Positively Autism: March 2013

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Positively Autism March 2013 Newsletter

Teaching with Trains!

Many students with autism love trains, and I have used this interest as a teaching tool for many of my students. When I use trains, my students are often more interested in learning, pay better attention, and have more fun learning. Positively Autism has many free educational activities that have a train theme. My students love them, and I bet yours will too!

Travis the Train Learns Colors: http://www.positivelyautism.com/downloads/Colors_StoryTrain.pdf

Travis the Train Delivers Shapes: http://www.positivelyautism.com/downloads/Shapes_StoryTrain.pdf

Train Theme Alphabet Assessment: http://www.positivelyautism.com/downloads/LetterAssessment.pdf

Train Track Tracing Activity: http://www.positivelyautism.com/downloads/Tracing_Train.pdf

Train Reading Flashcard Activity Ideas: http://www.positivelyautism.com/downloads/TrainReadingFlashcardFun.pdf

"Travis the Train" Skip Count Worksheets
Count by 2s: http://www.positivelyautism.com/downloads/TrainSkipCount2.pdf
Count by 5s: http://www.positivelyautism.com/downloads/TrainSkipCount5.pdf
Count by 10s: http://www.positivelyautism.com/downloads/TrainSkipCount10.pdf

Train Phonics:
"an" Family Words: http://www.positivelyautism.com/downloads/TrainPhonics_an.pdf
"at" Family Words: http://www.positivelyautism.com/downloads/TrainPhonics_at.pdf
"ug" Family Words: http://www.positivelyautism.com/downloads/TrainPhonics_ug.pdf

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

New Free Download: "When Mom Is On The Phone" Social Skill Story

A story that lets a child know why it is important to be quiet while mom is on the phone, and suggests some quiet activities to do during that time.

http://www.positivelyautism.com/downloads/Story_MomOnPhone.pdf

For more Social Stories, check out these great resources:

The New Social Story Book, Revised and Expanded 10th Anniversary Edition: Over 150 Social Stories that Teach Everyday Social Skills to Children with Autism or Asperger's Syndrome, and their Peers

The Social Skills Picture Book Teaching: Play, Emotion, and Communication to Children with Autism

Monday, March 25, 2013

March Positive Autism News

'Autism Doesn't Hold Me Back. I'm Moving Up the Career Ladder'
Driven New Generation of People with the Condition are Showing Employers There Is No Limit to What They Can Do
March 8, 2013
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/mar/08/autism-career-ladder-workplace

John Elder Robison's New Book Takes a Fresh Look at Autism
March 19, 2013
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/199055231.html?refer=y

Theater Review: 'On The Spectrum' At The Fountain Theatre
March 25, 2013
http://www.neontommy.com/news/2013/03/theater-review-spectrum-fountain-theatre

Friday, March 22, 2013

Autism's Hidden Blessings: Discovering God's Promises for Autistic Children & Their Families

Book Description (From the Publisher)
Publication Date: March 9, 2009

God has a unique and magnificent purpose for every child-a purpose that is no less important for special-needs children. Through the story of her own ongoing struggles and victories raising her autistic son, Kelly Langston brings to light God's promises for exceptional kids and highlights covenants that assure special-needs parents of their children's potential and beauty.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Autism & Alleluias

Book Description
Publication Date: February 15, 2010

In the past two or three years, autism has garnered stories in TIME, Newsweek, and USA Today. According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau figures, 1 in 150 American children have autism, and the numbers are growing daily (an increase of 13% over the past ten years). Difficult behaviors, a myriad of specialists, problems with schools, special diets this developmental disability turns a family's world upside-down. What is the role that faith plays in helping families cope? Is it possible to sing alleluia in the midst of a very real adversity? In this series of slice-of-life vignettes, God's grace glimmers through the shadows as Joel, an intellectually challenged teen with autism, teaches those who love him that walking the labyrinth of life requires childlike faith, humility, trust, compassion, forgiveness, and an attitude of openness to all of God s gifts.

Please note that the statistics reflect the time in which the book description was written, which is a few years ago.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Autism and the God Connection

by William Stillman

Book Description (from the publisher, 2006):

"Everyone who seeks a more compassionate and wise life will benefit from this wonderful, insightful, and beautiful book. It is a very short step from understanding autism and the God connection to understanding you and the God Connection." --Gary Zukav, author of The Seat of the Soul and The Dancing Wu Li Master

"Autism and the God Connection is a compelling, powerful and thought-provoking book. Mr. Stillman describes the discoveries that unfold from conversations that he has with people that have a difficult time with conventional communication. He is able to see, feel and hear people from different perspectives." --Nicki Fischer, executive director, publisher and editor, The Autism Perspective Magazine

Autism impacts one out of every 166 children--ten times higher than just ten years ago. Despite the international scrambling of scientists to provide an explanation, there remains no single known cause for the rise in autism.

Autism and the God Connection views autism through a spiritual prism, unlocking its hidden meaning. Through countless interviews William Stillman documents extraordinary examples of spiritual giftedness.

Autism and the God Connection boldly challenges our traditionally held beliefs about people with disabilities. Readers looking for hope, inspiration and a deeper understanding of their loved ones will appreciate the affirming anecdotes of ordinary families.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Autism Sunday: International Day of Prayer for Autism and Asperger's Syndrome

I wish I'd posted about Autism Sunday before the date passed this year, but I wanted to share in case you'd like to plan for next year.

Autism Sunday

Autism Sunday, also known as the International Day of Prayer for Autism and Asperger's Syndrome, is observed annually on the second Sunday of February.

Autism Sunday was first held in 2002 during Autism Awareness Year in the United Kingdom. Autism Awareness Year was supported by 800 UK organisations. It was the first ever occasion of partnership working on Autism on such a large scale.

Autism Sunday Official Website: http://www.autismsunday.co.uk/

Autism Sunday Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism_Sunday

Recommended Resource:

Autism and Your Church: Nurturing the Spiritual Growth of People with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Participate in Research on Autism, Child Behavior, and Family Dynamics

Here is a notice for a research study looking for participants. As with participating in any study, please make sure to fully investigate the study, ask questions, and make sure it is right for you before you participate. Please note that this study is not affiliated with Positively Autism.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

PARTICIPATE IN RESEARCH ON AUTISM, CHILD BEHAVIOR, AND FAMILY DYNAMICS

ATTENTION PARENTS

PARENTS OF AT LEAST ONE CHILD DIAGNOSED WITH AN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (AGES 3 TO 17) AND ONE TYPICALLY-DEVELOPING, FULL SIBLING (AGES 11 to 17) ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN A DISSERTATION STUDY INVESTIGATING CHILD BEHAVIOR AND OTHER FAMILY INTERACTIONS. PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ASKED TO COMPLETE SHORT QUESTIONNAIRES ONLINE (OR THEY CAN BE GIVEN PAPER COPIES AT THEIR REQUEST). PARTICIPANTS WILL BE ENTERED IN A DRAWING FOR A $30 GIFT CARD!

Where: ONLINE FROM HOME

When: AT YOUR CONVENIENCE

Who: Please contact Ted Tomeny at theodore.tomeny@eagles.usm.edu or 225-247-5542 if you would like to participate.

IRB Approved Supervised by Dr. Tammy Barry AA/EOE/ADAI

THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
118 College Drive #5025
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
601.266.5514
www.usm.edu

Autism and Your Church: Nurturing the Spiritual Growth of People with Autism Spectrum Disorder

By Barbara J. Newman

Book Description:

Autism has evolved from an unfamiliar term to an everyday reality for millions of people. Bookstore shelves are filled with resources that address how Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects children and adults at school, work, and home.

But what about the church? What about your church? How can it become a welcoming place for individuals and families affected by ASD?

Autism and Your Church offers practical ways to welcome and include individuals with ASD into the full life of your congregation. This resource will enable church leaders to
- appreciate those with ASD as persons created in God s image
- learn about six common areas of difference in individuals with ASD.
- discover ten strategies for including people with ASD in the life of your church.
- develop an action plan for ongoing ministry with children and adults who have ASD.

A reproducible resources section includes interview and permission forms, a coordinator's job description, a sample Individual Spiritual Formation Plan, and more.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Autism and Spirituality: Q and A with William Stillman

An interesting conversation with William Stillman, author of Autism and the God Connection. http://autism.about.com/od/inspirationideas/a/StillmanQA.htm

Autism and the God Connection

Monday, March 4, 2013

Worshiping With a Child With Special Needs

Worshiping With a Child With Special Needs
By Terri Mauro

"Making it through a worship service with a child with special needs can be a true test of faith. Between keeping your child under control and warding off the evil eye of fellow pew-sitters, you may feel that no one in your family is getting anything out of the service. If you have your heart set on some kind of Ideal Worship Experience, wherein your neatly dressed children sit quietly for every minute of the service, you’re probably out of luck. But that doesn’t mean your family should give up and stay home. Try these tips for getting more than a headache out of worship time."

Read more: http://specialchildren.about.com/od/inthecommunity/a/worship.htm

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Study Seeking Participants: Transition Planning (Parent and Adult Perspectives)

Here is another notice for a research study looking for participants. As with participating in any study, please make sure to fully investigate the study, ask questions, and make sure it is right for you before you participate. Please note that this study is not affiliated with Positively Autism.

Transition Planning for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Parent and Adult Perspectives

My name is Megan Tobin and I am a Ph.D. student in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Penn State. My colleagues and I are beginning a new interview study and are looking for adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and parents of adults with ASD who have recently participated in planning for the transition from high school to life-after-high school. The purpose of this research study is to explore different perspectives in order to understand more about the positive and negative aspects of the transition planning process. We are also interested in recommendations participants might have for improving this process.

Who will participate in the interviews?

Adults with ASD who:

§ Can communicate verbally in English

§ Can independently participate in an interview lasting 30-45 minutes

§ Live at home with their families or independently in the community

§ Do not participate in sheltered workshops

§ Completed high school in the United States within the last 5 years

Parents of adults with ASD who fit the above description who are also able to communicate fluently in English.

How will participants be involved in the study?

Participation in this study will require approximately one (1) hour of time. This interview can be done in person, over the telephone, or using video chat technology (e.g. Skype). The interview will be conducted by a researcher who has experience with individuals with ASD and with using interviews for research purposes.

If you or someone you know is interested in participating in this study:

Please contact:

Megan Tobin, M.S., CCC-SLP

308 Ford Building, Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA 16802.

E-Mail: mct163@psu.edu

Phone: (814) 867-1583

*This Project has been reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects at The Pennsylvania State University. All procedures will be explained fully, and informed consent will be received from all participants before any research activities begin.

Thank you!

Friday, March 1, 2013

March/April Newsletter Topic: Autism and Spirituality

For our next newsletter, we will explore issues about autism and spirituality and religion. We will look at ways to involve a child with autism in church or religious services and explore the spiritual gifts of children with autism.

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us." - Romans 12:6

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