Healing Thresholds Autism Therapy Topic Feed

Ohio School District Opens Autism Resource and Education Facility

scottie — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 14:51:08 +0000

Teaser:

Mentor Public School District will soon open the Cardinal Autism Resource and Education School (CARES) in Northern Ohio.

Body:

Mentor Public School District will soon open the Cardinal Autism Resource and Education School (CARES) in Northern Ohio. This facility, serving between 12 and 42 kids with autism, will cover educational, sensory, and life skills. CARES hopes students may return to a mainstream classroom or graduate with the ability to obtain a job or further schooling. The facility has been retrofitted specifically for children with sensory issues. CARES director, Christy LaPaglia explains, “The building will be equipped with new lighting, acoustic panels in classrooms, odorless carpet and paint.” One unique feature of CARES is the observation area where parents and other educators can watch and listen to what is happening in the classroom. CARES hopes this will assist in useful feedback for the children as well as the teachers. The center consists of seven classrooms, the observation rooms, parent resource area, gym, and sensory rooms.

Read original article: Mentor Schools' Autism Center Set to Open October 3rd

Scout the Dog Helps Kids with Language Delays Learn to Communicate

scottie — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 12:53:03 +0000

Teaser:

Scout and his owner, a speech/language pathologist, come to the Jefferson School to work with preschoolers who have communication difficulties.

Body:

Scout and his owner, a speech/language pathologist, come to the Jefferson School to work with preschoolers who have communication difficulties. Nancy Jo Connell brings the specially trained Labrador to the Missoula County public school once a week. Scout has been trained to respond to the correct pronunciation of words as well as to correct sign language. If Scout does not respond to the child’s voice or sign, then a teacher or therapist encourages the child with, “Oh, he doesn't understand you,” and the child can try again. Connell would like to see animal-assisted therapy in all types of classrooms.

Read original article: Scout the Lab Helps Children with Speech Difficulties, Special Needs

University of Southern Mississippi Launches Gulf Coast Autism Project

scottie — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 20:45:32 +0000

Teaser:

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) wants to make sure that kids with autism are prepared for public school.

Body:

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) wants to make sure that kids with autism are prepared for public school. They have launched the Gulf Coast Autism Project to enlist teachers and counselors to work with 3 to 5 year olds. "It's all geared toward the public schools," said Tim Morse, USM Gulf Coast Autistic Project Training Director. "That's already the institution that we as a society have tasked with providing educational services for these children." The kids receive visual support, play time, and whatever other therapies engage the child in communication. The center understands that the child is served best when parents are involved and so offers support to parents as well.

Read original article: Parents Call USM Autism Project an Answered Prayer

Using Virtual Technology to Enable Students with Autism to Interact with Peers and Therapists

scottie — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 16:48:00 +0000

Teaser:

This article focuses on reasons for and therapeutic success when using virtual technology for students with autism and other developmental delays.

Body:

This article focuses on reasons for and therapeutic success when using virtual technology for students with autism and other developmental delays. Examples include using virtual training when a student has to miss academic class time for therapy time, or providing peer interaction for children in a remote location or unable to attend school. Parents, teachers, and therapists can set up a child’s individualized educational program (IEP) when all are not in the same location. In addition, there are many school districts that cannot afford certain scholastic and therapeutic opportunity for their students, but can take advantage of video-conferencing. School districts successfully using distance learning for children with disabilities include: Broward County Public Schools (FL); Texas Education Agency; Kentucky School for the Deaf; and New Mexico School for the Deaf.

Read original article: Meeting the Needs of Special Needs Students Virtually

New ABA Clinic in Indiana Provides Behavioral Treatment for Youngsters with Autism

scottie — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

Hillcroft Services and Ball State University in Muncie Indiana have collaborated to provide applied behavior analysis (ABA) services for children with autism.

Body:

Hillcroft Services and Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana have collaborated to provide applied behavior analysis (ABA) services for children with autism. Hillcroft Services is the first clinich of its kind in Muncie. They have a staff of 8 and currently serve 6 children on a full-time basis, while others come for group treatment or are seen in their homes; their capacity is 17 full-time clients and 23 part-time. The ABA clinic hopes to prepare children for public school.

Read original article: Muncie Clinic Fills Void for Children with Autism

Foundation School for Autism is First Charter School in Texas Focusing on Children with Autism

scottie — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

Responsive Education Solutions (ResponsiveEd) and Autism Community Network of San Antonio have joined forces to create the first charter school in Texas for children with autism.

Body:

Responsive Education Solutions (ResponsiveEd) and Autism Community Network of San Antonio have joined forces to create the first charter school in Texas for children with autism. The tuition-free school is called the Foundation School for Autism and currently provides 21 children with early intervention. Students at the Foundation School will receive one-on-one and group instruction in therapy areas such as speech, occupational, and ABA. ResponsiveEd charter schools serve at-risk children grades 6 to 12 and college track kids from kindergarten to grade 12.

Read original article: Collaboration Between ResponsiveEd and Autism Community Network Launch First Public School for Children with Autism

Madison Schools Set Example for Inclusion of Kids with Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities

scottie — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 18:41:37 +0000

Teaser:

Families of children with autism and other developmental disabilities have moved to Madison, Wisconsin for the inclusionary nature of the public school system.

Body:

Families of children with autism and other developmental disabilities have moved to Madison Wisconsin for the inclusionary nature of the public school system. The Moss family moved from Tennessee so that their son Garner could be integrated into general education classrooms. Now 17, Garner no longer requires an aide, is on the swim and cross-country sports teams, and is taking English, Chemistry and Personal Finance classes. John Harper, who oversees special education in Madison says, “. . . 88 percent of elementary students with disabilities were fully included in classes, along with 81 percent of middle school students and 63 percent of high school students. Most of the rest have a mix of general and special education classes; fewer than 5 percent are separate.” David Riley of the Urban Special Education Leadership Collaboration agrees with Madison’s policies and cites schools in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, N.C., and Clark County, Nevada as being inclusive.

Read original article: A School District That Takes the Isolation Out of Autism

Arizona State University Offers Speech and Language Certificate Program to Fill a Need for Therapists in Public Schools

scottie — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:57:05 +0000

Teaser:

In Arizona, as in a number of states, the children with autism and special needs require more speech and language pathologists than are available.

Body:

In Arizona, as in a number of states, the children with autism and special needs require more speech and language pathologists than are available. Arizona State University’s (ASU) Speech and Hearing Department is implementing a program that grants certification to its undergraduates – Speech and Language Pathologist Assistants (SLPA). SLPAs will be allowed to work in the classroom while supervised by a fully qualified speech pathologist. The hopes are that the SLPAs will eventually get their masters degree and become fully licensed. ASU students are eager to begin working with children in schools, hositals, and clinics. Cathy Bacon, a clinical associate professor in the program states “Our undergraduate program already provides a rigorous basic scientific background to understand the fundamental processes and disorders and disease of speech, language and hearing. This certificate program will provide clinical training and coursework to allow undergrads to practice in the field prior to pursuing a master’s degree.”

Read original article: Speech Certification Program Addresses State Shortage

A Sixth-Grader Talks About His Asperger's

scottie — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:13:46 +0000

Teaser:

Paul is a Madison, Wisconsin sixth-grader, who happens to have Asperger's syndrome.

Body:

Paul is a Madison, Wisconsin sixth-grader, who happens to have Asperger's Syndrome. His speech-language pathologist, Penny Bright, of Mind Matters Clinics, has worked with him during the last couple of school years. She explains that many of the interventions that have helped Paul gain communication and socials skills include Berard Auditory Integration Training (AIT), and Fast ForWord®, along with speech therapy. Paul says that he has had his ups and downs at school; he found elementary school to be easy, but a year at a French Montessori school to be a bit more difficult. He especially liked the format where he could learn at his own speed and learn from others. Public school has been harder for him because of issues like bullies, and kids who don't understand him. He likes doing computer work and other tasks alone, but is afraid of not fitting into a group of friends again. He hopes someday to be as talented as he feels his university-teaching parents are.

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Egyptian Ministry of Education Works to Mainstream Children with Autism

scottie — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 18:19:07 +0000

Teaser:

The Egyptian Ministry of Education hopes to have 10% of children with autism and other special needs mainstreamed into public schools by 2012.

Body:

The Egyptian Ministry of Education (MOE) hopes to have 10% of children with autism and other special needs mainstreamed into public schools by 2012. In order to reach this goal, the MOE is hard at work training teachers and psychologists and preparing schools for the physical changes they will need to make to accommodate special needs students. The program will be rolled out in phases as schools are ready; the MOE hopes to have 500 private and public schools prepared to pilot the program this upcoming school year. There are currently some good private schools, but often times they are too expensive for most families with special needs kids. Dream Ideal Education School is a boarding school based on a Canadian model that offers life skills training along with academics for children with disabilities. Another private school, The Baby Academy, does not differentiate between children with special needs and their peers. Mainstreamed schooling is critical in Egypt because of the nearly 2 million children with special needs, only 1.8% of them are being reached.

Read original article.