Asperger's teens: Understanding high school for students on the autism spectrum

"Asperger's teens: Understanding high school for students on the autism spectrum provides high school students with Asperger s strategies that they can use to help themselves feel more comfortable in school, find friends and get along with peers, work productively with their teachers, and move toward greater independence." -publisher

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

Save the date!

PECS Level 1 Training

Presented by

Jill Waegenaere, M.A., CCC-SLP

September 12th and 13th 2016

Carmel, Indiana

The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is a language training package that is used to teach communication skills rapidly to those with limited functional speech. PECS promotes communication within a social context, without lengthy prerequisite training. Training in PECS begins by teaching a spontaneous request and goes on to teach additional communicative functions such as responding to questions and commenting.

For more information and to register, please visit:
https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/pages/pecs

Co-Sponsored by the Indiana Resource Center for Autism and Pyramid Educational Consultants, Inc.

Jed Baker workshop announcement

ALL KIDS CAN SUCCEED: 

Effective Interventions for 

Behavioral and Social Challenges

September 22, 2016 - Newburgh, IN (Evansville area)

Students on the autism spectrum and others with behavioral challenges often present with difficulty regulating their feelings and interacting socially. This workshop describes how to handle meltdowns and design effective behavior plans to prevent these moments and reduce frustration and anxiety. The second part of the presentation details strategies to motivate students to learn, ways to teach social skills, how to generalize skills into the natural setting and increase acceptance and tolerance from peers. Information will be imparted though lecture, interactive exercises, and video clips.

Sponsored by Indiana Resource Center for Autism in collaboration with Warrick County School Corporation and Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation

For more information and to register, please visit:
https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/pages/jed-baker

Finding your own way to grieve: A creative activity workbook for kids and teens on the autism spectrum

"With illustrations throughout, Finding your own way to grieve begins with a simple story about what happens when people die. Each chapter then expands on the issues that have been raised in the story and offers a variety of coping skills exercises including writing, art and craft, cooking, movement, relaxation, and remembrance activities. Encouraging children with autism to express their loss through discussion, personal reflection, and creative activity, the book is ideal for children and teens to work through by themselves, or with the support of a family member or professional." -publisher

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

Mobile App Monday -MyPlayHome

This fun game app can help children build both receptive and expressive language skills. The app lets the family characters go to school, the grocery story, even the hospital. It helps kids learn pronouns, verbs, pretend play, sequencing, and more.

To learn more about this app, please visit:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id439628153

Experimental treatment for autism

In a story on NPR's Fresh Air, author John Elder Robison discusses his experience with an experimental treatment for autism. This treatment consists of doctors introducing "a small amount of current into specific parts of the brain without having to use surgery to do so," according to neurologist Alvaro Pascual-Leone, who treated Robison.

To read NPR's article, please visit:
http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/04/21/475112703/electric-currents-and-an-emotional-awakening-for-one-man-with-autism

Medicaid EPSDT Benefit

The Indiana Resource Center for Autism has published a new article discussing the Medicaid EPSDT (Early, Periodic, Screening, Diagnostic, Treatment) benefit. Several agencies in Indiana are working together to get information on this benefit out to families.

To read this article, please visit:
https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/pages/medicaid-epsdt

Camp Yes, And... offers second week

Camp Yes, And... has expanded to another week! The second week offering will be held in Indianapolis at the IUPUI University Library. The camp is limited to 10 teachers and 10 teens with autism. Please register soon as the first week filled up quickly!

To learn more about it and to register, please visit:
http://yesand.indiana.edu/home.php

All my stripes: A story for children with autism

All my stripes: A story for children with autism "is the story of Zane, a zebra with autism, who worries that his differences make him stand out from his peers. With careful guidance from his mother, Zane learns that autism is only one of many qualities that make him special." -publisher

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

Mobile App Monday - DayCape

"This is an app especially created for supporting children with diagnoses such as autism and other diagnoses. But it’s also a great support for all children with their daily life. Also it’s great support even for adults with need of extra personal assist. It’s based on research, interviews and user testings with families with autistic children, schools that provide special care and other support organizations for autistic children." -iTunes

To learn more about this app, please visit:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id1019190323

Camp Yes, And...

Camp Yes, And... is an improv summer camp for teens on the autism spectrum and teachers. This year, the folks at the Center on Education and Lifelong Learning and the Indiana Resource Center for Autism have developed a funding page to help keep the cost of the camp free for all participants. Donors have helped the camp reach 20% of its goal, but it needs your help.

To offer a donation for Camp Yes, And..., please visit: https://iufoundation.fundly.com/improvsummercampforautisticteensandteachers

To learn more about the camp, visit:
http://www.yesand.indiana.edu/home.php

Voting Rights and Responsibilities

In advance of the May primary election, the folks at the Indiana Resource Center for Autism have put together an article discussing voting as a young person on the spectrum. To read the article, please visit:
http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/pages/my-vote-counts

Cyberbullying and children with special needs

Last week, in it's "All Tech Considered" section, NPR posted an article discussing the online bully who happens to be a child with special needs. Written by a bully counselor, the author suggests that parents "discuss, monitor, and educate" their children in online rules of social etiquette.

To read the entire article, please visit:
http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2016/04/04/472422820/what-happens-when-the-online-bully-is-a-child-with-special-needs

Interactive Toy for Therapy

According to an article at makezine.com, one father has designed a tool to work on fine motor skills to use with his son who has autism. The article states that often kids with autism are easily distracted from the repetition of therapy, so adding lights and sounds to tasks helps keep kids focused.

To read the entire article, please visit:
http://makezine.com/2016/03/25/father-creates-an-interactive-toy-that-hones-fine-motor-skills-for-son-with-autism/

Supporting Individuals on the Autism Spectrum Coping with Grief and Loss through Death or Divorce

The Indiana Resource Center for Autism has recently posted an article on their website on the topic of grief and loss. The article incorporates information on:

• Common Responses to Grief
• Factors Affecting the Grief Process
• Support Strategies
• Resources

To read the article in full, please visit:
http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/pages/supporting-individuals-on-the-autism-spectrum-coping-with-grief-and-loss

TEACCH® 5-Day Classroom Training

TEACCH® 5-DAY 

CLASSROOM TRAINING: SETUP MODEL

June 13-17, 2016

RISE Learning Center

5391 South Shelby Street Indianapolis, IN 46227

This five-day course provides a theoretical foundation as well as hands-on opportunities to assess and teach elementary through high school-aged children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in a model classroom setting. It is grounded in an understanding of the learning styles of individuals with ASD and how to use teaching strategies that capitalize on learning strengths.

For more information and to register, please visit:
http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/pages/teacch-5-day-classroom-training

Event Location Change

The location for the Executive Function workshop set for next week has been changed. The event, presented by Brenda Smith Myles and sponsored by the Indiana Resource Center for Autism in Collaboration with the MSD of Lawrence Township, has been moved to the Fall Creek Valley Middle School Auditorium. The address for this event is now:

9701 East 63rd St.
Indianapolis, IN 46236

For more information about the event, please visit:
http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/pages/executive-function-workshop

Mobile App Monday - Birdhouse for Autism

"Birdhouse is a super helpful, easy-to-use website and app designed for parents raising children with Autism and other developmental disabilities.

Easily keep track of meds, therapies, behaviors, sleeping habits, poop, meltdowns, eating & diets, or anything about your child's life that you want to keep a record of, so you can figure out what's working and what needs to be changed, and have access to anything whenever you need it." -iTunes

For more information about this app, please visit:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id648397801

Increasing Incidence Continues

The Indiana Resource Center for Autism has recently updated their article on the increasing incidence of autism diagnoses in Indiana. To read the article in full, please visit:

http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/pages/increasing-incidence-of-autism-spectrum-disorders-continues-in-indiana