Healing Thresholds Autism Therapy Topic Feed

St. Kitts/Nevis Federation Hopeful About Autism Early Intervention Center

scottie — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:19:19 +0000

Teaser:

The Ministry of Education on St. Kitts, with funding UNESCO, held an autism training workshop.

Body:

The Ministry of Education on St. Kitts, with UNESCO funding, held an autism training workshop. For two days, preschool teachers, special education professionals, day care supervisors, and nurses learned about recognizing early signs of autism in children. The Principal at the Special Education Unit on Nevis, Mrs. Violet Clarke, hopes this education results in an early intervention center. “The centre will be set up as a demonstration environment to provide training for parents, nurses, preschool providers and teachers. Children will have the opportunity to be screened and receive intervention programmes designed by a multi professional team,” she explained. The focus therapies for the children will be speech and occupational therapies in order to best increase social and communication skills. Clarke hopes this goal will prompt different governmental and educational agencies to work together, sharing knowledge and funding.

Read original article: UNESCO Workshop on Nevis Draws Attention to Federation's Children with Autism

Florida Youngster with Asperger's Syndrome Thrives in Early Intervention Environment

scottie — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:40:15 +0000

Teaser:

Luke's parents noticed a difference in him from their other two children from the beginning; he was recently diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome.

Body:

Luke's parents noticed a difference in him from their other two children from the beginning; he was recently diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. They got involved with a state-sponsored early intervention program, Early Steps. Luke receives occupational therapy (OT), which has been key in helping decrease his sensory integration issues. Luke's mom said they are doing floortime at home that helps with social and communication skills. Dana L. Johnson, a pediatric therapist has been working with Luke, and at not-quite-2, Luke is speaking complete sentences and learning to read.

Read original article: Therapy Brings Son Out From His Autistic Shell and into the Arms of His Thankful Parents

Imitation as a Form of Autism Therapy

scottie — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:19:32 +0000

Teaser:

The Michigan State University Autism Lab has been doing research on imitation as a form of autism therapy.

Body:

The Michigan State University Autism Lab has been doing research on imitation as a form of autism therapy. In results recently published, Professor Brooke Ingersoll reported that children with autism who engaged in imitation may show increased communication and social skills. Ingersoll explained that imitation may be done at home with parents getting on their child's level and imitating them. One mom said her son "has responded very well to the imitation. He really enjoys seeing others act like he does. It kind of engages him more and with other people he is more interactive." The Autism Lab is always looking for participants with autism for their studies. They are hoping to perform research on adolescents with autism and imitation.

Read original article: Special Report: Autism Interrupted

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

Music Therapist Teaches More than Just Music to Kids with Autism

scottie — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

Laura Fehr is a music therapist who has opened her own practice in North Dakota to work with children with autism.

Body:

Laura Fehr is a music therapist who has opened her own practice in North Dakota to work with children with autism and other special needs. Fehr, who uses music to work on non-music skills, such as social interaction and communication, says, “Music therapy works because music is processed everywhere in the brain.” She believes that every person has music in them; “everyone knows some sort of music.” Before Fehr begins a music therapy program, she assesses a child’s social skills, motor skills, cognitive skills, and communication abilities. She then sets client-specific goals and reassesses every three months.

Read original article: Music Therapy Graduate Brings Her Services to Bismarck

Texas School Uses Communication Device to Give a Voice to Children with Autism

scottie — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

The Vantage Lite is a communication tool that gives non-verbal children with autism a voice.

Body:

The Vantage Lite is a communication tool that gives a voice to non-verbal children with autism. For example, a young student was able to use the augmentative communication device to ask for cardboard tubes. The Vine School uses Vantage Lite to help students use more than just colors and shapes – it offers unlimited communication. One example has a child clicking a photo of a bed, not only does the child see and hear “bed”, but also sees words such as sleep, tired, bedspread, and pillow. Meredith Potts, a Vine School speech pathologist says the main goal remains to enable children to learn to speak, although they understand that some will always be dependent on the computer. Another gain offered by Vantage Lite and communication devices is that children may become less frustrated as they are able to make their thoughts and needs known.

Read original article: Computer Technology Gives Voice to Children with Autism

Rodeo School Also Benefits Kids with Autism

scottie — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:26:45 +0000

Teaser:

The Westwind Rodeo Academy in Alberta Canada offers equine therapy for people with autism.

Body:

Along with its rodeo-themed curriculum, the Westwind Rodeo Academy in Alberta Canada offers equine therapy for people with autism. Shellee Shaw, the academy’s director began focusing on kids with disabilities in 2009. She believes that horses and kids with autism are a natural match; there is unconditional love from the animal, full body movement for the child, and reduction of stress. Teachers and therapists who help with the horseback riding talk about the improvements they have seen in children’s confidence and communication. “It probably is the most effective thing that I’ve done with kids,” said Lanny Smith, a counselor at Cardston Elementary School.

Read original article: More than Horseplay: Rodeo School Helps Children with Special Needs

Responding to relationship development intervention (RDI)

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:54:13 +0000

I am a parent of an 18 yr. old young man with ASD who we have been doing RDI with for the past 3 years. Once we began the program his life and ours changed. He now initiates conversation with us - true conversation, with give and take, perspective sharing, observations are related and my interests considered. He is much more other-focused and considerate. Outbursts and anti-social behaviors have been significantly decreased. Our household is so much more calm and life normalized. His ability to make study us during communication (total body language - faces, posture, tone - not just the words said) and approrpriately respond and interpret this non-verbal aspect of language is really imporved and remarked upon by family/friends and teachers. He is able to do this on his own, no prompting, no scripting - it is becoming "normal" and happening as expected. We are completely satisfied with this program and while costly, it has delivered the results where others haven't. It really changed his life. I work in Special Olympics and have a control group to compare him and this intervention against as a result. His progress compared against his peers (same age/ school experiences/ but different interventions) is significantly better. We very much look forward to how far he can go.

College Adds Seminar that Focuses on Educating Kids with Autism

scottie — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:54:30 +0000

Teaser:

The Miller College Institute is offering a seminar to teachers on evidence-based teaching methods for children with autism.

Body:

The Miller College Institute is offering a seminar to teachers on evidence-based teaching methods for children with autism. This Michigan college seminar doesn’t focus on a single method of teaching, but on an understanding of autism. Educators are then asked to use their own teaching skills to work with the kids. The participants are also encouraged to exchange ideas with one another. Another focus is on helping children communicate and learn using more visual methods. The course is geared towards general education teachers who work with developmentally delayed children, but is open to anyone involved with autism.

Read original article: New Miller College Seminar Aids in Autism Battle

First Responders in Alabama Get Training on Dealing with Children with Autism

scottie — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:46:48 +0000

Teaser:

The North Alabama Medical Reserve Corps received a grant from AmeriCares to provide first responder training to deal with kids with autism.

Body:

The North Alabama Medical Reserve Corps received a grant from AmeriCares to provide first responder training to deal with kids with autism. The first responders were busy this spring with flooding and tornadoes. Children with autism tend to be more frightened and likely to run away during times of stress and emergency. When first responders learn how to approach children who may suffer from communication and sensory issues, the children and their families have a better and less-stressed outcome.

Read original article: North Alabama Group Gets Grant to Train First Responders to Help Those with Autism