Understanding and Communicating with Special Needs Children
Home Understanding and Communicating with Special Needs Children Written By: Michelle E. Sisto, MS CCC-SLP TSSLD S Every child has different traits and aspects of themselves that make them different and unique. That does not mean less than or wrong. Some children are born deaf and require a hearing aid or cochlear implant to hear. […]
What to Expect When Working with Kids with Autism
Home What to Expect When Working with Kids with Autism Written By: Jules Glowinksi, BT Reviewed By: Melanie Bren, BCBA, LBA Children with autism are like every other child with their own strengths and weaknesses. However, there are some similarities that you will learn through experience to recognize and work with to reach their goals. […]
How To Do Speech Therapy at Home: Creating Communication Opportunities with Strategies
Home How To Do Speech Therapy at Home: Creating Communication Opportunities with Strategies Written By: Michelle E. Sisto, MS CCC-SLP TSSLD S Typically, children begin speaking around 1-2 years of age, however, some children develop faster or slower than others. If your child seems to not be hitting milestones, speech and language therapy is one […]
Teaching Kids with Special Needs
Teachers and parents of children with special needs must take an individualized approach to education. In order for these special children to truly learn, we must first understand what they are capable of accomplishing. Each child’s educational capacity is different, so it is important to be understanding and supportive of the child’s unique abilities. When teaching kids with special needs, avoid making harsh judgments or comparisons to other children.
This can lead to the child being discouraged and unmotivated in school matters. It is important for the student to learn in a supportive and blame-free environment. Children learn best in a work area that is free of distractions, judgment, and noise. This may require creating a personal study space, providing ear plugs and removing all disturbances (iPad, cellphone, TV) before the child begins to study.
Routines During the Pandemic
Although places are starting to open around us, many child-friendly venues such as playgrounds, amusement parks, and schools will remain closed for quite some time. This time of uncertainty can be both scary and, at times, frustrating for everyone involved. It can be helpful to give your little ones some structure. We all benefit from having structure and routines. Routines help our little guys understand what we expect from them. Routines that are organized and predictable can be beneficial for all children, especially children who struggle with transitions. You may have seen a spike in your child’s problem behaviors during the Pandemic, as things have quickly changed for them without any warning. Creating schedules for your little ones can be helpful for parents, as well. Some parents are working from home, and providing activities for your children to engage in while you are working is essential. Daily Home Schedule BreakfastFree playLearning…
Reducing Holiday Stress with Children
Reducing Holiday Stress with Children Home By: Tara Karen, M.S. Ed, BCBA, LBA For many, the holidays represent a time of love, family, giving, joy, and excitement. For those with children with developmental disabilities, it can also mean an increase in stress and chaos. Time off of school, change in routines, unstructured time, addition of […]
Family Reunion Tips
As summer is in full gear, many family reunions take place that can be challenging for children with ASD. It is not uncommon to encounter some difficulties related to changes in our environment and how we deal with them. This article is intended to provide some helpful tips based on the principles of ABA to help you make a positive and successful experience during family reunions! Regardless if you have ASD, there will always be a mix of personalities when relatives gather together. Therefore, we need to be realistic with our expectations on what we expect from our children during the gatherings such as family reunions. Tip 1: Pair your relatives: If you are concerned that your child will refrain from engaging with relatives whom they don’t get to see as often, re-arrange the environment in such a way so that your child will want to interact with their relatives. Bring…
