Healing Thresholds Autism Therapy Topic Feed

Rocky Mountain Autism Center Moves to Larger Facility

scottie — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:26:56 +0000

Teaser:

The Rocky Mountain Autism Center (RMAC) has moved to a new larger space in Lone Tree, CO.

Body:

The Rocky Mountain Autism Center (RMAC) has moved to a new larger space in Lone Tree, CO. Dr. Pat Rydell, the director believes that children with autism can grow into socially integrated adults. RMAC focuses on increasing cognitive flexibility; they prompt kids to interact with each other and with the larger world outside the center. In addition to one-on-one therapy, RMAC includes the entire family in therapy and the center contains large rooms to accommodate family interaction. In addition, RMAC encourages families to continue therapy at home to achieve maximum results.

Read original article: Autism Center Opens in Lone Tree

What Should You Look for in a Special Ed Program for Your Child with Autism?

scottie — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:11:08 +0000

Teaser:

Lisa Jo Rudy has some great suggestions on choosing a special education program for your child with autism.

Body:

Lisa Jo Rudy has some great suggestions on choosing a special education program for your child with autism. Rudy, a long-time friend of the autism community and mom of a son with autism, says the first thing to consider is the uniqueness of your child and his or her therapeutic needs. Next, she discusses those areas which are crucial for any good special ed program: 1) the teacher should have special training in working with kids with autism; 2) the teacher should have administrative support and resources; 3) the teacher should have the flexibility to follow your child’s IEP; 4) there should be various methods of teaching in the classroom; 5) speech, physical, and OT should be available for free; and 6) you should see results in your child academically and socially.

Read original article: What to Look for in a Special Education Program for Your Child with Autism

Entire Family Participates in RDI Therapy

scottie — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:16:28 +0000

Teaser:

The Andrews decided to involve the entire family in their son’s autism therapy.

Body:

The Andrews decided to involve the entire family in their son’s autism therapy. The therapy they chose was Relationship Development Intervention (RDI). Chresta Ambers, a certified RDI therapist, says this therapy can be used at any age and any range of a person with autism. RDI was created by Dr. Steven Gutstein and is a parent-based treatment that incorporates six objectives: emotional referencing, social coordination, declarative language, flexible thinking, rational information processing, and foresight and hindsight. The Andrews say that RDI is a therapy they can practice 24/7 with their son.

Read original article: KidSafe - R.D.I. for Autism

Re: NEWS - Improv Workshop Helps Kids with Autism with Their Social Skills

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 12:17:58 +0000

Thank you so much for mentioning the Shenanigans class that Jstar conducted recently in the Detroit area. To give a little more insight, Jstar owns his own theater and co-produces the Spontaneous Combustion - Motor City improv festival. He was excited to discover an opportunity to also bring Shenanigans to some new faces in Detroit. It sounds like the kiddos had a wonderful time!

My grandson, diagnosed with Asperger's, is the inspiration for Shenanigans, when, several years ago, I struggled to find a way to help his social growth. After much research, I came across improvisational theatre, saw a good fit for the skills I wanted to target, and couldn't find a similar program here in Atlanta or anywhere. So I decided to develop a program and find someone involved in improv theatre who could get excited about my vision and help me move it forward. I found Jstar and brought him on as my charter instructor in 2009, and he has been an enthusiastic champion for Shenanigans ever since.

Shenanigans is an applied improv theatre program targeting those with special needs, especially Asperger's, high-functioning autism, and related conditions. We use the process of learning improvisational theatre games and exercises to work on social skills by unveiling the mysteries of human interaction. The main tenet of improv, "Say Yes, and..." teaches our students better adapting skills when the unexpected pops up, and flexibility to deal with those changes and move forward.

With our growing team of instructors, the Shenanigans program has spread throughout the metro Atlanta area. We are now reaching beyond our home city to bring the Shenanigans-style approach to others who are interested.

I am always eager to talk more about our wonderful program and the benefits our actors receive from their participation.

Sandy Bruce, Founder & Exec Dir, Shenanigans (www.ShenanigansImprov.com - on Facebook: /ShenanigansImprov)

Online Survey Finds 10 Best Cities to Live with Autism

scottie — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 21:37:16 +0000

Teaser:

More than 800 members of the autism community in 48 states participated in an online survey regarding autism services in their communities.

Body:

More than 800 members of the autism community in 48 states participated in an online survey regarding autism services in their communities. AutismSpeaks released the results of the survey for the beginning of Autism Awareness Month. The top 10 cities are: Northern New Jersey, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Seattle, Milwaukee, and the greater New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Cleveland, Philadelphia and Boston metropolitan areas. The things parents liked were proximity to therapies, good education, flexible employers, access to medical care, and recreational facilities. Parents were upset about travelling long distances, few medical services, and little or no recreational opportunities. You can read a discussion of the survey results on AutismSpeaks.

Read original article: Seattle One of Best Cities for Autism Care, Survey Finds

Exercise Program Designed for Children and Adults with Autism

scottie — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:48:04 +0000

Teaser:

David S. Geslak, an autism fitness specialist, founded The Exercise Connection Program designed specifically for children and adults with autism.

Body:

David S. Geslak, an autism fitness specialist, founded The Exercise Connection Program designed specifically for children and adults with autism. The program, which involves activities to support special needs, will be offered by the Fox Valley Special Recreation Association (FVSRA) in Illinois. FVSRA plans on offering this program throughout 2011. People with autism can participate in group or individual instruction and will learn “sports, lifetime fitness activities such as yoga, strength training, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness.”

Read original article: Exercise Programs Geared for Autism

Chileda, a Wisconsin-Based Agency, is Known for its Work with Autism Spectrum Disorders

scottie — Fri, 28 May 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

Chileda, an organization in Wisconsin, has worked with children with autism since 1973.

Body:

Chileda, an organization in Wisconsin, has worked with children with autism since 1973. They serve clients from around the United States. Their target audience is 6 to 21 year olds with autism and other special needs. Chileda occupies a campus and offers a temporary year-round home. Their goal is for children to reach their full potential no matter what the disability. Ruth Wiseman, the president/CEO, feels that Chileda offers a more flexible learning environment for children including opportunities to mix education with sensory processing therapy. On their wish list are outdoor swing equipment and a computer lab.

Read original article: Chileda Unlocks Potential for Children

Texas Children with Autism Find a Special Connection to Horses

scottie — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:22:54 +0000

Teaser:

Panther Creek Inspiration Ranch, near Houston, Texas, provides children with autism and other developmental disabilities the chance to use horseback riding as therapy.

Body:

Panther Creek Inspiration Ranch, near Houston, Texas, provides children with autism and other developmental disabilities the chance to use horseback riding as therapy. The director of equine therapy, Carrie Clement, explains that for children who cannot control a lot in their lives, they learn to work with a 1,500 pound horse. The movement of a horse mimics the movement of a human body and while riding, children learn balance and flexibility. They also have a chance to communicate with their horse and learn self-esteem as they work with their equine therapist. The owners, David and Linda Darnall, started Panther Creek as a youth ranch, but turned it over completely to therapeutic horseback riding. The most experienced teachers, of course, are the horses themselves, "The horses are hand-picked for the special job. One of them is 26 years old and incredibly gentle. Another is a rescue horse. He suffered so much abuse in his life, he really seems to enjoy making a positive impact on the children."

Read original article: Horses Used to Help Heal Children

Yoga as Part of Special Education Classroom Activities

scottie — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:41:43 +0000

Teaser:

Kim Goldsmith, a special education teacher in Chicago, wanted to incorporate yoga into her classes for students with autism.

Body:

Kim Goldsmith, a special education teacher in Chicago, wanted to incorporate yoga into her classes for students with autism. She received a grant from the Fund for Teachers through the Chicago Foundation for Education that enabled her to travel to India to experience first hand how yoga was incorporated into special needs classrooms. She began her internship at the Academy for Severe Handicaps and Autism (ASHA) where she saw students with autism benefit from yoga. Some of the students were non-verbal and some required assistance from aides, however, all the students used yoga to learn balance, flexibility, focus, and independence. Goldsmith spent several weeks travelling through India visiting other schools for special needs students and learning techniques to teach yoga in her Chicago classroom. Now her students begin each school day with ten minutes of meditation and yoga poses. She is beginning to see the same results with her students that she saw in India.

Read original article: From India to Chicago, Children with Autism Benefit from Yoga

Intensive Behavioural Intervention for Young Children with Autism: A Research-Based Service Model

scottie — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:02:29 +0000

Title	Intensive Behavioural Intervention for Young Children with Autism: A Research-Based Service Model
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Hayward DW, Gale CM, Eikeseth S
Journal Title	Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Year of Publication	2009
Volume	3
Issue	3
Pages	571-580
URL for Abstract	http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleListURL&_method=list&_ArticleListID=973109134&_sort=r&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=b5bcc92421181f930eaa6e9cd4b83ccc
Teaser	A successful early intensive behavioral therapy program includes parent involvement, different settings, and flexibility to meet the needs of individual children with autism.
Full Text	A successful early intensive behavioral therapy program includes parent involvement, different settings, and flexibility to meet the needs of individual children with autism. This paper describes the United Kingdom Young Autism Project (UK YAP), which follows the UCLA Model of ABA. The project sets up a service model for ABA therapy that includes parent training, therapist supervision, and progress checks to offer the best early ABA therapy possible based on scientific research. Research suggests that effective applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy includes intensive therapy for 30 or more hours per week, strong supervision of the therapy progress, and a plan that works to meet all of the needs of the child.