Article: Evaluating Your Child for Dyslexia

An estimated 80% of individuals diagnosed with learning disabilities have difficulty with various aspects of reading, including decoding, comprehension, and written expression.

Visit: http://www.smartkidswithld.org/ld-basics/evaluation-diagnosis/evaluating-your-child-for-dyslexia

What is Apraxia and how to teach the teachers about it

My friend Leslie via the Cherub Foundation shared this interesting presentation regarding how to teach the teachers about Apraxia and what this looks like for your kiddo. Personally I thought this was an excellent reminder and shared this with my daughter's team at school and her private therapists. Perhaps you know of someone who could benefit too.

Visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nN9dG5F7M0&feature=youtu.be

50 Useful Ipad Aps for Reading Disabilities

Here's some great ideas for Ipad aps for the challenged reader. The site contains, site word assistance, reading, writing, flash cards, spelling and more!

http://edudemic.com/2012/09/the-50-best-ipad-apps-for-students-with-reading-disabilities/

List of Autism Interventions from Research Autism

Research Autism just posted this information regarding types of Autism interventions. I think this might be helpful for many folks out there. Be sure to share this with others who might find this information useful.

http://www.researchautism.net/pages/autism_treatments_therapies_interventions/autism_treatment_types

FREE Fireworks @ Navy Pier

Navy Pier Fireworks 
600 East Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL - 14.7 mile(s)
(312) 595-7437

Spectacular fireworks perfectly synchronized to music on Lake Michigan. The summer schedule begins Memorial Day weekend with fireworks every Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. and Saturday at 10:15 p.m. through Labor Day weekend.

Repeat every 1 week(s) on Wednesday, Saturday until 9/1/2012
Start Date: Saturday, May 26, 2012
End Date: Saturday, September 1, 2012

A GREAT partnership Kim and Scott Pretzels and Have Dreams!

I am so pleased that parents who have children at our daughter's school and are founders/owners of Kim and Scotts Gourmet Pretzels are doing such amazing things. Take a look. Have Dreams is an amazing Autism Organization where they have two facilities in Park Ridge and Evanston IL. Their goal it to help foster relationships, socialization, team building, growth, empowering our children either on the spectrum or Autistic up to age 23. The older children learn how to help sell things to make money like garage sales, car washes, garden furniture, etc. while learning how to navigate around a kitchen and learning to wash their own clothes. This is just a little bit of the MANY things they do. I am VERY excited about this partnership and ask that you help support this cause.

A Dream Partnership!!

Kim & Scott's Gourmet Pretzels has partnered with Have Dreams and is creating employment opportunities for our young adult participants. In honor of this new partnership and to create awareness of their employment inclusion initiative for individuals with autism, they are donating 20% of sales from their Sweet and Savory Sampler Packs to Have Dreams! Support Have Dreams and Kim & Scott's Gourmet Pretzels and buy a sample pack online at www.kimandscotts.com today! Don't keep this partnership a secret...tell your friends to buy a Sweet and Savory Sampler Pack too!

Highlight: Asperger's Syndrome

What is Asperger Syndrome? Here's a pretty good description from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/asperger/detail_asperger.htm

A great perspective of what Aspergers Syndrome looks like. http://autismspectrumwotsnormal.com/autismspectrum/autism-spectrum-video/

Some well known people who have Aspergers - Dr. Temple Grandin who is an amazing voice who offers incredible perspectives in how she thinks, feels and basically lives her life. Rent award winning bio pic, watch her presentation she did at a recent Ted conference presentation and read her many books. Her perspectives are wonderful and so helpful for all parents understanding Autism, Aspergers, sensory challenges, speech disorders and anything else on the spectrum.

Ted Conference presentation http://www.ted.com/talks/temple_grandin_the_world_needs_all_kinds_of_minds.html

Who in history might have had Asperger Syndrome?

Albert Einstein  (math genius)

Patricia Highsmith (crime writer)

Thomas Jefferson (president, a founding father of the USA)

Stanley Kubrick (filmmaker) 

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (composer)
Isaac Newton (inventor, philosopher)
Friedrich Nietzsche (philosopher)

George Orwell (writer)

Andy Warhol (artist)

Ludwig Wittgenstein (philosopher)

http://robephiles.hubpages.com/hub/Ten-Historical-Figures-Who-May-Have-Had-Aspergers-Syndrome 

And there's more in Wikipedia that suspected to have had Austism and Aspergers

Make sure to research my blog for the Myths often assigned to Aspergers, very interesting post.

How to write a Social Story for transitions or difficult lessons

For those of you who are working on a transition, something that's not easy in terms of training like potty training, getting your hair cut, doctor visits, etc., a friend just re-reminded me of something we did for our daughter when it came time for transitioning to Kindergarten this year...we had our new school put together a book written to the child about how to mentally prepare and imagine what this transition will look like for them. For school we had pictures of her teacher, where she was going to go in her day i.e. her classroom, library, cafeteria, gym, music room, pictures of her teachers, OT, PT and Speech Therapist, etc. We are currently making a book on potty training for school and home and a nighttime/sleep routine that I'm keeping fingers crossed might work or at least help. To learn more about how to put one together visit the following sites for information. Remember, make this fun for them to read and enjoy but don't over do it as they need to really grasp the message that's being taught. Note: This isn't just for Autism, Asperger and spectrum kiddos. I think this applies to sensory kiddos and anyone young who facing a challenge along the way and they're having a hard time mentally imagining and preparing for this task.

Visit http://www.brighthub.com/education/special/articles/29487.aspx

Visit http://www.polyxo.com/socialstories/

Visit http://www.thegraycenter.org/social-stories/how-to-write-social-stories

What is Executive Functioning and Interesting Resources

I am learning the importance of Executive Functioning once my child hits 4th grade. To help us get our arms around what this means take a look at the enclosed links to gain perspectives.

LD Org offers a nice perspective of what this means http://www.ncld.org/ld-basics/ld-aamp-executive-functioning/basic-ef-facts/what-is-executive-function

Helping YOU get additional perspectives and organization http://www.ldonline.org/article/24880/

Looking for someone who can help your child with writing...check this out! SQ Write is a local resource and might be helpful in getting your child the proper assistance and interventions http://www.sqwrite.com/index.php/about-sq-write-curriculum/michael-gladstein-author.html

Shocking Article About Moms Stress Rearing Autism Children

Being a mom with a child on the "spectrum" this article is shocking and sadly not surprising to this mom. I for sure feel the pangs of rearing a child with Autism/spectrum challenges. The question now is how to find the balance for our overall health.

Visit http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2009/11/10/autism-moms-stress/6121/

Interesting article - What Does Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Have to do With My Therapy?

Interesting perspective. What do you think?

Visit: http://www.pediastaff.com/blog/what-does-applied-behavior-analysis-aba-have-to-do-with-my-therapy-8453

Important Reminder for Summer - All Parents Should Read This - Drowning Doesn't Look Like Drowning

My friend shared this important reminder for all of us now that summer is upon us. A great reminder to be safe with our children. Drowning doesn't look like drowning.

article: http://mariovittone.com/2010/05/154/

video: http://mariovittone.com/2011/07/video-of-instinctive-drowning-response