Funny New Year's Resolutions

Take a joke break (you know you deserve it) and check out this list of New Year's Resolutions. Link from the Howard County Autism Society; Written by Shelly McLaughlin, Pathfinders for Autism.

http://howardcountyautismsociety.org/forum/attachment/download?id=5206289%3AUploadedFile%3A1871

Wishing you and your family a wonderful new year!

Street Safety Songs

Videos of songs made for kids about street safety. Also includes printable activities and lyrics. From Do2Learn. My son loves listening to the songs!

http://www.do2learn.com/games/songs/streetsafety/index.htm

Amazon.com recommends...

Handout Cards

Small printable cards for handing out to the public. A great response to obnoxious comments in the grocery store, in my opinion. From Bridges4Kids.

http://www.bridges4kids.org/AutismCards.pdf

More Awareness Items from Amazon.com:
 

 

Yet Another Chance to Win an iPad

Autism Speaks is offering a chance to win an iPad. Check http://action.autismspeaks.org/ipad-contest for details, but it looks to me like what you need to do is send an e-mail to your contacts asking them to make a donation in order to be entered in the contest. I don't think you or your contacts actually have to make a donation in order to enter.

Deadline for this contest is December 29th at 11:59 PM.

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season! Stay tuned this week for New Year's resources.

Visual Supports: Playground

An article with free tips and printable posters to teach children how to use playground equipment. From Autism.About.com and Explorations Unlimited.

http://autism.about.com/od/childrenandautism/ss/playgroundpost.htm

Amazon.com recommends...

Maisy Goes to the Playground

PECS Christmas Songbook

Christmas song lyrics with picture symbols. From Slater Software.

http://www.slatersoftware.com/XmasSongBook.pdf


Christmas Songs (MP3)

Autism Friendly Christmas Crafts

I had a request on our Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/PositivelyAutismcom/133524426684006) for autism-friendly (and safe) Christmas crafts. Here are the ones I've found. Please review them all for any safety issues before using.

Santa Mask: http://www.toddler-ideas.com/santa-mask.html
Cinnamon Ornaments: http://www.mccormick.com/Recipes/Other/Cinnamon-Ornaments.aspx
Advent Collage: http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/adventcalendars/a/bladventcollage.htm
Handprint Wreath: http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/adventcalendars/a/bladventhpwr.htm
Santa's Key: http://familycrafts.about.com/od/santaprojects/a/SantasKeyCraft.htm
Handprint Christmas Tree: http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/christmastrees/a/blxmastree2.htm
Holiday Sewing Card (fine motor skill practice): http://www.abcteach.com/free/h/holiday_light_sewcard_easy.pdf

Christmas Vocabulary Cards

A set of picture vocabulary cards with Christmas-related words. Use for games or vocabulary instruction. From Slater Software.

http://www.slatersoftware.com/Xmas%20VocabCards.pdf

Holiday Letter for Relatives

Here's an awesome holiday letter to send to relatives you will be visiting over the holiday season, written from the perspective of a child on the autism spectrum. Scroll on this page to see the letter:

http://griffinblaise.blogspot.com/2005/12/letter-to-family-and-friends-for.html
 

Homeschool Samples

A list of free samples and materials from different homeschool curriculum and resource providers. Try before you buy!

http://thehomeschoolmagazine.com/freebiedirectory/2010/2010FD.html

Amazon.com recommends...

Homeschooling the Child with Autism: Answers to the Top Questions Parents and Professionals Ask

ABC Data Sheet

An ABC data sheet is used for for some of the data collection for conducting a functional analysis of behavior.

You can access the data sheet here: http://www.positivelyautism.com/downloads/datasheet_abc.pdf

For a brief tutorial about how to use an ABC data sheet, click here: http://appliedbehavioranalysis.blogspot.com/2007/05/abc-and-functional-behavior-assessment.html
 
Amazon.com recommends... 

Functional Behavior Assessment for People With Autism

Special Needs Movie Screening - Free Child's Ticket

Studio Movie Grill presents Yogi Bear! Children with special needs - FREE / Adult: Regular Price Purchased @ the Box Office ONLY
What: Studio Movie Grill-Special Needs Screening
When: Sat Dec 18, 2010, 11 am - 1 pm CST

Where: Studio Movie Grill, for locations and more information, go here: http://www.studiomoviegrill.com/theaters/familyfunimages/variety.html


Amazon.com recommends...

Social Story: The Restaurant and the Movies

Another Chance to Win an iPad

The National Inclusion Project is offering a chance to win an iPad. You can view the details at http://www.inclusionproject.org/pepsi . While you're there, check out some of their inclusion summer camp programs!
Amazon.com recommends...

You're Going to Love This Kid: Teaching Students with Autism in the Inclusive Classroom

Gluten-Free Gingerbread Recipes

A wide variety of gluten-free gingerbread recipes (some both GF and CF) compiled by About.com: Special Needs Children. http://specialchildren.about.com/od/glutenfree/a/GFgingerbread.htm

Amazon.com recommends...

The Autism Cookbook: 101 Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Recipes

Christmas Social Story

A Christmas social story with PECS. Specifically focusing on holiday decorations and the vacation from school. From Special Education Technology British Columbia.

http://www.setbc.org/pictureset/resources/christmas_holidays/christmas_holidays.pdf

Christmas Vocabulary Game

A game that could be used for holiday vocabulary development at a variety of levels. From Speaking of Speech.

http://www.speakingofspeech.com/uploads/christmas_vocabulary_game.pdf

Setting Priorities & Organizing Goals

A graphic organizer to help students with organization and setting goals. From Scholastic.

http://printables.scholastic.com/printables/detail/?id=35610

Amazon.com recommends...

The Big Book of Reproducible Graphic Organizers

Gifts Not to Buy for Children with Autism

An insightful list of tips for holiday shopping for children with Autism by Lisa Jo Rudy from Autism.About.com. This one might be a good one to pass along to relatives and friends.

http://autism.about.com/od/familyeventsandautism/tp/whatnotbuygifts.htm

iPad Giveaway

The HollyRod Foundation is having an iPad giveaway for families of children with autism. There are certain income and other requirements. You can read the requirements and download the application on the foundation's website. Go to http://www.hollyrod.org/ , click on the iPad logo at the top of the page, then scroll down to "Holiday 2010 iPad Application."

Special Needs Movie Screening - Free Child's Ticket

Studio Movie Grill presents Tangled! Children with special needs - FREE / Adult: Regular Price Purchased @ the Box Office ONLY
----------------------

What: Special Needs Screening of Tangled
When: Sat Dec 4, 2010, 11 am - 1 pm CST
Where: Studio Movie Grill
Locations: http://www.studiomoviegrill.com/theaters/familyfunimages/varietymovies2.html

More information about this program: http://www.studiomoviegrill.com/theaters/familyfunimages/variety.html

Amazon.com recommends...

Social Story: The Restaurant and the Movies

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/

Step-by-Step Picture Recipes

Step-by-step recipes with pictures. Great visuals for individuals with autism to make foods such as banana toast, pancakes, garlic mashed potatoes, etc. From Spectrum Visions.

http://sv4u.net/blog/recipes/

Amazon.com recommends...

Kids' Fun and Healthy Cookbook

Printable Picture Cards (Emotions/Behavior)

Printable picture cards for emotions and behavior from UseVisualStrategies.com
http://www.usevisualstrategies.com/AutismVisualPrintablePictures.aspx

Amazon.com recommends...

Complete Picture Kit

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 Fun!

Here are a few coloring pages and activities your child may enjoy today. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

My Thanksgiving Book (fill in details about your family): http://www.abcteach.com/free/members/21977.pdf

Thanksgivng Coloring Pages: http://www.coloringpages.net/thanksgiving.html

Thanksgiving Recipes for Restricted Diets

A vareity of recipies including reduced sugar, gluten free, dairy free, and food allergy safe.

http://specialchildren.about.com/od/restricteddietrecipes/Thanksgiving_Recipes_for_Restricted_Diets.htm

Amazon.com recommends...

The Autism Mom Cooks Gluten-Free Casein-Free Traditional Holiday Fare

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

Thanksgiving Social StoryTM

A Social StoryTM from Slater Software about having a Thanksgivng meal with family. If some of the situations don't apply to you (for example, if someone other than mom is doing the cooking), you could use the basic text of the story, just making a few changes and adding your own pictures, clip art, or photos.


http://www.slatersoftware.com/Thanksgiving%20Social%20Story.pdf
 
Amazon.com recommends...

The Everything Guide to Cooking for Children with Autism: From Everyday Meals to Holiday Treats

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

Rubber Duck Idiom Game

A game to teach the meaning of common idioms. From LinguiSystems.

http://www.linguisystems.com/pdf/201008/Rubber%20Ducks%20Make%20Learning%20Idioms%20Fun.pdf

Amazon.com recommends...

Scholastic Dictionary of Idioms


In a Pickle and Other Funny Idioms

Positive Office Referral Form

One school's form for a Positive Behavior Support program. A student is recognized for positive behavior by a a positive note to the office. I like the spin that this has - being recognized for positive behavior instead of being sent to the office for negative behavior!
http://www.wcpss.net/positive-behavior/06-07/day_two06-07/handouts-d2/reinforcement%20_items/lynn_rd_positive_referral.pdf
 
Amazon.com recommends...

Building Positive Behavior Support Systems in Schools

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

Special Needs Movie Screening - Free Child's Ticket

MegaMind (PG)
Starring: Will Ferrell, Brad Pitt, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill
Date: Sat., 11/13/2010
Time: 11:00am
Locations:
SMG Arlington, Dallas: Royal, Lewisville, Plano
Houston: Copperfield, CityCentre, Atlanta: Holcomb Bridge
The movie is being shown at Studio Movie Grill locations. More information here:

http://www.studiomoviegrill.com/theaters/familyfunimages/varietymovies2.html and here: http://www.studiomoviegrill.com/

Taking Turns Visual Aid

Visual aid for taking turns during games. Be sure to see the article about teaching game play skills on http://www.PositivelyAutism.com/ !

http://www.positivelyautism.com/downloads/april_game_turntakingvisual.doc

Amazon.com recommends...

PuzzleMaker

Create your own puzzles (mazes, word search, hidden message, etc.). What's great about this site is that you can use your own word lists, so you could make puzzles related to students' special interests.

http://www.puzzlemaker.com/

Amazon.com recommends...

My First Book of Mazes
(The Kumon series is great for visual learners).

Social Language Dictionary

Teachers (or parents) and students can record, define, and list examples of any social language that is confusing for the student. From Speaking of Speech.

http://www.speakingofspeech.com/uploads/SocialLanguageDictionary.pdf

Amazon.com recommends...

The Unwritten Rules of Social Relationships by Temple Grandin and Sean Barron

Reinforcement Survey Generator

Create your own reinforcer/researd surveys and menus. From jimwrightonline.com.

http://www.jimwrightonline.com/php/jackpot/jackpot.php

Amazon.com recommends...

The ABA Program Companion