The Value of Pictures for Children With Special Needs
Autistic kids are visual learners. They often understand and can handle visual input much better than they can absorb visual or auditory words. Our child has been receiving autism-related services since he was fifteen months old. We learned a long time ago how to help him when he’s struggling, we use pictures. One way was social stories. What is a social story? A social story is a tool used to help a child who struggles to understand their social world. Social stories do this by showing a child a social situation explained in pictures.
Children With Special Needs: Handling the Loss of a Service
Our child will lose a service at the end of February. We are mourning this upcoming loss. I am especially upset by it, not only because my child is losing the structured opportunity to play with a child who has become his friend over the last two years, but also by the way it all came about. The facility notified me in November that my child’s funding had lapsed. To my astonishment, my child had been on a 30 day contract during that month.
Surgery for a Family Member
How do you talk to your child with autism when a member of his immediate family is about to have major surgery? My husband had major surgery six years ago but our child was only two. We didn’t really have to involve him. When he just had the same surgery last week, my husband and I had to come up with a strategy on how to tell and involve our now eight-year-old child. What did we do?
Children With Special Needs: Tantrum Management
How do you deal with the sometimes colossal tantrums of your child with autism? What about the mild tantrums? Are you able to recognize the buildup before a tantrum? Can you predict a tantrum? For example, if you know the news you are about to give your child is not going to be well-received, do you cringe in anticipation of an oncoming tantrum?
When to Stop Using a School Aide?
Fading out your child’s school aide. I began this year thinking hard about the grade my child was entering…third grade. Third grade is a big step up from second grade. For example, my child now brings homework home nightly instead of weekly. And, third grade is only one year away from when his class size will greatly increase (in fourth grade).