Free Resources Available for Autism Awareness Month

Print and distribute free downloadable resources about autism from Autism Society to share with your community this National Autism Awareness Month.

Though you need to be registered with Autism Society in order to download the resources, there is no fee.

The link to get you to the resources materials page is:

http://www.autism-society.org/news/free-resources-available-for.html

Additonal nformation about the resources:

In 2006 the Autism Society launched Living with Autism which presents user-friendly information within four eye-catching pages. The series was developed to provide easy-to-understand, practical information related to the autism spectrum for a broad audience on a wide range of topics. The series will continually evolve, adding new pieces on a regular basis, and address topics across the spectrum and lifespan. Emphasis of all pieces in the series is on living successfully with autism, so articles will provide useful information, helpful tips and additional resources provided by those with expertise on the particular topic. The Living with Autism series is designed for individuals on the autism spectrum, their families, friends and concerned professionals.

Autism Society of Wisconsin Annual Conference

Its that time of year again...What time of year you say?

Time for the Annual Autism Society of Wisconsin Conference, the conference provides an opportunity for youth, families, educators and community providers to spend time together sharing personal stories, learning, and enjoying activities such as the annual Talent Show.

This year's conference is themed:

“From Stepping Stones to Milestones”

May 3rd – 5th, 2012

Hotel Sierra, Green Bay

Thursday Pre-Conference Keynote: Kari Dunn Buron

Friday Opening Keynote: “Wretches and Jabberers” Larry, Tracy, Pascal and Harvey

Saturday Closing Keynote: Nicole Beurkens

For registration, conference program, scholarship and other information, go to:

http://www.asw4autism.org/

"The Autism Revolution -- whole body strategies for making like all that it can be"

There's a new book soon to be released that looks pretty interesting. The A team had already pre-ordered a few copies. Here is the description of what's addressed in Martha Herbert's new book:

After years of treating patients and analyzing scientific data, prominent Harvard researcher and clinician Dr. Martha Herbert offers a revolutionary new view of autism and a transformative strategy for dealing with it. Autism is not a hardwired impairment programmed into a child’s genes and destined to remain fixed forever, as we’re often told. Instead, it is the result of a cascade of events, many seemingly minor: perhaps a genetic mutation, some toxic exposures, a stressful birth, a vitamin deficiency, and a series of infections. And while other doctors may dismiss your child’s physical symptoms—the diarrhea, anxiety, sensory overload, sleeplessness, immune challenges, and seizures—as coincidental or irrelevant, Dr. Herbert sees them as vital clues to what the underlying problems are, and how to help. In The Autism Revolution, she teaches you how to approach autism as a collection of problems that can be overcome—and talents that can be developed. Each success you achieve gives your child more room to become healthy and to thrive.

Free Instructional Resources

Are you looking for instructional resources to utilize with students to support their learning in academic content areas?  Check out Pete's Power Point Station for power point presentations and interactive activities to use with your students.  Down load power point presentations to supplement your instruction -- use as is or modify to suit your purposes.  This is a great site that you, your students and their families will find very useful!

Spread the Word to End the Word

Today has been designated as a day to spread the word to end the word. Have you heard a student, family member or other adult use the word "retard" not knowing that it is a slur, offensive and derogatory to individuals who have intellectual disabilities? Having "that conversation" with them can be difficult. Check out this link for dialogue scenarios that you can use to help others understand why they too should choose to not use the "r" word.

ASD on TV

As if I am not already inundated with shows on my DVR, I've been repeatedly reminded by colleagues this year of all the great TV shows that are allegedly featuring a character that is on the spectrum. More specifically, the great TV shows with characters who have Asperger's Syndrome.

Here's a short list of those shows (with characters in parantheses), in case you're wondering ...

• Community (Abed Nahir)
• The Big Bang Theory (Sheldon)
  
• Parenthood (Max)

Have you been watching any of these shows - or others? If so, here's to hoping that you are gaining insights while vegging on the sofa.

YouTube Saves the Day

Jill Kuzma has done it again! She has added over 40 new YouTube links for social skills on her incrediby helpful site. I felt like this fact deserved a shout-out of its own.

Have you tried using YouTube with your students yet? I can not say how helpful it has been to me when working with teams that are looking for social skills assistance, video modeling examples (you can use them for your own students or for a jumping off point for your own creations), and beyond. Jill's list is fantastic and is a great example of the gems you can find on YouTube (and the web in general) when you dig a little bit.

I like to set about a half an hour aside each week to look for videos on YouTube that would be helpful for myself and the teams I'm working with currently. It helps me manage my time and keeps me feeling like adding this strategy is do-able and not so overwhelming. You can also use Google to help direct your searches in the right direction. Why recreate the wheel when it's already out there being shared?

Blog Love: February/March

Here are my picks from blogland for the past month. Tamar stole a couple of my picks from Differentiation Daily, but I think there are still enough to give you plenty of ideas to try out this month. Hope you enjoy!


The Assistive Technology Blog

• Twilight materials! Follow this link to a literal treasure trove of adapted materials for a Twilight unit. LOVE.
• Big Grips Case: something fun and green to support your iPad! Michael has one at his desk - so you know it has to be great! Great design for kids.
• Inserting sound into Word docs: Links to a Microsoft tutorial for this skill. Great opportunity for multiple modes of instruction and/or modifications for assessments.
• Inserting sound into PDF files: You learn something every day. Check out this tutorial to get this skill into your toolbox.
  

Differentiation Daily

• Math & movement: Great display of how you can incorporate more movement opportunities into math lessons. Check out the list at Future Teacher.
  

Free Technology for Teachers

• Story Cubes: Nice website with a strategy to try for getting the writing process going. Templates are provided at Cube Creator with six parts to make a cube - great for the elementary school level.
• Spark Notes on YouTube: Great addition for comprehension in literature courses. Gives a visual and more engaging set of information than something as dry as a study guide packet.
  

Speech Room News

• Social Communication Run-down: Jill Kuzma's site is highlighted, in addition to two app outlines. Worth a look.
• Shop Til You Drop activity: Selfishly, I dug this post because one of the students I work with has a special interest in the area of newspaper coupon ads. Free printables are included and you can tweak the theme to address a variety of target skills.

Hope you all have a great month!