TED Talk by Temple Grandin

"The world needs all kinds of minds," says Temple Grandin, who presented a Ted Talk in 2010. In it, she explains how her brain thinks in pictures and how she is able to understand animals' needs. The video is just under 20 minutes long and is a very interesting glimpse into Grandin's world. See the TED Talk at: http://www.ted.com/talks/temple_grandin_the_world_needs_all_kinds_of_minds.html

Chaos to Calm

Book description:
"Chaos to Calm describes how Martha Gabler discovered that effective solutions really did exist for the overwhelming behavior problems of her own non-verbal son with severe autism. Here are some of the things Martha explains in this book:

• How to observe your child
• How to use positive reinforcement to shape simple behaviors
• How to notice even tiny moments of desirable behavior
• How to break behaviors into tiny pieces
• How to add simple behaviors together to build complex behaviors"

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Empowering leadership: A systems change guide for autistic college students and those with other disabilities

Going to college? Worried about the new environment? Pick up Empowering leadership: A systems change guide for autistic college students and those with other disabilities. From getting accommodations to getting places on time to dealing with sensory issues in a new environment, this book will help you through it. The writers and contributors of this book are Autistic adults, and are giving you the advice that they wish someone could have given them when they headed off to college.

Interested? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu to check out this book.

Autism awareness video

Looking for a great video about what it feels like to have autism? Free Technology for Teachers found one and embedded it in their post yesterday. In the video, Michael shares his feelings on his own social awkwardness and being left out of things like basketball games or even just sitting down at a table. See the post at: http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2014/01/a-great-message-from-student-about.html#.Uue0ahAo7s0

Mobile App Monday - Language Trainer

Language Trainer was created specifically to help individuals improve their mastery of spoken language. Designed by a certified speech-language pathologist, Language Trainer is perfect for working on vocabulary, word finding, stuttering, and receptive or expressive language therapy. Language Trainer compliments and facilitates the work of the busy speech-language pathologist or caregiver.

To learn more about this app, please visit: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/language-trainer/id733555247?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

From Like to Love for Young People with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Looking for simple, straightforward, and very carefully structured activities to help your child show love? From Like to Love for Young People with Autism Spectrum Disorder can help. Many parents of children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) find it distressing that their children don't demonstrate their love of their parents. But oftentimes it has more to do with the difficulty that young people with ASD have in communicating like or love for someone rather than a true lack of the emotions. This book addresses this issue in practical terms. Carefully designed activities are provided for parents to work through with their children to help them to understand and express affection.

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Teach Me With Pictures

Looking for fun and practical ideas to help motivate and extend communication and play skills in children with autism through pictures? Teach Me with Pictures describes how picture scripts can help facilitate play and learning. Forty copy-ready scripts are offered such as drawing, cooking, imaginative play, arts and crafts, and social games. The tasks for each are presented in small manageable step-by-step picture sequences.

Want to see more? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu to check out this title or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Teaching students with classic autism functional social skills in natural settings

This program in Teaching Students with Classic Autism Functional Social Skills in Natural Settings was developed specifically for students with classic features of autism, who tend to learn best by participating in activities they find interesting, engaging, and part of their daily lives. As a result, the social skills are embedded in motivating lessons in real-life social situations, involving such things as learning to do something nice for others, working on a classroom project, or waiting in a cafeteria line.

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

How people with autism grieve, and how to help

How people with autism grieve, and how to help is an honest, first-hand account of how those on the spectrum deal with the loss of someone in their life. Unlike the typical response, people with autism, when faced with overwhelming or stressful situations, will favor solitude over sharing their emotions, tend to focus on special interests, and become extremely logical, often not expressing any emotion. Clear instructions on how best to support someone with autism through the grieving process are included.

Interested? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu to check out this title or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Mobile App Monday - ABC Data

Created to assist professionals and students in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), ABC Data is an unobtrusive data collection tool for counting behaviors and recording session duration. ABC Data is also a general purpose stopwatch and tally counter that has many other uses.

Want more information? Please visit: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/abc-data/id318221251?mt=8#

Spring Writing Workshop for Teachers Announced

The Indiana Resource Center for Autism is announcing a spring workshop for teachers who are interested in helping students on the spectrum increase their writing skills. The overview of the workshop begins with: "Most students with autism hate to write. Even simple writing assignments require skills in language, organization, sensory, and visual motor areas. This session will help educators look at the writing process through the eyes of a student with autism."

Want to know more? Please visit: http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=3662