Positively Autism August 2011 Newsletter

August Topic: Visual Schedules - http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2011/08/august-topic-visual-schedules-continued.html

Temple Grandin Seeking Autism Employment Success Stories for New Book - http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2011/08/temple-grandin-seeking-autism.html

The Picture Schedule Song (Video) - http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2011/08/picture-schedule-song-video.html

New Free Download: First-Then Charts - http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2011/08/new-free-download-first-then-charts.html

Amazon.com: Up to 30% Off Select Scholastic Teaching Supplies - http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2011/08/amazoncom-up-to-30-off-select.html

Using Schedules the Right Way - http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2011/08/using-schedules-right-way.html

Visual Schedule Resources/Links - http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2011/08/visual-schedule-links.html

August 2011 Positive Autism News - http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2011/08/august-2011-positive-autism-news.html

Next month, our topic will be Pivotal Response Treatments (PRT). I'm excited about the great information and resources that will be presented, including a chance to win a copy of "Pivotal Response Treatments for Autism" by Robert L. Koegel and Lynn Kern Koegel.

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August 2011 Positive Autism News

Children With Autism, Connecting via Transit
August 13, 2011
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/14/nyregion/children-with-autism-connecting-via-bus-and-train.html

'The Lion King' on Broadway to host autism-friendly performance
August 17, 2011
L. A. Times
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2011/08/lion-king-on-broadway-to-host-autism-friendly-performance.html

Bachelor's degree for students with autism
August 24, 2011
United Press International
http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2011/08/24/Bachelors-degree-for-students-with-autism/UPI-15001314226730/

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Visual Schedule Links

Research Summary of Activity Schedules: http://www.asatonline.org/intervention/procedures/activity.htm

Examples of Visual Schedules: http://www.child-autism-parent-cafe.com/visual-schedules.html

Visual Supports Article from Illinois State University: http://autismspectrum.illinoisstate.edu/resources/factsheets/visualsupports.shtml

Do 2 Learn (a variety of schedule and picture resources): http://www.do2learn.com/

Visual Supports from Positively Autism: http://www.positivelyautism.com/free/07visuals.html


Activity Schedules for Children With Autism, Second Edition: Teaching Independent Behavior (Topics in Autism)


Choiceworks Visual Support System



PECS Daily Schedule Board (Picture Exchange Communication System)


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


PECS 151 Cards: 2-inch Symbols for Picture Exchange Communication Programs

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Using Schedules the Right Way

A great article from Do2Learn.com, one of my favorite resource sites.

Schedules are important for all of us, and especially important for individuals with ASD! For an individual with ASD, a visual schedule:

1.Clarifies expectations of what is going to happen, and in what order
2.Informs the person of when preferred activities or breaks are occurring
3. Promotes flexibility
4. Informs the individual of when change occurs
5. Communicates all this information to the person in a way that is visual, concrete, and meaningful

Object Schedules

Schedules should be individualized and will look different based on the strengths, needs, and interests of the individual with ASD. A very young child may understand objects best, and his parent or teacher may give him his shoes to indicate it is time to go outside, or a diaper to indicate it is time to go to the bathroom. Objects are the most concrete form of communication, and often young children or teens or adults with more significant delays may understand and use objects to communicate quite independently.

Picture or Photo Schedules

Other children or adults may understand pictures or photos, which are more abstract than objects. Do2Learn offers several resources that provide various pictures for making schedules, picture lists, and story boards. Free printable picture cards are located here and include cards for self help, leisure, home, school, social skills, and other activities!

Make-a-Schedule is an easy-to-use program that gives you access to thousands of picture cards. In minutes, you can create schedules, story strips, and forms. Users subscribe to the Make-a-Schedule program for one year. Here is an example of picture cards that can be printed and made into a schedule for a trip on an airplane.

 

Written Schedules

Individuals with ASD who are able to read and comprehend fluently may excel using written schedules, reminders, and lists. The individual should be taught to interact with his schedule by checking or marking it off, and may eventually begin to create his own schedules. Some folks enjoy having their schedule on a portable device such as a small notepad or a  smart phone.

Tips to Using a Schedule the Right Way
1. Pick the appropriate cue: object, picture, or written word. The schedule is an organizational tool, not a time to work on building vocabulary. The schedule should make sense to the person with ASD on his or her worst day - when it is raining, their stomach hurts, and their favorite shirt is dirty!

2. Vary the schedule every day to promote flexibility. The person should not memorize the schedule and routine, but instead should refer back to the schedule each day to see what is happening in what order on that day.

3. The person should be prompted to check the schedule via non-verbal means. Telling someone "check your schedule" causes them to be dependent on you, their parent or teacher. But teaching them that every time they see a certain pen or a checkmark to check their schedule will promote independence!

4. Encourage and teach the person to interact with their schedule, not just look at it. Some folks with ASD have excellent memories and can look at their schedule in the morning and memorize it for the rest of the day. But if they are not interacting with it during the day by crossing off tasks as completed, they will not know if a change has occurred or may get upset if they forget a task and then are redirected. Interacting with the schedule promotes thoroughness and independence.

5. Consider the length of the schedule. Some individuals like to know what is going to happen the whole day. For other folks, that amount of information is overwhelming. Some individuals are on a "What's Next?" schedule and are simply given one object at a time. Others do best with a First - Then schedule, or a part day schedule.

6. Mix preferred and non-preferred activities. Just as we schedule coffee breaks or chat breaks during our work day (sometimes without even thinking about it!), folks with ASD need breaks as well.

7. Incorporate choice and, as much as possible, teach the person to begin creating their own schedules and lists.

Reprinted with Permission. View the original article at http://do2learn.blogspot.com/2011/05/using-schedules-right-way.html

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Amazon.com: Up to 30% Off Select Scholastic Teaching Supplies

Amazon.com donates a percentage of your purchase to Positively Autism! Purchase teaching supplies through our links below and support Positively Autism. Thank you!

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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

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The Picture Schedule Song (Video)

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

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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

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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)

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