It can be difficult for parents to let their young child leave home to begin an early childhood program. This transition may be necessary, however, in order to ensure that a child with autism receives speech and occupational therapies. And, a five-day-a-week treatment program may bring needed consistency into the child's life. Worries parents have may include over-stimulation, or disruption of a specific diet such as gluten-free and casein-free diets. These concerns and sadness are normal feelings for parents sending their children away for day programs.
Autism Therapy: consistency
definition of consistency: not yet defined.
No Factsheets to Display
- EP Magazine, by Osterman-Api, D., published in 2006, summarized Feb 22, 2007
- B C Journal of Special Education, by Wheeler, JJ, and Carter SL, published in 1998, summarized Sep 23, 2006
This paper includes a detailed description of the use of visual schedules in the classroom.
Individualized visual schedules are considered an effective means of promoting consistency and communicating schedule activities to children with autism This paper examines the use of visual schedules for promoting on-task behavior and decreasing challenging behavior in a 6-year old child with autism. Prior to the study, the boy experienced difficulties in working independently, anticipating and accepting transitions, and communicating. The authors found that the use of visual schedules increased his on-task behavior and improved performance, as measured on a standardized development scale. The authors emphasize that teachers and related professionals should receive adequate training in the use of visual schedules in order to effectively include them as part of a treatment package for children with autism.
The Iwegbue family were toting large notebooks from one autism therapist to another to maintain consistency with their son’s care. Now, with the iPhone app, iBiomed, that Kwame Iwegbue, a physician, created, Florence carries her iPhone instead. “When we're asked questions about our son, we can give more informed answers. It has improved his quality of care and made our lives easier." The app includes features that keep track of medication reorders, diet tracking, sleeping patterns, and a journal feature to note questions for doctors and instructions for caregivers. In the near future, the iBiomed app will allow for password-protected sharing among therapists.
Read original article: Autism Fuels Creation
Meditation as Therapy for Asperger's Syndrome
Jul 17, 2009Emily Breder, who meditates herself, thought it might help her son with Asperger syndrome learn to concentrate. She discovered that it was 1) important to practice meditating yourself, and 2) do it with your child to make it a family experience. Breder recommends using a large circle of color as the main focus in meditation: "Use white, yellow, black, or red paint, preferably oils or watercolor. Red indicates beauty, yellow is energy, black is relaxation, white is peace." Then, after getting used to meditating yourself, start with your child for only a minute or two. Gently remind your child to keep thinking about the color circle. Try to spend this time together everyday to reinforce consistency and focus.
Heather Conditt, a kindergarten teacher in Tennessee, knew she would have a six-year old boy with autism in her classroom. Since she had not worked with children with autism before, she let Jake teach her. Conditt learned that consistency and structure were important to Jake and she learned that a visual schedule helped him anticipate each activity during the day. Jake loves social stories and loves to use the classroom computer. His attendance at a regular kindergarten, with help from Conditt and his aide, has improved his socialization and his speech skills.
Deborah Lipsky is a behavior specialist; she also has autism. Deborah works with schools and families on behavior issues for children with autism. In this particular article, she answers questions about autism submitted by parents and teachers. Her first-hand experience and training allows her to counsel caregivers on issues that focus on consistency between home and school. She offers therapy suggestions that include PECS, social stories, and handling stress-induced problem behaviors. She offers simple and straightforward solutions to various behavior issues, while offering examples from her personal experience.
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Responding to aquatic
Sep 4, 2011 by AnonymousI have been a private swim instructor, specializing in teaching children with disabilities for over 10 years in Los Angeles. Most of my swimmers are children, ages 2- 12, who are on the Autism spectrum. When these children are in the water, they all have shown a sense of comfort, mind and body relaxation. With certain cues, such as the word "focus," I am able to receive quick eye contact and immediate response to my action requested by them. Positive reinforcement and encouraging words, whether the task was perform correctly or not, increases their consistency of performance in the water. Their sense of body movement in the water becomes hightened because they have control over the water and therefore they feel the need and comfort to be in the water and be active.