July 2011 Blog Posts (15)

This past spring at the Council for Exceptional Children conference, I had the great pleasure of attending the Clarissa Hug Teacher of the Year awards banquet. You have already seen this year's recipient…

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Hello,

My son Bryant is 21 months old and has Autism. I work with him everyday in structured activities. My comment today is to all parents that have children on the spectrum. Please do not see your child as disabled for as they grow they will already learn quickly that they are "different". As parents of children with special needs we need to reaffirm to our kids EVERYDAY that they are gifts from GOD(or whatever higher power you may have) and they are EXTRA SPECIAL and that we as…

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We put so many tools in place (e.g. storage bins/containers), time lines to follow, and schedules all in the name of organization. There are so many positives to… Continue

All this talk about summer has left me pondering. How does a child cope with the overwhelming sensations of the season if he/she is a sensory avoider? Many children exhibit sensory defensiveness or Sensory Over Responsivity (SOR) so the feel of sand in their toes, salt water on their skin, or the sound of a loud stereo or mp3 player may be overwhelming to them. Here are a few solutions to keep these children from having a summer sensation meltdown! …

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Many times, a sensation of Summer can be more than just touching and feeling. It can be seeing, hearing, smelling, or even tasting. For me, what brings me back to earth and keeps me centered is the ocean. I live not that far from the ocean, but for me, it's not close enough. Ideally, I would love to have a house within walking distance, or on the ocean. But since I can't afford such a notion, I make it a point to go to the beach - especially in the Summer - to get my sensory needs met. Below…

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Okay, I am a PFL user. The people I work with are PFL users, too. For 18 years, we have educated ALL employees to be PFL users. PFL means "people first language." As therapists that adore children...and their families, it is our mission for the whole planet to become PFL users, too!

 …

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I am taking a break from our delightful Summer Sensations series as I came across an article this week which caught my attention.  Apparently there has been recent research done with mothers of children with ASD that revealed these moms often…

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I wouldn't say I'm an overly sensory person, but I do enjoy my sensory and proprioceptive feedback anywhere on my body. My husband thinks I'm nuts because I take exceptionally hot showers and love deep tissue massages. I rub my feet together at night before I go to bed at the expense of hearing my husband yell, "Can you stop that with your feet?" My most challenging sensation is getting to bed with…

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Years ago, I saw a need to educate teachers about the high school students in my SDC/LH/RSP program.  Explanations and simulations of disabilities were developed to better understand the students.   It was then when I realized how important it was to educate the teachers of students who were being mainstreamed into their classes.  The "ah-ha" of understanding came when a Home Economics teacher finally understood why the young girl in her class was having such difficulties following recipes. …

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Hello, My 21 months old has Autism, He is a handsome ,smart little guy who has sensory issues. I went to the dollar store and picked up all kinds of different items with different textures such as squishy balls,cotton balls,a duster,etc. I have found in just two weeks of using these boxes with him everyday twice a day that he went from not touching any of it to playing and exploring every item! Having structured playtime with your child is important its helps them focus and learn . I also do… Continue

How do I handle my fears when my daughter is out of my watchful eye? I have primary custody. Her dad gets her once a week and every other weekend and 4 weeks (not consecutively) out of the summer. He lives with the women he had an affair with that began before my daughter was born (I had no idea for two years). He also has four dogs and no fan or window A/C unit for my daughters room. He takes good care of her but he is a "know it all" and everytime I ask about her, of course, he replies,…

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Hi,

I'm Dr. Donald DeVito, the Council for Exceptional Children's Clarissa Hug Award recipient. This is CEC's national teacher of the year  award for special education. I teach music at the Sidney Lanier Center, a public school for children with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and other special needs between the ages of 3 and 22. We use Skype and our local music programs to provide inclusive settings for our students. We've performed in Carnegie Hall with ensembles from around…

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The warm long days of summer means time to explore with the senses!  Be sure to include these sensory activities as part of your summer routine.…

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Help your kids get acquainted with the water. Whether your goal is to get your kids to jump in, move around, or follow directions, these are the games for you! There are so many games you can play in the pool including the traditional games like marco polo, or diving for rings at the bottom of the pool. You can also make the games more aerobic or challenging like the ones in this video. Either way,…

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Don't have a pool? Looking for a way to cool off? Jump into some action games, and have a therapeutic blast!

• King Penguin Parade: Tie on a beach towel "robe," slide on scuba fins and march through the sprinkler! Walk penguin style. Great for balance, motor…

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