Positively Autism October 2013 Newsletter

This month, we're finishing our series on Montessori for students with Autism.

Montessori Articles/Resources

October Positively Autism Theme - http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2013/10/october-positively-autism-theme.html

Sensory Issues in the Montessori Classroom - http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2013/10/sensory-issues-in-montessori-classroom.html

Montessori and Children with Special Needs - http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2013/10/montessori-and-children-with-special.html

Visual Supports for Use in a Montessori Classroom - http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2013/10/visual-supports-for-use-in-montessori.html

Montessori How-To Videos - http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2013/10/montessori-how-to-videos.html

Interview with Rhea Brashear, Director of Morning Star Montessori - http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2013/10/interview-with-rhea-brashear-director.html

What’s Maria Got to Do with Aspergers/Autism? - http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2013/10/whats-maria-got-to-do-with.html

"The Asperkids Collection" of Montessori Materials - http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-asperkids-collection-of-montessori.html

Is Montessori TEACCH Without the Velcro? - http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2013/10/is-montessori-teacch-without-velcro.html

An Interview with Michelle Lane - http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2013/10/an-interview-with-michelle-lane.html

"Autism: A Montessori Approach" by Michelle Lane - http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2013/10/autism-montessori-approach-by-michelle.html

Freebies and Resources

Task Ideas for Matching and Sorting - http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2013/10/task-ideas-for-matching-and-sorting.html

Halloween Social Stories and Freebies - http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2013/10/positively-autisms-halloween-social.html

News

October 2013 Positive Autism News Stories - http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2013/10/october-2013-positive-autism-news.html

Participants Still Needed for Cutting Edge PRT Autism Intervention (California) - http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2013/10/participants-still-needed-for-cutting.html

October 2013 Positive Autism News Stories

Autism Doesn’t Hold Back Montgomery College Graduate
October 1, 2013
http://www.gazette.net/article/20131001/NEWS/131009971/1124/autism-doesn-x2019-t-hold-back-montgomery-college-graduate&template=gazette

'Joshua is the Winner, He's So Proud,' Autistic Senior Named Homecoming King
October 4, 2013
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/10/autistic_students_positive_spi.html

Blind, Autistic Man's Music His Gift
October 12, 2013
http://www.macombdaily.com/general-news/20131012/blind-autistic-mans-music-his-gift

‘More Like You than Not’ Event Teaches CSUN Community About Autism
October 21, 2013
http://sundial.csun.edu/2013/10/more-like-you-than-not-event-teaches-csun-community-about-autism/

Autistic Artist Gives Hope to Many Through His Eco-art
October 24, 2013
http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/cypresscreek/news/autistic-artist-gives-hope-to-many-through-his-eco-art/article_33c8153e-3ca8-11e3-b781-0019bb2963f4.html

Frederick Man with Autism Pays It Forward
October 25, 2013
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/economy_and_business/article_7117447e-d234-52ab-89a0-bf5de3cf8231.html

Positively Autism's Halloween Social Stories and Freebies

Halloween is almost here! Don't forget about Positively Autism's collection of Halloween freebies!

• Halloween Vocabulary
• "What to Expect on Halloween" Social Story
• "Travis the Train Goes Trick or Treating" Story
• Halloween Math Activity Bundle for Pre-K and K
• "Things That Are Black" Activity
• "Things That Are Orange" Activity
• Songs/Videos
• Books
• And More!

Find all the activities here: http://www.positivelyautism.com/free/unit_halloween.html

Task Ideas for Matching and Sorting

 

 

"Autism: A Montessori Approach" by Michelle Lane

Book Description: The book describes the combined program using the Montessori curriculum and Applied Behaviour Analysis for teachers, schools as well as parents of children with autism. It provides the reader with the history as to why the Montessori curriculum is ideal for a child with special needs, a curriculum overview as well as strategies for these children in a clinic setting as well as a traditional Montessori school setting.

Review: Michelle Lane's book series (which includes the main book, as well as program manuals and tracking guides), provide a helpful overview of using Montessori methods to teach children with autism. It provides a brief overview of two approaches: Montessori and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), as well as the combination of these two approaches for teaching children with autism. This book does not go in depth about the Montessori philosophy, but readers seeking this information can find it in the many books available about this topic. It does, however, provide an easy-to-understand guide to using the Montessori ideas.

I would recommend these books for ABA practitioners wanting to incorporate Montessori instruction into their ABA programs, as well as Montessori teachers wanting to include students with autism into their programs.

Chapters in "Autism: A Montessori Approach" include:

1. Montessori, Itard and Seguin
2. Autism
3. Applied Behaviour Analysis
4. Blended Program
5. Montessori Curriculum
6. Sensorial
7. Practical Life
8. Language
9. Math
10. Culture
11. Data Collection
12. Play/Social Skills
13. Sensory Processing/Anxiety
14. Creating Your Own Program
15. Summary

The following program tracking manuals and curriculum guides are also available:

• Sensorial
• Practical Life
• Language
• Math
• Culture

Order at: http://tmsfa.com/MAS/products.php

An Interview with Michelle Lane

Michelle Lane is the author of "Autism: A Montessori Approach" and has developed a program that combines Montessori and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Click below for an interview about her background and teaching approach.

http://www.montessoriforeveryone.com/Lane-Montessori-School-for-Autism_ep_67-1.html

Participants Still Needed for Cutting Edge PRT Autism Intervention (California)

I received the following newsletter e-mail from the Koegel Autism Center at University of California, Santa Barbara. Drs. Robert and Lynn Koegel are the pioneers of Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT), which, in my opinion, is a preferred method of early intervention for children with autism. Here is the e-mail:

Dear Friends of the Koegel Autism Center,

Do you have a 4 to 6 year old child diagnosed with ASD? Are you interested in receiving a developmental assessment and 16 weeks of intervention? Your participation will enable researchers to better understand the developing brain in autism. Through the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we are able to see how behavioral intervention (specifically Pivotal Response Treatment or PRT) improves children's processing of social stimuli. This cutting edge research, funded by Autism Speaks, will hopefully lead to better care for all children with ASD. For more information on the current study, please see results from a similar project conducted at Yale University.

Please fill out the quick one page information form here and send it to avery.voos@gmail.com.

Please spread the word, even if this opportunity does not apply to your family!

For more information you may contact Avery Voos at avery.voos@gmail.com.

Koegel Autism Center
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9490
autism@education.ucsb.edu
http://education.ucsb.edu/autism/