Back To School Prep

It seems like Summer is barely halfway over for some, but others are already back in class. Now is the time to begin to prepare for sending your child back to school. That means more than just buying those all important school supplies that teachers are always so thankful for and need so much.

You may want to write a social story about what your child can expect in a school day. Read this story daily and make it exciting and fun! Be sure to include the following:

• When bedtime will be on nights before going to school
• What time they will have to get up on school mornings
• How will they get to and from school
• Will there be before or after school care
• Any other details that you think may relieve anxiety
• BUT be careful and don't add details that you are not sure of, because you know that your child will hold you to the story, so be sure to leave yourself some room for changes as they can happen.
  

Make some visits to the school and become familiar with the building and grounds if this is a new school. Even if it's not a new school, children are very reassured to know that this will be the same school that they went to last year and to be able to see it before there are lots of other people and noise can be very reassuring and lessen anxiety on those first few days.

Also, to assist in transitioning from home to school in the mornings, using a picture or written schedule can lessen anxiety for children and parents. Beginning the use of the schedule way before school will have both used to it and mornings will go smoothly.

With the picture schedule the activities are checked off as they are completed.

Written schedules can hold more complex information for more advanced readers.

For more detailed information on how to utilize these schedules and for blank forms and free printable picture cards please visit our site here.

It Is About What You Learn In Kindergarten

Yesterday we celebrated the graduation of one of Kaitlin's friends from High School. WTG class of 2012!

What was so special about this celebration was that it was a gathering of teachers, parents, and friends who had all started out together in preschool/kindergarten. The graduate himself requested this. Yes, he has Autism, but let me assure you that is just an aside, because having Autism has never once gotten in his way of achieving any dream or goal. So the goal for this gathering was a reunion of sorts and thankfully all the pieces fell into place. Oh, guess what...you know all those stories about individuals with Autism not being social? Umm, well, I think if you had been with us yesterday you would have seen those stories completely dispelled! In fact it may not have been much different from any other gathering you might have peeked in on. I take that back, it would have been a lot more fun and you would have felt much more comfortable. Here are some snippets of conversation you would have heard...

• “Miss Kat can you do those windshield wipers like you used to do in bus loop when we were little?”
• “Can you believe we both used to wear Harry Potter glasses?”
• “Oh no, Miss Laurie and Miss Carolyn didn't just take us on a train. We went all the way to Rocky Mount!”
• “Don't worry *****,  he is on his way. I just spoke with his dad and they are almost here.” Said in response to a non-verbal individual who was communicating that he wanted to see another guest really bad.
• “I am taking classes at Wake Tech and looking for a job. Your job sounds nice.”
• “Make sure everyone gets some cake now and I will share my lemonade too”
• “I graduate next year. I am going to have a party like this too, okay?”

I could go on and on, but my point is that this group of young men and women socialized together and enjoyed each others company yesterday in a way that was so typical, yet they had to work so hard to get to that point. The teachers that started this are to be applauded for all the hard work they put into these young people. Most of these young people had very little language in preschool/kindergarten and with a lot of patience, structure, and love these teachers taught these kids communication, manners, self-advocacy and more. Yep, all that in kindergarten! All with shapes, stories, songs, snacks, dances, and playground time!

What you learn in kindergarten makes a HUGE difference, so make it count!!

June 9th 2012

Transition Toolbox—Transition 101

Transition services as defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are intended to help youth with disabilities make the transition from the world of secondary school to the world of adulthood. A good transition plan should consider the individual’s strengths as well as needs in determining the best fit for the individual in terms of vocation, living arrangements, post-secondary education, etc.

It is important to understand that when the individual leaves public secondary school, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), not IDEA, becomes the law that guides access to rights and services for the adult. Inherent in ADA is the expectation that the individual will advocate for his/her own needs.

• Can s/he evaluate and state his/her strengths and preferences?

• Should s/he disclose anything about his unique learning and performance needs? 

• Can s/he effectively self-disclose about his needs and define accommodations that will enhance his/her performance in post-secondary education and work?

• Do the parents and the student recognize the importance of self-advocacy in post-secondary education and work?

Because of this law, it is crucial that the secondary educational program promotes the capacity for self-determination in the individual, supports the individual in self-identifying strengths and preferences, and helps the individual define accommodations and needs that will help him/her succeed in the adult community. 

(We invite you to follow our blog by email to be sure to get the latest information regarding JobTIPS Transition Toolbox and other great Do2Learn educational information.)

Previous Transition Toolbox blogs from Do2Learn.

Transition Toolbox—What's the Plan?

Transition Toolbox--Do2Learn Does It Again

Transition Toolbox—Where Do We Start?

Summer Learning Can Be Fun

Learning should not stop just because summer break begins. Studies have shown that individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (and other special needs too) need continued structure and reinforcement of the goals they were striving towards during the school year.  Often teachers will send home packets of worksheets and handouts with ideas of how parent's can continue working on these goals during the summer break. In other cases the student may qualify for Extended School Year services during the summer to help prevent regression. In either case, it is always good for parents to have a plan in place at home for continued structure and ideas for fun and successful, meaningful activities during the summer.

Please take this opportunity to look over some of our previous blogs for some ideas:

• Flash Cards-The Power of Something Simple
• How To Keep Structure On The Weekend
• Feelings Journal
• Graphic Organizers-Let's Make It Visual!
• Fine Motor Skill Deficits-Starting Early Counts

Check out the Academics section of the Do2Learn website to discover lots of ideas to help you fill your summer with fun activities!  Here is just a sample of what you will find.

Dot-to-Dot Letters

Dot-to-Dot Numbers

Safety Sign Coloring Pages

Sequencing and Autism

Sequencing is the task of putting things in order, which can make sequencing activities very appealing to individuals who have Autism Spectrum Disorder. The ability to put things into sequential order demonstrates a number of skills including recognizing people, places and objects as well as concepts of time. Sequencing activities for students can help develop a number of different skills that are necessary for life skill tasks and communication.

“What's the Order” is an interactive game from Do2Learn that helps students master the techniques of time sequencing. Players watch a video of a live person doing an activity and then are challenged to put the individual actions into the right order. This game utilizes both:

• Linear time—first, then
• Relative time—before, after

The videos are of actual people, there are printable activities, and teachers/parents can track progress with performance reports.

Feelings/Pain Scale

I had a wonderful question cross my desk this week from a mom who has three children with Autism. She was looking for a way to teach them to communicate with her when they are not feeling well or are in pain. Like this mom, I too struggled with this very same issue when my own daughter was younger. In fact, we still do have problems with this type of communication when she is not feeling well or is in pain.

Individuals with Autism may not even realize they are sick or in pain, so we have to teach them a concrete and visual way to express this, even if they are verbal. Do2Learn does a great job of giving an overview of Reciprocal Communication and giving examples of how to use visuals in working with individuals who have Autism on identifying illness/pain.

Perhaps one of the best FREE tools that D2L has to offer is the free Feelings Scale. Below is a small version that you can click on and it will take you to the full size that is printable. Laminate it and keep it in a handy place. I would print several so that when your child is injured or sick you can assist him/her in identifying where that pain or sick feeling falls on the scale. I have noticed over the years that Emergency Departments throughout the United States utilize similar scales for pain indicators too. It sure beats the old 1-10 scale that was never helpful to an individual with Autism.

If you have questions please post them on our Facebook site or you can post them here on this blog. I can also be reached at kat@do2learn.com . We love helping others out and your questions could help the thousands who read this blog!

Job Charts In The Classroom and The Home—Why?

Job charts provide routine and visual structure which is perfect for the classroom setting and at home. Let's look at what having jobs at home and in the classroom can do to enrich and prepare a child with ASD for the future.

Children need to help take care of the classroom and their home.

• This helps children become invested in the class room itself and learn to take care of the materials in it. The children also learn to value their own property at home and that of others that live with them.
• Give each student a chore or job to help maintain the classroom.
• At home give children a chore/job that they can complete successfully and be sure to praise and show the child that others in the home have chores as well.
  
  

Children need to try their best on each task.

• This helps to establish a work ethic and reinforce the value of learning.
• Avoid having students grade each others papers. This helps lessen the anxiety and embarrassment some children may feel knowing a peer will know their grades.
• Post the job chart where it is easily visible and set aside a time for these jobs to be completed. Ideally this would be the same time each week.
• Each week change the jobs around so that the children get the opportunity to learn and try new skills.  Do this at home as well.
  
  

Do2Learn offers more information about how establishing classroom routines assists students with ASD on their website. Here is an example of a classroom job chart. This chart can be easily posted for viewing and the names and jobs switched around for variety.

How To Keep Structure On The Weekend

You (the parent) do so well during the week keeping structure and schedules going so that your child with Autism knows what activity is next. You know that when you do this it makes life a lot simpler and that this structure actually builds in flexibility. We talked about this in the A Schedule? She's Two? blog. Oh, but here comes the weekend and there goes all the structure. You have things to do, places to go, and sometimes you need to shift gears pretty quick. How can you help your child with Autism make those transitions along with you and avoid the meltdowns?

Elizabeth Byers, a TEACCH Therapist, has offered her expert advice to us with an on-the-go Activity Folder.  She also offers complete instructions on how to make and use the folders.  I found this to be a great weekend folder that could travel on errands and outings to make those transitions go smoothly. I recommend practicing using this folder during smaller, less stressful trips and then build up to the weekends.

You may also find other uses for the Activity Folder as well, so don't limit it to just the use that has been suggested here.  Happy transitioning!

Eye Tracking and Autism

The research world has recently come alive with lots of information on eye tracking and how it affects those with the diagnosis of Autism. There are studies on how eye tracking can assist with the actual diagnosis and then there are studies on how eye tracking can help teachers in the classroom, like this one published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

One known fact is, if you have a problem with eye tracking, you are likely to have an issue with reading. Liken it to trying to read a magazine while riding in the back of a pick-up truck while it is going down a bumpy dirt road. That is what children with eye tracking issues experience when they are trying to read. It is a struggle to keep their eyes on the straight line of text. Their eyes may jump (unconsciously) from one line of text to the other and therefore the information they are taking in is jumbled. Eye tracking issues cause problems with information intake even when reading is not involved.

There are lots of programs available to work on eye tracking issues and Do2Learn developed one specifically for early learners many years ago. We knew the importance of eye tracking, emotions, and facial recognition, so we combined them together in a “two games in one” game pack. Fantastic Faces combines our Feelings Game and our Eye Spy game. Eye Spy teaches those early concepts of eye tracking that are so very important for children with Autism to focus on. The Fantastic Faces combo also provides trackable progress reports and printable activities. (this combo is only PC compatible)

Vacation with Autism

We are heading out for a week long vacation tomorrow. Yay us! Lots of vacation memories have flooded my mind this week as I have prepared for this vacation. Packing for vacation is a breeze, now. Hubby packs his and I pack mine, give Kaitlin her list and then I double check her packing. Pretty simple, NOW, but you know when you toss in a young child with Autism and go on vacation, the game changes!

Is a family vacation even possible when you have a young child with Autism? Sometimes that answer is just a flat out NO for some families. When faced with that situation where the whole family can not go on vacation together, there are lots of options. One really great option is to find an appropriate respite or camp situation for your child with Autism for a week and the rest of the family can go and enjoy a week of fun too. When Kaitlin was really young she could not tolerate traveling for long periods of time in a car nor the sound of the ocean. She really LOVED camp though! It was a win-win time for us and we learned to not feel guilty about those separate vacations when she enjoyed a week at camp and we took her older sister to the beach.

So maybe family vacations are possible, but you know there are going to be bumps on the way. How do you make it smoother? Take your structure with you! Prepare for the vacation by using a social story ahead of time. The social story can highlight some of the events that are expected to happen during the vacation. I suggest that you add visuals into the story that will make the story interesting to your child. You can read this before the trip, on the trip and after the trip to remember the vacation by. I would also take along any picture schedules and other portable forms of structure you have or could make. Use a daily check off form to write in activities and have your child check off the activities as they are completed. Add just one or two activities at a time, in case there are changes. 

Pack familiar items from home that bring comfort. Be ready for lots of down time! Being in a different place, with lots of different sensory input can make for lots of overload for our kids with Autism, so build in that downtime. I promise you that it will be needed. Do2Learn has lots of games that can be played with just a deck of cards (if your child is older) and/or a few other items you can bring along. So while you are planning checkout these "Homemade Games" and note the skills that your child will learn while having fun!

Lastly, breathe, it's vacation. You are there to relax and have fun. No battles on vacation...remember you may have to be the one that is the most flexible. If you find you spend your days doing nothing but watching the waves when the plans were originally to visit amusement park after amusement park, remember it's vacation and you are going to be rested! 

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!

Special Education Teachers Are Awesome!

Special education teachers have jobs that are more challenging than ever these days. There is more and more paperwork that must be filled out, even if it is on computers, it still takes valuable time to get it done. With the economy causing systems to make budgets cuts, these teachers are having to do more with less. The student to teacher ratio is beginning to change in some classes, so some teachers have more students then ever and these students have individual educational needs that must be met according to IEP guidelines. How are these teachers doing it? They are educating our students with special needs and doing a fabulous job!

• They love their students—It is obvious that special education teachers love children.

• They engage their student's parents—These teachers make sure there is a home-school connection. This may be by sending a newsletter by email, phone calls, daily notes, etc.

• They are creative educators—With each student in their class having an IEP and each IEP having individual goals, these teachers have to be creative to come up with ways of meeting multiple goals at the same time. That is the ultimate in multitasking.

• They create safe classrooms—Special educators have classrooms where their students feel safe to make mistakes as they are learning. You will often find that these classrooms are where a lot of “typical” students will gather because they feel the security within that class provided by that teacher.

• They have patience—Oh do they have patience! Special education teachers know that they may have to go over and over an educational directive many times before it finally clicks. They also know that they may have to change the approach and these teachers never give up.

Special education teachers are so incredible and so vital to our students. We know (as mentioned in our How To Spot A Great Teacher post) that graduation time is coming up soon and student teachers are in classrooms. We are grateful to those individuals who are going into special education and we have the perfect online resource to help them get started. Our Teacher Toolbox is a compilation of advice from Dr. Claire Coles' team of experts at the Marcus Institute and the Maternal Substance Abuse and Child Development Center at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

We also have the perfect Graduation gift to help them get their new classrooms started. In fact it is a wonderful resource for ANY special education teacher! Our Special Needs Handbook for Teachers will help create an organized and efficient classroom where special needs students will thrive. Resources to help students develop problem solving in reading, language and math skills are included with a whole lot more.

Making this purchase for your favorite special education teacher will be received with such appreciation. They really need all the support and encouragement they can get these days for all the wonderful ways they are providing priceless education to our children.

Environmental Demands on the Job - JobTIPS

How often do you think about the environmental demands of your job? I work inside in a temperature controlled area and I can turn the music up, down or off and on to my own liking. I have complete control over certain interruptions just by turning my phone ringer off or on. I am lucky, but not many jobs allow for that much environmental control. Let's look at what an adult, with special needs, looking toward employment will need to consider as they begin to search for a job.

A good place to start to learn about some of the possible environmental demands on the job would be by going through Do2Learn's rating sheet found here. The best thing about this rating sheet is that there are no wrong answers. Some of us are not outdoor workers, some of us love to work in busy office areas, etc., this sheet can help sort out what sort of environment might be a best fit when seeking employment.  Right here you have two worksheets to help sort out what kind of job might be a good fit for someone with special needs.  Good stuff!

Sometimes there are situations in job environments that are beyond our control and we need to work around those situations. For example, our office might be drafty and there is nothing that can be done.  So to cope we just need to bring a sweater and have it in the office for those times when we are cooler. Here is a worksheet to assist and guide an adult with special needs in dealing with those environmental demands that need some accommodations in work situations.

Let's look at some other demands and how we might can cope with such situations on the job. (please note that these links are to pages where you can find comprehensive information and videos to provide further assistance)

• Location—You might work indoors or outdoors. What types of jobs could you do and how would cope?

• Noise Level—The noise level in your work area might be very loud or very quiet. What types of jobs could you do and how would cope?

• Lighting Level—Lighting at some jobs can range from low to bright to florescent. What types of jobs could you do and how would cope?

• Work Hours—Some jobs are full time and some are part time. You might even work shift work. What does this mean?

• Amount of Movement—Some jobs require a lot of sitting at a desk and others a lot of standing. What types of jobs could you do and how would cope?

• Cleanliness and Odors—Workplaces can range from very clean areas to very messy environments. What types of jobs could you do and how would cope?

• Work Attire—Jobs have a dress code (clothes you should wear) that is appropriate for the job you are doing. Find out what is required for your job.

• Structure & Predictability—Some jobs are very structured and predictable and others are less structured an unpredictable. Which environment would be best for you?

• Work Pace—Pace refers to how quickly you work. Here is a great guide to finding out what your best pace is and how to cope with jobs that require changing pace.

We all face these environmental demands on the job, but for someone who has special needs they are much more difficult to recognize and cope with. If those who are assisting in job placement or teaching vocational skills can begin the process of recognizing the person's strengths early on, the smoother the employment process can go.  Do2Learn has put together talented teacher's and clinicians from around the world to assist you in navigating this process.  Please be sure to check out all the information of Environmental Demands in the JobTIPS section of our website.

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.

Labels – For Kids or Cans?

It's an ongoing debate, the one about labels and Autism. If you have a loved one who is on the Autism Spectrum you know exactly what I am talking about. Everyday there is something new written about it. Don't believe me? Go ahead and do a search each morning for the next week and check. You will be astounded at what you find and read. That's not what I am going to write about here today though. I want to share my experience with the Autism label.

Seventeen years ago when my daughter was diagnosed we were told she was “Autistic”. Not very person centered, but that was the times back then. Thank goodness the world has moved forward and now I would be told that she has “Autism”. What's the difference? Well, being told that she has Autism is telling me that she is still my dear, sweet, smart, beautiful, loving daughter who just so happens to have Autism. Being told that she is Autistic is telling me that my daughter is not at all who I thought she was and that she is now defined by this new label. My daughter happens to have Autism and she is fabulous.

Autism is a spectrum disorder and if you have seen one person with Autism you have seen just that! One person with Autism. Everyone is as different as the snowflakes that fall from a winter sky. No square pegs in rounds holes here, that is for certain. What does amaze me is the number of parents who like to add “very high functioning” to the explanation that their child has Autism. Oh you know them! They are the ones that stand up at conferences and introduce themselves by saying they have a child who has very, very, very, very, very, very, HIGH Functioning Autism (so HIGH you wonder why they even have to come to the conference to begin with) and then ask a question that leads you to think otherwise.

Well, I would like to leave off the “highs” and the “lows” when we get together to talk about advocating and supporting our loved ones with Autism. You may be asking yourself why, when they have such different needs. Not really! Our loved ones need the same type of services and supports. The level and delivery of those services and supports will be different depending on the individual of course. Autism is defined as a social and communication disorder. Those two difficulties are displayed in varying degrees throughout the Autism spectrum and therefore the support would be just as different, as would the delivery of services needed to offer support.

So keep it person centered when you are describing anyone who happens to have any type of special need. We need to stick together and leave those “sticky” labels for the cans!

Self-regulation and The Classroom

Self-regulation means to bring order to one's self or by one's self. Not an easy task for a child with special needs in a classroom of 8-28 other children. Not an easy task for that child in any situation due to the difficulties in communication, sensory problems, attention issues, etc. that accompany most developmental delays and special needs.  How do we know that a child with special needs is having an issue with self-regulation in a classroom? Typically we can see the above difficulties lead to behavior problems that disrupt the class.

Often these behaviors are misinterpreted as intentional. Let's take a look at some of the behaviors you might see from a child with special needs in the classroom and the possible strategies to try.  These strategies may be very helpful in ending/preventing behavior problems all together in some cases. 

Child can not sit still: self-regulation issue is the child is overstimulated and cannot calm themselves.

• Provide frequent breaks
• More ideas here.
• Have student sit on a barrel seat so they can move with out disturbing others. See Example below.

Child shows aggressive behavior: self-regulation issue is the child may not be able to control actions and/or emotions.

• Use social stories to help the child understand the cause and effect of their actions. See example below.

• More ideas here.

Child appears unmotivated: self-regulation issue is the child has problem sustaining consistent energy output.

• Provide consistent feedback.
• Use genuine praise.
• More ideas here.

Child appears defiant: self-regulation issue is inefficient intake and sustaining attention causing poor understanding.

• Maintain predictable work schedule. See example below.

• More ideas here.

Child is impulsive: self-regulation issue is the child can not inhibit responses and has in-the-moment thinking.

• Teach student to count to 10 before making a response.
• Use a schedule to maintain consistent daily routine to limit the impulsive actions. See example below.

• More ideas here.

Child appears uncaring: self-regulation issue is that the child lacks awareness of cause and effect reasoning.

• Practice role playing games to teach appropriate social skills.
• Try using the Feelings game to demonstrate facial expressions.
• More ideas here.

Children with poor self-regulation can interrupt an entire classroom. They can be overly sensitive to change and transitions, inattentive or physically hyperactive. The good news is these children benefit from structure and predictability!  

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.