his books have motivated and reached so many of the kids I teach. Last year was a Dr. Seuss year for me! While traveling to speak at conferences, I was able to attend a special Dr. Seuss exhibit in Chicago, visit the Dr. Seuss Land in Orlando, and defend my dissertation on his birthday.

Dr. Seuss (actually pronounced to rhyme with voice) was not so different from some of the kiddos I work with. His books were inspired by his genuine desire for everyone to be treated equally and by the fact that he was not treated equally by peers. I learned this at the special exhibit at the Field Museum in Chicago. He was reading complex books at a very early age and was inspired by his mom who worked in a library. His dad’s influence came from his job at the zoo and the taxidermy projects he brought home.Ted was allowed to paint and rearrange the animals which led to him making new animals which we know and love from his books.

I am so excited on this anniversary to be the founder of Jackson Autism Center. I am looking forward to what this year will bring for the individuals and families I have the joy of serving. I know that working as a team, expecting great things, we will continue to be amazed with the progress we see. High expectations are part of what I believe to be the success I see within my clients. Enjoy Dr. Seuss’ birthday and all of the successes your child has had so far…and remember…

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New Intervention Service Being Offered through Jackson Autism Center

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I am very excited to share a new opportunity that is in the works for 2013! It is geared towards children who are 3-6 years old and are being homeschooled, are not yet in a preschool program, or thrive with small group intervention for learning. Other children may be considered if deemed appropriate. This program, “Stay and Play,” is two days a week for two hours and consists of typical school activities such as circle time, one-on-one work, small group work, social play skills, and snack. It is developed for a small group learning environment, with a maximum of 2-3 children per group. Children participating will be learning new academic, social/personal, and fine motor skills through thematic units. “Stay and Play” meets the sensory needs of children with special needs as well as academic and social/personal needs. This program is offered on a first-come, first-serve basis so please inquire if you are interested. Children participating will be required to complete an academic evaluation through Jackson Autism Center.

More information is available here: Jackson Autism Center Stay and Play March to May 2013.

Find My Friends App Assists Children with Autism

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APWow. I came across this article this morning about my sweet friend Addison. The Find My Friends app was developed after a very scary night for Addy and her family when she was able to escape her bedroom and go for a neighborhood walk alone with her ipod. Her parents wrote Steve Jobs to share their story and believe Addy was part of the reason the app was created. I remember that night like it was yesterday as Addy’s mom called me in horror to share what had happened to her baby. We were very thankful for her safe return home and hope this app will help others return home safely too.

For people unfamiliar with autism, elopement is when a person wanders or runs off without permission. The Interactive Autism Network conducted a study that said elopement occurs with about half of the children with ASD. Elopement is a major issue that parents and professionals deal with. There have been a variety of tools marketed to assist with eloping, such as the big red safety box, Project Lifesaver, and  items like the “Mommy, I’m Here”  child locator. The Find My Friends app  is an application that helps locate friends with a street address so that situations like Addy’s can hopefully be avoided.

Elopement can happen anywhere. I have had students elope from the playground, classroom, and any other place at school. It is a horrible feeling the moment that you realize he/she has escaped yet again. There is nothing that explains the fear that you feel when you don’t know where he/she has gone. Understanding why the behavior is occurring can assist in trying to prevent further elopements, but does not always fix everything. It is important to do everything we can to prevent reoccurrances, but to also be prepared in case it happens again.

It is important for not only parents and professionals working with autism to understand about elopement, but  community members and safety professionals as well. Too many times, parents are receiving blame for elopement when they are doing all they can to stop their child from running away. Educating others about elopement and letting neighbors know about children that pose a risk of elopement are great starts to further protecting our children.

The following item was helpful to me within a school setting when the child is going to be fairly closeby:

Building Partnerships…Working Together Conference Jackson, MS

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After I signed up for this conference, I wanted to make sure everyone knows about it! Dr. Emily Rubin will be here as the keynote speaker which is super exciting along with many other speakers. Dr. Emily Rubin is a coauthor of the SCERTS model, which I am a big fan of- SCERTS combines teaching social communication and behavioral skills with child-centered activities while also focusing on how parents and professionals can better meet the needs of individuals with an autism spectrum disorder.

The conference will be held in Jackson, MS March 4-5, 2013 at the Jackson Convention Center. The fee is only $25 and there are stipends available for parents through the MSPTI. Encourage your teachers to attend also! This is a great opportunity for parents, teachers, school districts, etc. to learn more in order to facilitate the best opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Jackson Autism Center will have a table, so please stop by and visit.

disABILITY Awareness Day Jackson, MS February 13, 2013

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In just a few days, on Wednesday, February 13, professionals and families alike will gather at the MS Capitol Building to raise disability awareness, speak with our representatives and senators regarding current laws, and network together to find services for individuals with disabilities. To register, click here.

Jackson Autism Center will be attending this event that is hosted by the Mississippi Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities. Please stop by the table and introduce yourselves. JAC is interested in serving your needs.

Ridgeland Challenger Baseball League Now Accepting New Players for 2013

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One of my favorite times of the year is coming soon- springtime. Along with spring, comes one of my favorite activities: baseball. The Ridgeland Challenger League allows all individuals with disabilities to participate in the baseball season. It has been my joy and honor to play alongside these guys for several years now. Kids can begin at age 5 and play into adulthood. The kids have a genuine baseball experience- down to the heat and sweat that comes with Mississippi summers. However, the League prides itself in allowing children, youth, and adults participate in ways that they are comfortable. On the youngest field, it sometimes looks more like practice in order to keep kids engaged in the game. You may see a dad and his son throwing the ball in the outfield or playing chase. A season of Challenger League baseball always comes with “firsts” – I have seen children hit their first baseball, run the bases independently, and slide into home. It never ceases to amaze me to see the difference between the first game and the last one.

To register your child, click on RCL reg form. Don’t forget to turn it in before February 15, 2013 to ensure your child’s place on a team!

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Special Needs Symposium in Ridgeland, MS

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I found out some exciting news yesterday afternoon. Parents and Kids Magazine is hosting a special needs symposium AT NO COST to families of young children with special needs (birth-twelve years) at Covenant Presbyterian Church Thursday, January 31! This is a great way to meet other families who may be at similar stages as your family, find out about different services available, and receive support from professionals and families alike. Jackson Autism Center will have a booth, so please stop by and visit. The flyer below includes all of the information you need. Registration is required, so act fast.

Flyer – Special Needs Symposium 2013

 

Autism Public Meeting in Hattiesburg, MS

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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.

MS CEC February Conference to include Dr. Rebecca Mullican of Jackson Autism Center

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The fast approaching MS CEC conference will be held at the Golden Moon Casino and Resort in Philadelphia, MS on February 6-8, 2013. Dr. Rebecca Mullican will have two presentations that you will not want to miss during this conference! One will discuss her dissertation topic of children with autism who use speech generating devices to communicate and the other focuses on the connection between behavior and communication. You can review the schedule here and the session topics here. If you would like general information about Mississippi’s Council for Exceptional Children, you can visit here.

Dr. Mullican’s first presentation, Linking Communication and Behavior, will focus on the need for all individuals to have a consistent way to communicate. Individuals are misunderstood because of challenging behavior and a lack of communication. Through a better understanding of the connection between behavior and communication, professionals and parents can assist individuals with special needs in creating a communication system that works.

Dr. Mullican’s second MS CEC presentation, “It Is His Voice” Daily Device Use with Children who Have Autism, will share information from Dr. Mullican’s dissertation which focused on families of children who have autism and use a Speech Generating Device (SGD) to communicate. Six families across the United States participated in two interviews to share their experiences with their child who has autism and communicates with a SGD. Dr. Rebecca Mullican will be presenting with Dr. John Bishop, a CISE professor at the University of Southern Mississippi.

These and many more presentations will make the MS CEC conference one you will not want to miss. A variety of information will be presented, from the DORE program to positive behavior support, Mississippi Alternate Assessment, Common Core for individuals with moderate and severe disabilities, and twice-exceptional children. Hope to see you there.

~I was unable to attend CEC as scheduled for personal reasons. However, I will be participating in other speaking events so stay tuned…