http://www.nationalautismresourcesblog.com Just another WordPress weblog Thu, 02 Sep 2010 22:35:49 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Transitioning can be difficult and stressful for people with autism spectrum disorder.   Here are five techniques that can help to reduce anxiety and give a sense of predictability to transitions. 1. Create a Schedule Create a schedule the student can refer to.  This can be a simple written list of activities or ... http://www.nationalautismresourcesblog.com/2010/09/02/5-tips-to-help-autistic-students-with-transitions/ Fidget toys-we love them. Fidget toys can help relieve stress and increase focus and attention. More and more teachers are reporting that learners focus better and retain more information if they have something to do with their hands. Good fidgets should feel interesting, provide movement for the fingers, be durable ... http://www.nationalautismresourcesblog.com/2010/08/26/top-five-fidget-toys/ Did you know that you can set your autistic student up for success, just by making a few changes to your classroom? We've put these tips together to help you start the school year off right.  Use Visual Supports Post a classroom schedule as well as an individual schedule that the student ... http://www.nationalautismresourcesblog.com/2010/08/18/tips-for-setting-up-a-classroom-for-a-child-with-autism/ It's easy to drill academic information over and over again and "show" that a person is making "progress." However, if a person can add and even balance a checkbook, but they can't go shopping, how does this help in real life? The truth is it's much harder to teach individuals with ... http://www.nationalautismresourcesblog.com/2010/08/11/preparing-for-life/ On August 2, 2010 Dr. O. Ivar Lovaas a distinguished professor of psychology at UCLA and a world-renowned autism expert passed away. Dr. Lovaas devoted his career to improving the lives of children with autism.  During the 1960’s Dr. Lovaas began using principals of Applied Behavioral Analysis to teach children ... http://www.nationalautismresourcesblog.com/2010/08/04/dr-ivar-lovaas-a-pioneer-in-autism-treatment-passes-away/  As we work with people who have autism it's important to treat people on the spectrum as people, not tasks!  They have likes, dislikes, and interests, listen to them and help them to achieve THEIR goals. This becomes very important as people mature and become older. One autistic man shared at ... http://www.nationalautismresourcesblog.com/2010/07/30/its-important-to-listen/ A fun and simple oral motor activity that kids love is a bubble factory.  All you need to make it is a straw and a clean empty yogurt cup.  To make it cut two holes in the top of a yogurt cup:   Cut a small hole on the top of the lid ... http://www.nationalautismresourcesblog.com/2010/07/21/fun-oral-motor-activity/ Grocery shopping with a child on the spectrum can be challenging. Some autistic children want to touch everything in sight. One mother shared that all her child wanted to do was touch the wrapped meats until he poked a hole through the plastic.  Then he picked the meats up and ... http://www.nationalautismresourcesblog.com/2010/07/14/strategies-for-the-grocery-store/ Mark your calendars for the next AMC-Autism Society Sensory Friendly Film, Despicable Me, on July 17.  The movie will start at 10 a.m. in participating theatres accross the United States. New locations will be: Champaign, Ill.; Chicago; Denver; Evansville, Ind.; Indianapolis; Madison, Wis.; Omaha, Neb.; Peoria, Ill.; Phoenix; Providence, R.I.; Rockford, ... http://www.nationalautismresourcesblog.com/2010/07/06/get-ready-for-the-next-sensory-friendly-film/ Chewy Tubes, we get lots of questions about them.  Here is an overview of the various chewy tubes out there.  The Chewy Tube, designed by speech pathologists, these chew tubes are part of a jaw rehabilitation program. The tubes are different colors that represent different diameters of the chew tube.   Yellow ... http://www.nationalautismresourcesblog.com/2010/06/28/all-about-chewy-tubes/