Healing Thresholds info on all topics

Teen with Autism Prompts Dad to Write a Book About His Journey

scottie — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:56:26 +0000

Teaser:

When asked about his autism, Ezra Fields-Meyer compares it to his religion.

Body:

When asked about his autism, Ezra Fields-Meyer compares it to his religion. The young man explains that he, "knows he has a good memory and likes to repeat things. As a Jew, he’s noticed similar qualities....We repeat Shabbat every week. And we sing the same songs." Ezra's dad said the journey wasn't always easy. His child went from a non-verbal 3 year old to a "son worth celebrating." Tom Fields-Meyer decided his story might be able to help other parents. He wrote Following Ezra: What One Father Learned About Gumby, Otters, Autism, and Love from His Extraordinary Son. Tom says it started when a therapist suggested that he and his wife celebrate the boy they had, rather than the one they did not. Rather than pushing his son towards, for example, playing soccer the way it's supposed to be played, he and his wife let Tom develop his own interests and passions. One passion and talent Ezra has is animation; he recently completed his first film, Alphabet House.

Read original article: Beyond Labels, Raising Autistic Son Yields Treasure

Library Includes Kids With Special Needs in Story Time

scottie — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:58:29 +0000

Teaser:

The Hoboken Public Library now includes kids with autism and other special needs in story time.

Body:

The Hoboken Public Library now includes kids with autism and other special needs in story time. The Wednesday afternoon story time includes great activities along with wonderful stories. Activities include games, puppetry, and sensory activities. The Hoboken Library has been a part of the New Jersey community for a number of years. Along with story time for kids, the library provides resources for children, teens, and adults. Information can be found on the library's home page or on their Facebook page.

Read original article: Children with Developmental Disabilities, Autism Encouraged to Join in Hoboken Public Library Story Time Fun

Community Resources Work Together to Help Kids with Special Needs

scottie — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:19:02 +0000

Teaser:

Tina Robbins realized just how special her Kalamazoo community was when they stepped up to help her out with her son with autism.

Body:

Tina Robbins realized just how special her Kalamazoo community was when they stepped up to help her out with her son with autism. Robbins is a single mom and her son Logan is a non-verbal youngster with autism. Robbins explained that Logan has sensory issues, wandering, and self-injurious behavior. As an advocate for her son, she reached out to Kalamazoo Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (KCMHSAS) for help. Jeff Patton, CEO of KCMHSAS, explained that Kalamazoo is a caring community and different agencies pooled their resources to help Logan as well as other children with special needs. Western Michigan University provided speech and music therapy. He received his service dog, Denver, from Paws with a Cause. Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center provided equine therapy, while Project Lifesaver made sure that Logan didn’t wander away from home. Tina also gets help; Woods-Edge Learning Center and Family and Children’s Services Respite Program provides respite services, so that she can be re-energized and effective when caring for Logan.

Read original article: Kalamazoo Community Networks Support Children with Disabilities

Two Moms in the Philippines Share about Their Children with Autism

scottie — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

Gina Luna-Bermudo and a college classmate, Mary Rose Ramoso-Pena, both have children with autism.

Body:

Gina Luna-Bermudo and a college classmate, Mary Rose Ramoso-Pena, both have children with autism. In this article, they share how they have coped, found resources, and used various autism therapies with their kids. What the moms have done is inventive and supported by the Autism Society Philippines. Both have found that their children have strengths, such as athletics and academics, which can be fostered. Both agreed that the earlier years were the most difficult as they tried to find time for occupational therapy, speech therapy, and behavioral therapy while coping with daily activities. Interestingly, both moms take the media to task as they present autism in various ways that might not always be accurate.

Read original article: How Two Moms Deal with Autistic Children

Nigerian Woman Determined to Bring Early Intervention to Her Country’s Kids

scottie — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

Dotun Akande, founder of Patrick Speech and Languages Center in Lagos, believes that early intervention is the best chance for children with autism.

Body:

Dotun Akande, the founder of Patrick Speech and Languages Center in Lagos, believes that early intervention is the best chance for children with autism in her country. Akande, mom of a child with autism, works to reach out and educate as many families as possible. She explains, “Parents too should know that having a child that has this challenge is not the end of the world. Early intervention is the key; so, all you need do is to help that child come out of that problem.” Patrick Speech offers interventions that include speech and language therapy, behavioral modification therapy, OT, social skills training, vocational training, academics, music therapy, hydrotherapy, and sensory integration.

Read original article: Early Intervention is the Key to Managing Autism Well

Sacramento State ABA Program Collaborates with Researchers in Brazil

scottie — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

Sacramento State ABA students collaborated with Federal University of Sao Carlos to present the largest autism conference held in Brazil.

Body:

Sacramento State applied behavior analysis (ABA) students collaborated with Utah State and the Federal University of Sao Carlos to present the largest autism conference ever held in Brazil. Faculty member Caio Miguel facilitated State's psychology ABA graduate students as they planned the research program. Miguel, trained in Brazil, believes in the importance of ABA research and training, and was tasked with updating State’s program. ABA students at State work one-on-one with kids with autism in areas including speech, motor skills, and feeding skills.

Read original article: Psychology Program at Center Stage in Brazil

Photographer Teaches His Skills to Children with Autism

scottie — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:12:17 +0000

Teaser:

Thomas Balsamo, who created the images for Healing Thresholds, has begun teaching photography to kids with autism.http://autism.healingthresholds.com/node/add/content-news

Body:

Thomas Balsamo, who created the images for Healing Thresholds, has begun teaching photography to kids with autism and other special needs. Balsamo is collaborating with Express Yourself and Barrington Area Special Voices, to let kids with special needs use cameras to show their unique vision of the world. The children were taught basic photography skills, paired with a “photo buddy”, and given suggestions from which to photograph. Topics included something that makes you laugh, or cry, or is beautiful, or that you cannot live without. A book version of the photographs, Express Yourself, was created once the photographs were complete and edited. Each child had a chance to write why they took their specific photo. Balsamo has photographed kids with autism for a number of years and has helped raise money for Autism Speaks through sales of his book Souls Beneath & Beyond, authored with Sharon Rosenbloom.

Read original article: Program Helps Students Express Themselves

Alabama High School Provides Typical School Experience for Students with Autism

scottie — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

Spanish Fort HS, through its Project Reach program, allows students with autism to participate in everyday classroom and sports activities.

Body:

Spanish Fort High School, through its Project Reach program, allows students with autism to participate in everyday classroom and sports activities. Along with academics, the students learn life skills, go on field trips, and have after-school jobs. The teens receive individualized training throughout the day and interact with neurotypical students through a high school club – Project Outreach. Teens with autism can earn a certificate of attendance and participate in graduation activities. Special education teachers report students of all abilities learn from one another.

Read original article: Autistic Students Excelling at Spanish Fort High

Does Your Child with Autism Suffer from Anxiety?

scottie — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

Kathie Harrington, a speech and language pathologist and mom of a son with autism, has written an article on dealing with anxiety.

Body:

Kathie Harrington, a speech and language pathologist and mom of a son with autism, has written an article on dealing with anxiety. She points out that anxiety in a person with autism may affect sensory, physical, imagined, and communication areas in the person’s life. She explains, “They are anxious when they know and they are anxious when they don't know. They are anxious when they see something is close and they are anxious when something is not close enough…. They are anxious when, and when, and when... .” Some techniques she recommends include routine, relaxation, weighted clothing, music, flashlight, View Master, bean bag chair, and reading.

Read original article: How to Ease Anxiety in a Person with Autism/ASD

All Arts are at the Focus of the Creative Therapies Program

scottie — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:11:22 +0000

Teaser:

Creative Therapies is a program for kids with autism and other special needs that provides dance and art therapies.

Body:

Creative Therapies is a program for kids with autism and other special needs that provides dance and art therapies. Creative Therapies is a joint venture between Pinckneyville Park Community Center and Spectrum in the Norcross Georgia area. Recreation Leader Kim Gerlach believes that the combination of dance and art will lead to better self-esteem and improve social skills. Dance can help with posture and can calm as well as stimulate youngsters. The art therapy will include clay, drawing and painting, and pottery.

Read original article: New Program Uses Art, Dance as Therapy