Pirates: an early-years group program for developing social understanding and social competence for children with autism spectrum disorders and related challenges

Using a pirate theme popular among young children, this social understanding program is designed for children, ages preschool to third grade, who have social cognitive challenges, including autism spectrum disorders. Through fun and engaging activities, the program helps children learn constructive social interaction skills related to friendship making, social problem solving and emotional expression. This eight-adventure pirate voyage includes the following focus areas: social understanding, friendship making, emotional literacy and emotional expression, relaxing, social problem solving and responding to bullying incidents

Your Special Student: a book for educators of children diagnosed with Asperger syndrome

'Your Special Student' is written for professionals and paraprofessionals aspiring to create class programs based upon inclusive teaching practices. It offers practical assistance, direction, and concrete strategies for professionals and paraprofessionals- that are challenged, to establish class programs inclusive of the diverse and often complex needs of individual students. Professionals and paraprofessionals working in these communities are challenged to act as facilitators of learning. They are encouraged - to be flexible in attitude and approach, supporting all students to develop as independent, responsible, interested, active and engaged lifelong learners. They endeavor to structure teaching- and learning environments that foster a sense of belonging-, acceptance, respect, competence, achievement, success, and a genuine interest in learning. Professionals and paraprofessionals are continually challenged to work in collaborating, genuinely appreciate, nurture, embrace, respect, and celebrate student diversity. 'Your Special Student' provides down-to-earth, hands on strategies and frameworks for professionals- and paraprofessionals working in the field of education

Friendly Facts: program to help children explore the complexities of friendship

For children with ASD, making and keeping friends is often not a simple process. These children need to be intentionally taught in developmentally appropriate, respectful and supportive environments how to be a friend and how to make and keep friends. This presentation focuses on children ages 7-11, a period when friendships become increasingly complex and a lack of peer acceptance is all the more obvious and challenging. Through a variety of educational activities that appeal to different learning styles, children are scaffolded in their learning about making and keeping friends

Creative ways to promote cognitive thinking

Children with ASD often experience negative self-talk. The starting point of stopping such negative dialogues inside your head is to be aware of it, challenge it, and replace it with helpful thinking. The objective of this session is to portray Cool Comics as a vehicle that assists children in recognising negative self talk. By working through the comic scenarios, children develop an awareness of negative self-talk and practice replacing it with more positive self-talk

Social Spectrum Magazine: 2001-2004

This series of issues (issue 1, 2001; issues 2-4, 2002; issues 1, 3-4, 2003-2004) investigate themes relevant to professionals and para-professionals working alongside individuals with diverse and challenging needs in the areas of social and emotional understanding. Themes covered include: Bullying; Autistic Spectrum Disorder; Anxiety; Inclusion;Grief and Loss; Behaviour Management; Social Understanding

Friendly facts: program to help children explore the complexities of friends and friendship

Making friends and getting along with others is a big part of childhood. Yet, for children with an autism spectrum disorder, making and keeping friends is not a simple process. These children need to be intentionally taught in developmentally appropriate, respectful and supportive environments on how to be a friend, how to make and to keep friendships.\ud \ud This parent/educator-assisted Friendly Facts interactive program is written for children 7-11 years of age, a period when friendships are becoming increasingly complex and a lack of peer acceptance and friendship is all the more obvious and challenging. Through a variety of educational activities that appeal to different learning styles, children are scaffolded in their learning as parents/educators teach children the major tenets of making and keeping friends. As such, co-construction and active engagement as learners guides children's friendship development

Social Spectrum Magazine: 2001-2004

This series of issues (issue 1, 2001; issues 2-4, 2002; issues 1, 3-4, 2003-2004) investigate themes relevant to professionals and para-professionals working alongside individuals with diverse and challenging needs in the areas of social and emotional understanding. Themes covered include: Bullying; Autistic Spectrum Disorder; Anxiety; Inclusion;Grief and Loss; Behaviour Management; Social Understanding

Friendly Facts: a fun, interactive resource to help children explore the complexities of friends and friendship

Making and keeping friends doesn't come easy for children with autism spectrum disorders. Many children need to be taught a range of strategies directed at expanding their social understanding skills, such as reading facial expressions and body language. Friendly Facts, an interactive workbook aimed at children ages 7-11, addresses these challenges by breaking down the complex concept of making friends into simpler ideas. Through fun, engaging activities, children gain real-life knowledge of the major "secrets" of making and keeping friends. By gaining the foundation for making and keeping friends at a crucial age, children are better prepared for successfully interacting with others for the rest of their lives

Cool Comics Series

Cool Comics is a fun method to teach children constructive ways of responding to / in social situations. The main character in the comic is Nicky. Nicky experiences all sorts of challenges in the social world. The comics illustrate how Nicky responds to these challenges using positive self talk. Positive self talk has its roots in cognitive behavioural principles. Nicky identifies feelings associated with the event, before naming helpful thinking to resolve the social challenges. Nicky then chooses actions plans to constructively solve the social challenge

Cool Comics Series

Cool Comics is a fun method to teach children constructive ways of responding to / in social situations. The main character in the comic is Nicky. Nicky experiences all sorts of challenges in the social world. The comics illustrate how Nicky responds to these challenges using positive self talk. Positive self talk has its roots in cognitive behavioural principles. Nicky identifies feelings associated with the event, before naming helpful thinking to resolve the social challenges. Nicky then chooses actions plans to constructively solve the social challenge