Make Your Own Comic Strips

MakeBeliefsComix.com lets students write and illustrate their own comic strips online and email them to family and friends. Available in seven languages, the tool is easy to use and fun to play with.

http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Special-Needs/

Source: Source: NEA Today (30 Free Things for You - And Then Some!) - http://www.nea.org/assets/docs/HE/30freethings.pdf

Online Reading/Phonics Games

A great site with free online games for teaching reading and phonics skills. http://www.starfall.com/

3 Great Train Learning Videos

I'm doing a train theme for my students this month, and have found a few educational YouTube videos that feature trains. My students have been enjoying them!

Number Train: http://youtu.be/SkXfvAjZjFk

Color Train: http://youtu.be/MZ8m2x0qbuo

Shape Train: http://youtu.be/6I2N-jCbha8

Amazon.com recommends...

Chugga Chugga Choo Choo

Webinars from Rethink Autism

Upcoming and past webinars on topics such as

• "Key Components of an Effective School-Based Autism Program,"
• "Teach Your Child Social & Language Skills," and
• "Managing Problem Behavior at Home."
• Ways to Collaborate With Your Child's School

http://www.rethinkautism.com/Community/webinars/default.aspx

Amazon.com recommends...

The ABA Program Companion: Organizing Quality Programs for Children With Autism and PDD

NASA Multimedia Video Gallery

A gallery of online videos about NASA missions, information, and events. http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html

Here's are the ones my son liked best:

Car Wash Video (almost like a video Social Story)

I went through a car wash this week and remembered how my son used to be very afraid of them. I thought this video might be helpful for others in a similar situation. You could watch this video to help prepare your child for going through the car wash. A great option about a video like this is that you can control the volume. If the sounds might bother your child, you can watch it with a lower volume the first time, then gradually increase the volume if you watch it multiple times. I'd also narrate what is going on during the video so that the child knows what to expect.



Amazon.com recommends...

Matchbox Car Wash Adventure Set


Car Wash Bath Toy

Interactive Online Books

A partnership with Autism Speaks provides a free 2011 subscription to this site. Details are at the link below.

Mighty Book Jr. - 900 animated online books.
http://www.mightybookjr.com/AS/

Opportunity for Nebraska Residents through Autism Action Partnership

From the Rethink Autism website:
"Rethink Autism offers a web-based platform for training, individualized programming, and student data tracking. The system includes a comprehensive curriculum with over 1,200 video demonstrations, which show parents and teachers how to implement research-based teaching strategies utilizing the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)."

Information and a link to the application process for the subscription to Rethink Autism (for Nebraska residents) are here: http://www.rethinkautism.com/AboutUs/IntheMediaStory.aspx?ID=691

Amazon.com recommends...

One of my favorite ABA resources by Dr. Lynn Koegel and Claire Lazebnik

Jacob's Lessons - Free Online Games

Games designed by a behavior analyst for children with autism. Includes labeling, opposites, reading, etc.

http://www.jacobslessons.com/

Amazon.com recommends...


101 Games and Activities for Children With Autism, Asperger’s and Sensory Processing Disorders

Online Game: Number Train

A fun counting game from Aven's Corner.

http://avenscorner.com/flashgamepage.aspx?gameurl=numbertrain/numbertrain

Online Game: Shape Train

A shape matching game with a train theme from Aven's Corner. I can't wait to show this one to my son!

http://avenscorner.com/flashgamepage.aspx?gameurl=shapetrain/shapetrain

Amazon.com recommends....

Online Picture Dictionary

An online picture dictionary for kids. Great source of pictures (mostly drawings) for vocabulary development. Click on the letters of the alphabet to access the pages of the dictionary. From Enchanted Learning.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/Dictionary.html

Amazon.com recommends...

Rufus Goes to School Game

An online game design to help students cope with taking different ways to go to school, or having different people take them to school in the morning.

Access the game at: http://www.whizkidgames.com/

Autism Black Friday Deals

These aren't exactly freebies, but I thought I would share the deals that I've heard about for autism-related products on black Friday.

Different Roads to Learning
20% discount
Enter the Promo Code:THANKS10

http://www.difflearn.com/
Sale valid from November 26 @ midnight-December 1st, 2010 @ 11:59 pm EST
There are a few products the sale does not apply to.


Autism Community Store
Holiday Shopping Kick-off Sale
$10 off a purchase of $40 or more. Bring your coupon to the store or online enter coupon code: KICKOFF. Coupon is good from 11/26/10 through 11/29/10.
http://www.autismcommunitystore.com/


The Autism Asperger Publishing Company
‎50% off Hidden Curriculum Calendars
Use coupon code HCCALENDAR to order at http://www.asperger.net/


The Gray Center for Social Learning and Understanding
Black Friday (and Saturday) shopping at The Gray Center: Save 15% on your entire order using coupon code "THANKS15"
http://www.thegraycenter.org/


Amazon.com is having a variety of online specials. You can shop at Positively Autism's Amazon.com bookstore at http://www.books4allkids.com/ .

Thanksgiving Tips from Autism.about.com

Some great tips from Lisa Jo Rudy of autism.about.com. Includes some information for relatives.

http://autism.about.com/od/copingwithautism/bb/beforeturkey.htm

Tips for Helping People with Autism Have a Happy Holiday

Some great tips and strategies from the Autism Society of America. Here's one of their ideas that I hadn't thought of: "If a person with autism has difficulty with change, you may want to gradually decorate the house."

Read the rest here: http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=holiday_tips&JServSessionIdr009=ul32qrofp2.app26a

Autism Fact Sheet

At the request of one of PositivelyAutism's facebook fans, I've been trying to find an autism fact sheet that could be sent to relatives to help them prepare for a Thanksgiving visit with a child with autism. I'm still looking for a Thanksgiving-specific one, but here is a general overview from NICHCY: http://www.nichcy.org/InformationResources/Documents/NICHCY%20PUBS/fs1.pdf

You can join our Facebook community here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/PositivelyAutismcom/133524426684006

Video: Classroom Routines for Arriving in the Morning

A free video from Scholastic about how teachers can create morning routines for students. While, it is not specifically about autism, many of the structured, visual aids would be very helpful for students with autism. Great ideas!

http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/media.jsp?id=268

Amazon.com recommends...

The First Days of School: How to Be an Effective Teacher

"Ron Gets Dressed" Online Game

"Ron Gets Dressed" Online Game - A free online game that aims to teach students what clothes to wear in different types of weather and that it is okay to wear different types of clothing. My son loved it!

http://www.whizkidgames.com/?game=rongetsdressed

Amazon.com recommends...Kids Seamless Socks for Sensory Sensitivity

Online Stopwatch

I use this free tool very frequently in my teaching. It allows you to time various behaviors, activities, etc. It's really easy to use.

http://www.online-stopwatch.com/

Amazon.com recommends...

Ultrak 410 Ultrak Simple Event Timer Stopwatch With Silent Operation