Visual Schedule for Halloween!

We LOVE visuals schedules, both as a therapy tool and as a tool you can use at home.  Visual schedules can help children by providing structure, so they know exactly what to expect next.  It can also help with transitions, in this case from house to house!

The complexity of a visual schedule can vary based on the child's needs and ability level.  This visual schedule includes graphic photos, where some may have symbol images or actual photographs.

For younger kids. we like to model a "first... then" format when discussing each step.  

Find a PDF attached for your use to review what to expect on Halloween. We hope this schedule gives your child the knowledge they need to easily and happily transition through the overwhelm that can sometimes be Halloween night. You can use them ahead of time to review and practice AND you can bring it with you as you trick-or-treat to model each step as you go! Let us know what other visual schedules may help your family!

Proloquo2Go App Sale!!

Proloquo2Go will be 50% off soon!

Posted Thursday 24 Sep 2015

We are excited to announce Proloquo2Go 4.1 will be released very soon. This major update includes support for Spanish!

You will be able to configure your vocabulary in English, Spanish or both with the ability to switch instantly between languages at any time, even mix languages mid-sentence. Choose between two regional variants, Castilian and North American Spanish with a range of matching voices that includes 2 children voices. Proloquo2Go will be a completely bilingual AAC system with its new Spanish Crescendo™ vocabulary.

For existing users all of this is included for free, no in-app purchase, no new app to purchase.

To celebrate, Proloquo2Go 4.1 will be sold at a 50% discount for the first 48 hours after release.

Subscribe to the AssistiveWare letter to be notified when Proloquo2Go 4.1 is released so you can take advantage of the 50% introductory discount. Don’t speak Spanish? No problem, the discount is for everyone.

Note that during the discount period no extra discount is available through Apple’s educational Volume Purchase Program.

Visual Schedules: How to make them and how to use them in therapy and at home!

We LOVE visuals schedules, both as a therapy tool and as a tool to use at home.  Visual schedules can help children by providing structure, so they know exactly what to expect next.  It can also help with transitions to and from speech therapy, and with transitions between activities.

The complexity of a visual schedule can vary based on the child's needs and ability level.  For older kids (i.e. ages 4 and up, who also are able to handle this level of complexity), we sometimes use a "to do" list with an "all done" column you can transfer items to when they are completed.

For younger kids we like to use a "first... then" format.  We might go through this process several times within a session, but it lets kids know exactly what to expect.

The great thing about visual schedules is that you can make cards for any item.  We like to use the software program Boardmaker for this, but if you don't have access you can use Microsoft office, create a table, and then fill in each cell of the table with a picture (Google images is great for this, or clip art - just something a child will easily recognize) and then label the picture so you and any other adult can quickly and easily know exactly what it is.  We then laminate a base page and then laminate and cut out a variety of symbols.  These can be made for any and all activities or objects.  We like to use velcro dots to make it easy to take items and off.  When a child is done with an item, either than can move it to an "all done" column, or take the symbol off and put it in an "all done" box.

Sometimes we make versions of these for our clients to use at home, too!  You can use a transition board like these all day if that's what a child needs.  Working on transitions can be tricky for any number of kids, whether it's due to inflexibility, anxiety, or attention challenges, and a visual schedule can be the perfect solution for many kids!

Sensory-Friendly Holidays

Image via autismspeaks.com

As the holiday season quickly approaches, many parents of children with special needs strive to make holiday traditions inclusive and appropriate for their child's needs.  Luckily, they're getting some help with that this year.  Autism Speaks, an organization that advocates for individuals on the autism spectrum, has partnered with Simon Property Group, Inc. and the Noerr Programs Corporation on their Caring Santa program in Simon malls across the country.  This is a private event for children with special needs and their families to meet Santa in a more welcoming and sensory-friendly environment.  On Sunday, December 7, for two hours before the malls open, children who have autism and other special needs will have an opportunity to meet Santa and connect with other children in their area!  Click here to find a participating mall in your area and register for this free event.  Check back with us later this week for more tips on how to have a fun and sensory-friendly holiday season!
 

Thanks for reading!  As always, for more information, visit our website or "like" us on Facebook!

Happy Autism Awareness Day!

We've been having a blast lighting it up blue for autism awareness day!  Our clients made "stained glass" puzzle pieces during therapy last week, and we used them to decorate the waiting room.  This was a great activity for following directions, requesting, labeling, and turn-taking!

To recreate this activity at home, follow these directions:

Items needed:
Clear contact paper
Tissue paper cut into small squares

1.  Trace a shape onto the clear side of a piece of contact paper.
2.  Peel away the backing of the contact paper.
3.  Fill the shape and outline with different colors of tissue paper.
4.  Cover with another piece of contact paper.
5.  Cut out the shape.

Thanks for reading!  To learn more about the SLP Center, visit www.slpcenter.com