New Free Download: First-Then Charts

A series (from introductory to advanced) of first-then charts from Positively Autism. First-then charts are a teaching tool I often use when introducing the idea of a visual schedule to students with autism.

You can print the charts on Positively Autism's visual supports page: http://www.positivelyautism.com/free/07visuals.html

The Picture Schedule Song (Video)

An excellent video about making a schedule into a song format. From Listen and Learn.

Temple Grandin Seeking Autism Employment Success Stories for New Book

I recently received the following e-mail from book publisher Future Horizons:

Dr. Temple Grandin is writing  a new book featuring people with autism who are over the age of 50 and have a successful career.

About 6 to 10 people will be chosen whose stories are interesting and inspirational to those with autism and those who care for them.  

Please give one or two paragraphs on your career when diagnosed by a professional and a little about your life now.

If this relates to you or someone close to you, please write to Teresa@FHautism.com

Amazon.com recommends...

The Way I See It, Revised and Expanded 2nd Edition: A Personal Look at Autism and Asperger's


The Unwritten Rules of Social Relationships: Decoding Social Mysteries Through the Unique Perspectives of Autism

August Topic: Visual Schedules, Continued

This month, we'll continue our topic of visual schedules. I'll be posting some great resources about incorporating music into schedules, making effective schedules, and schedules for students with Asperger's.

There will also be a few new free printables coming this month.

You can view last month's newsletter with intro information on visual schedules and other resources here: http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2011/07/positively-autism-july-2011-newsletter.html

Follow us on Facebook to see resources as they are added!

Amazon.com recommends...

Visual Supports for People with Autism: A Guide for Parents and Professionals (Topics in Autism)

Positively Autism July 2011 Newsletter

July Topic: Visual Schedules
This topic will continue next month.

What is a Visual Schedule?
http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2011/07/what-is-visual-schedule.html

Why Use Visual Schedules?
http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2011/07/why-use-visual-schedules.html

Visual Support Video Series: How to Use Picture and Object Schedules
http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2011/07/visual-support-video-series-how-to-use.html

Product Review of SchKIDules
http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2011/07/product-review-of-schkidules.html

Autism Activity Schedules Video
http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2011/07/autism-activity-schedules-video.html

Bestselling Special Education Supplies
http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2011/07/bestselling-special-education-supplies.html

Product Review of Special Needs Planner
http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2011/07/review-of-special-needs-planner.html

July 2011 Positive Autism News
http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2011/07/july-2011-positive-autism-news.html

July 2011 Positive Autism News

College for Autistic Students Isn't Easy, but it is Possible
July 8, 2011
Orlando Sentinel
http://www.latimes.com/health/os-college-autism-20110708,0,489662.story

Autistic Children Surf the Waves at Brighton Avenue Beach 
July 18, 2011
The Star-Ledger
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/07/autistic_children_surf_the_wav.html

Extraordinary Artist Stephen Wiltshire Sees Cities Once, Draws Detailed Panoramas From Memory
July 19, 2011
ABC News
http://abcnews.go.com/International/extraordinary-artist-sees-cities-draws-detailed-panoramas/story?id=14097937

Autistic Artist: Kendall Collins' Passion for Trains Embarks Artistic Career
July 16, 2011
Porterville Recorder‎‎
http://www.recorderonline.com/news/collins-49417-kendall-dana.html

This last one isn't a positive news story, but I was still inspired by his story and thought it was worth listing here.
Army Spc. Jameson Lindskog, 23, Pleasanton; Among 6 Killed in Afghan Firefight
"The medic took a single-minded, methodical approach to his job that earned him respect and admiration from officers and enlisted alike, his parents were told."
July 24, 2011
Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-jameson-lindskog-20110724,0,4671554.story

Review of Special Needs Planner

Description:
A day planner and calendar created for parents of children with special needs. In the introduction, the planner is described as being designed to “help you organize not only your homeschool days, but the additional tasks involved in raising your special child.” While the planner is specifically directed at homeschooling families, other families may find much of the planner helpful, such as the forms for keeping track of therapy and medical appointments, and the high-quality photo task analysis schedules. The planner also contains GFCF recipes, evaluation/testing tracking sheets, medical history and other medical reports, medication information, a behavior diary, a food diary, a bedtime routine form (useful for leaving with babysitters or other caregivers), chore charts (with pictures), and a behavior reward/point chart. The planner is filled in by the parent either by typing into the PDF document or by printing it out and writing on it.

Pros:
I can see this planner being very helpful in keeping a parent very organized. It allows you to keep a great deal of important information about your child in one convenient place.

Includes a wide variety of useful forms, as described above.

The visual task analysis forms for various life skills were great! They include high-quality, full-color photos of children completing the steps involved in a variety of skills including washing hands, brushing teeth, checking a book out of the library, cleaning a child’s bedroom, and many more.

Provides tips and articles about homeschooling a child with special needs.

Cons:

Some of the forms were very general and I’m not exactly sure how they would be used by a family.

Much of the planner is comprised of various calendars, almost identical to a calendar you could purchase from any store.

Overall, I believe that this planner would be helpful for any family of a child with a disability who would like to have one organized location to keep all relevant medical and educational information about their child. Data collection about behaviors and learning and how these may be linked with medications, eating habits, and sleep patterns is important for students with autism, and this planner may help track that information. I’m not sure it would be that valuable to teachers or other educators, with the exception of a few of the forms and the picture task analysis sheets. The planner seems to be a helpful resource and I would recommend it for parents, families, and caregivers. You can view sample pages of the planner here: http://www.theoldschoolhousestore.com/sample/TOS_SpecialNeedsPlannerSAMPLER.pdf

The download of the planner can be purchased here: http://www.theoldschoolhousestore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=429_479&products_id=19665

A CD of the planner can be purchased here: http://www.theoldschoolhousestore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=191_193&products_id=19672