Do2Learn and Autism Awareness Month

If you are reading this blog you are are probably pretty aware of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). If you are not, let me give you the short version. ASD was first identified in 1943 and as of today we don't know what causes it. There is a lot of reliable research going on right now, so we may have an answer soon. What we do know is that ASD affects 1 in 110 (CDC announced on 3/29/12 that the numbers are 1 in 88) children born today and that more than 15 million Americans (we are talking about loved ones, care givers, educators, and professionals) are impacted by this disorder everyday. ASD is 4 times more prevalent in boys than girls and is a lifelong disorder with no known cure.

April is noted as Autism Awareness Month worldwide and April 2^nd is WORLD Autism Day. On April 2^nd it has become tradition to “light it up blue” by changing your porch lights to blue bulbs, hanging blue lights along your house, requesting your city to change lights on significant buildings to blue for the day to increase awareness of about Autism. If you have not thought about doing this at your house, you still have time to go out and pick up a blue bulb. They can be found at your local grocery store or hardware store.

Do2Learn's team of educational and clinical experts understand the impact of Autism Spectrum Disorder's on those who educate, love and care for them. That is why on the D2L website you will find so many “FREE” areas of activities along with our products that are for purchase. Our Facebook page is also a good place for you to come and share with us and each other about what works and does not work for you in your class, home, and in the community. We also have started a LinkedIn group for that reason as well.

Do2Learn is committed to providing quality resources for parents, teachers and professionals. We explain to you how to use those resources and provide a way for you to ask us questions and leave us comments. We also provide those resources on our website. We also want to offer you a way to communicate with one another about our products too. Please be sure to take advantage of all the resources that Do2Learn has made available.

Share with us how you are increasing Autism Awareness in your community! We really do want to know!

Feelings Journal

Today I am bringing in a Guest Blogger to review Do2Learn's Feelings Journal.  Kaitlin Moncol is my daughter who you have all had the pleasure of reading about in past blogs. She is weighing in on this great product that offers specific information about different types of emotions.  For more info click here. Should you have any questions for Kaitlin leave them in the comment section and we will pass them along for her responses. Take it away Kaitlin!

Feelings Journal

Hi!  I'm the new guest blogger, Kaitlin, and I would like to talk about the Feelings Journal. The Feelings Journal is like the journals bought in the bookstore, but a lot more structured. I find it's structure makes it really easy to use because it's not just pages with blank lines. Some pages ask how you're feeling and why you feel that way. Other pages are more like worksheets by giving you an emotion and an activity related to that emotion. I even found some activities that I wish I could have used during high school English classes because they would definitely have been helpful. The best part of the structure is that it's not boring. When I wrote in a plain journal I got bored really easily. It just didn't motivate me. Even if it was an assignment in school, I was not motivated to do it at all. This journal motivates me because it gives easy directions and sometimes pictures, which I really like.

Another thing I really liked about this journal was the super, awesome, amazing cover. It has a design that is modern for today's world. I like that it is a mostly purple colored cover, but that is just my preference.  I also really like the paint splatters on the cover. Not only are designs on the cover, but they are also on the individual pages. They are different for the worksheets and the journaling pages. They are in black and white, so they would not distract from any writing thoughts.

I think that teens and young adults should write and/or draw in a journal. It helps get their feelings our when they don't want to talk about them. I know that when I was a teenager, I did not always want to talk about my feelings. It's not to offend you guys; we just don't always like to talk when we are upset about something.  Parents, I think you should get the Feelings Journal for your son or daughter because it might make it easier for them to express feelings in a productive way. Teachers, I would suggest getting this for a student who might be going through a hard time. That's all I have to say about this! Can't wait til next time!

Kaitlin in her younger years!

Valentine's Day and Other Winter Activities

There are only 14 days to get those Valentine's Day cards ready! So make your list and get to work. No shopping needed. Just click and print! You have your choice of color or black and white so that your child/student can color them any color they wish. These make for a perfect activity on a chilly afternoon. I would recommend breaking down the activity into parts and structuring it. Perhaps making a list of who to give Valentine cards to one day and then addressing them the next. I would also make a sample Valentine card for your child/student to follow if this is needed. Now is the time to get started to make sure you have them all done in time for February 14th!

Here are some other wonderful Winter activities too! Just print and have fun!  These are great to have in a binder for quiet time in a class, at home to work on while getting dinner together, or in the car while traveling.  Let us know how you used these activities. We really love hearing from our readers!

Graphic Organizers – Let's Make It Visual!

Graphic organizers are offered as one of the many accommodations on IEPs (Individual Education Plan) in the United States, but often parents are unsure of what they actually are and how they can help their student. Because of this lack of knowledge they may pass over this much needed accommodation or even fail to see the usefulness of such a tool in the home. Let me assure you that you want to make certain your child's teacher is utilizing these types of visual organizers with your child if he or she is a visual learner.

Graphic organizers are tools designed to break down and teach important information in a visual way. It also takes the abstract and allows for it to be taught in chunks or sections. By teaching difficult concepts in such a visual manner you are allowing the student to absorb each piece of information at their own pace and for the student to build on information that has been previously taught.

Do2Learn offers several different types of graphic organizers that were developed in conjunction with Spectrum Resources of North Carolina, Inc. Please click on the links to get more detailed explanations of each graphic organizer and the best way to use each one. We also have links there to free printable blank ones for your own use.

• Behavioral Thermometer

• Brainstorming Map
• Circle Organizer
• Concept Map
• Data Chart

• Data Diagram
• Decision Making Guide
• Hierarchical Organizer
• Relationship Target
• T-Chart
• Topic Tree

These organizers can be modified to suit your child's/students individual learning needs. Again, please be sure that if you have a child who is a visual learner, that graphic organizers are an accommodation that is checked on the IEP and used in the class and at home.  Good luck and have fun!

What's Your Scene? - JobTIPS

As parents, we have had as many scenes as our children have had developmental stages. The play date at the park scene, the trading off sitter scene, the IEP scene, the doctor's office scene, etc. I think you get the picture. So now we have arrived at our children beginning to look for employment themselves. WHAT? When did that happen? It was not magic and yes it did happen too fast. So now you are in that scene and so is your teen/adult and you need help. We published a great blog in May of 2011 highlighting our JobTips section and I would recommend going back and reviewing that blog.

In the meantime there are 3 scenes that teens/adults will typically find themselves most comfortable in when looking for employment situations.

• “In the Scene” This is basically a customer service position. Some examples of jobs are teacher, waitress, bank teller and retail sales.

• “Behind the Scene” In this type of position you would only occasionally work with customers or others. Some examples of jobs are grocery bagger, cook, auto mechanic, and mailman.

• “Out of the Scene” In a position like this you would likely not work with customers and may work in a area by yourself. Some examples of jobs are office clerk, web developer, book/cartoon illustrator, and mail room worker.

Do2Learn's “What's Your Scene” section has a step-by-step process for teens/adults to go through with a parent, teacher, job coach, other professional, or even on their own to help them determine what employment “scene” is best for them. You will notice there are printables, videos and quizzes included in this section. These resources will help you and your teen/adult in determining where they would feel most comfortable and find the most success in employment.

So what's your scene these days? Share your scene with a teen/adult who is trying to figure out their own employment scene. It just may help them with discovering their own.

A Schedule? She's Two?

That was my reaction when one of the many professionals we were seeing at the time told me my daughter needed a schedule. I was the one who needed the schedule! I was the one taking my non-verbal, two year old to this doctor visit, that therapy visit, and to see yada-yada professional each week. She needed a schedule? So I took a deep breath and went there. I asked exactly what kind of schedule my daughter needed at the age of two and exactly how was this going to work? WOW! Did I ever get an education that changed her life and ours.

Here is what that professional began to explain to me. The schedule would be a way for my daughter and I to communicate with one another. I was skeptical to say the least, but I knew I would give it a try. The more I listened, the more this schedule began to sound a little like my “to-do” list that got me through my days. Basically the schedule would outline for my daughter what activities were going to happen and in what order. Autism 101- our kids are visual learners and mine was certainly not verbal. So visual it was going to be.

BUT you have to learn to crawl before you can walk. So we started with an object schedule. This is a schedule using an object related to the activity that is about to happen. I would only show 2 or 3 objects at a time related to the activities we were doing and then I had a shoebox that had the word “finished” written on it, where she would place the object when we were done with the activity. This way she would know it was over.

1. A bowl to indicate breakfast
2. a toothbrush to indicate brushing teeth
3. sock to indicate getting dressed

I would walk with her and the bowl to the kitchen to let her know that we were having breakfast. After breakfast the bowl would go into the “finished” box. Then we would go back to the schedule and get the toothbrush and head to the bathroom for brushing teeth with a different toothbrush and then walk the object toothbrush to the “finished” box and so on. We continued on with this schedule until I thought she was able to follow a picture schedule. The picture schedule would work the same way. We have since transitioned to an all word schedule. The picture below is a great example of how the transition takes place over time for someone who has Autism and is able to go to a complete word schedule. In fact, using a combination of pictures and words together during times of stress is a great way to relieve anxiety in a student learning a new skill or making a big transition.

http://www.do2learn.com/organizationtools/setup/activitychoiceboard.htm

Here is a sample of a morning picture schedule.

Here is a sample of breaking down a actual activity into individual parts.  Kind of like a schedule/work system.  It helps to serve as a reminder to complete each part of the activity.

Wait! That is too much for me as a parent and I can't see how our family can live with such a strict scheduled out day like that! Is that what you are thinking? I was right there with you. I quickly realized that once my daughter had learned the routine of a schedule and she really liked knowing what was next, that I had built in flexibility! All I had to do was to let her know in advance. I just did not fill in her schedule too far in advance. Choices and flexibility can be built into schedules. Schedules can relieve anxiety and is a vital step to independence beyond the classroom and the home. Let me ask you this, what if all the data from your calendar got deleted or you lost your day-timer? I would be stressed if that happened to me, so go ahead and take that leap. Try out schedules!

Schedules are for everyone! Make-A-Schedule is the perfect program for parents setting up picture schedules at home.  

How have schedules made a difference for you?

A History Lesson About Do2Learn

It dawned on me today that many of you who are new to the Do2Learn website might not know a lot about how we came to be and all that we offer. So I decided that I would give you brief overview here.

In 1996, Do2Learn began through a National Institutes of Health Small Business Innovative Research grant. Since it's very beginning Do2Learn has searched and secured some of the most talented artists, teachers, and professionals around the world. We are based in North Carolina, but half of our users are from outside of the United States. Our website is a world-wide resource with over 11 million hits a month!

Do2Learn offers thousands, yes thousands, of pages of activities, games, guidance, learning songs, picture cards, academic material, and transition guides for employment and life skills. Best part? NO ADS! Yep, none. This makes it a much better experience for you!

We know that just telling you what you should be doing as a teacher, parent, or professional is not enough. We want to make your life easier. You are busy! So, with each topic we provide the hands-on resources you need to implement our suggestions. For example: When we present the Teacher Toolbox on how to adapt a classroom for children with special needs, we provide resources for behavior management plans, literacy tools, and the materials to create everything in your classroom.

Here are links to some of Do2Learn's Research:

• An Evolution of Virtual Reality Training Designs for Children with Autism and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
• Brief Report: Two Case Studies Using Virtual Reality as a Learning Tool for Autistic Children
• Developing Virtual Reality Instruction for Autism Report
• Computer Language Games for Autism
• Overcoming Phobias by Virtual Exposure

If you would like to know more about us please feel free to send us your questions at CONTACT US.

Attention Medical Professionals

My inspiration for blogging is everywhere and for that I am so grateful. Yesterday I was inspired for today's post while sitting in the doctor's office with my daughter. I had plenty of time to reflect on the many visits to many medical professionals we had had over the nearly two decades of her life. Those early visits were very hard. Hey, I had a young daughter who had just been diagnosed with Autism and guess what? She had Autism! Plus, back in the day a lot of the doctors, dentists, eye care professionals, front desk staff, etc. (you get the picture) did not know a lot about Autism. Those three paragraphs in Psych 101 really did not do Autism the justice it deserved. Then the lay folks just wanted to know if she could count toothpicks like Rainman (the answer is still no).

Here we are in 2012 and with it being estimated that 1 in 110 children being born today has some form of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Autism is not a word that needs an explanation to anyone. Medical professionals are learning so much more about Autism and other types of special needs and this makes the lives of the patients they see (and the parents/guardians) so much easier. We thank you for that and please know it is recognized and appreciated.

A lot of your patients may have communication difficulties (Autism is a communication disorder no matter where on the spectrum a person falls) and you can make those office visits easier for them by adding visuals to the visit. I am not suggesting you turn your office into specialized center for those with special needs at all. But why not utilize Do2Learn products to put together 1 or 2 binders to use with those special patients when they come in?

What should be in those binder you might be asking yourself?

• Well, I recommend pictures of things that you would be using during the visits. Laminate these pictures. Three hole punch the pictures so they go into the binders easily and can be removed for each specific patient. Make-A-Schedule is a wonderful resource for these pictures and Do2Learn is adding more and more medically related pictures everyday to the program. Doctors, Dentists, Hospitals and other Medical related professionals are assisting us in what they are discovering they need. Please let us know what you might want too!
  
  
  

• I would also add a few one-page social stories about any exams the patient might be going through. This can be for the parent to read over with patient while waiting. The story can include pictures ( Make-A-Schedule) or just words for someone who may be higher functioning and can read it themselves. This can alleviate a lot of anxiety before a blood draw or a dental exam/procedure to know exactly what to expect. Click here for Do2Learn's example of a picture social story.

• Do2Learn has all of this packaged into one neat area for you on our website. Please click on the image below and get those binders made.
  
  

  

  Do2Learn for Doctors

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

TEACHERS-We want to hear from YOU!

Are you currently using our Make-A-Schedule tool in your classroom? If so, than you know it's an easy-to-use program that gives you access to thousands of picture cards. In minutes, you can create schedules, social stories, story strips, forms, and more.

What we really want to know is what other schedule/picture type programs or tools are you using in your classroom? What do those programs offer that Make-A-Schedule does not? Come on, be honest with us. We can take it. We need the truth and we need your suggestions. We want Do2Learn's MAS to be the main program that you use in the classroom. Feedback, feedback, feedback!  Lots of it!  That's what we want.

I am going to be expanding on this question in the upcoming weeks, but I want to get a dialog going with you, the teacher, the parents, the users of our products. You can leave your comments anonymously on the blog or with your information so we can contact you for more details. We love hearing from you. So let's start talking!

Happy New Year and IEP Review

Happy 2012 from Do2Learn! Time to take a deep breath and look towards what you hope to accomplish in this new year. I have always liked this time of year to go over my child's IEP to see if her goals are still appropriate and perhaps plan for her IEP team to have a meeting to review this together.

Being the mother of a daughter (who is almost 19 now) who has Autism, I did not always feel as much a part of the IEP team as I should have. The more I learned, the more confidant I became as a member of this valuable educational team. Who knew my daughter the best in those meetings? Me, of course!

I hope that you will feel confidant as a member of your child's IEP Team. Learning about the process is very important to not feeling so lost in what can feel like a jungle of acronyms at times. Do2learn has several areas to help you begin learning about IEP's and other information to build your confidence when advocating for your child educationally.

Check under the RED, Disabilities box on our website. There is a lot of information under this box, but specifically related to the IEP, is within the Parents & Teachers section of the drop-down. You will also notice areas for Terms and Acronyms here too. Please enjoy exploring this area of our website and I hope you find that the information empowers you as you review your child's IEP for the new year.

All of this information in the Disabilities area is a FREE area of Do2Learn. Don't forget you can follow us on Facebook too.

It's a Whole New Look and More

Your eyes are not playing tricks on you. Our team here at Do2Learn has been working very hard to help your web navigation experience be a fun one. You will find several different ways to find your favorite Do2Learn products on our new website. We hope you will take the time to browse our new website and give us your feedback. You can send us your feedback from any of our pages through the “Contact Us” link, located on the bottom of each web page.

We are also inviting you to visit our blog often for updates as we explore the website together. There will be changes in the look of the blog as we go along, so again, feel free to give us your feedback on that as well. You will begin to see Do2Learn becoming more active on Facebook and I also have it on good authority that Do2Learn will soon be on Twitter too.

Thanks for your continued patience as we here at Do2Learn work to make our educational products better for you!

What Color Are You Feeling?

Are emotions linked to colors? Or, more importantly, can folks with autism spectrum disorder understand emotions better when the emotion is linked to a color? Sometimes, yes! At times, emotion words are difficult to use...some folks find it easier to say "I'm so RED!!!" when they are very angry instead of saying "I feel mad."

Do2Learn's FREE Emotions Color Wheel links the emotion name to the etymology,  color, definition, statement, and photo of a face depicting that emotion. In creating this color wheel, emotions were first divided into six general categories and assigned colors.

Then, more detailed emotions were added in, as were gradients of color. See?

The milder emotions are at the edges of the wheel, while more intense emotions like "hysterical" and "enraged" are closer to the center of the wheel. This is important, as most emotions have a basic state and vary from mild to intense which is shown on the wheel above, or like this!

 To see details on a specific emotion, like angry, simply click on that word in the color wheel...the word will pulse and this information will appear.

Of course, not everyone experiences emotions in the same way or agrees that all emotions are certain colors. If perhaps happy is not "green" to you, don't despair!

Do2Learn has blank emotion color wheels available so you can individualize the color wheel to your own needs! Download the blank wheel here.

You can find more info about Do2Learn's Emotions Color Wheel here! Do you think emotions are linked to colors, either for yourself or for folks with autism spectrum disorders?