Flags to prompt Discussion and possible Early Intervention for children suspected of having ASD’s

Early intervention services have been shown to significantly benefit a child with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  ASD is a neurological disorder that affects the way a person’s brain and body works.  Since it is a “spectrum” disorder, no two people’s symptoms are exactly alike.  ASD can affect anyone, regardless of race, economic status, or [...]

Learn More During National Autism Awareness Month with the Autism Society of America

April is National Autism Awareness month and the perfect time to share information that might help an individual or a family that is seeking knowledge about Autism Spectrum Disorder.  The Autism Society of America is one great resource.  The ASA web site is ww.autism-soiety.org.  ASA’s on-line database is a place where you can find doctors, [...]

Parents can connect Writing and Reading before School

As parents, we attempt to do our best to teach are children what they need to learn to be successful in life.  Being able to read and write is a big part of being successful in the world that we live in today.  Many parents wonder about ways to increase their child’s reading and writing [...]

Autism Awareness Month; Teach to Strengths

Students with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder often respond best to concrete, visual stimuli and can be easily frustrated the more abstract the task or directive.  Visual information is more concrete than auditory information and thus processing visual information for a student with a spectrum disorder is more efficient.   Being that the common teacher format [...]

Test Prep Helpers for Education Reform in 2010

I always like to start just about anything I do with a plan.  Do the same thing when you prepare for a test.  Adults sometimes have poor preparation habits and unintentionally pass these self defeating habits on to their children.  Allow time for preparation.  Schedule a time to review for the test at least a [...]

Education Reform and Standardized Assessments for Students with Disabilities

Upon entering public school, a student with an outside diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrom does not necessarily receive special education services.  The student may be evaluated by a multidisciplinary team created to assess the student across areas such as cognition, occupational and physical therapy, audiology, speech and language, vision, sensory motor, social and emotional, behavioral functioning, [...]

Teacher Pensions in Red Money Free Fall

No matter how the issue is presented by local political leadership, changes to the teacher’s pension system are causing debate and inciting criticisms.  Many state teaching associations believe that changes to the current pension system will weaken the system and are just plain wrong.  It has been suggested that the pension fund that pays out [...]

Obama Administration and Common Core Standard Push in Education

President Obama has promised national education reform.  This process is in motion.  One step towards this reform is to develop national education standards to replace individual state standards.  The goal of the national standards will be to set grade-level standards in the content areas of math and reading.  The grade-level standards are intended to help [...]

Girl with Asperger’s Syndrom is part of a Miracle during Autism Awareness Month

It is national Autism Awareness month and a little girl in Florida brought a lot of attention to herself and to her disorder.   Nadia Bloom is the little girl from Florida who was recently rescued after spending days lost in the swamplands around Winter Springs.  She spent almost a total of 96 hours in the [...]

Applied Behavior Analysis

One treatment method for individuals with Autism is called Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA); also known as Lovaas, Discrete Trial Teaching, or Intensive Behavioral Intervention.  ABA is the manipulation of environmental antecedents and behavioral consequences to create conditions that optimize learning for an individual.  B.F. Skinner is well known for his work on applying behavior analysis [...]

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