Category Archives: News and Updates

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.

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!

Batting

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…

October is Rett Syndrome Awareness Month

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October is a great time to learn more about Rett syndrome since it is Rett Syndrome awareness month. Rett syndrome is considered a part of the Autism Spectrum. It used to only be diagnosed in girls, but as researchers find out more, Rett syndrome is beginning to be diagnosed in a small number of boys.

There are lots of activities going on throughout the southeastern states this month. See if you can get in on the fun and learn a little about Rett syndrome in the process.

Blue Sky Girls of Alabama
October 13, 1012, 9:00 am Alabama State Capital Building, Montgomery, AL

Blue Sky Girls of Georgia
October 13, 2012, 11:00 am Georgia State Capital Building, Atlanta, GA

Black Out Rett Syndrome
October 27, 2012, 7:00 pm Celtic Media Center Baton Rouge, LA
A musical evening with Clint Black

One of the main areas affected by Rett syndrome is communication. Many girls (and boys) with Rett may not talk and will need a communication system developed to help them communicate and participate in school, at home, and in the community. Depending on whether the child has functional use of her hands will determine if the communication system should focus on a system that is activated to talk by touch or whether an eye gaze and/or use of head will work better. There are many amazing Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems and it is important to find the one that will work best for your child. Companies such as PRC and Dynavox make high technology devices for children that include eye gaze technology or head pointing systems that allow children to communicate by looking at a particular picture/word on a computer screen or slightly moving their head.

One of the most important things to get children with Rett syndrome communicating is “yes” and “no.” “Yes” is usually taught by getting the child to look straight at the person asking the questions, while “no” is usually taught by getting the child to look away. Once you have a firm “yes” and “no,” you are on your way to a communication system.

To find out more information about Rett syndrome or what you can do to help, visit the International Rett Syndrome Foundation website.

Central MS Down Syndrome Society Hosts Annual Buddy Walk

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The annual Buddy Walk for individuals with Down syndrome is arriving quickly! The date for the walk is October 13, 2012 and registration begins at 8:30 with the opening ceremony at 9:30.

Click here for more information about the Buddy Walk.

There will also be a concert with Steve Azar with gates opening at 6 pm at the MS Ag Museum with silent & live Auction, food tasting, and cash bar.  Come join me in supporting families and individuals with Down syndrome.

Mississippi Department of Education held Autism Institute on Gulf Coast

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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

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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)

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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.