Relationship Building and Sexual Awareness for Kids with Autism: S.T.A.R.S. 2

Relationship Building and Sexual Awareness for Kids with Autism: STARS 2 is a 188-page adapted version of Skills Training for Assertiveness, Relationship-Building, and Sexual Awareness that was first published in 2007. This guide is intended for parents, teachers of school age children (primary grades through high school) on the autism spectrum and other professionals who want to help build their children's self-esteem so that kids can make informed choices about relationships and sexuality. Early education and prevention is the goal of this guide.

Both this version and the original version that was intended for teens and adults offer the same approach by focusing on four specific topics: understanding relationships, social interaction, sexual awareness, and assertiveness. This book offers activities that have been coded to age appropriateness that are generally meant to be used with groups but can be adapted for individuals as well. It also highlights facts and "misbeliefs" regarding sexuality and kids with disabilities.

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

PECS Level 1 Training

Indiana Resource Center for Autism and Pyramid Educational Consultants, Inc. in collaboration with PATINS and Carmel Clay Schools will be offering a training on the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), a language training package that is used to teach communication skills rapidly to those with limited functional speech. The presenter is a licensed Speech/Language Pathologist. The 2-day training will be held in Carmel, IN, on September 12th and 13th.

To learn more about it and to register, please visit:
https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/pages/pecs

Local Teams Trained in Autism Spectrum Disorders

The Indiana Resource Center for Autism has been hard at work training school or district teams of folks across the state "to build local capacity to establish and implement proactive and positive programming that reflects evidence-based practices for students across the autism spectrum." If you are interested in connecting with a team in your area, a list has been compiled to help.

Read more about the teams and the list at:
https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/pages/local-teams-trained-in-autism-spectrum-disorders

Mobile App Monday - Toca Life: Vacation

"With four locations to explore in Toca Life: Vacation, you’ll never run out of ideas for your stories. Want to start your adventure at the airport? Have fun with the X-ray machine, board the plane and visit the cockpit. Then get a snack and enjoy your flight! At your destination, you have many choices for activities: shopping and sightseeing on the boardwalk, playing at the beach and surfing in the ocean and exploring the hotel." -iTunes

Want to learn more about this app? Please visit:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id1114886979

The activity kit for babies and toddlers at risk: How to use everyday routines to build social and communication skills

The activity kit for babies and toddlers at risk
"Suspecting that your baby or toddler may have autism spectrum disorder or another developmental delay can be scary and overwhelming. But there is a lot you can do to help, even while waiting for an evaluation or early intervention. With the right tools, everyday tasks can be terrific opportunities for building critical social and communication skills. Start at the kitchen table, bathtub, or shopping cart! In this easy-to-navigate guide, leading experts present more than 100 games and activities designed to support development in children from birth to age 3." -publisher

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

The loving push: How parents and professionals can help spectrum kids become successful adults

The loving push offers "eight life stories told by people on the autism spectrum, including chapters on subjects such as how to get kids off their computers, how to build on their strengths and get back to caring about their lives, and how to find a path to a successful, meaningful life." -publisher

Written by author, autism advocate, and animal science professor Dr. Temple Grandin and psychologist and autism specialist Dr. Debra Moore.

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

Social thinking and me

"Social Thinking and Me is the perfect tool to introduce and teach core Social Thinking Vocabulary and concepts to older elementary school and middle school-age kids (ages 9-14). This two-book set breaks larger and more complicated social concepts down into smaller chunks to make it easier for adults to teach and easier for kids to learn. Can be used by teachers in mainstream or inclusion classrooms, by therapists in individual or small group settings, and by parents as a teaching/learning tool to help kids with social learning." -publisher

The special needs school survival guide: Handbook for autism, sensory processing disorder, ADHD, learning disabilities, & more

Looking for help with your questions about accommodations in school? Written by an Occupational Therapist, The Special Needs School Survival Guide offers answers to some of the most pressing concerns parents have about the educational needs of their children with learning disabilities. Written in an easily-accessible style, the book begins with a helpful chapter on the Individualized Education Program (IEP) and discusses the difference between IEPs and 504 plans along with answering questions about the IEP process and what parents can expect from meetings and evaluations. Other chapters include topics such as therapy in school, handwriting, fine motor skills, behavior, and some specific learning disorders.

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 - Fiete

"This hand-drawn interactive picture book with Fiete is particularly suitable for gently introducing children to the digital world. Your little one’s motor skills and logical thinking will be improved in a playful way, with attention to detail and design competence.

"Fiete dispenses entirely with explanatory text, making it particularly intuitive and thus suitable even for young children. In developing the app, we made sure that children never feel stressed or overwhelmed. Kids can play at their own pace and explore the world in a playful way while having loads of fun." -iTunes

For more information about this app, please visit:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id586669403

Autism and joint attention: Development, neuroscience, and clinical fundamentals

"From a preeminent researcher, [Autism and joint attention] looks at the key role of joint attention in both typical and atypical development. Peter C. Mundy shows that no other symptom dimension is more strongly linked to early identification and treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). He synthesizes a wealth of knowledge on how joint attention develops, its neurocognitive underpinnings, and how it helps to explain the learning, language, and social-cognitive features of ASD across the lifespan. Clinical implications are explored, including reviews of cutting-edge diagnostic methods and targeted treatment approaches." -publisher

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

Last month, the Institute’s Indiana Resource Center for Autism and Center on Community Living and Careers, along with WTIU Bloomington and the City of Bloomington, sponsored a viewing of the documentary film Autism in Love. CeDIR now has a copy of this video in the library to check out. The film follows four people with ASD who share their frustrations, pain, and successes in trying to find, date, love, and connect to someone understands and appreciates them.

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

Developing leisure time skills for people with autism spectrum disorders

Developing leisure time skills for people with autism spectrum disorders "provides comprehensive, structured strategies introducing meaningful leisure time to ASD children and adults, which they can practice at home, school, and in the community. This book has a wealth of ASD information, including forms and charts that will help to assess sensory needs; select age-appropriate activities and assist in determining the level of interest in specific activities; 48 “Activity Cards” for going to the park, playing games, and many more!" -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 - Articulation Scenes

"Articulation Scenes brings articulation practice to a whole new level! This app, developed and designed by a certified speech language pathologist allows children to practice their sounds with a variety of engaging and fun activities centered around the cinema theme. Based on scenes, Articulation Scenes provides numerous opportunities for children to pronounce their sounds more clearly. All activities were beautifully designed around the theme of cinema and movies for a fun and interesting learning activity." -iTunes

Want to learn more about this app? Please visit:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id498857302

Social thinking and me

"Social Thinking and Me is the perfect tool to introduce and teach core Social Thinking Vocabulary and concepts to older elementary school and middle school-age kids (ages 9-14). This two-book set breaks larger and more complicated social concepts down into smaller chunks to make it easier for adults to teach and easier for kids to learn... Can be used by teachers in mainstream or inclusion classrooms, by therapists in individual or small group settings, and by parents as a teaching/learning tool to help kids with social learning." -publisher

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu.