Healing Thresholds Autism Therapy Topic Feed

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

UK Radio Station Opens a Media Hub at a School for Autism

scottie — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:29:49 +0000

Teaser:

Capital FM helped to open a media hub at Treehouse School run by Ambitious About Autism.

Body:

Capital FM helped to open a media hub at Treehouse School run by Ambitious About Autism. The hub includes a radio station, digital arts suite, and shop and arts studio. Jolanta Lasota, chief executive of Ambitious About Autism believes that the media center will help students prepare for jobs in the community. She also said, “Activities that promote creativity and self-expression are vital for children with autism as they can have real difficulty communicating with others.” Capital FM donated the money from their Help a Child appeal.

Read original article: Capital DJ Helps Muswell Hill Autism School Step into Media Age

Therapeutic Use of Magic

scottie — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 17:05:16 +0000

Teaser:

Kevin Spencer, an illusionist who uses magic as a therapeutic tool, will present a weeklong workshop at the Theatre for Youth and Outreach Department.

Body:

Kevin Spencer, an illusionist who uses magic as a therapeutic tool, will present a weeklong workshop at the Theatre for Youth and Outreach Department of the King Center for Performing Arts. We have written about Spencer’s Hocus Focus program, but the Central Florida workshop will include three distinct projects. Healing of Magic consists of a workshop for special educators and therapists as well as hands-on therapy for clients, such as kids with autism. Hocus Focus is for students with special needs and includes simple magic tricks to improve “creativity, problem-solving, critical thinking, observational techniques and cooperative learning.” Finally, Spencer and his wife will perform Spencers Theatre of Illusion, a theatrical performance combining all their skills.

Read original article: Illusionist Keven Spencer to Present Healing of Magic Seminar

martial arts

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 19:48:24 +0000

Jujitsu Champ Developed Martial Arts Class to Help Kids with Autism

scottie — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 16:34:44 +0000

Teaser:

Allan Goes, a jujitsu champion, and his wife Carolina, a psychologist, began teaching a martial arts class specifically for kids with autism.

Body:

Allan Goes, a jujitsu champion, and his wife Carolina, a psychologist, began teaching a martial arts class specifically for kids with autism. When their second son was diagnosed with autism, they worked with his ABA and occupational therapists to develop a martial arts program for him. Now the Goes Martial Arts Center holds one class a week for kids with special needs, and has found that the children also benefit from participation in classes with neurotypical kids. The benefits from martial arts are not just self-defense, but self-confidence and interpersonal skills and communication.

Read original article: Mixing Martial Arts and Autism

Sense-ational Endeavors is Camp for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders

scottie — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 17:29:19 +0000

Teaser:

Shelly Beaver, a certified recreation therapy specialist, wanted a camp just for kids with developmental delays; one that could accommodate their special needs.

Body:

Shelly Beaver, a certified recreation therapy specialist, wanted a camp just for kids with developmental delays; one that could accommodate their special needs. Through Penn State Altoona’s Kids College, she created Sense-ational Endeavors. The week long camp will focus on each of the six senses and will include: bowling, soccer, musical therapy, dancing, art therapy, and pet therapy. In addition, campers will learn some life skills while organizing a lunch one day for families. Staff for the camp include therapists, special ed teachers, and supervised student nurses.

Read original article: Penn State Altoona Program Offers Accessible Camp

Australian Parents to Get a Bigger School for Kids with Autism

scottie — Thu, 19 May 2011 15:27:43 +0000

Teaser:

The Northern School for Autism in Australia has just received funding to build a multi-purpose school.

Body:

The Northern School for Autism in Australia has just received funding to build a multi-purpose school. The current Preston location has only been able to serve 100 kids with autism, while the new facility will hold 144 students from prep to year 12. Principal Anna Rigoni says that this is the only autism-specific school in the northern region. The facility will incorporate 24 classrooms, multi-purpose rooms, play areas, a kitchen, arts workshop, and professional learning center.

Read original article: Go-Ahead for Northern School for Autism's New Campus

Sensory Saturday Films Just for Kids with Autism

scottie — Tue, 10 May 2011 15:57:40 +0000

Teaser:

Two years ago, AMC theatres and Autism Society of America began hosting special viewings of movies just for kids with autism – “Sensory Friendly Films.”

Body:

Two years ago, AMC theatres and Autism Society of America began hosting special viewings of movies just for kids with autism – “Sensory Friendly Films.” Because AMC does not have theatres in Oregon, the Autism Society there went on a search for small local theatres to host films for kids. Bijou Arts Cinemas in Eugene, Oregon stepped up to host sensory-friendly films on Saturdays. Edward Schiessl, co-owner of the Bijou, shows films that will also appeal to University of Oregon audiences. He explains, “It's meant a steady stream of animated and adventure-themed classics from the 1980s and '90s, he says, well-attended by both audiences.” Bijou’s next venture will be to update the theatre food offerings to include gluten-free and casein-free items for children with dietary constraints.

Read original article: Sensory Saturdays: Films Serve a Sensory-Sensitive Clientele

Art Therapy Helps Boy with Autism Communicate

scottie — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 14:53:05 +0000

Teaser:

Jayln Weston’s verbal communication skills decreased when he was two; he was soon diagnosed with high-functioning autism.

Body:

Jayln Weston’s verbal communication skills decreased when he was two; he was soon diagnosed with high-functioning autism. His mom said he always enjoyed art and liked to “tell” stories with drawings. She felt he was not getting enough exposure to art in his school, so she connected with VSA arts Tennessee. VSA, formerly Very Special Arts, is a national organization promoting arts for people with disabilities. Jayln started in a class for teenagers with autism and was soon winning awards and exhibiting his art. Jayln's speech increased when he began explaining his artwork. His mom says, “And art gives him something to talk about, and it focuses on something that he is good at."

Read original article: Boy with Autism Communicates Through His Award-Winning Art

Soaring Eagle Academy Focuses on DIR/Floortime Model for Children with Autism

scottie — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 17:58:05 +0000

Teaser:

Soaring Eagle Academy is the first school in the Midwest to use the Developmental Individual Difference Relationship (DIR) for its teaching model.

Body:

Soaring Eagle Academy is the first school in the Midwest to use the Developmental Individual Difference Relationship (DIR) for its teaching model. DIR is therapy based on emotional, social, and intellectual capabilities of children on the autism spectrum. Floortime is the basis of DIR, and while it may look like play, it is direct interaction between the child and the parent, therapist, or teacher. Deanna Tyrpak, co-founder of the school, explains, “Every child has a one-on-one assistant that is their floor-time player that engages them in interaction all through the day.” Along with floortime, children are provided speech, art, physical, occupational, and recreational therapists. Currently the school serves children ages 5 through 13, but their goal is to expand to help high school students.

Read original article: Local Academy Educates Autistic Children