Autism Therapy: preschool

definition of preschool: School for children before kindergarten. In the United States preschool typically refers to children between the ages of three and five.

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Child: Care, Health and Development, by Rickards, AL, Walstab JE, Wright-Rossi RA, Simpson J., and Reddihough DS, published in 2009, summarized Feb 1, 2010

Home-based therapy for children with autism may be most helpful for cognitive and language skills.

Preschool children with autism in this study (59 children, 3 to 5 years old) attended special intervention centers and also received additional home-based services. There were 40 home visits over 1 year. This study asked whether improvements in cognitive skills and behaviors were still present one year after intervention was stopped. Improvements in cognitive and language skills lasted, but improvements in behavior did not. The authors said that children from more highly-stressed families benefited the most.


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.


Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, by Trembath, D., Balandin S., Togher L., and Stancliffe RJ, published in 2009, summarized Nov 24, 2009

Preschool children with autism may learn social communication skills from typically developing peers in an inclusive classroom.

Children at school may be able to teach their classmates with autism many things Children can use naturalistic teaching for social, communication, or academic skills. In this study, 6 typically developing children were taught how to use naturalistic teaching to help 3 classmates with autism learn to communicate; all the children were 3-5 years old. All 3 children with autism showed improvements in communication behaviors in the classroom and in the lunch room. Over time, only 1 of the 3 children continued to use the skills. The authors think that children as young as 3 years old can help teach their peers in inclusive classrooms.


Beyond Behavior, by Stichter, JP, Brown T., Clarent R., Iskow J., Krug M., and Richards J., published in 2006, summarized Nov 3, 2009

A Michigan school district developed a program that offers services to children with autism using a team-based approach. The Huron Intermediate School District in Michigan developed a team-based program for autism services for preschool and elementary students. The district has had increased the number of students with autism over the past few years. They also have limited numbers of special education service providers. The school district developed a program that provides services to children with autism using a team approach. They rely on paraprofessional support and evidence-based decision making in the classroom. Individual support gradually shifts from paraprofessionals to other adults, like teachers, as the children become more skilled. Many people are happy with the way this program works, and the program is a model program for the state of Michigan.


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


Easter Seals in Peoria opened a pre-school for children with autism. The Intensive Therapeutic Autism Program will focus on applied behavior analysis (ABA) and DIR/Floortime. This “bridge” to kindergarten will help kids increase academically, behaviorally, socially, and emotionally. The 3-hour-a-day, 2-day-a-week program is designed to complement current early intervention services. The class team includes an early childhood educator, speech therapist, occupational therapist, a certified ABA therapist, and several aides.

Read original article: Easter Seals to Provide Pre-School for Kids with Autism


Dr. Gina Diaz-Cembrano recently opened the I Listen Enhancement Center for Maximum Learning in the Philippines. Although a dentist by training, Gina felt teaching preschool was a better way to help families who had children with autism and other developmental issues such as ADHD. The center uses the Tomatis Method. Gina explains, “The Tomatis method re-trains the listening system by using electronically modified music and language to re-educate, stimulate and improve the way in which we process auditory information.” Children with learning disabilities often have difficulty in communication and social interaction, the Tomatis methods attempts to increase listening skills, communication, and memory and attention. Gina has seen that Tomatis worked well with other therapies including occupational therapy, sensory integration, and speech therapy.

Read original article: All Ears for the Tomatis Method


Welcome Home is a preschool program in New Jersey for kids with autism. Children can choose between morning or afternoon classes, which will be held at the Glenloch Terrace Early Childhood Center. The program is a way to keep children with special needs in the school district without spending funds to send them to other districts for academics and therapies. Plus the kids are more comfortable in their own community. Melanie Terreri, a certified special ed teacher, will lead Welcome Home with skills she learned at Y.A.L.E. School. Her focus will be on individualized communication and socialization. Each child will have a one-on-one aide as they go through the day with group activities as well as individual therapies. Parents will be trained in applied behavior analysis (ABA) so that therapy can be used at home.

Read original article: New Preschool Program Caters to Autistic Children in Washington County



Please comment on this autism topic.

Responding to weighted vest

Mar 1, 2011 by Anonymous

When my boy was in preschool we found a "cool" vest that was made out of a heavy fabric. We attached things to it to give it the heavy weight. (He needed it very heavy!) We used clips to attached a water bottle on one side and a little electronic toy he liked on the other side.

 

When he didn't have the weighted vest and was having a really hard time, I found that putting pressure on both shoulders was very calming for him. For example, when I picked him up from preschool, if he was "flappy", I would say hello while pressing down about 5 lbs worth of pressure on each shoulder. That's a lot of weight for little shoulders, but wow, his face lit up! It was what he needed. =)


A month or so ago, I noticed my 3-year old mild to moderately diagnosed autistic grandson picking up books (albeit upside down) and pretending to read - I suspect he was mirroring what he understood in his special school pre-school class. One problem with Aidan and books is that after a few seconds, he's finished with the mock reading, and may tear them up during play.

I bought some muslin, cut it into approximately  5" x 7" pieces, folded the edges over, stitched them down (to prevent fraying), then added a button hole in the top left corner of each.  I gathered family pictures, and using Publisher, reversed them horizontally, added names (Aidan, Mom, Dad, Grady, Nana, etc.) also reversed, put four pictures w/names on a page, and printed to iron-on t-shirt transfers.  After cutting them apart, I ironed one picture w/name on each muslin page, and attached all via a piece of tulle ribbon (strong), knotted tightly. I had originally thought of a metal key ring, but nixed that because it'd be too hard to thread and secondly, because it could accidentally hurt someone if hurled. 

I had enough pages to add "action pictures" of Aidan getting a haircut, riding a horse, jumping, eating, and the very last page was one with him going "night-night". 

Aidan has a limited and reluctant vocabulary, but as he flipped through the pages with me while I said each name, he repeated most of them. He can also throw, bend, and generally play with the book and it won't break and is washable. 

And I've just ordered Look Who Is Coming for Aidan, and may order more for other grandchildren w/out autism. I applaud the authors.


A month or so ago, I noticed my 3-year old mild to moderately diagnosed autistic grandson picking up books (albeit upside down) and pretending to read - I suspect he was mirroring what he understood in his special school pre-school class. One problem with Aidan and books is that after a few seconds, he's finished with the mock reading, and may tear them up during play.

I bought some muslin, cut it into approximately  5" x 7" pieces, folded the edges over, stitched them down (to prevent fraying), then added a button hole in the top left corner of each.  I gathered family pictures, and using Publisher, reversed them horizontally, added names (Aidan, Mom, Dad, Grady, Nana, etc.) also reversed, put four pictures w/names on a page, and printed to iron-on t-shirt transfers.  After cutting them apart, I ironed one picture w/name on each muslin page, and attached all via a piece of tulle ribbon (strong), knotted tightly. I had originally thought of a metal key ring, but nixed that because it'd be too hard to thread and secondly, because it could accidentally hurt someone if hurled. 

I had enough pages to add "action pictures" of Aidan getting a haircut, riding a horse, jumping, eating, and the very last page was one with him going "night-night". 

Aidan has a limited and reluctant vocabulary, but as he flipped through the pages with me while I said each name, he repeated most of them. He can also throw, bend, and generally play with the book and it won't break and is washable. 

And I've just ordered Look Who Is Coming for Aidan, and may order more for other grandchildren w/out autism. I applaud the authors.


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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  • Synonyms for preschool include: pre-K, pre-kindergarten, pre-school
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