Autism Therapy: interaction

definition of interaction: not yet defined.

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The Early Start Denver Model
Journal of Early Intervention, by Vismara, LA, and Rogers SA, published in 2008, summarized Jan 4, 2010

A twelve-week individualized parent-child education program may be able to help very young children who are at risk for autism.

To date, most studies of children with autism focus on preschoolers who are 3 to 5 years old. This case study describes a nine-month-old infant who was at risk for autism. He was entered into the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM). The infant was later diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) and then recovered from his delays by the age of 24 months. The ESDM intervention focuses on teaching parents techniques to interact with their infants who are at risk for autism. The authors suggest that the ESDM parent-training intervention may be a good model for early intervention services for infants and toddlers with autism and their families.


Shared Minds: Effects of a Mother’s Imitation of Her Child on the Mother-Child Interaction
Infant Mental Health Journal, by Sanefuji, W., Yamashita H., and Ohgami H., published in 2009, summarized Dec 25, 2009

Mothers who imitate their child with autism may help teach nonverbal social skills and feel more positive about their relationship with their children.

This case report describes a therapy approach where the mother imitated her 21-month-old child with autism. The mother and child were together for sessions with therapists for 60 minutes per month, and the mother was taught how to continue therapy at home. For the first two months, she spent 5 minutes every day playing with her child and responding to him. For the next two months, she imitated her child’s facial expressions and sounds during play. For the last two months, the mother stopped imitating and was responsive during play. The child’s joint attention skills improved more rapidly during the imitation phase than during the other phases of therapy. The mother also enjoyed being with her child more during the imitation phase.


Establishing Response and Stimulus Classes for Initiating Joint Attention in Children with Autism
Research in Autism Spectrum Disorder, by Jones, EA, published in 2009, summarized Nov 27, 2009

Behavioral therapy may help children with autism learn verbal and nonverbal ways to start a social interaction.

People with autism may have problems initiating (starting) a social interaction. The first step is called “initiating joint attention.” This article describes the way that 3 preschool children with autism were taught these skills. Therapists used behavioral therapy techniques based on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) theory. For one boy, the therapist used toys that could show a response (e.g., singing stuffed animal or piano with lights). When the boy did the right behavior, the therapist would make the toy react and the boy liked that. For another boy, the therapist used games as a way to teach the skills. The boys learned some of the skills, and eventually were able to use them with their.


Michael: A Child’s Journey through Autism
Journal of Mental Imagery, by Ahsen, A., published in 2008, summarized Nov 10, 2009

Behavioral therapy that uses photographs to engage children with autism may be helpful for improving communication skills.

This article tells the story of one boy with autism who had serious behavioral problems including avoidance. The therapist used a therapy approach called, “Ahsen’s picture approach to autism.” This therapy approach uses specific nature photographs to trigger the child’s interest and encourage interactions with the therapist. For 7-year-old Michael, the therapy helped him interact better with the therapist, and eventually his problem behaviors went away. The author describes Michael’s behaviors and conversations during the therapy. This article is the first of two articles that describe Michael’s experience.


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Some Kids with Autism May Suffer from Cyber Addiction

May 18, 2012

iPads and video interaction has provided a means for children with autism to communicate; it may also have provided addictive behavior. Christopher Mulligan founded Groupworks West, which provides assistance when people with autism show a susceptibility to addiction to the Internet and video stimulation. He has found parents who used the technology because it helped their kids communicate, but found it also lessens their social interaction with other people. Mulligan explained one reason for increased dependence on technology, “One of the first things cut were all recreational services including summer camp. They had horseback riding, swimming – wonderful services – and cutting summer camp funding really added a lot of stress to parents. Almost all of the families I help are families where both parents are working.” The kids’ only means of stimulation and interaction are through the Internet.

Read original article: Autistic Teens and Children Struggle with Cyber Addiction


Schoolyard Becomes Therapeutic Landscape for Kids with Autism

May 14, 2012

Chelsey King, a Kansas State University graduate student in landscape architecture, is researching a school playground that targets kids with autism. King, working with professor, Katie Kingery-Page, explained, “My main goal was to provide different opportunities for children with autism to be able to interact in their environment without being segregated from the rest of the school.” One of the features of the schoolyard is a place where children with autism can go when feeling stressed or over-stimulated. There are sensory areas that include a music garden where students can play outdoor instruments, an edible garden for horticulture therapy, a sensory playground, and a butterfly garden. While this is still in the research stage, King researched the project using Amanda Arnold Elementary School, a Manhattan KS magnet school for kids with autism, as a foundation.

Read original article: KSU Researcher Designs a Schoolyard for Children with Autism


Robotics Company Seeks to Improve Lives of Children with Autism

Apr 18, 2012

Movia Robotics got started helping kids with autism when founder Timothy Gifford’s wife told him schools needed tools to help kids in the classroom. The robots provide social cues to the kids by using external sensors. The robots are predictable and repetitive so that children can learn responses to social situations that involve real people. Gifford explained, “We're trying to improve their quality of life by giving them basic skills," he says, "and through these skills giving them a way to better interact in the world with kids and adults.”

Read original article: Hartford Firm's Robotic System Helps Children Manage Autism


Special Toys for Special Kids Raises Autism Awareness

Apr 9, 2012

Creative KidStuff has partnered with St. David’s Center to raise autism awareness with special toys selected for kids with autism. Roberta Bonoff, CEO of Creative KidStuff in Minneapolis, said they were getting more and more parents and grandparents looking for toys that would be appropriate for their children’s needs. Sarah Reyman, a psychologist at St. David’s Center, worked with Bonoff to select toys that “encourage interaction, social and sensory skills, imagination, communication and problem solving. For example, a classic jack-in-the box teaches cause and effect as well as anticipation.” Creative KidStuff has a special section on their Web site for these special toys.

Read original article: Twin Cities Company Creates Toys for Kids with Autism


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Please comment on this autism topic.

A wonderful opportunity and resource for your ASD children and their families

Apr 9, 2012 by HorsesHelpHeartsHeal

Unique Oppertunity NDAR Study

New research for alternative therapies for ASD children and their families. Allowing us to observe your family and your child in an setting that is safe and ASD friendly FREE to families in need and be a part of a National study that gathers research data on non-traditional therapies. We are offering a chance in a lifetime. Dr Annabel Agee PhD,  and Equine Specialist, Lisenced reflexologist, and 20 yr counselor and alternative health, and child advocate will be accepting applications for ASD families to be a part of our National Study to provide data for NDAR. National Data for Autistic Reasearch. For coming to us and allowing us to document progress as we utilize exposure to a very calm very grounding expreience and interaction with trained equine therapy horses, you will be a part of an elite study which will hopefully be extremely valuable data for research on the effectiveness of alternative therapies for ASD children. What makes us really unique is that we aslo will be working with the entire family as a unit not just the child. 

We are Horses Help Hearts Heal 

Dr Annabel Agee Phd, LPC, NCC, MHSP, 
 
Melissa Blaque, RCR, LRT, EALS, ES, DVLA, CASA
for more information please call: 865-206-7947 or 865-208-9555


A wonderful opportunity and resource for your ASD children and their families

Apr 9, 2012 by HorsesHelpHeartsHeal

Unique Oppertunity NDAR Study

New research for alternative therapies for ASD children and their families. Allowing us to observe your family and your child in an setting that is safe and ASD friendly FREE to families in need and be a part of a National study that gathers research data on non-traditional therapies. We are offering a chance in a lifetime. Dr Annabel Agee PhD,  and Equine Specialist, Lisenced reflexologist, and 20 yr counselor and alternative health, and child advocate will be accepting applications for ASD families to be a part of our National Study to provide data for NDAR. National Data for Autistic Reasearch. For coming to us and allowing us to document progress as we utilize exposure to a very calm very grounding expreience and interaction with trained equine therapy horses, you will be a part of an elite study which will hopefully be extremely valuable data for research on the effectiveness of alternative therapies for ASD children. What makes us really unique is that we aslo will be working with the entire family as a unit not just the child. 

We are Horses Help Hearts Heal 

Dr Annabel Agee Phd, LPC, NCC, MHSP, 
 

Melissa Blaque, RCR, LRT, EALS, ES, DVLA, CASA
for more information please call: 865-206-7947 or 865-208-9555


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

Aug 24, 2011 by Anonymous

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)


Social Skill Builder

Feb 16, 2010 by megan

Social Skill Builder, Inc. was founded by speech pathologists and sisters Jennifer Jacobs M.S. CCC-SLP andLaurie Jacobs M.A. CCC-SLP in 1999.  Social Skill Builder provides appropriate tools for teaching social skills to children affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other language/learning difficulties. 

Because social interaction between people usually happens so quickly and naturally, it is hard to teach these skills to children with social competence difficulties. Social Skill Builder software programs allow children to dissect social situations in a safe and controlled environment, with the opportunity to replay scenarios for greater understanding. Such practice provides children with greater insight into social interactions and increases their confidence as they try out new skills in their real-world environments.

Social Skill Builder has created a series of learning tools, targeting preschool through young adults, which use real life video in computer assisted programs to teach social skills. The user is able to watch the video scenarios unfold and then make choices about what should be said or done next in a safe and controlled environment. These interactive features allow the child or adolescent to step inside familiar social situations to problem solve or predict outcomes. Motivating reinforcements and games make learning the social skills fun and entertaining. This unique training software provides a reference for language, behaviors and interactions that children can carry into the natural environment.

Social Skill Builder's products are designed for speech and occupational therapists, educators, counselors and psychologists, and parents who interact with children and adolescents ages 3-18 affected by ASDs and other learning/language deficits.


You can find more information regarding our software at www.socialskillbuilder.com


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