Six Tips for Preparing Children for Camp

Going to camp can be a great experience for children, but it also can be stressful. Help children have a successful camp experience this summer with this tip sheet from Sandbox Learning: http://www.sandbox-learning.com/FileLib/Six_Tips_for_Preparing_Children_for_Camp.pdf

Developmental Milestones Screening

An online screening test to see how your child is meeting developmental milestones. From Easter Seals and CVS/Caremark.

http://www.easterseals.com/site/PageNavigator/ntlc10_mffc_homepageasq.html

Ideas for Parent-Teacher Conferences

Not autism-specific, but this is a helpful resource for teachers. From the Council for Exceptional Children Tool of the Week.

http://www.tooloftheweek.org/2011/11/ideas-for-parent-teacher-conferences.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=subscriber

New to Autism? Click here for resources!

Simon Baron-Cohen Interview

This isn't specifically about Autism, but in this radio interview, Autism researcher Simon Baron-Cohen raises some interesting issues about Autism and empathy. I found the interview fascinating.

Here's a quote from the interview that I found particularly interesting: "The fact that we see a good moral compass in people with autism suggests that a moral sense is in some way independent of empathy. So, empathy is one route to morality. People with autism seem to care about other people, they care about justice and treating other people fairly and they care about when bad things happen to others. It’s just that they may have trouble reading facial expressions, trouble with some of the cognitive parts of empathy."

The audio of the interview can be found here: http://www.kera.org/2011/07/13/empathy-and-the-origins-of-cruelty/

Simon Baron-Cohen's new book:

The Science of Evil: On Empathy and the Origins of Cruelty

Blue's Clues Parents Medical Notebook

A short printable journal for keeping track of your child's medical visits and medical info. May not have as many specialty forms as you might need, but it's worth a look if you've got a child who's a fan of Blue's Clues.

http://www.nickjr.com/printables/parents-medical-notebook.jhtml

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Special Needs Movie Screenings - One Has Free Child's Ticket

There are two movie theaters that usually provide special needs movie screenings each month, and this month, they're on the same day.

Here's the info:

Sensory Friendly Film
Kung Fu Panda 2
June 4
10 a.m. local time .
Find a theatre - http://www.autism-society.org/get-involved/events/sensory-friendly-films/

Kung Fu Panda 2 (G)
Date: Sat., 6/04/2011
Time: 11:00am
Locations: All Studio Move Grill Locations
Admission: Children with special needs - FREE / Adult: Regular Price Purchased @ the Box Office ONLY
More info - http://www.studiomoviegrill.com/theaters/familyfunimages/variety.html

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Social Story: The Restaurant and the Movies

Click the book cover above to purchase from Amazon.com. Amazon donates a percentage of your purchase to Positively Autism!

Google Science Fair

Just wanted to pass along this opportunity that might be a way for your children or students to create a project based on a special interest.

All of the information and rules can be found here: http://www.google.com/events/sciencefair/

Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) Form

A screening tool that should be discussed with your doctor or other medical professional.

http://www.dbpeds.org/articles/detail.cfm?TextID=466

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Screening for autism in pre-school children in primary care: Systematic review of English Language tools [An article from: International Journal of Nursing Studies]