Autism Therapy: life skills

definition of life skills: Skills that are needed for daily living, such as doing laundry or cooking.

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Influencing Policy Development: The Whirling Dervish of the Autism in-Home Program
Journal of Pediatric Nursing, by Muckian, J., published in 2007, summarized Jul 16, 2007

Parents can work with health care providers to make sure that their children get the therapies that they need.

In February 2003, Wisconsin cut its budget and stopped the autism in-home program. This Lovaas program was being used by 1,007 children at the time. Nurses and parents and politicians worked together to restore funding for the in-home program. The Lovaas program is a type of Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) that has been shown to help children with autism. The Lovaas program teaches children with autism life skills by breaking them down into tiny steps (discrete trials) for eight hours per day for five to seven days per week. Other helpful programs include parent education, support, early intervention, school-based education, behavior management, and medical treatment.


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Alabama High School Provides Typical School Experience for Students with Autism

Jan 20, 2012

Spanish Fort High School, through its Project Reach program, allows students with autism to participate in everyday classroom and sports activities. Along with academics, the students learn life skills, go on field trips, and have after-school jobs. The teens receive individualized training throughout the day and interact with neurotypical students through a high school club – Project Outreach. Teens with autism can earn a certificate of attendance and participate in graduation activities. Special education teachers report students of all abilities learn from one another.

Read original article: Autistic Students Excelling at Spanish Fort High


Swimming Center in Texas Provides Water Therapy for People with Autism of All Ages

Jan 5, 2012

The Margaret Clark Aquatic Center in Brownsville Texas has supplied adaptive swimming classes for children with autism for about ten years. Participants range in age from first grade through 21 or 22 years of age, so the instructors are able to watch the kids grow and change. The classes not only teach basic swimming strokes, but include some racing competition, social skills, life skills as children must dress themselves after swimming, and motor skills. One great consequence of the classes has been to see high schoolers join their school swim team.

Read original article: Water Therapy for Children with Autism


Young Man with Autism Makes Walking Sticks to Help Others

Dec 16, 2011

A young adult with autism has found that making walking sticks not only helps those who need the support, but they help him earn a living. Leonard Williams of Wyoming is able to focus and use fine motor skills as he peels the sticks, shapes them, and paints them. Leonard was diagnosed 20 years ago when there were not a lot of early intervention or therapy options. His mom took on the duties of presenting life skills to him. Throughout the years, he’s had various passions, but the walking sticks came about as a 4-H project and his school’s suggestion that he learn a skill to help him in the job place. He currently accepts sticks and branches from neighbors and has started a small business; he sold his walking sticks at craft fairs. His mom thought at first that the business would be mostly online; however, it turns out that there is a community interest in what he does. “It seems everywhere they go, Leonard is waving and greeting people who know him by name.”

Read original article: Walking Sticks Provide Support for Autistic Man


Speech Clinic Teaches Life Skills to Kids with Autism from Childhood Through Young Adulthood

Dec 5, 2011

Speech Therapy Associates is a California location where kids with autism are served from preschool through high school. They believe that communication is a crucial life skill for kids to adapt. They also understand that skills a child with autism gains at the middle school age may need to be updated when the youngster transitions to the workforce. The clinic offers several levels of therapy: Building Blocks is for 18 months to 5 years and focuses on language and social skills; Circle of Friends is a social group where children learn turn-taking and social skills; and Building Connections is for teens and young adults to learn transition skills into a college or work situation.

Read original article: Students with Autism Learn Life Skills in Lodi


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    • Synonyms for life skills include: life-skills, livelong skills
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