Important Research on Autism

Over the last week I have seen several articles with exciting new research on finding markers for autism at an earlier age.  As an increasing number of children are diagnosed with autism now, I am hopeful that we can find ways to identify children at a younger age and begin treatment at an earlier age.  I have seen the remarkable difference that early intervention can make in a child's life.  This article highlights research done right here in Atlanta at the Marcus Autism Center.  Very exciting!

http://sfari.org/news-and-opinion/news/2013/classic-sign-of-autism-appears-in-early-infancy-study-says

The Importance of Free Play for Social Skill Development

This article makes a really compelling argument about how kids today are missing out on learning social skills because they do not have the same amount of free play that we did growing up.  It is a long article, but well worth the read.  I wish I could gather up a pack of neighborhood kids right now for a game of "kick-the-can"!

http://www.aeonmagazine.com/being-human/children-today-are-suffering-a-severe-deficit-of-play/

Kids Enabled October Resource Fair

If you don't know about the Kids Enabled website it is a great way for families living in Metro Atlanta to find resources for their children.  This fall they are holding a resource fair in Sandy Springs.  It's a great way to find out about many resources and meet representatives from those organizations in person.  There are also fun activities, music, and food for kids and adults to enjoy.  Here is the link to more information:

http://www.kidsenabled.org/events/food-thought-kids-enableds-fall-resource-festival

What Is Your Child's Learning Style?

Summer has flown by and it's time to start preparing for the back-to-school crunch.  One thing I have become aware of as I have worked with my two children over the summer with reading and math, is just how different each child learns.  I have always known this to be true, but now I have experienced how you need completely different strategies for teaching a visual learner than you do for a kinesthetic learner.  Here is a great article that explains the different learning styles as well as tips for how to assist each type of learner with homework.

 http://www.schoolfamily.com/school-family-articles/article/826-what-is-your-childs-learning-style

Discovering Your Child

I found myself tearing up reading this article.  The author beautifully describes the journey of all parents:  figuring out who your child is with all their strengths and weaknesses.  This child happens to have Down syndrome.  But it is true for all of us:  our children bring so much to our lives just by who they are.  

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-06-26/opinion/ct-perspec-0627-downs-20130626_1_down-syndrome-facts-fresh-beat-band

Fun Activities for Practicing Math Skills

Happy Summer!  While school is out, it's always hard to keep children from forgetting what they have learned over the past school year.  This article gives some simple activities for practicing math skills wherever you are this summer.  There is also a link to a 43-page booklet from the U.S. Department of Education on more activities to promote math skills for preschoolers up to 5th graders.  So, while you are enjoying road trips, lazy days at the pool or carpools back and forth to various summer camps throw in some fun and easy math practice!  Just click the link below:

http://www.ncld.org/students-disabilities/homework-study-skills/fun-activities-elementary-math-skills?utm_source=newsletter_june_25_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_content=dearreadertext&utm_campaign=ldnews

Dysgraphia Questions and Accomodations--Part Two

Here is the second part of the article that I posted earlier this month about Dysgraphia.  Be sure to also click on the link for dyslexia resources found under the first answer about accommodations.  This article has a wealth of information about how to work with children who have dysgraphia.  Good summer reading as we prepare for next year's 504 and IEP meetings!

http://www.ncld.org/types-learning-disabilities/dysgraphia/dysgraphia-accommdations-faq-questions-answered?utm_source=standalone_june_1_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_content=text&utm_campaign=weekendblog

How Georgia Ranks in Providing Services for People with Disabilities

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) releases The Case for Inclusion each year, tracking the progress of community living standards for Americans living with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD). The report examines data and outcomes for all 50 states and the District of Columbia (DC), ranking each on a set of key indicators, including how people with disabilities live and participate in their communities, if they are satisfied with their lives, and how easily the services and supports they need are accessed. By taking these factors into account, UCP is able to develop a comprehensive analysis of each state's progress or failures in providing critical services to individuals living with disabilities.

The findings for 2013 reveal that: 1) All states have room for some improvement, but some have consistently remained at the bottom of the rankings; 2) Despite economic strains, many states have made real improvements in the quality of services being provided; 3) There is still work to be done in ensuring that people with ID/DD can enjoy the same freedoms and quality of life as all Americans. 

I am pleased that Georgia is not in the bottom ten but we remain in the bottom 20!  In many areas, our progress is flat and services to get and keep people employed in the community are actually declining.  You can see the rankings and other data here:

http://www.ucp.org/the-case-for-inclusion/2013/state_scorecards.html

Inspiration from Jay Leno

As April is on its way out the door, I realize that I have not posted once this month.  Already the end of the school year is upon us. Where does the time go?

I hope you will find inspiration as I did in reading this article by Jay Leno where he talks about his struggles with dyslexia.  It's helpful to be reminded that we must not only strengthen our child's weaknesses but we must daily seek to find and encourage their many gifts.  A different brain is not an abnormal brain, but one that works in mysterious and marvelous ways.  Happy reading and see you in May!

http://dyslexia.yale.edu/leno.html

Is Teaching Spelling Important?

This is a very interesting article about whether or not we should be concerned about children learning to spell in school.  I myself have said several times that with our current technology it seems not to be as important as it used to be.  However, as the author of the article nicely illustrates, spell check is not that accurate AND a child with poor spelling will fall behind in other skills such as written expression which affects learning in all subjects.

http://www.specialeducationadvisor.com/to-spell-or-not-to-spell-is-it-important/

Help Stop the Use of the R-Word

Spread the Word to End the Word has marked March 6, 2013 as their annual day of awareness of the hurtful use of the R-word.

Spread the Word to End the Word is an ongoing effort by Special Olympics, Best Buddies International, and supporters who set out to raise the consciousness of society about the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the word “retard(ed).”
They are encouraging people to pledge to stop using the R-word.
To read a compelling article about why go here:
www.huffingtonpost.com/meghan-morris/rosas-law_b_2734922.html

Then, take a moment to go to the Spread the Word webpage (http://www.r-word.org/Default.aspx) and make your pledge to help stop the use of the R-word.

We All Have Gifts--But No One is Gifted in Every Area

I came across this parable on Susan Barton's website Bright Solutions for Dyslexia (http://www.dys-add.com/index.html).  If you are a parent, you need to read this.  It applies for all of our children whether they have identified special needs or not.  In the current culture, it seems most parents expect their children to be good at everything:  school, sports, social activities, music, etc.  But in reality, none of us are good at everything.  We all have gifts and weaknesses.  So, why as a parent do I feel like I am depriving my children when I only sign them up for one activity at a time and many other parents have their children enrolled in 4 or 5?  We need to learn to appreciate our children for who they are and help them to identify and nuture their gifts, while recognizing that no one is perfect.  The world is much more interesting due to the fact that we all bring different gifts to the table.  We don't have to run around trying to make our children into all-around stand outs.  They stand out just because of who they are.

“Parable: The Animal Story” by G. H. Reavis

Once upon a time, the animals decided they must do something heroic to meet the problems of the "new world," so they organized a school. They adopted an activity curriculum consisting of running, climbing, swimming, and flying. To make the school easier to administer, all the animals took all the subjects.

The duck was excellent in swimming, better in fact than his instructor, and made passing grades in flying. But he was very poor in running. Since he was so slow in running, he had to stay after school. He also had to drop swimming to have time to practice running. This was kept up until his web feet were badly worn, which made him only average in swimming. But average was acceptable in school, so nobody worried about that—except the duck.

The rabbit started at the top of the class in running, but had a nervous breakdown because of so much make-up work in swimming.

The squirrel was excellent in climbing until he developed frustration in the flying class, where his teacher made his start from the ground up, instead of from the tree top down.

The eagle was a problem child and was disciplined severely. In the climbing class, he beat all the others to the top of the tree, but he insisted on using his own way to get there.

At the end of the year, an abnormal eel who could swim exceedingly well, and also run, climb, and fly a little had the highest average and was valedictorian.

How many of us, like the duck who is excellent in swimming and good in flying, spend a lifetime running—only to wear out our feet and in doing so, neglect our true gifts?

Does Your Child Struggle With Reading?

Lately, I have heard from several parents that while their children struggle with reading they have been unable to get their school to provide accommodations since they "are doing grade level work".  However, when I talk further with these parents it becomes clear that their child is doing several extra hours of work at home with a great deal of frustration in order to keep up at school.  Their children do not like to read, and avoid it at all costs.  They often guess at parts of words, omit words, or substitute with similar sounding words.  They often scream with frustration when asked to complete seemingly simple tasks.

These children likely have dyslexia, and parents do NOT have to wait for their child to fall behind in school to receive services.  The earlier accommodations are provided, the more likely the child is to succeed.  Children with dyslexia need a systematic, multi-sensory, assessment-based reading program to successfully master reading.

Here are two links that provide parents the information they need to take to their school system to both explain dyslexia, and to advocate for appropriate accommodations. 

http://blog.reallygoodstuff.com/the-lowdown-on-dyslexia/

http://www.specialeducationadvisor.com/putting-the-d-in-to-the-iep-why-advocating-for-a-child-with-dyslexia-is-so-difficult/

Social skills are so important to everyday life for all of us.  This is a good article about how children with learning disabilities often also have social skill deficits and some suggestions for parents on ways to understand and address them.

http://www.greatschools.org/parenting/social-skills/792-learning-difficulties-and-social-skills.gs 

I have also compiled a list of social skills groups in the Metro Atlanta area.  These groups are a fun way for children to learn social skills in a variety of different environments.

Social Skills Groups in Metro Atlanta Area

Circus Arts Institute
206 Rogers Street N.E., Suite 214
Atlanta, GA 30317
(404) 549-3000

http://www.circusartsinstitute.com/

Circus Arts Therapy helps clients age 3-12 by stimulating their imagination and creativity in a playful, social setting. The experience of working with circus equipment helps participants overcome the fear of everyday challenges, and Circus Arts Therapy is a unique experience that can also serve as a complement to ongoing traditional or play therapy.

Running Mates

1579 Monroe Drive, F247
Atlanta, GA 30324

Phone: 404.434.7236

Email: aleta@runningmates.org

Running MATES is a weekly running group for children ages 5-12 who have difficulty with social interaction, such as high functioning autism spectrum disorders, ADHD and sensory integration dysfunction. Running MATES helps kids learn social skills and train for a 5K race, but it is more than a running group. It is an opportunity to enhance social interaction with other children, increase self-esteem and succeed in a mainstream sport.

Learning on the Log

8 Collier Road, Suite C4
Atlanta, GA 30309

678-358-0097

locations in Decatur, Atlanta, and Savannah

http://www.learningonthelog.com

LOTL specializes in experiential social skills programs within sensory based recreational activities.  Serve ages 6-12.

Beyond Words Center for Social Skills--offers groups for pre-K children through young adults

Dr. Jeffrey Jones

(404) 633-0250

1762-B Century Blvd, Atlanta, Georgia 30345

admin@beyondwordscenter.com

www.beyondwordscenter.com

Healthy Foundations Studio

Kate Drummond, OT--periodically runs local social skills groups with Lauren Zimet, speech therapist

2754 North Decatur Road Suite 104

Decatur, GA 30033

678.984.7650

http://www.aboutplaytherapy.com

Clay White Outdoor Sensory Adventures--programs for children 5-12 with ADHD, learning disabilities, sensory integration difficulties, or autism spectrum conditions.

Clay White, LLC
PO Box 567042
Atlanta, GA 31156
(770)393-3939

www.claywhite.us

Music Therapy Services of Greater Atlanta--offers social skills group through music therapy with ages 2 to adult at clinics in Roswell, Smyrna & Suwannee

Smyrna Location:

3050 Atlanta Road
Smyrna GA, 30080

(678) 277-2632

http://mtsofga.wordpress.com/

Parkaire Consultants, Inc.

4939 Lower Roswell Road, Bld C Suite 201

Marietta, GA  30068

Phone: 770-578-1519

http://parkaireconsultants.com/

Social skills groups for Pre-K through college age

Art It Out Therapy Center

Alison Ratner, LCSW--offers groups for ages 4-18.  Will also contract with local schools to provide groups.

1640 Powers Ferry Rd
Building 3 Suite 200
Marietta GA 30067

404-583-7884

http://www.childtherapyinatlanta.com/

Inneractions Therapy Services, LLC--offers social skills groups for ages 4-25.
(770) 726-9624
alexis@myinneractions.com
1640 Powers Ferry Road
Building 2, Suite 150
Marietta, GA 30067

http://www.myinneractions.com

Building Bridges Therapy--group for children ages 4-12.

Offers onsite practice for children over 6.

1389 Weber Industrial Dr.

Cumming, GA 30041  

http://buildingbridgestherapy.com/ 

Shenanigans--acting and improv classes for children and adults with autism spectrum disorders or social communication challenges.  Offering year-round classes, school break camps, and summer camps.
http://www.shenanigansimprov.com/ 

Aerie Experiences--outdoor adventure groups to address social skills for children 8-12. 
Aerie focuses on children, individuals and families navigating Aspergers, High Functioning Autism, Learning Disabilities, ADHD, Neurobiological Disorders and other special needs.  Offer ongoing groups, family adventure weekends, and summer camps.
http://www.aerieexperiences.com

List updated August 2013 by Laura Wells, LCSW

Great Apps for Children with Special Needs

While searching for new apps for the IPad/IPhone for a child with disabilities, I came across this great article in the Washington Post.  While it was from earlier in 2012, it contains great resources for kids with special needs.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/the-best-apps-for-special-needs-kids/2012/04/18/gIQA1FwiQT_story.html