PositivelyAutism.com - News and Updates

Are You a New Special Education Teacher? CEC is Looking for You!

2009-07-21T12:20:00.000-07:00

I'd love to participate in this opportunity from the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), but I've been teaching one year too long! Here is the information if any of our readers are interested:

Attention new teachers: CEC wants to hear from you!

Careers in special education are incredibly rewarding . . . but CEC knows that those first few years in the classroom can be quite challenging, too. What do you hope to accomplish and what problems will you face as you begin to work with students with exceptionalities? There will certainly be ups and downs — and we want to hear about it all.

CEC is seeking members with three or fewer years’ experience to write about the 2009-10 school year for Reality 101, CEC’s flagship blog. This blog “diary” will act as a sounding board where readers will get to know you, offer advice, and share their own stories.

Our new bloggers will be treated to complimentary copies of some of our most valuable publications for beginning special educators. They will also have the option to receive a FREE one-year CEC membership or a gift certificate to the CEC Store.

Visit CEC’s Web site ( http://www.cec.sped.org/Content/NavigationMenu/AboutCEC/Communities/Blog/Bloggers_Wanted.htm ) for more information and the application form. Candidates must e-mail CEC by Aug. 7, 2009, in order to be considered.

Have more than a few years under your belt? Then pass this opportunity along to a friend or colleague who you think would make a great blogger on "Reality 101."

Autism How-To Articles

2009-05-08T17:38:00.000-07:00

Articles include:

How to Teach Handwashing to Students with Autism

How to Introduce a Token Reward System to Students with Autism

How to Teach Young Kids About Autism

How to Teach a Student with Autism to Imitate Your Actions

And more!

Read all of the articles at: http://www.ehow.com/members/nicole22-articles.html

All articles written by Nicole Caldwell, M.Ed., Autism Specialist and Editor of www.PositivelyAutism.com

Holiday Sales on Autism Products

2008-11-27T05:43:00.000-08:00

Different Roads to Learning is offering 15% off everything in their store from November 26, 2008 through December 3, 2008. They sell a wide variety of materials primarily designed for ABA programs. http://www.difflearn.com/

Natural Learning Concepts is also having a Black Friday Sale on various gifts and gift sets for kids, parents, and teachers. http://www.nlconcepts.com/

Please post a comment if you know if any more!

Thank you and I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

"I am truly blessed to work in the field of autism....I’ve learned about diversity and found that it’s 'okay' to be different because, in our own special ways, we all are." - Jim Ball, Ed.D, BCBA

Sincerely,

Nicole Caldwell, M.Ed.

P.S. Please help us keep Positively Autism a free service by making any of your Amazon.com purchases through our website. There is a link on the main page of www.PositivelyAutism.com or use this link to view the Black Friday Sale items from Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/b/?node=384082011&tag=positivelyaut-20. Thank you for your support!

Reader Question: Reading/Writing Issues Associated with Autism?

2008-11-24T11:44:00.000-08:00

I had a reader e-mail me a question about her son with Autism. She said that he can read flash cards, but not from a book. He can trace, but not write. She asked if these characteristics are part of having autism.

The short answer is not necessarily. The characteristics of Autism that are used to diagnose the condition are found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association. These characteristics include "impairment in social interaction," "impairments in communication," and "restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior."

I have taught students with Autism of all skill levels, and no two are ever the same. It seems very possible that because of learning challenges, possibly due to communication problems associated with Autism, a student could have those characteristics.

It is difficult to say without knowing the child, but here are some things I might do for this student. If he can trace, have him trace words. Put a picture of each word he traces with the word, so he can learn what the word means. This may also help with reading and reading comprehension. You can print free tracable words at this website: http://www.mymoondrops.com/info/spelling.html . A work task like this one may also be benficial: http://www.positivelyautism.com/task_spelling01.gif

References: DSM IV-TR Diagnostic Criteria for the Pervasive Developmental Disorders (http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/overview_diagnostic_criteria.htm)

Autism Teacher Tip: Look for ELL Resources

2008-11-21T19:09:00.000-08:00

I was shopping today at the Lakeshore Learning Store looking for materials for my students. I looked at the section of products for English Language Learners (ELLs), and found some great resources for my students with Autism. I purchased two bingo games: Emotions bingo and Action Words bingo. The games included bingo cards and single picture cards that contained a picture and the written corresponding word. It was a great deal because you could use them as both flash cards and as a game for less than the price of most flash card sets that I've seen specifically designed for students with Autism.

Have you found any great resources in the English Language Learner section of your local teacher supply stores? Let us know!

Nicole Caldwell, M.Ed.

Halloween Resources for Kids with Autism

2008-10-23T22:52:00.000-07:00

At a clinic I work with, our kids participated in a "Trick or Treat" by going around to the different offices within our building dressed in costumes. The kids had fun, and I thought this was a good practice for what would acutally happen on Halloween. They knocked on the doors, said "Trick or Treat" (with as much prompting as needed), and said "Thank You" and "Happy Halloween" after getting their treat. We didn't do this, but for some kids having a picture or sign language sign available for them to show (instead of speaking) might be helpful. Some of the offices purposefully did not have any candy or toys, just so the kids could be prepared for this to happen too.

Here are some other resources that I've found online to help families prepare for Halloween.

http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Halloween_Tips

http://autism.about.com/b/2008/10/17/halloween-on-the-autism-spectrum.htm

http://specialchildren.about.com/od/halloween/bb/halloweenhelp.htm

I hope you have a wonderful Fall season,

Nicole Caldwell, M.Ed.

Asperger's Syndrome DVD for College Professors

2008-06-27T11:36:00.001-07:00

Exciting news! A new DVD, "Understanding Asperger Syndrome: A Professor’s Guide" is now available from The Organization for Autism Research (OAR). The DVD is twelve minutes long, and provides an introduction to Asperger's Syndrome for college professors, teaching assistants, and other college personel. The DVD features the president of OAR, Peter Gerhardt, Ed.D., as well as several individuals with Asperger's discussing topics including reasonable college classroom accommodations and what it is like to be an adult with Asperger's. The video is avilable to download at OAR's website: http://www.researchautism.org/resources/AspergerDVDSeries.asp. The organization also reports that the video will be avilable on YouTube, as well as DVD format.

Dallas/Fort Worth Area Event

2008-06-04T20:06:00.001-07:00

2008 Dallas/Ft. Worth Walk Now for Autism
June 14, 2008
Registration 8:30 am
Walk start 10:00 am
Texas Rangers Ballpark - Arlington, Texas

2008 Dallas/Ft. Worth Walk Now for Autism highlights:

Resource Fair - We have over 25 participants; they will share information on services, support groups and products for families touched by autism. This is a valuable part of our day, you will have a chance to learn more about resources in the DFW metroplex.

Free snacks & beverages - Enjoy popcorn, Popsicles, pickles, fruit and the ever popular Texas favorite - chips and salsa, and much more! Water, juices and soft drinks will also be available. Our refreshments have been generously donated, and some are in limited supply. Let's make sure our great kids get first pick, thank you for your understanding.

Kid's Activities - Bounce Houses, Stars Slap Shot game, face painting, tattoos, clowns and more!

Entertainment & Guests - Captain Jack Sparrow (his Texas Cousin) will engage the kids in some serious balloon sword fighting, CBS 11 & TXA 21 personalities will be on hand to meet you and sign autographs along with Jesse Plemons, actor ( Landry) from the critically acclaimed NBC TV show, Friday Night Lights.

There will be music, Prizes and lots of fun!

The above information provided by 2008 Dallas/Ft. Worth Walk Now for Autism

New Links - OT Activities, Autism Magazine, and More!

2008-05-26T11:11:00.000-07:00

I've added some new resources to Positively Autism's links page. Be sure to check it out! http://www.positivelyautism.com/links2.html

New Bill Proposed in the U.S. Regarding Video Game Sales to Minors

2008-05-12T19:43:00.000-07:00

Based on my experience, kids on the autism spectrum are often big fans of computer and video games, as are all kids! I wanted to let you know about a new bill that is being proposed to require that retail stores require a ID check before selling video games rated M for "Mature" or AO for "Adults-Only." This bill has been proposed by Congressman Jim Matheson (D-UT) and Congressman Lee Terry (R-NE).

Regarding the effect of video games on the mind, Gavin McKiernan, national grassroots director for the Parents Television Council, said "The research suggests playing a video game has a greater effect on a developing mind than just watching a violent ...movie or TV show [with adult content]. You're participating, you're not just passively watching someone shoot people."

If this is an issue that interests you, you can learn more about the bill at http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/news/release/2008/0508.asp

To contact your congressional representatives about this bill, please visit http://capwiz.com/parentstv/issues/alert/?alertid=11348411&type=CO

Autism Resources for Your Community Library

2008-05-05T10:06:00.000-07:00

There is a new website created by staff of two New Jersey libraries and includes training and awareness resources for other libraries to help them become more accessible to people with autism.

Some of the resources available:

*Customer Service Tips,
*A Free Download of a Training Video
*Library-related PECS pictures,
*A Social Story Template that Allows the Library to Add Its Own Pictures

If you work at a library, or are a frequent customer, this is a great resource to share with them!
http://www.thejointlibrary.org/autism/

Addition to 'Special Interests' Issue: Using Objects of Obsession as Token Reinforcers

2008-05-01T08:09:00.000-07:00

I recently discovered an additional research study that should have been included in the March/April 2008 issue. It has been added, and is also posted below:

Title: "Using Objects of Obsession as Token Reinforcers for Children with Autism"

Author(s): Marjorie H. Charlop-Christy and Linda K. Haymes

Journal: Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders

Issue: June 1998 (Volume 28, Issue 3)

Author's Description: We assessed the effectiveness of using objects of obsession as token reinforcers to increase task performance for children with autism. The use of obsessions as tokens (e.g., letter “A”, a picture of a train) was compared with the use of typical tokens (e.g., stars, happy faces). A multiple baseline design across children with a reversal within child was used. Data were collected on percentage correct of task responses and on the occurrence of inappropriate behaviors during work sessions. Results indicated that percentage correct on task performance was higher when objects of obsession were used as tokens as opposed to when typical tokens were used. Concomitant decreases in inappropriate behaviors during work sessions were also noted. Results are discussed in terms of primary versus secondary reinforcement and the effects of saliency and novelty of the reinforcing stimuli.

Be sure to read the complete issue at http://www.positivelyautism.com/volume3_issue03/index.html

No Child Left Behind Law Faces Changes

2008-04-25T12:27:00.000-07:00

The following is a press release about proposed changes to NCLB. You can send your comments on the proposed changes by following the instructions here: http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/other/2008-2/042308a.html (Scroll down to where it says 'SUMMARY').

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings Announces Proposed Regulations to Strengthen No Child Left BehindFocus on Improved Accountability and Transparency, Uniform and Disaggregated Graduation Rates and Improved Parental Notification

FOR RELEASE: April 22, 2008
Contact: Samara Yudof or Elissa Leonard(202) 401-1576

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today announced proposed new regulations to strengthen and clarify No Child Left Behind (NCLB). The proposed regulations focus on improved accountability and transparency, uniform and disaggregated graduation rates and improved parental notification for Supplemental Education Services and public school choice. The Secretary made the announcement at the Detroit Economic Club in Detroit, Mich.

"I'm proposing new policy tools that will give families lifelines—and empower educators to create dramatic improvement," said Secretary Spellings. "Many are actions that have gained broad support through conversations on how to strengthen No Child Left Behind. While I will continue working with legislators to renew this law, I also realize that students and families and teachers and schools need help now. So, at the President's request, I'm moving forward to empower educators to take actions that families have been waiting for."

The Secretary noted that these new regulations build on NCLB's positive results and are consistent with the law's core principles of annual testing, publishing data and helping schools that fall behind. She added that in her travels to nearly two dozen states—which included meetings with governors, state school chiefs and state legislatures—discussions focused on how states and districts can improve struggling schools, more accurately measure dropout rates and chart student progress over time.

Several of the proposed regulations seek to clarify elements of the law that demand school systems be accountable for results and transparent in their reporting to parents and the public, including requiring that states publish data from the Nation's Report Card alongside data from their own tests for students. The Secretary emphasized that measures of student academic achievement may include multiple types of questions and multiple assessments within a subject area. In addition, a state's accountability system must ensure the inclusion of all sub-groups of students by adopting appropriate N-sizes.

Building on the Department's growth model pilot program, the proposed regulations would outline the criteria that States must meet in order to incorporate individual student progress into the State's definition of Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). Secretary Spellings is also proposing to strengthen the provisions of the law on school restructuring. Schools in restructuring need the most significant intervention, and a recent study found that 40 percent of schools in restructuring did not implement any of the restructuring options under the law. The proposed regulations will clarify that restructuring interventions must be more rigorous and that interventions must address the reasons for the school being in restructuring.

To continue the dialogue and address some of the more technical needs of the states and their departments of education, Secretary Spellings proposed the creation of a National Technical Advisory Council. The council will be made up of experts in the fields of education standards, accountability systems, statistics and psychometrics and be tasked with advising the Department on highly complex and technical issues and ensuring state standards and assessments are of the highest technical quality.

Noting that, according to a recent study, 75 percent of high school students in Detroit public schools do not graduate on time, Secretary Spellings announced the Department would build on the work of the National Governor's Association to establish a uniform graduate rate that shows how many incoming freshman in a given high school graduate within four years.

"Over their lifetimes, dropouts from the class of 2007 alone will cost our nation more than 300 billion dollars in lost wages, lost taxes and lost productivity," said Secretary Spellings. "Increasing graduation rates by just five percent, for male students alone, would save us nearly eight billion dollars each year in crime-related costs."

All states would use the same formula to calculate how many students graduate from high school on time and how many drop out. The data would then be made public so that educators and parents can compare how students of every race, background and income level are performing.
States will be allowed to use an interim calculation on a transitional basis, but every high school in every state will be required to report new graduation rates for accountability purposes no later than 2013. In the meantime, each state will be responsible for setting a graduation rate goal and for disaggregating data by subgroup to report and determine AYP. Beginning in the 2008-2009 academic year, in order to make AYP, a school or district would have to meet the graduation goal or demonstrate their continuous and substantial improvement from the prior year.

Additionally, the Secretary is proposing rules to ensure parents are notified in a clear and timely way about their public school choice and supplemental education service options. The proposed regulations will ensure that states make more information available to the public about what tutoring providers are available, how these providers are approved and monitored, and most importantly, how effective they are in helping students improve.

"Research has shown that effective tutoring programs can reduce the achievement gap by 10 to 15 percent," said Secretary Spellings. "The problem is, these options will not make a difference if parents don't know they're available. I hope these proposed regulations will assist parents in getting the extra help their children may need to succeed."

The regulations proposed by the Secretary are published online in today's Federal Register for public comment. Hard copies of the Federal Register will be available on Wednesday, April 23.
For further information on how the regulations will strengthen NCLB, including a link to the Federal Register, please visit http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/reg/proposal/.

Reader Question - Autism and Nature Programs/Camps

2008-04-21T14:18:00.000-07:00

I had a reader e-mail me asking if I knew of any research on nature programs and nature camps for children on the Autism Spectrum. I did a search, and this was the closest (and only) study that I could find.

Title: Facilitating Social Interactions in a Community Summer Camp Setting for Children with Autism

Authors:
Brookman, Lauren
Boettcher, Mendy
Klein, Aileen
Openden, Daniel
Koegel, Robert L.
Koegel, Lynn

Source: Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions; Fall2003, Vol. 5 Issue 4, p249, 4p

Abstract: Describes a program which was developed to support the participation of children with autism in a full-inclusion summer day camp program with their typically developing peers. Individualized goals of the camp program; Discussion of the strategies used in facilitating social interactions between children with autism and their typically developing peers.

If you know of another, please let me know by leaving a comment! Thanks and have a wonderful day!

Nicole Caldwell, M.Ed.

New Online Group: A Positive Place for Autism

2008-04-18T16:44:00.000-07:00

I was invited to join a new online group today, and I wanted to share it with you. A Positive Place for Autism is a place to "share all the positive things about our children with Autism." Please visit the group here: http://groups.myspace.com/apositiveplaceforautism

It's great to see more positive resources!

New Issue - Using Special Interests to Motivate and Educate!

2008-04-10T11:57:00.000-07:00

You can read Positively Autism’s latest issue on special interests at http://www.positivelyautism.com/volume3_issue03/

Thanks and have a wonderful day!