Advocacy
Advocacy For the Rights of Individuals With Disabilities Organization (also known as "Mothers From Hell 2" [MFH2]) is a grass-roots
parent advocacy group, fighting for the appropriate education, community acceptance, desperately needed services, rights of,
and entitlements for individuals with disabilities. They offer support and empowerment for families of individuals with special
needs.
Advocates for Individuals with High Functioning Autism, Asperger's Syndrome and other Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Corp.
is a Long Island parent group whose primary purpose is to support one another as we advocate for the unique needs of children
and adults with High Functioning Autism, Asperger's Syndrome and other Pervasive Developmental Disorders.
Amicus for Children has a key interest in assisting, educating, and providing resources to you so that you can be your child(ren)'s
first and best advocate.
Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights (PACER)
Power Advocates of Western New York ~ Providing training, support and advocacy to parents of children with special needs and
agencies who work with special children in Western New York. Empowering parents of a child with a disability to be effective
advocates!
Protection & Advocacy System (P&As) and Client Assistance Program (CAP)comprise the nationwide network of congressionally
mandated, legally-based disability rights agencies. P&A agencies have the authority to provide legal representation and other
advocacy services, under all federal and state laws, to all people with disabilities (based on a system of priorities for
services). CAP agencies provide information and assistance to individuals seeking or receiving vocational rehabilitation services
under the Rehabilitation Act, including assistance in pursuing administrative, legal and other appropriate remedies.
This site contains a letter written by Michele Williams (an advocate on one of my lists)to the U.S. Dept. of Education requesting
a policy definition of how public schools should handle the education issues that surround Asperger's children. You will find
USDOE's response to Michele on this site as well.
Alexithymia
Alexithymia ~ "A condition where a person is unable to describe
emotion in words. Frequently, alexithymic individuals are unaware of what their feelings are."
It is a disturbance in affective and cognitive function that overlaps
diagnostic entities but is common is psychosomatic disorders, addictive disorders, and post traumatic stress disorder. The
chief manifestations are difficulty in describing or recognizing ones own emotions, a limited fantasy life, and general constriction
in the affective life.
Some people have little to say about their feelings. Asked to describe
their emotions, they are stuck for words. Yet they are prone to isolated bouts of irritation, anxiety and rage. In casual
conversation, they rarely mention dreams or desires - just a string of facts, observations, goals and practical demands. The
term 'alexithymia' is used to denote this cluster of characteristics. The term literally means 'a lack of words for feelings'.
Loosely speaking, alexithymia is the inability to talk about feelings
due to a lack of emotional awareness. Extreme cases are associated with a broad range of psychopathologies, including somaticization
disorder, Asperger's syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, bulimia nervosa and narcotics dependency. However, the term
is used principally when the emotional disorder occurs on its own.
**************************************************** Feeling
and Emotion - different?
"He had so much feeling, but there was no emotion." [from the novel 'Lies and truth'] [Excerpts] Though
there can be no consensus about the definition of emotion, there is a general agreement that emotional responding in humans
involves three interrelated systems or sets of processes:
(1) the neurophysiological processes (largely autonomic nervous system and neuroendocrine activation); (2) motor
or behavioural-expressive processes (e.g. facial expressions, crying, changes in posture and tone of voice); and (3) a
cognitive-experiential system (subjective awareness and verbal reporting of feeling states).
While the word feeling refers to the subjective, cognitive-experiential domain of emotional response
systems, the word emotion refers to the neurophysiological and motor-expressive domains. [From 'Disorders of Affect
Regulation', Cambridge 1999] A useful distinction when dealing with alexithymics is to know the difference between
emotion and feeling. Emotion is something belonging to our most basic experience, whereas feeling is a cognitive function
- ie. I get a 'feel' for a person and I size you up, make judgements, and evaluate on the basis of a feeling-rationale. Other
criteria for differentiating feeling from emotion are: emotion is total, feelings not; emotion involves gross, perceptable
physiological changes, feeling not; emotion involves drive activities, feeling not; emotion is symbolic, feeling rational;
emotion transforms, feeling evaluates, etc [see 'Emotion: a comprehensive phenomenology of theories and thier meanings for
therapy' by James Hillman]. "Regarding a person as being capable of love [emotional attachment] simply because
he or she is a feeling type could have tragic consequences. Mistaking feeling for love is to overlook the fact that relationship
is much more than perceiving on the basis of feeling, yet it is a mistake easily made." [Guggenbuhl-Craig, from 'The Emptied
Soul'] As far back as 1915 Carl Gustav Jung was writing on the difference between feeling and emotion, in the
same way as the modern writers above. He writes: "By the term affect I mean a state of feeling characterized by marked physical
innervation on the one hand and a peculiar disturbance of the ideational process on the other. I use emotion as synonymous
with affect. I distinguish feeling from affect, in spite of the fact that the dividing line is fluid, since every feeling,
after attaining a certain strength, releases physical innervations, thus becoming an effect. For practical reasons, however,
it is advisable to distinguish affect from feeling, since feeling can be a voluntarily disposable function, whereas affect
is usually not. Similarly, affect is clearly distinguished from feeling by quite perceptable physical innervations, while
feeling for the most part lacks them, or else their intensity is so slight that they can be demonstrated only by the most
delicate instruments, as in the case of psychogalvanic phenomena. Affect becomes cumulative through sensation of the physical
innervations released by it. Feeling is distinguished from affect by the fact that it produces no perceptible
physical innervations, i.e., neither more or less than ordinary thinking process." [From 'Psychological Types' by C. G. Jung] Feeling
- in C. G. Jung's 'typologies' Feeling is a process "that imparts to the content a definite value in
the sense of acceptance or rejection (what I "like" or "dislike"). The process can also appear isolated, as it were, in the
form of a "mood," regardless of the momentary contents of consciousness or momentary sensations.... But even a mood, whether
it be a general or only a partial feeling, implies valuation; not of one definite, individual conscious content, but of the
whole conscious situation at the moment, and, once again, with special reference to the question of acceptance or rejection...
Hence feeling is a kind of judgment, differing from intellectual judgement in that its aim is not to establish conceptual
relations but to set up a subjective criterion of acceptance or rejection. Valuation by feeling extends to every content of
consciousness, of whatever kind it may be. When the intensity of feeling increases, it [may] turn into an affect, i.e., a
feeling-state accompanied by marked physical innervations.
It is important to distinguish abstract feeling from ordinary concrete feeling. Just as an abstract concept belonging
to thinking abolishes the differences between things it apprehends, abstract feeling rises above the differences of the individual
contents it evaluates, and produces a "mood" or feeling-state which embraces the different individual valuations and thereby
abolishes them. In the same way that thinking organizes the contents of consciousness under concepts, feeling arranges them
according to their value.... Feeling, like thinking, is a rational function, since values in general are assigned according
to the laws of reason, just as intellectual concepts in general are formed according to these laws." [From 'Psychological
Types' CW 6]
Book references:
Links
Alexithymia is a set of cognitive-emotional deficits characterized by:
(a) difficulty in identifying and describing feelings in self or other,
(b) difficulty in distinguishing between feelings and the bodily sensations
associated with emotional arousal,
(c) restricted imaginative processes (few dreams or fantasies), and
(d) thinking that is concrete and reality based
[Hendryx, Haviland, & Shaw, 1991; Taylor, Bagby, Ryan, & Parker, 1990]
****************************************************
Alexithymia Provoked Response Questionnaire
INSTRUCTIONS: Please record the subject's response to the following questions. Please record the entire
response. If you feel a response is amibuous in regard to its emotional content, use further questioning to decrease this
ambiguity. Avoid introducing emotion-words into the interview. You may repeat the questions if necessary. The scale may be
introduced as a measure of how people feel or act in a variety of situations. [adapted from J. Krystal's Integration &
Self-Healing]
- 1. When you are upset, do you like to take action or do you prefer to
think or daydream?
- 2. How would you feel if a policeman arrested you for a crime you did
not commit?
- 3. How would you feel if someone insulted you?
- 4. How would you feel if you heard a suspicious noise while you were
alone in your house at night?
- 5. How would you feel if you had an emergency and tried to make a telephone
call but the line was continually busy?
- 6. How would you feel if someone cut you off in heavy traffic?
- 7. How would you feel if someone laughed at you?
- 8. How would you feel if you saw a truck coming at you at 160km per-hr?
- 9. How would you feel if someone called you a coward?
- 10. How would you feel if someone called you a thief?
- 11. How would you feel if someone complimented you?
- 12. How would you feel if someone said that you are the best?
- 13. How would you feel if someone you loved died suddenly?
- 14. How would you feel if someone tried to attack you with a knife?
- 15. How would you feel if someone pulled a gun on you?
- 16. How do you feel when you are hungry?
- 17. How do you feel when you are sick?
****************************************************
Twelve-item modified version of the Beth Israel Questionnaire (for Alexithymia)
Based on your knowledge rank the person on each of the descriptions listed below using
the scale provided.
Not true
Somewhat true
Very true
1
2 3 4 5
6 7
1. The person mostly describes physical details about health issues rather than
feelings
2. The person has difficulty communicating feelings to you
3. The person is able to use appropriate words to describe emotions
4. The person describes circumstances and details surrounding events rather than
expressing feelings about how he/she may have felt about the event
5. The person expresses emotions more in physical terms rather than in thoughts
6. The person's thought content is associated more with external events rather
than with fantasy or feelings
7. The person has a rich vocabulary for emotions
8. The person can easily recall dreams
9. When talking about close friends or loved ones, the person shows a lack of
emotional expressiveness
10. The content of the person's dreams closely resembles everyday thoughts or
events rather than being more symbolic or abstract in nature
11. The person indicates that he/she does not daydream very much
12. The person indicates that he/she readily shares his/her feelings with others
Scoring: Items 3, 7, 8 and 12 are negatively keyed. In addition
to a total BIQ score, there are two subscale scores - (a) Awareness of Emotions (items 2, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 12); (b) Operatory
Thinking (items 1, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 11).
[From - 'Disorders of Affect Regulation' C.U.P.]
|
American Sign Language
Babel ~ Has downloadable fonts in sign.
Handspeak ~ HandSpeak is a popular visual language dictionary online.
Word 2 Word ~ Online translating dictionaries,free online language courses, free online translation services, and much more!
Asperger's Syndrome
Asperger Syndrome Education Network, Inc. ASPEN® provides general information and support to families and individuals whose
lives are affected by AS and related disabilities, and advocates for improved programs and services. ASPEN® does not endorse
or recommend specific professionals or treatments.
Asperger Syndrome-Australian Information Centre-an online support service with information on Asperger's Syndrome; also link
to their Message board, chat room and/or mailing list.
Tony Attwood ~ This web site is a guide for parents, professionals, people with Asperger's Syndrome, and their partners.
O.A.S.I.S. is full of information and articles on Asperger's Syndrome.
Future Horizons is the world leader in Autism and Asperger's Syndrome publishing.
Asperger Coalition of the U.S.
Asperger's Disorder Homepage: Good site with information and good links.
Family Village/Asperger Support: Good information, links and sources.
FAAAS was developed to help families experience validation in their lives and the lives of those who are diagnosed with Asperger's
Syndrome, but who are affected by the disorder.
MAAP Services (More advanced individuals with Autism, Asperger's and PDD)is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing
information and advice to families. Through its quarterly newsletter, The MAAP, the organization provides the opportunity
for parents and professionals to network with others in similar circumstances and to learn about more advanced individuals
within the autism spectrum.
Assistive Technology
Adaptive Technology-products for special needs and education
Adaptive Technology Basics
Adaptations - Physical Education
The AlphaSmart is the easiest-to-use portable (keyboard) writing tool in the world. They have a loaner program available.
Apple Computers has been helping people with special needs attain independence through computers since 1985.
Assis-Tech provides products that can help companies, schools and government organizations comply with the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA).
Assistive Technology/Special Education Glossary
ATA (The Alliance for Technology Access)is a network of community-based Resource Centers, Developers and Vendors, Affiliates,
and Associates dedicated to providing information and support services to children and adults with disabilities enabling them
to increase their use of standard, assistive, and information technologies.
Auditory Integration Training - "Efficacy of Auditory Integration Training:Summaries and Critiques of 28 Reports"-(January,
1993 - May, 2001) Stephen M. Edelson, Ph.D. and Bernard Rimland, Ph.D.[ARI] Auditory integration training (AIT), as developed
by French otolaryngologist Guy Berard and based on the work of his predecessor, Alfred Tomatis, typically consists of 20 half-hour
sessions of listening to specially modulated music over a 10- to 20-day period. AIT has been reported to be beneficial in
several conditions, including AD/HD, autism, dyslexia, and hypersensitive hearing at certain frequencies. The balance of the
evidence clearly favors AIT as a useful intervention, especially in autism.
Auditory Integration Training Practitioners List-U.S. ~ Listing at ARI of all practitioners known to them (but not necessarily
endorsed by them) who are said to offer Berard-type auditory integration training (AIT). Berard AIT has been shown, in a number
of scientific studies, to be helpful to many autistic individuals.
Auditory Integration Training Practitioners List ~ outside U. S. ~ Listing at ARI of all those practitioners known to them
(but not necessarily endorsed by them) who are said to offer Berard-type auditory integration training (AIT). Berard AIT has
been shown, in a number of scientific studies, to be helpful to many autistic individuals.
Cognitive Concepts ("Earobics") is a leading provider of language and literacy software,books, Internet services and staff
development. They specialize in integrating technology with scientific principles and proven instructional methods to offer
effective and affordable learning solutions for educators,specialists and families.
DREAMMS for Kids, Inc. (Developmental Research for the Effective Advancement of Memory and Motor Skills) is a non-profit parent
and professional service agency that specializes in Assistive Technology.
Edmark has been a pioneer in developing innovative and effective educational materials for children for over thirty years.
Fast ForWord Computer based training for rapid gains in language and reading skills.
High quality materials for speech-language pathologists, special educators, teachers, parents, and caregivers in educational,
home and health care settings.
Language Tools for Educators & Students ~ Use this page to explore other web sites related to speech/language pathology, regular
and special education.
Lindamood-Bell is an organization dedicated to enhancing human learning. Founded by the authors of critically acclaimed programs
that develop the sensory-cognitive processes that underlie reading, spelling, language comprehension, math, and visual motor
skills. Programs are for individuals ranging from severely learning disabled to academically gifted-ages 5 years through adult.
(It has been brought to my attention that is a very pricey program.)
Comparison of Lindamood Bell vs. PACE/Master the Code.
Mayer-Johnson provides special needs for education that include educational books, communication devices and training aids.
The Read-Spell-Comprehend Program develops the sensory-cognitive processes that are the basis of reading, spelling, math,
visual-motor skills, auditory processing, language comprehension, and critical thinking. This program is based upon the Lindamood
Bell Learning Processes® but is modified to include materials, activities, and additional supportive information from The
Davis Center's professional staff to enhance processing and comprehension.
Picture Exchange Communication System
TenderCare products for special needs children.
Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders and lots of other students with behavior or communication challenges tend to be visual
learners. They understand what they see better than what they hear. Therefore, they benefit significantly from the use of
"Visual Strategies".
Autism
Allergy Induced Autism
Autism Center for Research
Autism - Health
Autism Society of America
Autism Checklist for Toddlers
Autism - Present Challenges, Future Needs - Why the Increased Rates?
Autistics Organization-Resources by and for Autistic people
Autism Treatment of Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) The Autism Research Institute (ARI) has developed this simple Internet scoring
procedure that will calculate subscale scores and a summary score from the ATEC. The scores are weighted according to the
response and the corresponding subscale. The higher the subscale and total scores, the more impaired the subject.
Avoiding Unfortunate Situations: There is a growing interest in the autism community to bring public awareness of autism and
the people it affects to law enforcement professionals. Dennis Debbaudt is the author of "Avoiding Unfortunate Situations",
the parent of a 18 year old son, Kelly, who has autism, and a 25-year veteran of law enforcement in the private sector.
Cure Autism Now is an organization of parents, physicians, and researchers,dedicated to promoting and funding research with
direct clinical implications for treatment and a cure for autism.
Center For the Study of Autism. Very informative website.
Exploring Autism ~ This website is dedicated to helping families stay informed about the exciting breakthroughs involving
the genetics of autism.
Family for Early Autism Treatment (FEAT)
Links to Autism Resources. Great site!
National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR)
Parents of Autistic Children Together (P.A.C.T.)is a support group for parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
and is the S.W. New Jersey Chapter of the Autism Society of America. Their main goal is to act as an information clearinghouse
and resource center for families dealing with Autisum Spectrum Disorders by providing information on legal rights,educational
programs and treatment options.PACT also sponsors many social activities for the entire family throughout the year.
Pro football player Doug Flutie, Sr. and his wife, Laurie Flutie, founded this organization to make a difference in the lives
of autistic children and their families. Their goals are to provide funding for services for financially disadvantaged families
who need assistance in caring for their autistic children; fund research and education into the causes and consequences of
childhood autism; serve as a clearinghouse and communications center for new and innovative programs and services developed
for autistic children.
Special Needs Nurse is a non-profit web site dedicated to helping/informing teachers, families and nurses about developmental
disabilities.
Unlocking Autism was founded primarily for the purpose of increasing awareness about the disorder.
Listed below are some Autism and Asperger Syndrome support lists as well as e-zines and newsletters. Click anywhere
on the text and you'll be taken to your e-mail program where you can send a message to the moderator requesting subscription.
Asperger at St. John's - This Asperger support group is open to spectrum adults as well as families of persons with Asperger
Syndrome/High Functioning Autism. In the body of your e-mail for subscription request,type in the words: subscribe asperger.
Autinet is a great list run by Mr. Peter Wise. Lots of great information and many wonderful supportive people.
Exceptional Parent Magazine's online resource. Continuing 30 award winning years of providing information, support, ideas,
encouragement and outreach for parents and families of children with disabilities and the professionals who work with them.
Families for Early Autism Treatment (FEAT) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing world class Education, Advocacy,
and Support for the Northern California Autism Community. Click anywhere on the text here to be taken to the website where
you can subscribe to the free Newsletter.
Friendship Circle - This list is for kids with neurological disorders and their siblings. Great place for kids to meet and
to feel safe discussing anything on their minds. Moderated by the Mom of a child with Asperger's Syndrome.
Spectrum Support - This is a support list for anyone who shares the life of someone on the Autistic Spectrum (Autism, Asperger's,
PDD-NOS) as well as those who are themselves on the Spectrum. This forum is for the sharing of ideas,stories, support, theories,
symptoms, nutrition and humor. Membership must be approved by the moderator.
Clothing Adaptations/Games,Toys/Needs
A percentage of the product that Stars4Kidz sells goes to charitable organizations to help fund Autism research and programs.
Clothing for special needs.
Clothing and alterations for people with special needs.
Adrian's Closet has made clothes adapted for wheel chairs since 1994
Crypto Sensitivity Syndrome
CRYPTO SENSITIVITY SYNDROME is a renaming or realigning of a group of persons who have been labelled in the recent past as
Aspergers Syndrome (AS) or High Functioning Autistic (HFA) or Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) or who have otherwise
gone undiagnosed.
Info written by a man with Asperger's Syndrome. Quote from the site: "A new diagnosis, called Crypto Sensitivity Syndrome,
is being developed to replace Asperger's Disorder. Will it contribute clarity, or make the definition so broad that almost
anybody can be diagnosed with it?"
Dyspraxia
What is Developmental Apraxia of Speech? An excellent article by Ann S. Guild,MACCC/SLP.
Childhood Apraxia of Speech - General Information for Parents
Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia - A Review By Pam Williams Dip. CST; M Sc; Reg. MRCSLT.
This site provides some straight talk about Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia by Jackie, the mother of a child with dyspraxia.
Developmental Dyspraxia: "A Practical Manual for Parents and Professionals" by Madeleine Portwood.
This site is a brochure and handout resource for Speech Language Pathologists, parents and friends.
Amazon listing on books about dyspraxia.
Early Intervention
0 to 3 is the nation's leading resource on the first three years of life. They are a national non-profit charitable organization
whose aim is to strengthen and support families, practitioners and communities to promote the healthy development of babies
and toddlers.
Early Identification of Hearing Impairment In Infants and Young Children
Early Intervention Help - A Parent's Guide To Accessing Programs for Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers with Disabilities
Early Childhood LINK is a pilot training and technical assistance project developed to facilitate provision of transdisciplinary,
early intervention services to children (age birth to five) with the low incidence disabilities of visual impairment, autism,
deafness/hard of hearing, and related child mental health issues.
Guideline for the Safe Transportation of Pre-school Age Children in School Buses
Implementing Regulations for Early Intervention
National Early Childhood Technical Assistance System (NECTAS)
'Silence Isn't Always Golden' ~ Have Your Baby's Hearing Tested, the Earlier the Better
Wrap Around Services for Young Children
Mindblindness/Theory of Mind
Autism and Theory of Mind: A Theory in Transition by Jeramy Townsley
Does the autistic child have a 'theory of mind'? Baron-Cohen, S., Leslie, A.M. & Frith, U. (1985).
Evaluate critically cognitive theories of autism by Lexcie
The theory of mind account of autism suggests that children and adults with autism have difficulty understanding the thoughts
and feelings of others. This account has been useful in making specific predictions about preserved and impaired abilities.
"Autism: Understanding the Mind, Fitting Together the Pieces" by Francesca Happé
Theory of Mind - Written by Stephen M. Edelson, Ph.D. Center for the Study of Autism, Salem,Oregon
Miscellaneous
Care Simply - Care Documentation and Coordination made Simple. Create, organize, view and share information with members of
a care team, privately and securely. Manage documentation and coordination of health care with physicians, family, therapists,
and care givers.
Find-A-Therapist: Jeffrey Kremen, is a graduate of UCLA in Sociology and earned his Master in Arts from Antioch University,
Los Angeles in Clinical Psychology. He has worked in a broad spectrum of mental health settings since 1982.
The School Psychologist's Page
Teaching A Process To The Autistic Child
Noonan's Syndrome
Emedicine information on Noonan Syndrome.
Noonan Syndrome is a disorder of unknown etiology with phenotypic features similar to those of Turner Syndrome.
The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) is the nationally recognized professional association of more than 40,000
occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and students of occupational therapy. These
Fine Motor Skills and Occupational Therapy
Jump In Products ~ Therapy Products for Professionals, Families, and Care Providers Providing Sensory Processing, Physical
Restoration, and Fun.
OT Ideas is a company that provides unique products designed by occupational therapists to help young children develop fine
motor and visual motor skills.
O.T. KIDS' mission is assisting children who are experiencing difficulty interacting with their daily environments and with
their peers, in order for them to be more productive and satisfied in their every day lives
Thinking Publications is a great source for communication-building books, educational software and games, and speech-language
assessment materialsall specifically designed for children, adolescents, and adults with communication disorders and other
special learning needs.
Puberty
If you're just starting the adolescent rollar coaster, here is some information for you on preteens / tweens.
Great website with answers to most any question your preteen can ask.
Growth Milestones - Parental Guidance
Rage
With a "rage attack," the "goal" seems to be to discharge or release some tension that's been built up. Some people describe
them as storms that come without warning. Others describe them as a "meltdown."
My Experiences with Visual Thinking Sensory Problems and Communication Difficulties by Temple Grandin, Ph.D.
Seizure Disorders
Autistic regression, epilepsy, epileptiform EEG, and Landau-Kleffner syndrome
Epilepsy Centers at Washington University
Ketogenic Diet Information
Seizure Disorders Review: Landau-Kleffner Syndrome in the Autistic Population; Definition and Frequency of Epilepsy in Autistic
Population; Clinical Observations; Diagnostic Studies; Seizure Treatment
Seizure disorders and Autism and Landau-Kleffner Syndrome
Ted Bergeron's Parents Epilepsy Support Group Home Page
Comprehensive Epilepsy Center - site covers Treatment of and surgery for Epilepsy; Investigational Drug Trials; Vagal Nerve
Stimulator; Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery; Comprehensive Patient Care and more
Sensory Integration
One Stop Sensory Shop is an online specialty store catering to children with special-needs caused by Autism, Asperger's Syndrome,
Angelmen's Syndrome, Tuberous Sclerosis, ADHD, or any other disorder causing children to need sensory integration therapy
and assistance.
Sensory Comfort sells products for children and adults who have sensory processing differences (also called Sensory Integrative
Dysfunction or tactile/sensory defensiveness).
Sensory integration and gentle teaching
South Paw Enterprises offers products dedicated to children with special challenges and those who care for them. They offer
sensory integration and developmental products, pediatric therapy equipment and more.
TheraGifts catalog division specializes in selling sensory motor products, toys, and gifts for children that have dysfunction
of sensory integration, Autism, Attention Deficit disorders, Developmental Delay or learning disabilities.
Therapy Shoppe - Specialty shoppe for school and pediatric therapists, teachers and parents too.
Weighed Vests
Social and Self-Help Skills
Informative Social Skills paper on F.E.A.T. website.
Social Communication web site from the University of Washington, Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences. This site is designed
to provide caregivers and professionals with a deeper understanding of social communication problems exhibited by school age
children, and ways to assess these problems. The site is divided into four major sections: definition of social communication,
description of the population exhibiting social communication problems, social communication model, and assessment guidelines.
Social Skills Games
Teaching Social/Problem Solving Skills
The Teacher's Role in Developing Social Skills
Tools for Coping with a Variety of Life's Stressors - Great website!
Sightwords.com - A provider of free educational resources for teaching children to read
Social Stories
A social story assists the child in coping with: ~ new situations; ~ transitions and changes in daily routines;
~ any situations that may cause anxiety; ~ social interactions; and ~ academic, cognitive (attention, memory,
etc.), and ~ meta-cognitive (learning strategies) tasks. The social story should be based on the child's specific
needs as they relate to the particular concern. The Social Story prepares the child by providing the child with information
re people, setting, and actual behavioural responses which s/he will need in order to cope. The author of the social
story must place him/herself "in the child's shoes". Through observing the child in the situation, one can try to
determine what aspects of the situation are causing the problem, i.e. noise, number of people, space, etc. In writing the
social story, it is necessary to: 1) remember the purpose of the story; 2) name the people involved; 3) describe the setting;
4) state what happens in the sequence that it occurs; 5) give the reason(s) why things are happening; 6) give the responses
required in the situation; And 7) note personal feelings and others' reactions. To be effective, the social story
must: - be specific and give clear directions to lead the child and help him feel safe and secure; - be written
in the present to walk the child through the situation or written in the future if it is of an anticipated situation; -
be written at the child's level of understanding (vocabulary, sentence structure, print); - be read with the child several
times and by those who share the situation with him/her.
Social Stories - Written by Meredyth Goldberg Edelson, Ph.D. Dept. of Psychology, Willamette University, Salem, Oregon
Carol Gray "Social Stories"
CSUSM College of Education - Mainstream Instruction for Students with Special Learning Needs.
Four Points, Inc. - Social Stories
This is a selection of notes from over two years of behavioral intervention sessions with a young child. It includes many
curricula ("drill sheets"), therapists' notes, and parents' notes, covering (in part) the development of social skills to
an age-appropriate level. The notes are by the parents, Megan and Jim Sumlin pseudonyms).
Speech Therapy
Baby Bumble Bee ~ Educational Videos Products for infancy and early childhood. Geared toward 4-36 months. Several very positive
comments on site from SLP and parents who have used the videos.
Growth and Development: Age-Appropriate Speech and Language Milestones
Developmental Milestones ~ National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders answers questions like: What Are
Speech and Language? How Do Speech and Language Normally Develop? How Do I Know If My Child Is Reaching the Milestones? What
Should I Do If My Child's Speech or Language Appears to Be Delayed?
Early Learning - Software contains images to aid in speech and language therapy at home. No charges for shipping or tax.
This gives you the milestones for each age along with suggested activities.
Syncope
Fainting or Syncope Definition:
Fainting is a temporary loss of consciousness
as a result of decreased blood flow to the brain. The occurrence is abrupt and is followed by rapid and complete recovery.
People may complain of light-headedness or dizziness before fainting.
Alternative Names: Passed out; Light-headedness - fainting;
Syncope
Considerations: The cause of fainting should be evaluated
by a health care provider since more serious medical conditions such as heart attack, seizure disorder, and stroke need to
be excluded.
Fainting or syncope is characterized by sudden pallor, loss
of consciousness, and loss or muscle tone.
A "vasovagal" or "situational" fainting is a benign type of
fainting. It may be associated with certain activities such as standing in one place too long, urination, defecation, coughing,
or swallowing. This type of fainting can also be caused by fear, severe pain, or emotional distress. It can be preceded by
weakness, nausea, dizziness, and a sense that the surrounding noise or light is growing fainter.
Orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure) can also be a
cause of fainting. This may occur if someone is losing significant blood or is severely dehydrated. Certain medications can
also cause orthostatic hypotension and fainting.
Pathologic fainting or syncope may also be associated with
heart conditions, most often abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias).
Common Causes: Fainting can be caused by any condition
restricting blood flow to the brain. The more common causes include:
- rigid standing at attention
- arising quickly from a lying position
- pressure on the neck (tight collar)
- low blood pressure (hypotension)
- severe pain, injury or fright
- alcohol or drugs including anxiolytics, antihistamines, antihypertensives,
vasodilators, decongestants, central nervous system depressants
- strenuous coughing, straining during a bowel movement or
any other Valsalva maneuver (forced exhalation with closure of mouth and nose)
- hyperventilation
Heart conditions also can cause fainting or syncope and require immediate attention by a health care provider. Heart conditions
include:
- Ischemic heart disease
- History of heart attacks
- Abnormal heart rhythms
- Family history of sudden death (such as Long QT syndrome
and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy)
Home Care: Follow your health care provider's recommendations.
Susceptible individuals should avoid situations known to cause
fainting. Avoid sudden changes in posture. A person who becomes light-headed when they stand up should do so slowly and in
a graded fashion.
Immediate treatment for fainting includes:
- Keep the affected person lying flat
- Move person to cool and quiet room
- Seek medical attention immediately.
Call your health care provider if:
- there has been a complete loss of consciousness, especially
if it occurs after a head injury or if there is no readily identifiable cause (such as a susceptible individual who faints
when they have blood drawn)
- fainting is accompanied by a feeling that the room is spinning
(vertigo) or any other symptoms
- fainting occurs in a susceptible person more often than rarely
- this is the first time a person has ever fainted
- medication or alcohol is suspected as the cause.
What to expect at your health care provider's office:
Your health care provider will perform a physical
examination and ask questions such as:
- Position :
Does fainting occur with upright posture?
- Does fainting occur with a change in body position?
Time pattern:
- When did the fainting occur?
- Is this the first time the person has fainted?
- Was this a single incident or did it occur more than once?
- How long did the episode last?
Aggravating factors:
- Was there an apparent cause for the fainting?
- If so, what was it?
- What was the person doing when they fainted?
Other:
- Did the person actually lose consciousness or black out?
- Were any other symptoms present before or after the person fainted?
- Did the person have jerking muscle movements?
- Did the person lose control of their bodily functions (urination or defecation)?
- Was the person confused after the episode?
There will be a detailed examination of the heart, lungs, and nervous system. The blood pressure may be measured in various
positions.
ECG
Holter monitor
X-ray of the chest
echocardiogram
If the fainting is determined to be of a benign type, no treatment
is usually recommended except as noted in the home care section.
Source: http://www.enh.org/encyclopedia/ency/article/003092.asp?source=overture
Links:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/syncope_doc.htm
http://www.tchain.com/otoneurology/disorders/medical/syncope.htm
Therapies/Treatments, Etc.
Alternative Therapies
Families for Early Autism Treatment- North Texas (FEAT-NT) is a parents group promoting ABA and early intervention for Autism.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - Exploring Natural Solutions
Biofeedback and Autism.
Animal therapy for special needs children. For children with special needs, the ability to interact with a dog, cat, or other
furry friend can have a very positive impact upon their quality of life. Interacting with a pet can sometimes enhance recovery
following a serious illness. It can change behavior, create a sense of responsibility and even improve a childs ability to
participate in therapeutic treatment leading to achievement in relation to identified goals and objectives.
Autism Treatment:Chelation of Mercury
Autism Treatement Information- Find tips, solutions and information for teaching your child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Site has advice from parents experienced with Autism.
Autism Treatments-Nutritional Therapies:lots of information and articles at this site.
Randi's webpage about some fantastic nutritional supplements by USANA.
Here is the website for Sanoviv Medical Institute mentioned in Randi's website (above).
Speech, Language, Communication
The Autism Treatment Center of America teaches parents and professionals caring for children and adults challenged by Autism
Spectrum Disorders and all other developmental difficulties how to design and implement home-based/child-centered programs
enabling their children to dramatically improve in all areas of learning, development, communication and skill acquisition.
This site offers tips on managing student behavior, and provides step-by-step directions for implementing a great number of
standard interventions. It also contains a bulletin board on which you can post your disciplinary concerns and receive suggestions
from teachers around the world.
Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Inc. (CARD) is among the world's largest and most experienced organizations effectively
treating children with autism and related disorders. Following the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), a treatment
for autism that has been thoroughly researched and empirically validated by the scientific community, CARD develops individualized
treatment plans.
Chelation of Mercury for the Treatment of Autism ~ Dr. Amy S. Holmes, M. D.
Dolphin Therapy
Communication Behavior Associates LLC is located in Collingswood, NJ. They offer a wide range of services designed to effectively
meet the academic, social, communicative, and behavioral needs of individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorders.
Dimethylglycine (DMG), a nontoxic metabolite, and autism.
We purchase our Dimethylglycine (DMG) and Magne-B6 from Mountain Naturals. They have very reasonable prices and an auto ship
program where you can save even more money on product and shipping. (Just a note....my son prefers the sublingual in the tan
box of 120 vs. the chewable. The sublingual are smaller and dissolve faster.)
DMG and other supplements - website for the makers of DMG, in conjunction with Dr. Bernard Rimland of the Autism Research
Institute.
This link is to the Enzymes and Autism message board. This is the only place so far that focuses on enzyme therapy for autistic
spectrum conditions. It is parent-run and supported. It is turning out that enzyme therapy is a very quick (3 weeks) and inexpensive
($5-50) therapy, that a person finds out relatively soon if it will work or not. Both Houston and Kirkman, main manufacturers
of enzymes specifically for autism, each have several more new enzyme products planned for release this spring. There are
several university studies planned for enzymes and autism this spring too. It fits quite nicely into many other therapies:
diet, chelation, ABA, auditory, etc making those more effective as well.
This will take you to the Enzymes and Autism Files section. You do not need to join the group in order to read the Files.
There is a 7-month report on how consistent use of enzymes is going for parents. There are many Files on other supplements
as well, including all the research on enzymes and autism.
Enzymes - Frequently Asked Questions
Enzymes Stuff Website
Enzyme University.Com
"Gluten and Casein Intolerance in Autism" by Dr. Stephen Edelson
Gluten free online cooking magazine.
Gluten Free On-Line Store
Gluten & Casein Free Diet: Understanding and Implementing
Nutritional Therapies
PECS-BBB Autism Support Network ~ Using the PECS, the student learns to spontaneously initiate communicative exchanges. PECS
can be used with children or adults who are not yet initiating requests, comments, etc. People using PECS are taught to approach
and give a picture of a desired item to a communicative partner in exchange for that item.
PECS - Paraeducator Jason Wallin (who is also the founder of the Polyxo site) has worked with a number of children with autism
and other disabilities, and has spoken at district workshops on Social Stories, Applied Behavior Analysis, and Discrete Trial
Training.Jason began Polyxo.com in February 2001, as an extension of these workshops.
PECS - Pyramid Educational Consultants offers a wide range of consulting services and products educators and parents of childrenand
adults with autism and related disabilities.
Protocol for the Treatment of Autism - Christopher Pick, ND. DHH. DCN. DLT - Naturopath Physician ~ There are articles, reports
and information at this site.
RDI(Relationship Development Intervention ) Therapy ~ Parent-based, clinical treatment for individuals with autism spectrum
and other relationship-based disorders.
SerenAid Information and FAQ's
StarThrowers is a cooperative organization of parents who are working together to raise money for the medical and educational
treatment of their kids with disabilities.
Toileting Issues
TOILET TRAINING by Temple Grandin: "There are two major causes of toilet training problems in children with
autism. They are either afraid of the toilet or they do not know what they are supposed to do. Children with severe hearing
sensitivity may be terrified of the toilet flushing. The sound may hurt their ears. Sometimes these children can learn if
they use a potty chair which is located away from the frightening toilet. Due to the great variability of sensory problems,
some children may like to repeatedly flush the toilet but they are still not trained. The thinking of some autistic children
is so concrete that the only way they can learn is to have an adult demonstrate to them how to use the toilet. They have to
see someone else do it in order to learn. Some children with very severe sensory processing problems are not able to accurately
sense when they need to use the bathroom. If they are calm they may be able to feel the sensation that they need to urinate
or defecate, but if they experience sensory overload they cannot feel it. This may explain why a child will sometimes use
the toilet correctly, and other times he will not."
Many children (not all) with Autism/PDD toilet train later than usual. When you consider the factors that may cause delay
in learning this skill, it is not surprising the average age for a child with Autism/PDD being toilet trained seems to be
about age 5. (Some are earlier, some are later. Generally children who had this skill but lost it seem to take the longest).Some
children may be "habit trained" (they will use the toilet if you take them but will not go on their own) for a number of years
before they will use the toilet independently. So if you are a parent struggling with this issue, take heart, you are not
alone! Here are some general resources that may help you from a Mom who's been there.
Applying Structured Teaching Principles to Toilet Training ~ Susan Boswell and Debbie Gray ~Division TEACCH
Before you begin, understand that a child with autism/PDD-NOS may have a few extra obstacles between him or her and dry pants.
All the the characteristics that identify the child as having autism/PDD-NOS may wellinterfere with "normal" toilet training.
Encopresis-when toileting issues are indicative of a serious medical problem.
Toileting Problems By Paul Dickinson ~ Source: Autism 1999 Conference Paper
Toileting issues/tips from parents.
Links for Various Disorders
Angelman Syndrome
AS Foundation activities, research and information for doctors and families.
Asclepius Sites - Information, message boards, etc.
Information, links, mailing list message board and more.
Paper on Angelman Syndrome by Stephen M. Edelson, Ph.D.
People ZeelandNet - Info, links, parent support, personal stories, photos, etc.
Apraxia
Visual) Ocular Motor Apraxia
Apraxia of Speech
Apraxia Kids Organization - FAQ's, resources, articles, family essays and more.
Apraxia of Speech and Related Issues.
Attention Deficit/Hyperative Disorder
AS or ADHD? Alphabet soup
About Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ADD/ADHD(A FREE OnLine Book)
Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder
ADD - alternative therapies
ADD - Establishing Home Routines
Bi-Polar Disorder
Definition, causes and risk factors.
Signs, symptoms and Transitions Recovery Program.
What is it? Getting help and treatment.
Central Auditory Processing Disorder
Signs, symptoms, language activities, services & specialties.
A Handout for Parents.
Dyscalculia (or Dyscalcula)
Assistance for children with dyscalculia in school, diagnosis, best practices, learning aids and more.
Links to websites discussing treatment, diagnosis, prevention, support groups, email lists, messageboards, personal stories,
risk factors, statistics, research and more.
Insights by Victoria, a woman with dyscalculia; check out the "Letter to My Math Teacher" also.
Dysgraphia
Diagnosis and intervention.
Accommodations and modifications for Students.
Dysgraphia: The Writing Dilema
Dyslexia/Learning Disabilities
Great website includes information on the diagnosis of Dyslexia, methods and therapies, school problems and more.
Info about Dyslexia, software, books, and more.
Learning disabilities information, research, support,assessment
Fragile X
FRAXA Research Foundation - Information on symptoms, the cause, inheritance, prevalence, testing and treatment.
National Fragile X Foundation: What Fragile X is, characteristics, testing, intervention, education and more.
Hyperlexia
This site was developed by the parent of a hyperlexic child to provide information related to Hyperlexia and Language Disorders
in children ages six and over.
Links to websites including treatment, cures, diagnosis, prevention, support groups, email lists, messageboards, personal
stories, risk factors, statistics, research and more.
Non Verbal Learning Disorder
NLD on the Web: information, resources, assessments, and more.
NVLD - This document discusses NVLD, its diagnosis, causes and impact. Treatment and management of NLD are discussed elsewhere
on the site.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
The Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation (OCF)is an international not-for-profit organization composed of people with obsessive
compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders, their families, friends, professionals and other concerned individuals.
Information and a mailing list for Teens with OCD.
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Articles, treatments, information and links on ODD.
Articles on ODD.
Fact Sheet on ODD.
Information, message board concerning conduct disorders, including ODD experiences, treatments, etc.
ODD in the classroom
ODD and Conduct Disorder (CD) in Children and Adolescents: Diagnosis and Treatment
Pervasive Development Disorder
PDD-NOS, Asperger's, and Autism Parent Information Booklet.
PDD: Iowa Health Book: Pediatrics.
Yale Child Study Center - Developmental Disabilities Clinic & Research: PDD FAQ's
Semantic Pragmatic Disorder
Excellent website on Semantic/Pragmatic, Autism, AS.
Great site by Caroline Bowen with lots of info.
Sensory Integration Disorder
Information and articles.
SID in Young Children
Tourette's Syndrome
Information on symptoms, diagnosis, disorders associated with TS, classifying tics, educational setting, treatment, prognosis
and more.
Home Page of Jason Holland, 21 years old. Jason has had Tourette's since he was 4 years old. You'll find information, Jason's
personal experiences, a pen pal section, links and more.
National Institute of Neurologocial Disorders (NINDS) - TS information, research and organizations to contact.
Website with lots of info and chapters throughout the United States.
Williams Syndrome
Information Page by National Institute of Neurological Disorders (NINDS)- What it is, treatment, prognosis, research and more.
Lots of information from the Canadian Association for WS.
Pediatric Database and links.
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