Raising Kids with Sensory Processing Disorders

Got a child with different sensory needs? Raising Kids with Sensory Processing Disorders shows parents how to adapt and make changes to their kid's everyday routines, such as removing tags from their clothing or using different lighting at specific times. The book provides strategies parents can use to help their children refocus on performing tasks like homework, field trips, transitions between activities, bedtime, rather than their sensory needs.

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

Mobile App Monday - i Get... Christmas Social Skills Stories

Christmas is nearly two months behind us and ten months in the future, but if you have a child who had difficulty understanding the holiday, this app might be for you. "i Get... Christmas is an application providing a photo social skill story for individuals that need support in understanding the process of Christmas. Thirty pages with real picture images are used to illustrate the sequence of events. Each page can be individualized for the user by adding personal photos taking pictures with an Apple camera ready device, add text and audio." -iTunes

Want to learn more about it? Please visit: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/i-get...-christmas-social/id489606084?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

2014 Medicaid Disability Eligibility Changes

"Effective June 1, 2014, Indiana is changing the way Hoosiers will obtain Medicaid coverage in the aged, blind or disabled categories. Currently, when an individual applies for disability coverage, he or she is subjected to additional, more restrictive criteria by the state than the Social Security Administration (SSA) requires for its Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) programs.

"After June 1, Indiana will automatically enroll individuals that the Social Security Administration determines eligible for Supplemental Security Income into Indiana Medicaid and will accept all SSA determinations of disability. This will eliminate the arduous and duplicative requirement that these aged, blind and disabled applicants also complete a second application and go through a second medical review process to be determined eligible for Indiana Medicaid with disability coverage."

Learn more about this change at: http://www.in.gov/fssa/ddrs/4859.htm

Sensory Fiction?

According to a story on NPR, MIT engineers have developed a way for readers to experience the physiological emotions of a book they are reading. A book was "augmented" to help set the mood through lighting and vibration and a "wearable" was developed to help with the physiological sensations.

The book and wearable support the following outputs:

• Light (the book cover has 150 programmable LEDs to create ambient light based on changing setting and mood)
• Sound
• Personal heating device to change skin temperature (through a Peltier junction secured at the collarbone)
• Vibration to influence heart rate
• Compression system (to convey tightness or loosening through pressurized airbags)

To read the NPR story, please visit:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2014/02/06/272044748/sensory-fiction-books-that-let-you-feel-what-the-characters-do?

For more pictures of the book and wearable, visit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/38088189@N07/sets/72157638927649876/

No more victims

Got a kid who loves to socialize online? No more victims: Protecting those with autism from cyber bullying, internet predators, and scams offers advice on how to keep kids from the dangers of being victimized emotionally, physically, and financially online. Dr Baker presents three main areas of concern:

• Cyber bullying
• Online sexual predators
• Internet scams

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

Autism Still on the Rise

The Indiana Resource Center for Autism has released an article on the continued rising incidence of autism spectrum disorders in Indiana. Dr. Cathy Pratt, center director for IRCA, chronicles the increase over the last few years and talks about the as yet unknown factors influencing the increase. To read the entire article, please visit: http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=361

Mobile App Monday - Middle School Confidential

Looking for social skills help for your 8-14 year old on the spectrum? Be Confident is based on Book 1 of the award-winning Middle School Confidential™ series. This graphic novel app has beautiful full-color illustrations and will be a hit with your current or prospective middle schooler. It will challenge teens to think about their emotions and behavior in new ways and encourage them to make more respectful, cooperative choices at school and at home.

Want to learn more about it? Please visit: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/middle-school-confidential/id428588931?mt=8