Alternative Autism Solutions
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Picture Card Communication

Marion Pusey is a woman who would likely agree with the old adage; "necessity is the mother of invention". She has created personalized and individualized visual resources and educational materials for people affected by Autism and/or other disabilities where communication is affected. These materials can be used by families, teachers, therapists, and care givers to more effectively communicate with the individual. 

Marion is the creator of Picture Card Communication (www.picturecardcommunication.com). Her creation was born out of a deep love for her family. You see, Marion has a 25 year old son with Autism and a 22 year old son with ADHD. In addition, her mother is 86 years old and suffers from Parkinsons and Dementia. Marion's love for her family inspired her to create the Picture Card Communication System in order to maintain communication despite all of the challenges that life often brings.

About five years ago, Marion met with a Speech Pathologist who was a member of the Autism Team for the local school board, and his enthusiasm for her work spurred her on to offer her products to a wider audience. Now she offers her products to others via her website (www.picturecardcommunication.com). She creates picture cards, puzzles, visual schedules, key chains, matching materials, visual step-by-step materials and more. She uses the child or individual's personal pictures to create the materials, and can further personalize them to the needs of the individual.  

The Picture Communication Card products include:

1.  Toileting, hand washing, bedtime sequence

2. Choice boards:

        - outings  eg.  McDonald`s, Canadian Tire,  Toys R Us,

                              Loblaws, Wal-Mart, Zellers

        - park, bicycle, trampoline

        - snacks, food and drinks

        - pre-school and school activities

        - Emotions  (no thermometer) - "I feel .."

3. Picture key chains -  to attach to belt loops for easy and quick access.

4. Dressing Program: for Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, rain and bed-time.

5. Puzzles - farm animals (full colour cartoon)

                - "5 Little Monkies"

6. Visual Schedules:  hand washing, brushing teeth, toileting, dressing,

                     bedtime, pre-school and school

7. Emotions -  choice board with "I feel."

                   - emotion thermometers

                   - calming sequence

8. Visual materials to support ABA/IBI programs:

                 -  numbers, colours, shapes, alphabet

9. Visuals to support "Social Stories": eg.

                 -  birth of a sibling

                 -  telephone etiquette

                 -  going to the movies

10. Visual materials to support Music programs

                 - pictures of instruments and activities

                 - puzzle - Old McDonald had a Farm

                 - puzzle - The Wheels on the Bus

11. Learning materials:

                 -  alphabets - block letters and cursive letters with upper

                     and lower case

                 -  alphabet letters are all single cards good for learning

                     the alphabet and pairing with pictures to learn

                     spelling.

                 -  clocks - to teach time with both regular and digital

                     clocks

                 -  Circle of Life

                 -  Community helpers

12.    Communication "PECS" books/binders


Marion's business is based in Canada. You can view her products by going to her website (www.picturecardcommunication.com). For more infrormation, you can contact Marion directly at ppusey@sympatico.ca.

Blessings,
Mary
Mary E. Riposo, PhD
www.AlternativeAutismSolutions.com

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Brenda Smith Myles Conference in Syracuse 2/26/10

Brenda Smith Myles, PhD will be presenting a conference in Syracuse, NY entitled "Autism Spectrum Disorders: Developing a Comprehensive Program for Young Students" on Friday 2/26/10 from 8:30-4:30 pm. The conference will be held at the Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel and Conference Center, 801 University Avenue, Syracuse, NY, 13210, ph (315) 475-3000. Registration deadline is 2/22/10. The cost of the conference is $85 for professionals and $55 for parents. For telephone reservations call (315)-464-8668 or toll free (800)-464-8668. To pay by mail, make checks payable to the MLW Developmental Evaluation Center, 215 Bassett Street, Syracuse, NY, 13210. For more information, go to www.cnypreschoolcoalition.org. Click here to download the conference brochure. 
 

Dr. Myles has made over 500 presentations all over the world, written more than 150 articles and
books on Autism and Asperger Syndrome, and served as the co-chair of the National ASD
Teacher Standards Committee. She is on the National Institute of Mental Health’s Interagency
Autism Coordinating Committee’s Strategic Planning Consortium and the Autism Society of
America’s Panel of Professional Advisors.

The conference will focus on a comprehensive, yet easy-to-use system that allows educators to understand how and when to implement an instructional program for young students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The Comprehensive Autism Planning System (CAPS) model answers the questions:

• What supports does my student/child need to be successful in school and home?

• What goals are my student/child working on?

• Is there a thoughtful sequence to the student’s/child’s day that matches his learning style.

The CAPS is a practical resource that addresses yearly progress, response to intervention (RTI) and positive behavior supports in a common-sense format. The CAPS process was developed to be used by the child's educational team consisting of parents, educators and therapists. The structure of CAPS ensures student success as well as data collection to measure that success. The CAPS program identifies supports for each of the student's daily activities focusing on the core deficits and strengths of autism. Specifically, the conference will discuss teaching social skills and social/emotional control.

At the end of the session, attendees will:

1. Identify evidence-based practices for young children with ASD.
2. Describe a structure to ensure that young children with ASD have their needs met throughout the day.
3. Identify the hidden curriculum and how it impacts young children with ASD.


The conference is being sponsored by the Central New York Coalition for Young Children with Special Needs, Kohl's Autism and Related Disorders/Margaret L. Williams Developmental Evaluation Center, Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital, and Kohl's Cares for Kids.

This should be a great conference!
Blessings,
Mary
Mary E. Riposo, PhD
www.AlternativeAutismSolutions.com

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U.S. Autism Prevalence Rises 57% in 4 Years

Bethesda, MD (December 18, 2009) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released their national autism prevalence report today, confirming that the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders in the United States is 1 percent of the population, or one in 110 of children 8 years of age in 2006.

The long-awaited report was conducted by the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network in 11 sites in 2006 and tracks prevalence in children 8 years of age. The Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network is a group of programs funded by CDC to determine the number of people with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in the United States. The ADDM sites all collect data using the same surveillance methods, which are modeled after CDC’s Metropolitan Atlanta Developmental Disabilities Surveillance Program (MADDSP).

“This report confirms what we at the Autism Society have been saying for years about the prevalence of autism in America and the critical importance of early identification and interventions. For the first time, we are hearing our government acknowledge the real increase in autism and validating the impact this condition has on individuals, families and their communities,” said Lee Grossman, Autism Society President and CEO. “The question still remains: How bad does it have to get before families receive appropriate lifespan services?”

This report presents a number of other important details, including:

  • The study suggests that while better diagnosis accounts for some of the prevalence, a true increase cannot be ruled out. The report also underscores that “efforts are needed to understand how complex genetic and environmental factors interact to result in symptoms which make up the autism spectrum.”
  • The report again highlights that delays in identification still persist. Children in 2006 were being diagnosed only five months earlier on average than those in 2002, thus still missing the critical years of early intervention. (In 2002, children were diagnosed at an average age of 53 – 66 months, and in 2006, the average age was 50 – 60 months.)  The report laudably notes that the continued lag in identification needs to be addressed as a public health concern so that this nation “can ensure that children in the U.S. receive optimal early intervention services.”
  • Increases in prevalence among minority population were significant, with a 91 percent increase in Hispanic children (with 144 percent increase in Arizona contributing to this) and 41 percent in black non-Hispanic. There was a 55 percent increase in White non-Hispanic.
  • Prevalence in boys was found to be 4.5 times higher in males than females. The report states one in 70 boys and one in 315 females have autism. 
  • This study gathered data on prevalence and cognitive impairment, showing a 90 percent increase in children with borderline intellectual functioning and a 72 percent increase among children with average to above average intelligence. As intelligence testing is unstable in the autism community, further analysis needs to be done to understand this change.
  • Overall prevalence was lower among the sites with access to health evaluations alone, so sites that did not include educational evaluations likely underestimated ASD prevalence for that site. The lack of educational data would have impacted the cognitive functioning analysis as well.

It is important to note the ADDM study does not cover adult prevalence or those children who receive diagnoses later than 8, which can be common in the Asperger’s community, where the average age of diagnosis is 11 years old.  

The ADDM report, which was conducted in the states of Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Wisconsin, is consistent with the Department of Health and Human Services National Survey of Children’s Health, published last October.

I'd love to know what you think about this newest research. I invite you to post a comment to this blog with your thoughts and comments.

Blessings,
Mary
www.AlternativeAutismSolutions.com

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Support the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act, HR 4247

The Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act, HR 4247 by Chairman George Miller (D-CA) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) was introduced on December 9, 2009. A companion bill was also introduced in the Senate by Senator Chris Dodd and is numbered S 2860.

The legislation draws on a Government Accountability Office report on restraints and seclusions released last spring, which found “hundreds of cases of alleged abuse and death related to the use of these methods on school children during the past two decades,” with a majority involving students with disabilities. Still, investigators could not ascertain the full extent of this problem - cases often go unreported, with some states not even keeping track of incidents.The bills seek to establish the first federal standards to protect students from misuse of restraint and seclusion and ensure the safety of everyone in the classroom. It would apply to public schools, private schools and preschools receiving federal education support. Specifically the legislation would:

• Establish important minimum federal safety standards in schools, similar to the protections already in place in hospitals and other non-medical community based facilities;
• Limit physical restraint and locked seclusion, allowing these interventions only when there is imminent danger of injury, and only when imposed by trained staff;
• Outlaw mechanical restraints, such as strapping kids to chairs, and prohibit restraints that restrict breathing;
• Require schools to notify parents after incidents when restraint or seclusion was used;
• Call on states, within two years of enactment, to establish their own policies, procedures, monitoring and enforcement systems to meet these minimum standards;
• Encourage states to provide support and training to better protect students and prevent the need for emergency behavioral interventions; and
• Increase transparency, oversight and enforcement tools to prevent future abuse.

Please take the time to advocate for people affected by autism and ask your Representative and Senators to cosponsor this important legislation. Go to
https://secure2.convio.net/asa/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=349  and fill out a user friendly form today.

Blessings,
Mary
www.AlternativeAutismSolutions.com

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Twelve Tips for Helping People with Autism and Their Families Have a Happy Holiday

The holiday season can be a stressful time for many families, and families of children on the Autism Spectrum may face additional challenges associated with the disruption of schedules and routines at this time of the year. The following tips, developed with input from the Autism Society, the Indiana Resource Center for Autism, Easter Seals Crossroads, the Sonya Ansari Center for Autism at Logan, and the Indiana Autism Leadership Network, were developed to help families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders enjoy the holidays with the least amount of stress. Please feel free to share these tips with others who may be interested; and I also encourage you to post your own tips to this blog. Please share the tips that have helped you and your family get through the holidays. 

 

(reprinted from the Autism Society website www.Autism-Society.org)

 

Twelve Tips for Helping People with Autism and Their Families Have a Happy Holiday

1. Preparation is crucial for many individuals.
At the same time, it is important to determine how much preparation a specific person may need. For example, if your son or daughter has a tendency to become anxious when anticipating an event that is to occur in the future, you may want to adjust how many days in advance you prepare him or her. Preparation can occur in various ways by using a calendar and marking the dates of various holiday events, or by creating a social story that highlights what will happen at a given event.


2. Decorations around the house may be disruptive for some.
It may be helpful to revisit pictures from previous holidays that show decorations in the house. If such a photo book does not exist, use this holiday season to create one. For some it may also be helpful to take them shopping with you for holiday decorations so that they are engaged in the process. Or involve them in the process of decorating the house. And once holiday decorations have been put up, you may need to create rules about those that can and cannot be touched. Be direct, specific and consistent.


3. If a person with autism has difficulty with change, you may want to gradually decorate the house.
For example, on the first day, put up the Christmas tree, then on the next day, decorate the tree and so on. And again, engage them as much as possible in this process. It may be helpful to develop a visual schedule or calendar that shows what will be done on each day.


4. If a person with autism begins to obsess about a particular gift or item they want, it may be helpful to be specific and direct about the number of times they can mention the gift.
One suggestion is to give them five chips. They are allowed to exchange one chip for five minutes of talking about the desired gift. Also, if you have no intention of purchasing a specific item, it serves no purpose to tell them that maybe they will get the gift. This will only lead to problems in the future. Always choose to be direct and specific about your intentions.


5. Teach them how to leave a situation and/or how to access support when an event becomes overwhelming.
For example, if you are having visitors, have a space set aside for the child as his/her safe/calm space. The individual should be taught ahead of time that they should go to their space when feeling overwhelmed. This self-management tool will serve the individual into adulthood. For those who are not at that level of self-management, develop a signal or cue for them to show when they are getting anxious, and prompt them to use the space. For individuals with more significant challenges, practice using this space in a calm manner at various times prior to your guests' arrival. Take them into the room and engage them in calming activities (e.g., play soft music, rub his/her back, turn down the lights, etc.). Then when you notice the individual becoming anxious, calmly remove him/her from the anxiety-provoking setting immediately and take him/her into the calming environment.


6. If you are traveling for the holidays, make sure you have their favorite foods or items available.
Having familiar items readily available can help to calm stressful situations. Also, prepare them via social stories or other communication systems for any unexpected delays in travel. If you are flying for the first time, it may be helpful to bring the individual to the airport in advance and help him/her to become accustomed to airports and planes. Use social stories and pictures to rehearse what will happen when boarding and flying.


7. Know your loved one with autism and how much noise and activity they can tolerate.
If you detect that a situation may be becoming overwhelming, help them find a quiet area in which to regroup. And there may be some situations that you simply avoid (e.g., crowded shopping malls the day after Thanksgiving).


8. Prepare a photo album in advance of the relatives and other guests who will be visiting during the holidays.
Allow the person with autism access to these photos at all times and also go through the photo album with him/her while talking briefly about each family member.


9. Practice opening gifts, taking turns and waiting for others, and giving gifts.
Role play scenarios with your child in preparation for him/her getting a gift they do not want. Talk through this process to avoid embarrassing moments with family members. You might also choose to practice certain religious rituals. Work with a speech language pathologist to construct pages of vocabulary or topic boards that relate to the holidays and family traditions.


10. Prepare family members for strategies to use to minimize anxiety or behavioral incidents, and to enhance participation.
Help them to understand if the person with autism prefers to be hugged or not, needs calm discussions or provide other suggestions that will facilitate a smoother holiday season.


11. If the person with autism is on special diet, make sure there is food available that he/she can eat.
And even if they are not on a special diet, be cautious of the amount of sugar consumed. And try to maintain a sleep and meal routine.


12. Above all, know your loved one with autism.
Know how much noise and other sensory input they can take. Know their level of anxiety and the amount of preparation it may take. Know their fears and those things that will make the season more enjoyable for them.

Blessings,

Mary

www.AlternativeAutismSolutions.com

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Rethink Autism

Did you catch the story on ABC's World News Tonight earlier this week that featured "Rethink Autism"? Rethink Autism is a company out of New York City that has come out with a web-based ABA treatment program for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. A subscription to their service, which goes for $100 per month, provides:

-individualized ABA-based curriculum for your child
-hundreds of step-by-step video lessons
-training videos which show you how to teach using ABA
-automated curriculum management
-progress tracking and data management
-online professional support

The owners of Rethink Autism state that they want to offer effective Autism treatment to all families, indpendent of where they live, their level of inclme, or the resources of the school district they reside in. However, can anyone effectively treat their child's Autism Spectrum Disorder after viewing some internet videos? It will remain to be seen how this treatment is used and how effective it ultimately is.

Rethink Autism also provides a service for programs and professionals, which includes:

-cost effective support for teachers and staff
-training and professional development
-data monitoring


To view the video on ABS's World News Tonight, go to
http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=9069753. For more information on the program, go to www.RethinkAutism.com.

What do you think? I'd love to hear your comments, so please consider posting a response if you are so inclined.
Blessings,
Mary
www.AlternativeAutismSolutions.com

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Grass Roots Autism Tour comes to Syracuse

Kristin Selby-Gonzalez, Director of Autism Education for Enzymedica and a mother of a son with Autism is giving a free presentation in Syracuse, NY as part of the Autism Grass Roots Tour. In this presentation, Selby-Gonzalez will describe innovative solutions to promote progress for children on the Autism Spectrum. Attendees will learn about a variety of effective tools, such as biomedical treatment, dietary modification, enzyme therapy, sensory integration, educational therapy, living toxin free, and Son-Rise Program techniques.


Here are the details:
What: Autism Grass Roots Tour
When: Thursday, December 3, 2009, 7 pm
Where: Drumlins Country Club, 800 Nottingham Road, Syracuse, NY 13224
Cost: FREE

The Autism Grass Roots Tour is sponsored by Enzymedica, Autism Hope Alliance, Autism Treatment Center of America, and Natur-Tyme. Visit
www.AutismNationwide.org to learn more.

If you can't make the live presentation, Kristin Selby-Gonzalez will be featured on the Nutritional Insights Radio Show with Wendy Meyerson at 10 am on Sunday, November 22, 2009. Tune your radio to 570 WSYR locally (Syracuse, NY) or go to the Natur-Tyme website (www.Natur-Tyme.com) after the show and listen on your computer anytime.

Blessings,
Mary
www.AlternativeAutismSolutions.com


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Just for Today

I'd like to share a poem written by Delia Thompson, which was originally published online in the Child Autism Parent Cafe (http://www.child-autism-parent-cafe.com/just-for-today.html). I like this poem because it describes the parent-child relationship between a mother and her child, who happens to have been diagnosed with Autism. I believe that every parent is a parent first, and that we frequently give parents so many directives once their child has been diagnosed that the parent-child relationship can become strained and even turn into one that could be more accurately characterized as a parent-teacher relationship. This poem serves as a reminder to me that children are children first, no matter what.

Just for Today

Just for today, little one,
I'm going to forget that you're autistic
And remember that you're a child.
For this brief shining time,
I will only see the beauty of you and your world.

I will marvel at the spun gold of your hair in the sunlight.
How can anything be so impossibly brilliant?
I will see the blue-green of your infinite eyes
And not worry if they focus on me.
I will admire your concentration
And not mind that it isn't directed in the usual way.

Your smile and laugh will bring me joy.
It won't matter what caused them,
They are marvels unto themselves.
Through your eyes I will delve into the unseen,
Looking at the world with that perspective unique to you.

I will see your lines of leaves and stones
And share your happiness at their precision.
I will close my own eyes
And let the textures you explore overwhelm my senses.
Spinning in circles with you,
I will let go until all is lost but the dizzy.

Just for today,
I will close my books and ignore the research,
The worry, the 'shoulds' and the shadowy future.
You are my baby, my son, my love.
Today, we play.

Tell me what you think of this poem by posting a response to this blog.
Blessings,
Mary
www.AlternativeAutismSolutions.com

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Dangers of Alcohol Based Hand Sanitizers

With all of the frenzy going on about the seasonal flu and the H1NI (swine) flu, many of us are opting to use alcohol based hand sanitizers in an attempt to remain germ free. I work in a hospital clinic with a pediatric population and there are bottles of hand sanitizer everywhere you look, as well as in dispensers on the wall. I have also seen these in preschools and daycare settings. Sometimes it seems easier to squirt a little hand sanitizer on the children's hands for a quick cleaning rather than motoring them through hand washing at a sink that may be outside of the room in many of these locations. Seems like a good idea, right?

Maybe not. There is documented evidence dating back to at least 2007 in which young children have sustained injuries due to ingesting alcohol based hand sanitizer. Children are naturally curious and explore their world by mouthing objects. Hand sanitizers come in different scents and may be enticing to young children, who may lick the stuff off of their palms. The palms represent a direct point of entry onto the bloodstream, and many of you who use essential oils know that we strategically place the oils on the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet for just that purpose. Snopes has posted an article called "Booze Ooze: Ingestion of Hand Sanitizer in Children can Result in Alcohol Poisoning". To read the article, which includes parents' letters about their shocking experiences, go to: 
http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/sanitizer.asp.

I went looking for a safe and effective alternative to the Purell type of alcohol based hand sanitizers and found a good one. I found it at Natur-Tyme (www.Natur-Tyme.com), a local health food store. It's made by Clean Well (
www.CleanWellToday.com) and I highly recommend it to anyone who is health conscious and who cares about the health of their children or the children they work with. Clean Well was founded by the father of a little boy who was born with an immune dysfuction, who was seeking natural alternatives to toxic disinfecting agents found in everyday cleaning products.

Clean Well hand sanitizers contain a patented formulation of essential plant oils (called Ingenium) proven to kill 99.99% of germs, including MRSA, E.Coli and Salmonella. It is alcohol free, safe for children, free of toxic chemicals, 100% biodegradable, and certified cruelty free (which means it has not been tested on animals).  The hand sanitizers come in convenient 1 oz. pocket sized sprays, desktop bottles, and wipes. The ingredients include thyme oil, aloe vera, citric acid, orange oil, and copper pca. Clean Well even has a blog
http://abetterwaytoclean.com, which offers clear information and simple tools to empower you and improve your health. You can order from the website or use their handy store locator to find a distributor near you. 

I have been carrying around the pocket size hand sanitizer and I love it. It's handy, convenient, and smells great. I have been sharing it with everyone I know in the hopes that it will raise awareness and make a difference. I hope you give it a try!

Blessings,
Mary

Mary E. Riposo, PhD
 www.AlternativeAutismSolutions.com

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Fall Family Fun Day for Families Affected by Autism

The CNY Autism Society of America (ASA) and Families for Effective Autism Treatment (FEAT) of Central New York are hosting the Fall Family Fun Day for Families Effected by Autism at Critz Farms, 3232 Rippleton Road, Cazenovia, NY 13035. The event will take place on Sunday, October 18, 2009 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.
(note: Critz Farms will be open exclusively to our families from 9:00 to 10:00 am)

Fun Activities include:
  • Gigantic Corn Maze
  • Slide Mountail Playground
  • Wagon Rides
  • Pumpkin Picking
  • Animal Area
  • Face & Pumpkin Painting
  • Musical Entertainment
  • Refreshments
  • and more.........
Costumes are welcome for a Fun Fantasy Parade!

Reservations are recommended as space is limited.
Call 315-464-8668 or toll free 1-800-464-8668.

This event is generously sponsored by Kohl's Autism and Related Disorders Awareness and Outreach Program, Kohl's Department Stores, Kohl's Cares for Kids, and the Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital.

Please consider taking your family to this fun and important local event!

Blessings,
Mary
Mary E. Riposo
www.AlternativeAutismSolutions.com

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