2008 plans and a question about fish oilhttp://www.autism-pdd.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=23595&am p;am p;am p;PN=1&TPN=1 For those of you who use fish oil...can you answer my question in the above post? I'm working on my new regimen for the boys for this year and I'm wanting fish oil in both of their diets and I need some help/advice in the above post. Here's some of the other directions we're going in this year. Jacob-ABA, sensory diet, DIR/floortime, computer and music therapy, supplements Brendon-School (ST/OT/floortime), home (floortime, sensory diet, vitamin/mineral supplements, music therapy) and video modeling. We have very full days planned for this year. They will both get weekends off from now on just because I need the break and some ME time so I don't burn out. I've also decided that the best way that I can make a difference in this world besides working with my own children is to get my masters degree in special education. I plan to start some courses this summer and see how it goes. I've thought about getting my BCBA, but to do that would require a physical move that I'm just not in a postion to make. The school I've chosen to attend goes all the way up to a specialist degree in special education. It's one of only a handful of schools in the country that offer this degree. I figure 3 years from now, my boys will be in school full time during the day, and I'm going to need to work. Children with special needs need teachers who "understand" and I think I fit that bill. The school board has already tried to get me into the teacher prep program and if I went that route, I'd be teaching in August in my own classroom. I think I impressed them during the IEP meetings lol. It's just nice to think positively about the future for a change and to have some good things to look forward to for the next year. Fish oil: We gave Sarah at @ 30 pounds 2 gel capsules a day..so adjust according to your sons:) I think your goals are awesome and if that is what you want than GO for it!! You are a doer and not a watcher...so I know you can do it! Best of luck! Mary--if you really want a BCBA program, there are several online programs. One of our tutors is working on hers that way. I do think Special Education is also a good route for a Master's degree. Just curious--what is your undergrad in? The Grad program I attended has an Educational Specialist degree as well. Mine was in school psych. You may or may not know I am also a Board-Certified Music Therapist. If you even need some ideas or book suggestions for specific things, let me know. What ABA resources do you use? Sounds like a great plan. I can't help with the fish oil question. We are going to purchase some this weekend, though. My main guide up to this point has been the book "A Work in Progress" and B's former speech therapist, she's always there with great ideas even though she doesn't see him anymore. This board has been a great resource as have other parents. I've gotten charts from other parents to use as guides for what we needed to work on next. Jacob's really progressing with the alphabet. I'm still researching manding, but I think that's my next step in speech with him. We're at a point where we can go in lots of different directions. It's not just basic drills for receptive language anymore. He's got receptive language, now we need expressive. Yesterday I tried to get him to share chips with his brother. He said, "No B. Mine. Bye bye." My undergrad degree is in general studies. I was an elementary education major all the way up to the end, but changed to general studies so I could graduate and stay home with my newborn Brendon. Best decision I ever made. I would have been in methods and then student teaching for the first year of his life. I'm glad I was there for him during that first year when sleep was non existent, SID was there but I had no clue what it was. I thought every 1 year old woke up at 2am each morning screaming inconsolably. I know I need to do something to help others in my situation. Could you possibly ask your friend about the program she does online? I'd be interested in that. Ohhh...I didn't see the music therapist part of your PP flip....I need books...I need general info on how a program needs to go. Right now I'm just doing some activities with a keyboard, karaoke machine, computer or some other technological advice. Jacob knows the notes and has great tone. His vocal scales are good too...I need to record him do-re-me-fa-so-la-ti-do'ing. The kid can't say, "Hi, I'm Jacob." but he can sing the entire theme song to Hannah Montanna, Drake and Josh, Spongebob, Barney, and can hum the intro to Star Wars.I only have a few minutes right now. I'll let you know next week about the name of the online programs. I do have the Maurice book that has a lot of targets and explanations if you need more ABA ideas. As for MT...After listening to your description of Jacob, I would suggest using familiar melodies and changing the words to things you want him to learn to say. Quick example... My name's Jacob, My name's Jacob. Hi, Hi, Hi. Hi, Hi, Hi. (to the tune of Are you sleeping). Also, find songs he likes with certain words you might want to target. You could make homemade instruments--let me know if you want some ideas on how to do that. Practice following directions. Let me think about some books. Here's a fun song, I like to do. All around the music room, Jacob's blowing bubbles. Pop goes the bubbles. (All around the mulberry bush). I almost always get a "pop" out of kids. Obviosuly, blow bubbles and try to pop them. Some CD's I like to use are Greg and Steve, Laurie Berkner, Parachute Express. I check them out from the library. I'll brainstorm some more and get back to you. I've heard that Dr. Jean is pretty good too. My sister loaned me her set and I'm putting the songs on my computer as I type this.We have two of the echo mics and got a real karaoke machine for Christmas. Old MacDonald has been the song of choice here too. It wasn't the animal sounds that got his attention...it was getting to sing his favorite letters of the alphabet, "E I E I O" lol. I'm using music to try to get more functional words. The Dr. Jean CD's have alot of songs about school, the alphabet, days of the week, etc...lots of good stuff there. If anyone would like a copy, I'll burn some for ya'll. Rhosyn - Did you see Daddy's thread in the Resourse section? He gave a link to a site the had free lectures. If you click on lectures, the first one is Dr. Vincent Carbone talking about the VB approach. Our BCBA mentored under Dr. Carbone. You might find it useful. http://www.childnett.tv/videos/ [QUOTE=Rhosyn]I've heard that Dr. Jean is pretty good too. My sister loaned me her set and I'm putting the songs on my computer as I type this.[/QUOTE] I hadn't heard of her until I noticed the CD's in the catalog right next to Greg and Steve that I got in the mail yesterday. How funny. If you tell me some specific goals or areas you want ideas for music therapy, I can try to find some books or sources that might be good. MT can address so many different areas. I think using the karioke machine is a great way to promote singing and speech. We would sing songs and then stop, give my son the mic and have him fill in the word. Old MacDonald was good early on because he could do all of the animal sounds. Do you have one of those cheap echo mics? Those are fun too. I found some at Target for $1. |
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The school is offering a wonderful opportunity so it just may be divine intervention calling you to it:)