Teaching kids about autism | Autism PDD

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Today I ran across 3 new web resources for teaching kids about autism, so I thought I'd post them along with others I've ran across in the past:

Online books/videos for kids:

http://www.kansasasd.com/KSASD/Social_Narratives_%28Social_S tories%E2%84%A2__%26__Power_Card%29_Bank.html  - powerpoint presentation "My friend with autism".  Cartoon illustrations, and explains how autism affects how the child with autism talks, interacts, and thinks/behaves.  It also explains how friends/classmates can help.

http://www.helpautismnow.com/?page_id=97 - "Autism:  Living with my brother Tiger", a wonderful illustrated book, online version.

http://www.bridges4kids.org/MyBrotherHasAutism.pdf - "My brother has autism"

http://www.iteachautism.com/blog/for-teachers-autism-teachin g-tools/autism-teaching-resources/introduction-to-autism-for -kids-video/- 5 minute youtube video based on the book "A is for autism, F is for friends".

Information for kids:

http://www.autismspeaks.org/docs/family_services_docs/sk/Pee rs.pdf - Autism Speak's school toolkit for teaching peers about autism.

http://teacch.com/understandingfriends.html#supplist - TEACCH "Understanding Friends", a 3 part program for teaching about differences and fostering empathy, including optional presentation of an individual classmate with autism and/or presentation of the kids in an autism classroom. 

http://www.njcosac.org/PDF/Fact%20Sheet%20for%20Kids.pdf - 1 page explanation

http://www.bridges4kids.org/pdf/Growing_Up_Booklet.pdf - ASA's booklet on friends with autism

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/kids/kautismpage.htm - "Kid's Quest", surfing the net to learn about autism, with a pre- and post-attitude quiz.  For older kids.

http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/brain/autism.html - explanation about autism, no illustrations.

http://www.gnasd.com/autism.htm - short explanation from SAFE (Supporting Autism and Families Everywhere)

http://www.autism-ascc.org/kids.htm - short explanation from an autism society in Texas.  No illustrations.

http://www.delautism.org/kids_only.htm - short explanation from an autism society in Delaware, including an explanation of the puzzle ribbon.

Worksheets, coloring pages and other printables:

http://homeschooling.about.com/od/freeprintables/ss/autismpr int.htm

Teaching your child about his diagnosis:

http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca/generalinfo/getstarted.html - "Getting Started:  Introducing Your Child to His or Her Diagnosis of Autism or Asperger Syndrome" by the Indiana Resource Center for Autism.

http://www.autism-help.org/family-telling-your-child.htm - "When and how to tell your child they are on the autism spectrum"

http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca/generalinfo/disabilityInfo. html - written for the young person with autism.

Children's books and DVDs about autism:

Here are things you can buy, or borrow from your local library if they have them.

http://www.bellaonline.com/subjects/9393.asp - autism books for kids

http://www.autism-resources.com/books-children.html - autism books for kids

http://www.tonyattwood.com.au/diagnosis.html - Tony Attwood gathered this list of books

http://www.goodfriendinc.com/content/view/15/30/ - info on DVD called "How Can I Be A Good Friend to Someone With Autism".

Autism simulations

On another forum I belong to, one mother had a smart way of demonstrating the problems with sorting sensory input -- she turned on 6 radios, all set to a different station.  You can get other autism simulation ideas through these links:

http://www.jambav.com/jambav/flashy/jmx/index.php?source=rig htnav - online activities that show what it might be like to see, hear, move and think like an autistic person.

http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/highlights/2000/autism/simula tion.asp - what's it like for kids with autism to do handwriting.

http://teacch.com/understandingfriends.html#supplist - various activities by Catherine Faherty of TEACCH.

http://www.hale.ndo.co.uk/scotopic/ - computer simulation on what it's like to have visual distortions from Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome aka Irlen Syndrome.  (Some of you may have heard of Irlen lenses, but you can read more about the syndrome here http://www.readingandwriting.ab.ca/judypool/irlen.htm#test)

Examples of personal videos/presentations:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu4z-ZKZZo4 - a video by 5th grader Teddy Willis, made for Autism Awareness Month.

http://www.autism-pdd.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=27054&am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;PN=1&TPN=1 - Norway Mom's presentation for her son's 4th grade class and their parents.

http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/fitting_in.htm - "Fitting in and speaking out", a presentation by a 5th grader.

http://www.thepeacefamily.force9.co.uk/guide.html - pamphlet about a 6 year old with autism, for sharing with other children.

Social stories

http://www.maapservices.org/Maap_Archive_Articles/SocialChal lenges.pdf - social story, re-printed on page 2 of this topic.

http://www.autism-pdd.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16063&am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p; amp;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;KW=finally+told - written by NorwayMom

http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/The_SPD_Companion -explaining-SPD-to-your-child.html  - about sensory issues.

http://www.thomasamckean.com/gallery/albums/writings/OkayAut ism.pdf - "It's okay to have autism," written by an adult with autism.

http://books.google.no/books?id=WSHTe6Nkx-gC&pg=PA107&am p;am p;am p;lpg=PA107&dq=tennis+%22social+story%22+-shoes&sour ce=bl&ots=RQCqDBIKs9&sig=4g_HQRn7WQ5q4DH6Z0LRTXv-g6o &hl=no&ei=wszASejhOZGJsAak7tS8DQ&sa=X&oi=boo k_result&resnum=8&ct=result#PPA107,M1  - see page 107 in this book, "Understanding Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism" by Gary B. Mesibov, Victoria Shea, Lynn W. Adams

Any other resources? 

NorwayMom40071.0735763889I loved the My brother has autism one.  It's just finishing up printing for a trip to the laminator when I go laminate my scrapbook pages.  It's going to be included in Jacob's betime story collection.  Ty for the links.

Thanks for the Great Info,this will come in handy.

Linda

Thanks for the wonderful links..I sent them to therapists and teachers:)My brother has autism is available at the school library in our district and is used whenever a child enters the main classroom for the session.  It is quite helpful in getting the other children in my sons class to understand some of his issues as well as his words.

This cool site lets NT kids and grown-ups experience what it's like to have autism "just for a minute". 

http://www.jambav.com/jambav/flashy/jmx/index.php?source=rig htnav 

It includes online activities showing what it might be like to see, hear, think and move like an autistic person.

NorwayMom39254.3258101852Very cool site Norway Mom. Norway mom-Very awesome site!!Thank you!Thanks for all of the links!! Keep em' coming.

Edited:  OOPS!  The post below was supposed to go under Sample Social Stories.

***

At this website http://www.slatersoftware.com/document.html, you'll find the following illustrated social stories, along with other stories and PECS-type resources:

          Special occasions:

Fireworks Social Story 3 pages, 300 KB, PDF

Mother's Day Social Story 4 pages, 176 KB, PDF

Cumpleaños Social Story 3 pages, 376 KB, PDF
Easter Social Story 7 pages, 352 KB, PDF
Birthday Social Story 4 pages, 452 KB, PDF

Thanksgiving Social Story 6 pages, 532 KB, PDF
Halloween Social Story 5 pages, 312 KB, PDF

Personal care and hygiene

Washing Hands Social Story 5 pages, 468 KB, PDF
Brushing Teeth Social Story 4 pages, 436 KB, PDF
Doctor Social Story 2 pages, 292 KB, PDF

School

Last Day of School Social Story 5 pages, 372 KB, PDF
Social Story - Lunchroom 3 pages, 199 KB, PDF

Leisure

Swimming Pool Social Story 5 pages, 544 KB, PDF
Social Story - Visitors 1 page, 148 KB, PDF

Family life

Mom Soldier Social Story 5 pages, 312 KB, PDF
Dad Soldier Social Story 5 pages, 316 KB, PDF

NorwayMom39279.5403703704NM, Thank you so much for all of those links!!! I was about to ask anyone if they knew how to talk to kids about ASD. I was so happy to see those links!

http://www.autism-pdd.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16063&am p;KW=finally+told+him&PN=0&TPN=1

Here is a "social story" used to explain the diagnosis to a 6 year old autistic boy.  To protect the original child's privacy, I replaced his name with .....  

..... Has Autism

Mommy and Daddy took ........... to visit lots of different people who know a lot about children.

These people say ..... has autism. We know there is something different going on in .....’s brain and we call that autism. Because of the autism ..... wants to smell many things. We see ..... smell food, other people and his cloth collection. Smells don’t make sense sometimes and ..... tries to smell things to understand them.

Because of the autism ..... wants to touch and feel things. We see ..... touch and feel his cloth collection and other things. Sometimes ..... doesn’t like the way things feel. He doesn’t like wet, gooey things like paint on his hands. ..... doesn’t like things to be hot. Things like food and bathwater feel better when they are warm or cold.

When ..... was younger, he did not like the way it felt to be kissed or hugged. Now that it doesn’t bother .....  Mommy and daddy kiss and hug him a lot.

Because of the autism ..... has a hard time talking to people. ..... doesn’t understand what other children are saying and has a hard time talking to them. ..... is learning to talk with other children at school.  .....  loves to talk with other adults like [parents, grandparents, teachers names]

Because of the autism ..... flaps his hands and does a hand washing movement against the floor and wrinkles up his face. Sometimes ..... twirls around and around. This is the way it looks. Others may not understand these movements. ..... can learn new ways to deal with stress. ..... can ask for help when he feels bad and needs to leave. He can find a quiet place so he can feel better. Because of the autism ..... likes things to be the same.

He likes to put his clothes on like this: Underwear first, then pants, then shirt, then socks, and then shoes. ..... doesn’t like the order to be changed. People with autism do not like changes. Because of the autism ..... goes to special therapy classes.  All of these classes help ..... learn to talk to others and to learn skills he needs to have. Mommy and Daddy take ..... to Music Therapy to help him deal with autism. All these things help ..... live with autism.

There are many, many people with autism. There are many children that go to ..... ’s school who have autism. ..... is not the only person with autism. People with autism do things other people do like play, go to school and work. People with autism can have friends.

Sometimes Mommy writes social stories for ..... so he can learn new ways to be in new situations. Mommy is always proud of ..... when he learns from his social stories and is able to handle new situations. ..... is a very special boy who has a mommy, daddy and brother who love him very much. .....’s mommy, daddy and brother love him just the way he is.

..... is a handsome boy with blond hair, blue eyes and a great smile. ..... is a six-year-old boy who likes knock-knock jokes. There is no one like ..... in the whole world. Mommy and daddy are so happy that ..... is their son. Autism is a part of ...... Mommy, Daddy and [brother] say people with autism are terrific.

Source:  http://www.maapservices.org/Maap_Archive_Articles/SocialChal lenges.pdf

“I Have Asperger’s” 
(a poem written by a student with this disorder)
 

Just bumping this topic, since there have been two related questions today.

You are my hero

I just PMed you for some info on this

New children's book that Amazon readers are rating highly "Understanding Sam and Asperger Syndrome" by Clarabelle van Niekerk and Liezl Venter.  I haven't read it myself:

http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Asperger-Syndrome-Clarab elle-Niekerk/dp/0974721719/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&am p;qid=1219133878&sr=8-1

 

Last night I did a presentation for the parents in my oldest son's class, and I'll be giving the same presentation to the kids in his class on Monday.  Here's the link to a topic on my presentation, with a summary of the experience and the complete text I used.

http://www.autism-pdd.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=27054&am p;PN=1&TPN=1

I also added the link to my above list.


Here are several sample pages from the children's book "A book about what autism can be like" by Sue Adams.

http://books.google.no/books?id=r_0TADwlMhYC&printsec=fr ontcover&dq=%22a+book+about+what+autism+can+be+like%22&a mp;source=bl&ots=zhfEL23YuA&sig=I7AHOZiuA02gzZ1yuWhy vYo2ivY&hl=no&ei=RpDBS_KCNYuNOPCTiZcE&sa=X&o i=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAYQ6AEwAA #v=onepage&q&f=false

Two award-winning middle-grade books:

http://autismblog.easterseals.com/two-award-winning-middle-g rade-books-about-autism/

This site has some short text on various topics and also some videos of various kids with autism.

http://www.autismeducationtrust.org.uk/en-gb/kids-zone.aspx

Film and written materials.

http://www.childrens-specialized.org/Programs-Services/Outpa tient-Programs/Autism-Program/Education-and-Outreach/Friends -Like-You--Friends-Like-Me-.aspx

This one is good.  It's called "My friend with autism":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wd4FVGXjy4s&feature=youtu .be

I like your social story web site. I will let my son to read them all. Thank
you very much!On the show Parenthood, Adam and Kristina used the book "Freaks, geeks and Asperger syndrome" to help them introduce Max to his diagnosis. 

The book was written by a 13 year old boy who himself has Asperger.  67 Amazon reviewers gave it an average of 4-1/2 out of 5 stars.

http://www.amazon.com/Freaks-Geeks-Asperger-Syndrome-Adolesc ence/dp/1843100983
Book review of "My friend with autism"

http://www.autisable.com/742374316/book-review-my-friend-wit h-autism---written-by-beverly-bishop/

On telling kids about sensory processing problems (I liked the "traffic jam" in the brain metaphor).

http://www.hartleysboys.com/2011/03/how-to-tell-your-chid-he she-has-spd.html

Advice from someone who's on the spectrum.

http://www.autisable.com/742787896/how-to-tell-your-child-ab out-their-autism-/

Tips from Terri Mauro:

http://specialchildren.about.com/od/familyissues/ht/How-To-T alk-To-Your-Child-About-His-Or-Her-Special-Needs.htm

Reflections on the Parenthood episode where Max learns he has Asperger:

http://thinkingautismguide.blogspot.com/2011/03/parenthood-t elling-your-child-about.html

NorwayMom40611.1142824074

The "advice from someone who's on the spectrum" one is me :)

I actually came to check this thread out to see if I wanted to add my little schpeal... and you beat me to it!

Here's a video about the positive sides of having Asperger syndrome, such as having a good memory.  No one has all these traits, and some aren't necessarily related to having Asperger, but it's an upbeat, short and encouraging video.  The downside is spelling mistakes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v= HyT5R7yX5hQ

Oral presentation with tips about how to tell your child about their diagnosis:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWjbnVQ_z8E

 

A few of Positively Autism's favorite books:

http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2011/01/childrens-book s-about-autism.html
For kids: http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/brain/autism.html

For teens: http://teenshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/learning/aut ism.html

Positively Autism has several entries on the topic here: 

http://positively-autism.blogspot.com/2011/04/positively-aut ism-april-2011-newsletter.html

Blog written by a father who talked to his son about autism.

http://autismsupportnetwork.leveragesoftware.com/blog_post_v iew.aspx?BlogPostID=af6516b4b2224e6a828a7b69f0e310cf

I know most of you are not in WI, but we have a group started by two parents that do school programs.  Their DVD is available to purchase. 

It is a bit pricey, but I have been through the presentation and it is great.

http://www.goodfriendinc.com/

  

 

Easter Seals has a free curriculum called "Friends Who Care."

"FRIENDS WHO CARE® is an interactive educational program designed to help children understand what it means and how it feels to be a young person with a disability. The program shows kids how their peers with autism and other disabilities adapt to live life, go to school, make friends and play."

"The goals of the program are simple: to encourage typically developing children to accept their peers with disabilities as people first, and to find ways to include everyone in school and after-school activities. And best of all: it’s free!"

"The curriculum explores a range of disabilities and includes specially-crafted learning activities, hands-on exercises, guided discussions and guest guidelines. It starts with an introduction to disabilities, and looks at vision, hearing and physical disabilities and then at learning disabilities — including a new section on autism, ADHD and intellectual disabilities."

Download the curriculum here (free, but you do have to register):

http://www.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=ntl_frie ndswhocare

Coloring book that tells the story of Temple Grandin's life.  Drawings by artists with autism.  (thanks for the tip, foxl!)

http://images.barnesandnoble.com/pImages/resources/pdf/templ e_grandon_book.pdf



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