Healing Thresholds Autism Therapy Topic Feed

One Family with Autism Helps Others with Financial Struggles

scottie — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 16:07:09 +0000

Teaser:

When Jodi and Keith Malec’s son Jacob was diagnosed with autism and cognitive impairments, they found themselves in the financial world of therapies and treatment.

Body:

When Jodi and Keith Malec’s son Jacob was diagnosed with autism and cognitive impairments, they found themselves in the financial world of therapies and treatment. As Keith says, “It’s like having a child in college from birth for the rest of their lives.” Friends and relatives helped them out financially with fundraisers, so to pay it forward, they started Friends of Jacob Foundation. The Foundation does the best it can to give grants to families in need. One recipient was Bobby Dugar, a single dad with an 11 year-old son with autism. The Foundation grant money provided a therapeutic swing as well as an iPad that allows Ryan to communicate. The foundation operates on a volunteer basis and have long term goals that include a large rural ranch for adults with autism.

Read original article: Friends of Jacob Foundation Helping Special Needs Kids

Instruction Methods Change for Special Education Teachers

scottie — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 15:26:11 +0000

Teaser:

As more and more children are diagnosed with autism and other special needs, special education teachers are receiving training in updated instruction methods.

Body:

As more and more children are diagnosed with autism and other special needs, special education teachers are receiving training in updated instruction methods. Patty Steffens, an early childhood and educational specialist explains, "As researchers learn more about various disorders, teachers must develop and hone new techniques to reach their pupils and get the most out of their new understanding of the conditions.” New techniques include altering lights used in special education classrooms, helping children focus, and working with families to understand their child’s developmental issues. The Family Resource Center in Pittsburgh, KS recently received a grant to purchase sensory specific lighting and physical education aids such as swings, floor mats and toys. One of their future goals is to have the resources to work with families in their own household environment.

Read original article: Instruction Given on Autism

Chileda, a Wisconsin-Based Agency, is Known for its Work with Autism Spectrum Disorders

scottie — Fri, 28 May 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

Chileda, an organization in Wisconsin, has worked with children with autism since 1973.

Body:

Chileda, an organization in Wisconsin, has worked with children with autism since 1973. They serve clients from around the United States. Their target audience is 6 to 21 year olds with autism and other special needs. Chileda occupies a campus and offers a temporary year-round home. Their goal is for children to reach their full potential no matter what the disability. Ruth Wiseman, the president/CEO, feels that Chileda offers a more flexible learning environment for children including opportunities to mix education with sensory processing therapy. On their wish list are outdoor swing equipment and a computer lab.

Read original article: Chileda Unlocks Potential for Children

Hearts, Hands & Horses is an Equine Therapy Program to Help Kids with Autism

scottie — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

Lori Sullivan is an occupational therapist and sensory integration specialist who has worked with horses and children with autism for 10 years.

Body:

Lori Sullivan is an occupational therapist and sensory integration specialist who has worked with horses and children with autism for 10 years; she founded Hearts, Hands & Horses in 2004. She has found that equine therapy “helps with the way the brain responds to movement. It’s a multi-dimensional movement that you can get with a horse but can’t replicate with a swing or a therapy ball.” The Vermont-based center operates out of Destiny Morgan Farm in Colchester and Lori has made it her mission to bring horseback riding to the forefront of therapies for kids with disabilities.

Read original article: Burlington Woman Uses Horse-Powered Therapy

Occupational Therapist Provides Playground in Her Clinic

scottie — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

Lyndsey Stevenato is an occupational therapist in Barrie, Ontario, who provides therapy for children with autism and other disabilities, as well as training for their parents.

Body:

Lyndsey Stevenato is an occupational therapist in Barrie, Ontario. Her clinic, Children’s Therapy Services, provides therapy for children with autism and other disabilities, as well as training for their parents. The clinic is full of therapy tools, but also resembles a playground with swings, colors, boards, and toys. Stevenato has worked with kids for over 23 years and says, “The kids know I understand them. I'm able to figure out their triggers and break tasks down." She works with children individually based on their needs; a child may need feeding therapy, help with hygiene, or academics.

Read original article: Therapy Through Play

Autism Therapy Center Provides Instruction in Every Day Living Skills

scottie — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Teaser:

The Jefferson School at Finan recently opened an autism therapy center.

Body:

The Jefferson School at Finan recently opened an autism therapy center. This Maryland facility is an offshoot of the Sheppard Pratt Health System. The center serves children from kindergarten through high school, although the current students range in age from 10 to 15. Children with severe autism are introduced to the facility one at a time so that individual therapy can be provided. The center has classrooms, library, computer room, and an “independent living area” where students are taught domestic skills. Therapies include occupational therapy and sensory integration therapy; the sensory room has a trampoline and swing. The goal of the program is for children to eventually be able to attend school.

Read original article: Autism Center Clicks for Students, Staff

The Effect of Sensory Activities on Correct Responding for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

scottie — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:02:30 +0000

Title	The Effect of Sensory Activities on Correct Responding for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Van-Rie GL, Heflin LJ
Journal Title	Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Year of Publication	2009
Volume	3
Issue	3
Pages	783-796
URL for Abstract	http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleListURL&_method=list&_ArticleListID=1006167559&_sort=r&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=c9150f5eb1955933a5bd67deb6045124
Teaser	Sensory-based activities may help some children with autism stay focused on a task.
Full Text	Sensory-based activities may help some children with autism stay focused on a task. Children with autism may have sensory integration problems that make it hard to focus on school work and come up with the right answer. Some therapists use sensory activities that may help children with these problems. For example, children may swing slowly on a swing or bounce quickly on an exercise ball. Usually the children enjoy the sensory activities very much. The researchers wanted to find out if a reward system would motivate children to give correct answers to some questions. Three children (ages 6-7) were offered a choice of sensory activities to do before a session. That activity would then be their reward for answering 12 correct answers. The session started when the therapist asked the child to open their workbook. As their task, children were then asked to identify pictures of community helpers and safety. The children earned a token for every correct answer. They needed to earn 12 tokens in order to get the reward of going on the swing or the exercise ball. The researchers added an interspersal procedure by mixing questions that the child clearly knew the answer to with others that they might need to learn the answer to. The sensory activities as rewards helped two of the three children give correct answers when asked to identify what was in the picture. The interspersal procedure also helped motivate children to give the correct answers.

ECT for Self-injury in an Autistic Boy

scottie — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:28:00 +0000

Title	ECT for Self-injury in an Autistic Boy
Publication Type	Journal Article
Authors	Wachtel LE, Contrucci_Kuhn SA, Griffin M, Thompson A, Dhossche DM, Reti IM
Journal Title	European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Year of Publication	2009
Volume	18
Issue	7
Pages	458-463
URL for Abstract	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19198918?ordinalpos=3&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
Full Text	Electroconvulsive therapy reduced severe self-injury behavior in a boy with autism, allowing him to attend school. This case study reported electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for an 8-year-old boy with autism, mental retardation, mood swings, and extreme self-injury behavior. He was trying to hurt himself an average of 109 times per hour. Applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy and drug therapy did not work. He had to stay in the hospital. He wore arm restraints with metal strips to limit where his arms could reach. And he wore full-body protective padding so he wouldn’t hurt himself. He was treated with ECT 3 times per week for 5 weeks. ECT therapy is a medical procedure that uses a brief electric current to the brain in a closely-monitored medical setting under full anesthesia. Doctors also use neuromuscular blockade (temporary full relaxation of muscles) during the procedure. After 5 weeks of ECT, he no longer needed restraints and protective padding. This child was able to return home after 2 years in a hospital, attend school and learn for the first time, and also participate in meaningful family life. The authors said this was the first report of successful ECT for self-injury behavior. They recommended that doctors consider ECT when other therapies don’t work.

This Week...

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 01:42:15 +0000

The past week has been an emotional rollercoaster for Joshua and in turn for me. My oldest had come home for a visit, as he resides in another state. While this visit was much anticipated it also brought a level of anxiety in not knowing how Joshua would deal with his inevitable departure. So it was a week of walking on emotional egg shells, waiting for a meltdown to happen. Joshua typically does not have on the spot meltdowns, they usually come days or even weeks later, but like a storm brewing I have learned to watch for the clouds rolling in. It could come in the form of sleeplessness, unexpected and inconsolable crying or severe mood swings with seemingly no precipitators. Days before my son’s return flight I began to try to prep Joshua by telling him Anthony would be leaving in four days, and again the next day and so on. Every day he replied in the same anxiety ridden fashion, “he can’t leave…I need him” to which I would reassure him that his brother would always be there for him and would stay in touch with phone calls and emails, that we would all miss him but we would be together soon. The day of Anthony’s returning home Joshua came downstairs into my office and gave me a big hug. He asked, “Mom are you sad because Anthony is leaving…you gonna miss him?” I smiled and nodded to which he put his hand on my shoulder in trying to comfort me. “It’s ok if you miss him mom, I’ll miss him to…but I’ll take care of you until he comes back” Those are the moments that you live for!!

On a brighter note please see E-Bays Authors for Autism Speaks silent auction, and vote on a set of my signed children’s books. A worthy cause!! Hoping that everyones week is pleasant and blessed!!!

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"Wiggle Room" Provides Sensory Integration to Indianapolis School Children with Autism

scottie — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:23:44 +0000

Teaser:

Pleasant Grove Elementary School in Indianapolis now has a sensory integration room that offers opportunities for children with autism to play in ways that can help them function better in the regular

Body:

Pleasant Grove Elementary School in Indianapolis, Indiana now has a sensory integration room that offers opportunities for children with autism to play in ways that can help them function better in the regular classroom. "A Little Wiggle Room" offers equipment used during occupational therapy (OT) with children, including children with autism. There is a specially-designed trampoline, a platform swing, tubes to crawl in, and bins with different substances for children to touch and feel (sand, water, pebbles, and other things). Johnson County Special Services occupational therapist Cindy Webb said the room gives educators a chance to prevent outbursts that some children with autism struggle with." Sensory rooms are becoming more popular at elementary schools.

Read original article.