I love music, and see its’ value in both the education of so called normal children and adults and those on the autism spectrum. We are started our nonprofit to help autism education via technology, music and the arts. If we can get sponsors, donors, and help, as well as exposure like on Ellen’s Show, we would help fund music in schools especially those that can not afford it themselves, we would also encourage inclusion of those with autism. That is what we are trying to, it is really simple actually.
Here is a video that my Daughter’s elementary school choice performed here in Las Vegas on the 2nd of May 2012.
It was sad to see Skylar Laine go home on American Idol. She was quite talented. I think that she and Jessica are the 2 best female singers this season, along with Elise.
WICKLIFFE, Ohio – A new study shows nearly 75 percent of children with autism have been verbally bullied and half were ignored in social situations.
The Integrations Treatment Center in Wickliffe is working with a new treatment plan that is providing a positive vision for families and children in dealing with all aspects of autism. The plan is called he Success Approach. The whole idea is to involve more than one therapy in treatment.
“Occupational therapy, speech language pathology, special ed, psychology and all of those theories work together. It’s not just taking one theory and applying it to the child,” Assistant Director Ellen Winney said.
This approach helps a child speak, walk or whatever else they are challenged with as part of their disorder.
One of the children who is working with the Success Approach is 4-year-old Dominic Regan. His parents, Patrick and Joy, said they found out he had autism when he was just a year old. They searched for something new or different to help their son. They wanted to go outside the box with the latest treatment available.
Joy Regan said since they found The Integrations Treatment Center, it’s only taken one year for Dominic to learn how to communicate.
Ever wondered what Interactive Metronome (IM) therapy is or how it might benefit your child or client with an Autism Spectrum Disorder? This guest blog, written by Mary Jones, shares the story of a boy named Ryan who experienced great progress through the help of IM in a private therapy setting and within the home. Our thanks to Mary for sharing Ryan’s story.
RYAN’S JOURNEY THROUGH ASD
By Mary Jones
Ryan is an 8-year-old boy with an energetic, all-encompassing, endearing personality paired with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Raised by his grandmother, Ryan had been seeing me for conventional Occupational Therapy sessions for several years. He loved, craved, sought out and engaged in movement activities at every given opportunity and playing freely within a Sensory Gym was the highlight of his week. He could spin and not get dizzy, climb with never a sign of fear, crash with no sense of danger and his ‘engine’ continued apace from dawn to dusk. I had tried, using all of the clinical management and traditional therapy tools to influence Ryan’s control of his regulation and behavioral skills, with limited to inconsistent results. Ryan was comforted by deep pressure and would calm for short periods, but as soon as it was removed he seemed to be right back to square one. He enjoyed heavy work and was tolerant to his routine including lifting, pushing and pulling activities but again, the results of such calming activities were short lived. Ryan lived in a world where he was constantly being told and directed to ‘Slow Down’; ‘Press lightly’; ‘Be Careful’. His grandmother frequented the school office with insidious regularity as Ryan’s movement and learning style spilled over into his academic performance and classroom behavior. He could not sit still; could not follow directions; could not keep in class without a personal aide. Ultimately it was decided that placing Ryan in a self-contained class for students with an Emotional Handicap would serve best for his own safety and the wellbeing of his peers.
It was about this time that a new product was introduced into my therapeutic ‘tool-kit’ by the name of Interactive Metronome (IM). I completed the certification training with both interest and intrigue as to how a modality with the express purpose of improving a child’s motor response to an auditory stimulus, could also help in the remediation of multiple classroom skills, functional daily living skills, behavior and communication skills to name but a few. I reviewed carefully my functional goals for Ryan, which included learning how to slow down, control his behavior and attend to task for a functional time frame. With these goals in mind we embarked upon a journey together that transformed not only Ryan’s life but also the course of my professional ambition. As we progressed with the program, it became clear to me – Ryan was learning to reference the auditory beat and identify when he was too fast or too slow in his response speed, he was learning from the ‘inside-out’ what it meant when someone told him to ‘slow down’. Progress was steady and at a ratio of two sessions a week, each of 45-60 minutes, Ryan was demonstrating positive functional outcomes. He was beginning to attend for longer periods in class, could stand in line with his classmates, was listening and understanding with more clarity and consistency. But most of all, his negative behaviors were diminished to the point of recommendation to move up, once again to an integrated classroom.
As we well know, when faced with increased challenge or stressors, children with ASD often need a higher frequency of lifestyle modifications or support and Ryan was no exception. With the progression to integrated learning came a greater need to refine his response to his environment. His grandmother was concerned that he would fall back into his old ways if he did not maintain the same frequency with his Interactive Metronome training and brought to me a request to move his session frequency to three times per week. Now any of you that are familiar with attending therapy session will be fully conversant with the commitment involved in both time and personal finances, not to mention the act of a “Higher Power” it often takes to add another session into a therapists’ schedule. With all of these elements in mind I was thrilled as a professional to be able to extend structured program to Ryan and his family in the form of the IM Home Program. This program enabled Ryan to access Interactive Metronome interventions at home for short bursts before test taking, for longer periods when transitioning to newer challenges required for maturation (consider the stressors involved in Middle School!) and even to wind down and ‘reboot his brain’. More importantly it allowed me to keep in touch, professionally with Ryan and his family at a much more functional level for a far greater, more affordable time frame to help him get into gear for all that life had in store for him.
Mary Jones OTR/L
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Mary Jones OTR/L, LMT, CIMT, Graduated from St Loye’s School of Occupational Therapy (UK) in 1986. She has been an Occupational Therapist for 20 (+) years and has been practicing in the USA since 1993. Mary has lectured extensively in her field at a local and international level and has worked in a variety of healthcare settings in both the USA and the UK. Curently, she is the owner of the pediatric practice Sensational Kids LLC, based out of Bradenton, FL.
This is a nice article and a video with regards to Bill Cannata a fireman, father of autistic kids and an advocate for autism. It is quite nice and valuable to read!!
By Lisa A. Flam
As an experienced firefighter and a devoted father to an autistic son, Bill Cannata is combining the two worlds he knows so well to help protect others.
Being in a fire can be confusing and overwhelming — especially for someone with autism, says Cannata, a fire captain in Westwood, Mass. And autistic people may react in a way that seems combative to emergency first responders. His mission: teaching first responders around the country how to identify someone with autism and how best to help them in an emergency, when every second counts.
Cannata knows about autism first-hand: His 21-year-old son, Ted, who has the disorder, is unable to speak and is highly sensitive to sight, sound and touch.
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“They’re going to react differently,” Cannata told TODAY. “They’re going to resist rescue because of the confusion. They may have extreme behaviors because of the situation.”
That could mean getting out of control, acting aggressive, or simply shutting down, Cannata says.
“People with autism follow a routine and if that routine is broken, this is where the confusion begins with a lot of them and they don’t know what to do,” Cannata says. “People with autism have left a burning building, but because of the confusion, went back in because that’s their safety [place], or some people will run away just to get away from all of the noise and the confusion.”
The fire/rescue autism program has educated more than 15,000 first responders, as autism spectrum disorders affect a growing number of families each year.
An estimated 1.5 million Americans may have autism, a developmental disorder marked by impaired communication and social skills. An estimated one in 110 children have an autism-spectrum disorder, making the first-responder education more crucial than ever.
“There’s such a need,” Cannata says. “I’m getting calls pretty much every day for training requests.”
His work is paying off.
Shortly after participating in a training session with Cannata, emergency responder Bill Turner encountered an autistic boy who was out of control at a house fire.
“I go to grab the young boy and I got him and he started pounding me on the chest and he was just beating me like he was going to beat me to a pulp,” Turner told TODAY. “And I remembered that the class had taught me that if I put my arms around him and put him kind of in a bear hug, that he will simmer down.”
Turner did the right thing to keep the boy safe until his parents could care for him, Cannata says, adding, “It was perfect.”
For all of the teaching Cannata has done, the person he learns the most from is close at heart.
“He’s my best teacher,” he says of his son Ted, “and what I do is just convey that message to other first responders.”
Our intent is to help people with autism as well as the earth if we can. If you want to help us help people with autism let me know!!!
earth day 2012
As the 42nd Anniversary of Earth Day approaches, people are becoming frustrated with the failure of governments to take any steps toward protecting and preserving the environment. The Earth Day 2012 campaign is designed to provide people with the opportunity to unite their voices in a call for a sustainable future and direct them toward quantifiable outcomes, using vehicles such as petitions, the Billion Acts of Green; campaign, and events.
Earth Day 2012 will act as a launch pad for growing the environmental movement and will put forth a bold declaration demanding immediate action to secure Renewable Energy for All and a sustainable future for our planet. The movement will be comprised of individuals of every age from all corners of the Earth, and will call upon local, national, and international leaders to put an end to fossil fuel subsidies, embrace renewable energy technology, improve energy efficiency, and make energy universally accessible.
Arts for the Earth and Athletes for the Earth
The Arts for the Earth and Athletes for the Earth campaigns aim to bridge the gap between the environmental movement and the arts and sports communities respectively. Through partnerships with individual athletes and artists, stadiums, museums, and events, Earth Day Network will organize various events worldwide and engage fans on the importance of sustainability.
We will donate 25% of any donations that you give to us in April to help Earth day related causes or organizations that are earth friendly.
Our autism nonprofit loves technology, music, and the arts. We are trying to help autism via tech, music and the arts. We need sponsors and exposure to make a difference. Please help if you can!!
We are really impressed with Jessica Sanchez, good luck to you!!!
Our nonprofit’s intent is to help autism via technology, music and the arts.
We are seeking a concert for us to raise funds to help people with autism. If you are a musician or have a tv talk show or radio show and can help us get exposure please let us know.
We really liked Colton Dixon on Idol one of the better guys, we wish him luck and much success in the future!!!
Another fine article on Special Needs Education from Mari Nosal our favorite guest on the site!!
I have attempted to tell a story of my recovery from an ear infection. Every educator has most likely experienced the feeling of teaching when they wanted nothing more than to stay in bed. In this story I was reminded of how the children can teach me a thing or two:-0)
I am finally recovering from a terrible double ear infection that has left me temporarily hearing impaired. I must persevere. My classroom and personal issues must consciously be separated. I silently remind myself of this fact as I balance on one knee so I can hear the children’s requests. In reality, I would like nothing better than to be home in bed. Smiles must be placed upon my face and I feign interest in all the children’s requests. If I can’t do this the children will merely infer that I do not wish to be with them. Despite every day challenges they light up my day. I keep reminding my self that for some of these children, I am the only stability in their life.
I silently decided to remind myself of what my role in this class is. My eyes scanned the room and reminders of the positive influence I have on these children are every where. I eyed the cubbies. My coat had been silently moved to a five year olds coat hook. I had forgotten that she likes our jackets to be hung together on the coat hook so that they touch each other. On the table laid several notes written for me in childish scrawl from the children. One portrayed a brightly colored rendition of me wearing my children’s workshop shirt. Under the picture was a note that said “I like that Miss Mari Cares about us.”Another note said “I am glad Miss Mari is here”. These notes reminded me of how much my effort are noticed by the children. How could one not feel better after seeing these reminders?
The children would soon remind me of the difference betweens an adult’s perception of what is important versus a child’s. Saturday is the day we are celebrating Dr. Seuss birthday party. We are to have an open house at the school of which I am expected to attend. Mountains of Dr. Seuss pencils and erasers sat upon the table in my classroom. They awaited the active participation of my young charges to create 100 goody bags for the party. I gazed at those bags and thought about what an effort it would be to get these children to make goodie bags. The thought of that and doling out green eggs and ham the following morning was not my idea of a rousing experience.
The children surprised me. They reminded me of the dangers of assuming the future with my adult lenses. The children gazed at the goody bag articles and shouted with glee. They sat patiently as I explained how to assemble the bags. We than got down to work. The children ranged in age from five to eight years old. The younger ones were intent on tying the ribbons on the bags independently. My assumption of a job that would be incomplete at days end proved to be wrong. The bags were finished in one hour! The children had such a feeling of pride on their face.
I was reminded that not all learning experiences lie within my curriculum. There is more to learn than just reading and writing. I learned as much from the children as they learned from this experience. Children that began the project feeling incompetent and incapable of doing the project independently had learned new skills like how to tie ribbons on bags. They practiced sorting skills by placing two pencils, and eraser, and a pencil grip in each bag. What I initially perceived as a drudge project turned out to be an enjoyable experience that taught all involved lessons, including me.
I hope my experience reminds all educators of what an awesome job AND responsibility we have.
