Service dogs may be a friend to a child with autism and help keep the child safe, but the family with the dog needs the support of a good veterinarian.
The purpose of this study was to learn from families what it is like to have a service dog to support a child with autism. Each family must find its own way to bring a service dog into the family. The authors found that the troubles with service dogs may offset the good of having a service dog. The authors suggest that veterinarians look at the results of this study so that they can better help the owners of service dogs. Veterinary schools can teach veterinarians how to learn what needs to be known about families who want service dogs.
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Please comment on this autism topic.
Responding to rebound therapy
Jul 24, 2010 by AnonymousThe phrase "Rebound Therapy" was coined by the founder, Eddy Anderson MCSP, Cert Ed, in 1969 to describe the use of the moving surface (bed) of a trampoline in order to provide therapeutic exercise and recreation for people with a wide range of special needs.
Rebound Therapy is used to facilitate movement, to promote balance, to increase or decrease muscle tone, and to aid relaxation and sensory integration. It is also used to improve fitness and exercise tolerance and to improve communication skills.
It is popular in special needs schools and is becoming increasingly popular in mainstream schools with a special needs unit; partly because the trampoline is a piece of apparatus that virtually all people, regardless of their abilities, can access, benefit from and enjoy.
The UK body for Rebound Therapy is “Rebound Therapy dot org” who state that in addition to the benefits listed above, it is an ideal vehicle for cross curricular teaching activity; with the potential for teaching such things as numeracy, colour recognition, positioning (left, right, backwards, forwards, clockwise and anticlockwise), communication, social awareness and consideration of others.
They further state that the unique properties of the trampoline offer ample opportunities for everybody to enhance movement patterns.
The work is intrinsically motivating and enjoyable and returns high value in therapeutic terms for the time and the effort involved.
The fact that the activity is so enjoyable can enable it to be used as a motivational aid to learn. Many teachers also report increased concentration and willingness to learn in the classroom following a Rebound session.
“Rebound Therapy dot org” are responsible for the development and provision of certificated staff training courses for schools and centres throughout the UK.
The courses have received approved status from the Professional Development Board for Physical Education which is supported by afPE.
More information about Rebound Therapy and staff training courses can be found on their website: www.ReboundTherapy.org
Their email address is: info@ReboundTherapy.org and telephone no is 01342 870543
Parents of Autistic Child create book...Look Who is Coming
Apr 27, 2010 by ddickraderA 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.
Parents of Autistic Child create book...Look Who is Coming
Apr 27, 2010 by ddickraderA 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.
Responding to recess:
Apr 9, 2010 by AnonymousI have found that many school teachers and administrators are taking away recess as a consequence to excessive "behavior" or meltdowns or difficulty with non structured time. Most kids really need their recess. Any studies or articles on it?