Healing Thresholds - News About Autism

Magical Apparel Means Fun and Function

scottie — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:01:10 -0500

Fun and Function, an online store for children, was founded by Aviva Weiss as she searched unsuccessfully for weighted clothing and other sensory integration products for her daughter with autism. The store is more than just a place for therapy tools and clothing - the online site contains a blog with contributions about autism treatment from Weiss, an occupational therapist, as well as other professionals. And, because it's never too early to think about Halloween, Fun and Function just launched "Magical Apparel" - weighted costumes that allow for imaginative play.

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Online School Offers Alternative Education for Children with Autism

scottie — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:17:14 -0500

The Arizona Virtual Academy (AzVA) may be an virtual school, but students with autism do receive face-to-face time with a teacher. AzVA is a state regulated public online school that provides a learning alternative for students facing difficulties in a physical school. Parents must be willing to homeschool their children, but the state provides textbooks, computer, printer, and contact with a teacher. The use of flash cards, puzzles, and numbered/lettered tiles help children who need visual tools. Children must pass an assessment before advancing; however, they can advance at their own pace.

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Center for Children Provides Peer Models and Social Skills Training

scottie — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:26:36 -0500

Recently, the Schwartz Center for Children offered 8-week peer modeling and social skills training for children with autism. The Bedford Massachusetts children and their peers learned from each other - the children with autism gained skills in eye contact, simple social interactions, and following directions, while peers learned about children different than themselves. The Schwartz Center also offers a day school, early intervention, hippotherapy, speech and language therapy, self-help and motor skills.

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Therapy Center Offers Sensory Integration in a Social Context

scottie — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:27:01 -0500

Jefferson Rehabilitation Center (JRC) in NY offers children with autism and other developmental disabilities the chance at social interaction using various interventions. Therapists combine occupational, speech, and physical therapies as they work with children and adults. The supervisor of the speech program states, "A child with autism needs the following questions answered: What am I supposed to do? For how long? When will I know I'm done? What will I do next?" JRC offers special education pre-K early intervention, and conducts regular recreation so that children can hone communication, turn-taking, and socialization skills.

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Animal Angels Foundation Provides Animal-Assisted Therapy in India

scottie — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 10:25:08 -0500

Animal Angels Foundation, in Mumbai India, was founded on the belief that animal-assisted therapy can help children with autism. In a study done at Prasanna Autism Centre in Pune, the service dogs helped children increase eye contact and speech. Sophie, a Labrador, was trained to work with autistic children at the center and "for many children there, ‘Sophie' or ‘Chopie' was the first word uttered."

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Child Communicator Uses "Intensive Interaction" to Help Children with Autism

scottie — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:05:24 -0500

Phoebe Caldwell is a child communicator who uses Intensive Interaction (II) to help children with autism. Recently she worked with a young autistic girl in Scotland who was self-harming. II promotes "mirroring the autistic person's body language to relieve their stress, which enables their brain to function more effectively." With the little girl, Caldwell used visual, tactile, and sound cues to "tune in" to her and meet the girl at her level.

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Hope for Exceptional Needs Trives in Saudi Arabia

scottie — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:59:44 -0500

Hope for Exceptional Needs opened 10 years ago in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This multilingual school for children with autism and other developmental disabilities serves children of 14 different nationalities. The center, founded by Uzma Hussein, teaches special education using Scott Foresman materials, behavioral modification, life skills and vocational training. Students receive interventions including hydro therapy, hippotherapy, speech therapy, physiotherapy, OT, and art therapy. One goal is for these children to prove that they are capable and functioning members of Saudi society.

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Elementary School Teaches Life Skills and Academics

scottie — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:46:04 -0500

North Bend Elementary School, in Washington, is home to a special education program that builds life skills while promoting academic standards for children with autism and other developmental disabilities. This three-classroom program provides children with one-on-one skills such as writing, reading, and finding ways to communicate that best suit them. In addition to academics, children receive physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Some of the children participate in general education classes with their peers - this helps both groups of children with social interaction. As the children move through the program, they learn job and independent living skills.

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There Are No Special Education Classes in College

scottie — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:46:35 -0500

Madison Area Technical College (MATC) in Wisconsin is providing a niche for students with autism and other disabilities as they move from special education classes in high school to a college environment. Sandy Hall, the director of Disability Resource Services says, "The technical college is really becoming the first stop of choice for a lot of students, and particularly for students with disabilities. For one thing, many students stay at home and go to MATC." They offer a 7-hour orientation program for incoming freshman that includes: self-advocacy, note-taking, and test-taking. In addition, MATC provides synthesized speech devices (Kurzweil 3000) for students who are nonverbal. For other students who may have visual difficulties, many textbooks are converted to an audio book format.

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Woman with Asperger Syndrome Lectures to Help Those with Autism

scottie — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:56:38 -0500

CarolAnn Edscorn is a wife, mother, minister, composer, who by the way has Asperger Syndrome. Her daily journey, accompanied by her kids, husband, and service dog Shakespeare, is to make educators and the public aware of how children with autism see and feel the world around them. She recently lectured at the University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability's 10th Annual Autism Summer Institute conference and spoke about the struggles with sensory integration issues. She believes that understanding why children behave the way they do is key to helping them learn and adapt.

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