Check out a great FREE resource called Autism Buddy.

AutismBuddy.com aims to provide a cost-free user-friendly website that provides high quality printables, resources and articles for teachers and parents for use with children with special educational needs.

They provide easy to download resources in many categories including booklets, puzzles and games, flashcards, worksheets, visual timetabling, activities, visual aids, emotions, teaching aids, matching and sorting, classroom display, clip-art, E-books, social skills and many more.

When you visit the site it will look like the resources cost.  They used to…however they are now free!  All you need to do is register with the site!

Visit www.autismbuddy.com to check it out!

The NE ASD Network has partnered with a number of networks including the Autism Society of America to develop a variety of web training modules on issues related to autism spectrum disorders.  It is a wonderful training tool for new parents, teachers, para-educators or anyone who wants or needs to learn more about autism. 

Be sure and check it out HERE!

Best of all the modules are FREE! This is a great item to share with your support staff at school! They often can’t get away to attend trainings because of the cost and time away.

This is an awesome alternative!!!!

(For more tips please visit our Autism News section where everything is archived!)

Social skills are such a big hurdle for individuals with autism.  Rethink Autism’s web site is a great resource with some helpful tips.  Check them out at www.rethinkautism.com.

This week’s tip is focused on Social/Emotional needs.  You can check it out HERE…

We had a community member forward a link to share with everyone.  Be sure and check out   www.sandbox-learning.com

Success Stories are fun, printable children’s books with personalized text and illustrations focusing on character development by addressing emotions, social skills, safety, and communication skills.   You can customize them with your child’s name and even customize the pictures to look like your child.  This is a great resource for families and teachers!  Sign up today and get one free story customized for your child.  If it works for your child, you might choose to go back and pay their modest fee to have other success stories personalized!

(For more tips please visit our Autism News section where everything is archived!)

Rethink Autism (a web-based autism treatment platform) has a terrific modeling video on how to help your child understand and enjoy Halloween. Click HERE to watch the video and get a free one week trial of Rethink Autism.

Kids Against Bullying” was created for elementary school children, with a unique emphasis on children with disabilities. This Web site is an informative and creative resource to educate students about bullying prevention and provide methods to respond to bullying situations. The site features an animated cast of characters, information, celebrity videos, Webisodes, interactive games, animation, contests, and other activities.

Parents and professionals will find helpful tips, intervention strategies, and resources for use at home or school.   Check it out!                          www.pacerkidsagainstbullying.org/

(For previous tips please visit our Autism News section where everything is archived!)

Let’s Cook!  Life Skills for Kids on the Autism Spectrum combines video, slides and downloadable visual aids in an entertaining and informative digital format that demonstrates how to help kids with autism learn an important life skill – cooking.  At the same time, it features structured, predictable activities that help support children on the spectrum to engage and communicate in a natural social situation.  For more information, visit their website at www.mywire.com/pubs/lets-cook

We received this email from one of our Kearney members:

My pastor’s wife recently sent this email out regarding a great resource for those on the Gluten Free diet.  The  Berean church planting pastor in Boulder, CO has food allergies and has to be on a gluten-free diet.  His wife, Julie, has given special  attention to his diet needs and for the past year has been working to start a  new magazine for people with similar diet problems.  That magazine is just being launched and the web site link below gives further information.  I hope this may be helpful to some of you.   

The magazine web site is:  www.delightgfmagazine.com

Thanks for sharing this resource Kristen!

(For more tips please visit our Autism News section where everything is archived!)

Families for Effective Autism Treatment or FEAT of Nebraska was founded by parents of autistic children. FEAT of Nebraska is a non-profit, 501(c) (3) organization for parents and families of children with autism. 

FEAT of Nebraska believes that newly diagnosed children with autism should receive intensive, quality, effective treatment that is based in research. FEAT’s mission is to provide education to families and the community on effective autism treatments, and to provide support to families seeking effective treatments for their children on the autism spectrum.

To learn more visit www.featofnebraska.com

(For more tips please visit our Autism News section where everything is archived!)

Don’t be overwhelmed.  Pick an autism topic and take it one step at a time.  It is daunting but no one will ever be as much an expert on your loved one than you are (except maybe your loved one)!   There are literally hundreds of books about autism and you are not going to be able to read them all.  Get referals from  other parents or teachers about what books they have found helpful.  (We have a growing list of recommended resources on our site) And be sure and save your funds by borrowing books and buying only those that you know you will need to reference over and over again!

Did you know?

The Autism Spectrum Disorders Network houses an amazing collection of books, DVDs and other autism materials.  These are available for educational professionals AND parents to checkout for FREE.   This is a great way to browse through material before you spend the money to buy!  Some titles just might become your parenting handbook while others won’t live up to the hype.  This is a GREAT way to make sure you spend your money on the books that are really going to help!

Read the rest of this entry »

If you are a newly diagnosed autism parent, you need to read her books. 

If you are a veteran autism parent, you should revisit her books again.  You’ll get something new out of them every time. 

Temple Grandin is an inspiration to us all and an amazing voice for individuals with autism.

http://www.templegrandin.com/templehome.html

(For previous tips please visit our Autism News section where everything is archived!)

O.A.S.I.S. is a resource created by parents of children who are diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome. It provides information for families of children diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome and related disorders, educators who teach children with AS, professionals working with individuals diagnosed with AS, and individuals with AS who are seeking support.

There is a wealth of information at this site!

(For previous tips please visit our Autism News section where everything is archived!)

Generation Rescue is an international movement of scientists, physicians and parent-volunteers researching the causes and treatments for autism and mentoring thousands of families in recovering their children from autism.

Are you wondering what biomedical treatment is all about?  Start here.

(For more tips please visit our Autism News section where everything is archived!)

Women historically have dominated teaching fields, and autism education is no different. But among autistic students, the ratio of boys to girls is almost reversed.   So, what happens when all those boys become teenagers? Who teaches them some of the basics of male behavior - how to avoid fights, how to horseplay, how to act in a public restroom?

Check out this story.

And this is an interesting video that might help you out.  Please keep in mind that some topics are just down right hard to teach and this is about as “clean” and open of a discussion as you can have.  Probably more appropriate for our older guys…but they all have to learn it!   Yeah.  It is a bit uncomfortable but then there are a lot of uncomfortable topics we have to cover, huh? Maybe this will help you — or maybe not.  You decide.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGGVuNI43z0

(For more tips please visit our Autism News section where everything is archived!)