How to Have a Sensory-Friendly Fourth of July

Tips from the Autism Society of America: http://www.autism-society.org/news/tips-for-families-and-1.html

Pool Safety Games and Activities for Kids

Over the next couple of weeks, we'll be featuring summer activities as well as safety resources. Here's the first.

A collection of videos, games, and activities to teach pool safety to children: http://www.poolsafely.gov/parents-families/for-kids/

Fourth of July Crafts

Here are some July 4th craft ideas from the website One Place for Special Needs.

http://www.oneplaceforspecialneeds.com/resources_online/resource_online_results.html?words=4th+of+july+activities&section=resources_online

View Positively Autism's 4th of July stories and activities here: http://www.positivelyautism.com/free/unit_fourthofjuly.html

July 4th Coloring Sheet

A resource from the TinSnips special education website: http://www.tinsnips.org/Media/summer/july4.pdf

View Positively Autism's Fourth of July activities here: http://www.positivelyautism.com/free/unit_fourthofjuly.html

What to Expect on the Fourth of July

A social skill story about what families may do on the Fourth of July such as having a picnic or watching fireworks. http://www.positivelyautism.com/downloads/4thofJulysocialskillstory.pdf

View the rest of our Fourth of July activities here: http://www.positivelyautism.com/free/unit_fourthofjuly.html

Fourth of July Vocabulary

View all of our Fourth of July activities here: http://www.positivelyautism.com/free/unit_fourthofjuly.html

Sunny/Rainy Weather Songs and Stories

Visit Positively Autism's weather activity page for vocabulary flash cards, train stories, songs, and games about sunny and rainy weather!

http://www.positivelyautism.com/free/unit_weather.html

Paula Kluth Contest

Dr. Paula Kluth, a specialist on autism and inclusive education, is offering a giveaway of a laminated strategy card with ideas to support literacy in the inclusive classroom. Visit her website to enter. The deadline is June 24th.

http://www.paulakluth.com/2012/06/20/new-laminated-card-literacy-instruction-for-inclusive-classrooms/

Family Resource Kits

A listing of the toolkits available from Autism Speaks on topics such as going to the dentist, sleep issues, and medication.

http://www.positivelyautism.com/free/13toolkits.html

Reciprocal Conversation

A lesson from Do2Learn: http://www.do2learn.com/organizationtools/SocialSkillsToolbox/ReciprocalConversation.htm

Social skill stories with pictures are free from PositivelyAutism!

Special Needs Movie Screenings

Madagascar
Date: Saturday, June 16
Time: 11 AM
Location: Studio Movie Grill
More Info: http://www.studiomoviegrill.com/BodyGraphic.aspx?ID=203
Children's tickets are free, adults pay $5.

Madagascar
Date: Saturday, June 16
Time: 10 AM
Location: AMC
More Info: http://www.autism-society.org/get-involved/events/sensory-friendly-films/
I think tickets are regular price for this theater.

Starting a Conversation

A lesson from Do2Learn: http://www.do2learn.com/organizationtools/SocialSkillsToolbox/StartingAConversation.htm

More social skill stories from PositivelyAutism!

Shapes Train Story

A story to teach shapes featuring our popular Travis the Train character!

http://www.positivelyautism.com/downloads/Shapes_StoryTrain.pdf

How to Help Children Retain Skills over the Summer Break

A tipsheet from Sandbox Learning. http://www.sandbox-learning.com/FileLib/Strategies_for_Retaining_Skills_over_the_Summer.pdf

View Positively Autism's summer-themed train stories and activities here: http://www.positivelyautism.com/free/unit_summer.html

Preparing a Child with Autism for Their Birthday Party

A helpful article! http://www.nationalautismresourcesblog.com/2011/04/20/preparing-a-child-with-autism-for-their-birthday-party/

More birthday social stories and activities: http://www.positivelyautism.com/free/unit_birthday.html

Tone of Voice & Volume Control

A lesson from Do2Learn: http://www.do2learn.com/organizationtools/SocialSkillsToolbox/ToneOfVoiceAndVolumeControl.htm

More social skill stories and activities from PositivelyAutism!

Birthday Social Skill Stories

Social skill stories for going to a party, having a party, party games, as well as a birthday party visual schedule! http://www.positivelyautism.com/free/unit_birthday.html

Intro to Autism Tutorial

A free online tutorial that provides information about autism and includes strategies for both parents and teachers. From PositivelyAutism.com.

http://www.positivelyautism.com/autism/

Appropriate Topics of Conversation

A lesson from Do2Learn: http://www.do2learn.com/organizationtools/SocialSkillsToolbox/AppropriateTopicsOfConverstion.htm

View more social skill activities and stories at PositivelyAutism.com!

Flying on an Airplane Social Stories

For those of you going on summer vacations, here are some very well-made social stories about traveling on an airplane. http://www.phl.org/passengerinfo/Accessibility/Pages/AirportAutism.aspx

Emotions Color Wheel

A cool, visual tool for learning about emotions and facial expressions. From Do2Learn: http://www.do2learn.com/organizationtools/EmotionsColorWheel/index.htm

Positively Autism.com offers free social skill stories and activities!