Communication Shutdown

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has a profound impact on those with the disorder, particularly in relation to social communication.

Not only do they face huge challenges socially but they can be left feeling alone and isolated.

Communication Shutdown is an initiative instigated by the AIEOU Foundation, a not for profit organisation dedicated to providing intervention programs for children diagnosed with ASD.

It is aimed not only at raising funds for autism groups in over 40 countries, but also to highlight the isolation and loneliness experienced by those unable to connect socially with others. The initiative involves shutting down your Facebook and/or Twitter accounts from midnight on November 1st 2010, for a period of 24 hours.

You can also show your support, and donate to the cause, by downloading a charity application (CHAPP) for $5 on Facebook. The CHAPP will show others that you have donated and are supporting autism, helps to spread the word, gives you a badge and adds your profile picture to a mosaic of supporters from all over the world. Including the celebrities!

You don’t need a Facebook or Twitter account to donate, and you’re more than welcome to donate more than $5.

Join us in spreading the word, raising much needed funds and experience what it’s like to be disconnected socially.

For more details and to become involved, visit http://www.communicationshutdown.org

Halloween for ASD Kids

Halloween is almost here, bringing with it festivities including dressing up, trick or treating and far too many lollies.

Although Halloween isn’t something we celebrate in Australia as much as they do in the USA, or on the same scale, there’s still a lot of fun that can be had with the kids. Dressing up in scary costumes is just part of it, even if we’re not into wandering around the neighbourhood knocking on our neighbours doors, demanding lollies or threatening tricks if they don’t hand them over!

For ASD kids, however, it can be a quite overwhelming.

Fancy dress costumes may be uncomfortable or restrictive, particularly those with masks, and your child might refuse to wear the costume. The child might ever overreact to the way it feels. The whole night can be full of fearful things. After all, not everyone likes to see skeletons walking their streets. Your child is even less likely to understand it.

You will need to manage the night in a way that protects your child’s sensitivities. Halloween Is a night of noise, colour, people and movement not to mention lollies.

I found a great article over at the Autism Support Network that offers some fantastic ideas about how to include your ASD child in the Halloween festivities. They are simple ideas that will help you to enjoy the day as a family without having to cope with extra stress.


Happy Halloween!

Thomas and Friends Edison Chopsticks.

These cute Thomas, James or Percy Characters training chopsticks will have any little boy smiling.

What a great product these are. The Edison Chopsticks™ enable children aged 3 and older to immediately learn the principles behind the use of chopsticks and help to develop finger motion, concentration, focus, and intellect.

Did you know that when you use chopsticks you exercise 30 joints and 50 muscles of the body? No wonder it is a hard skill to manage. The Edison chopsticks help children to co-ordinate all those joints and muscles in a really simple way. The posture and angle of the Edison Chopsticks™ is very similar to the pen holding and writing grip - so it great for children who are learning to write and it encourages fine motor skills.

They are made out of high-quality, non-toxic, BPA free material.

Choose from Thomas (right and left hand), James (right hand) and Percy (right hand).

Size: L 17.5cm x W 4.5cm

Age: 3+

Sensory Sensitivities

The term “sensory sensitivity” refers to issues relating to the senses, particularly sight, touch, sound and movement.

When your child starts to show some odd behaviours you might want to look around, listen and even smell what is happening around them. It can gie you clues about what is bothering the child - what the sensory senstivity is.

Sensitivity can relate to “hypersensitivity” or heightened senses. People experiencing hypersensitivity are highly receptive and can become overwhelmed by sensory information, and can feel, see and hear things at an level much higher than the average person.

This can lead to behavioural issues, such as being abnormally frightened or distressed by noises, find colours or shapes disturbing or become anxious or bothered by the smell, taste or feel of things.

Brain overload might result in the child becoming inactive beause they can't make sense of what signals they are receiving. Alternatively they might become hyperactive as they react to the signals that are hurting their brains.

Others may experience “hyposensitivity” where senses are dulled. They may not be able to hear certain sounds or voices, or not feel touch or pain as others would. As with hypersensitivity, children with low sensitivity may become inactive as their brain can’t decipher what is coming in.

Alternatively, they may become hyperactive due to a need for more sensory information, either through self-stimulation or inattention.

Children with autism are likely to experience sensory sensitivity, which may lead them to display apparent obsessive behaviours, such as wearing the same shirt (they like the feel of it) or refusing to wear a different shirt (the tag on the back irritates them to the point of frustration). They might talk to themselves a lot in an effort to block out other noises. Perhaps they have to touch everything as they walk along - even to the point of feeling the wall as they move from room to room. Your child might need some tactile stimulation.

Others may become frantic at sounds and sights, such as music and lights, hurting their ears and causing their brain to overload. They may scream or hit their head, as it is literally hurting them.

If you can pinpoint what it is that is causing 'odd' behaviour in your child you can find a way to manage the behaviour. Teaching your child to cope with their sensitivities is often a matter of pre-warning your child about what is going to happen or involving them in activities which help them to extend their boundaries.

PECS - Free symbols

PECS - Picture Exchange Communication System - can make it so much easier for you and your child to communicate. If your children can't express themselves in words their frustration can cause an emotional blowout. Imagine how much easier it is for them to pick up a card and show you what they want you to know?

The hardest part of putting together your PECS cards is finding the images especially without blowing the budget. Many sites need you to own Boardmaker which is a software program that helps you manage the image production. An Australian version, with specifically Australian images, is also available.

If you want to make your own images there are some sites that can help. They offer free images for you to use. Here are links to a few of them.

http://trainland.tripod.com/pecs.htm - This site has heaps of links to useful sites for PECS but if you scroll down to the bottom you will find links directly to images that you can use.

http://www.usevisualstrategies.com/AutismVisualPrintablePictures.aspx - Free printables.

http://www.setbc.org/pictureset - A collection of downloadable images.

http://www.pecsusa.com/Brochures/PicsforPECS2010Sampleweb.pdf - a downloadable pdf file of sample images that you can print out and use

http://www.childrenwithspecialneeds.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=85&Itemid=64 - This site has images from Mayer Johnson and Silverlining Multimedia, specialist in PECS. While these are not copyright free you can print and trial them with your child before committing to purcahse any software. You need to know that PECS will work for you first, don't you?

http://www.trademarks-logos.com/ - Very handy for printing out brand images. Think of Coke and McDonalds. This site has lots of logos that might be useful.

http://do2learn.com/picturecards/printcards/index.htm - ready to use printables for your normal daily activities.

http://s86.photobucket.com/albums/k95/gavpedz/pecs/ - a few images that might be handy.

http://elearning.autism.net/visuals/main.php?g2_itemId=524 - great images that are easy to understand.

I know that we have bombarded you with a lot of information in these last two posts but I think they will be very useful for those of you who need PECS information and advice. I hope we have made your life a little easier.

PECS - Sources of information

PECS, or Picture Exchange Communication System is a therapy based program used by professionals dealing in autism spectrum disorders, such as occupational therapists, speech pathologists, social workers and even parents and teachers. It is designed to provide a way for people with autism to communicate without speaking, or the need for using words.

Through use of a series of cards consisting pictures or symbols representing items or objects, tasks or actions, enabling children to communicate how they are feeling or what they need, as well as aiding with establishing routines and creating social stories to help children cope with social situations.

It is recommended parents (and others) complete a training course in PECS and to work with children on a daily basis with the system to ensure maximum benefit.

Further information regarding the system, how it works and the basis behind it, as well as where you can access training courses in Australia can be found at:

http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/pecs_th.html - also provides a list of all therapies and services for ASD in Australia, as well as additional, useful resources)

http://www.latrobe.edu.au/hcs/projects/autism/pecs.htm

http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/catalogue/pecs-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-books-and-resources - provides links and access to the PECS manual and PECS related products and tools and other useful resources

http://www.autismawareness.com.au/therapy-based-interventions/ - lists a variety of interventions and therapies available to children with ASD, including the use of combined therapies

http://www.autismsupportnetwork.com/resources/autism-what-picture-exchange-communication-system-or-pecs-223321 - also provides an online community, resources and events, and support

http://www.autismspectrum.org.au/a2i1i1l445l487/welcome.htm - offers information, events, resources, access to tools and materials as well as an online community and support

http://www.pecsaustralia.com - Pyramid Education Consultants of Australia who conduct training courses and workshops for those interested in the PECS system

Next week we will have a look at some of the PECS cards available, especially those that are free.

What Makes a Good Toy?

Toys are a fantastic way to encourage learning in kids, stimulate senses and develop cognitive, motor and social skills.

This is particularly important for children with autism, who often require additional assistance in stimulation of the senses, motor control and recognition and understanding of social rules and playing with other children.

As with all toys for children, cheaper toys are usually not the preferred option, as they are easier to break or fall apart, and are often unsafe. Spending a bit extra for a sturdy, durable toy is well worth the money, in terms of safety as well as longevity of the toy.

They generally, depending on the type of toy, offer more options for interactivity, sensory stimulation and thought processes. Even simple aspects, such as the type of noise made or the ability to press buttons or flick switches can have profound impacts on its playability and enjoyment by the child.

For children with autism, toys that have a greater focus on sensory stimulation are most beneficial. Those that also offer a “cause and effect” type reaction, such as squeezing a ball and a light comes on, engages both touch and visual senses.

Toys or games a larger number of muscles to be involved; like the whole hand being required to squeeze, as opposed to one finger pressing a button, offer a greater opportunity for larger areas to be stimulated. Team them up with toys that engage other sensors, visual or auditory is good (leave taste for eating food!) and the impact on development of many areas is enhanced.

Toys that require sorting, matching or building, such as puzzles, LEGO or shape sorting/colour matching are great for improving cognitive skills, creativity and imagination. Of course, they also play a role in development of fine motor skills.

You also can’t go past play doh for creativity, development of imagination, and the touch and feel of has a profound impact on sensory stimulation. You can also add food flavours, such as strawberry or orange essence, and engage smell as well.

To help your children develop go and buy them a good toy.