Update for Sue Larkey & Tony Attwood Workshops

Click on the link to go to the registration page for workshops coming to your area, this page also gives a bit more information about the workshops as well.  I attended a Sue Larkey workshop last year (2012) and found it absolutely amazing and very informative with plenty of practical ideas and resources.

http://www.suelarkey.com.au/Workshops.php

10 Top Tips to Successful Education

10 Top Tips to Successful Education

By Dean Beadle

Successful education is about aiding and nurturing our young people to grow in to fully formed and well-rounded individuals. Regardless of shrinking budgets and the economic climate, we can still make ahuge difference to young people on the autism spectrum, because it is the strength of their relationships with their teachers and support staff that makes the most difference to them.

In the upcoming workshops Dean will be outlining the following issues and principles which he believes to be good practice for working with children on the autism spectrum:

1.   Special interests/obsessions can be an invaluable a teaching tool.

2.    Teaching social skills is as important as teaching academics.

3.   In order to resolve a behaviour you must first understand the causes.

4.   Put as much focus on the child’s strengths as you do on their targets and weaknesses.

5.   Empower each child to see that their condition doesn’t have to hold them back in life.

6.   Understanding the purpose and reasons for obsessive rituals.

7.   Encouraging people with autism to stretch out their comfort zones.

8.   Help young people to feel part of the solution rather than the cause of the problem.

9.   Remember that children with autism are children, and therefore they should be allowed to make the same mistakes as other children.

10. Remember that behind every diagnosis is a child with individual needs – no two children with autism are exactly the same.

Dean Beadle is a public speaker and writer who is proud of being on the autism spectrum and he wouldn’t change it for the world. He is a successful adult. But it hasn’t always been that way. In the mid-1990s Dean was frequently being suspended from school and many believed that he’d end up in prison. This humorous and insightful speech will highlight: How did he manage to turn his life around? What strategies worked for Dean? How did Dean grow to accept his difference and celebrate it? Why were hairbands and cupboards so significant in Dean’s childhood? Find out all of this and more in this honest, thought provoking and inspirational session.

Don’t miss the exciting  joint sessions with Dean!

————————————————————————————————————————————-

Melbourne (St Kilda)        Thursday 23 May

Canberra                                   Friday 24 May

Sydney (Burwood)          Monday 27 May

  

For more information and to register 

http://suelarkey.com.au/index.php?pr=Workshops

 

Masters in Autism Studies

This Saturday marks the first day of a very challenging couple of years.  I will be attending the Orientation/Open Day for my Masters in Autism Studies.

I am really looking forward to this adventure as I am sure that not only will I learn heaps but I will be able to pass it on to you all.

Don’t forget if you want to ask me anything about ASD I am very willing to assist you in any way possible.  If I don’t know the answer I will find out for you.

 

:-)

Sharyn

13 Common Sensory Issues and How to Solve

I recently received the following articles by Sue Larkey in regards to Sensory Issues and ASD; and Understanding Emotions and ASD..  If you and/or your child has sensory issues please read this article and let me know how you go with some of the ideas on solving them. Just click on the links.

 

http://www.suelarkey.com/media/sensory13.pdf

 

http://www.suelarkey.com/media/emotions1.pdf

 

For many more great ideas go to http://www.suelarkey.com

Apologies

I must apologise for not post more regularly but I have been posting things on my Facebook page instead.  I know that it is important to keep up to date with blogs as it is very frustrating when you come across a blog that has not been updated for a long time.

Since my last post I have completed the Positive Partnerships Autism Training and have enrolled in Masters of Autism Studies starting this year.  I have also relocated schools and am now working in a Special School in Brisbane’s western suburbs.  I have 7 children in my class all of whom are Intellectually Impaired, however of this group I also have 4 children who are ASD, and 1 Downs Syndrome.  There are 4 girls and 3 boys.  It is going to be a very rewarding challenge that at times can be frustrating but interesting at the same time.  On a personal note, my eldest son has finished year 12 and is about to embark on the big scary world of University studying engineering.  My youngest (ASD) has started yr 5.  I will attempt to keep updating this year more regularly throughout my studies as I come across any interesting information for everyone.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all my Facebook likers and please keep spreading the word.  It is getting close to Autism Awareness month, so stay posted for updates on what you can do to help promote this in April.

:-)

Sharyn

CHLOE MAXWELL IS SPEAKING AT LOGANLEA STATE HIGH SCHOOL

Chloe Maxwell will be speaking at Loganlea State High School on Wednesday, 10th October from 3:00pm.  Come and hear this amazing lady talk about her family’s journey with an autistic child and also what their amazing charity 4ASD Kids does for other families.  For more information just contact me via: this blog post, Facebook or RSVP on Monday 8th October on 3451 8714 or 3451 8772 and ask for Sharyn. (These are school numbers so no-one will be there until Monday 8th October)  Tell all of your friends, kids are welcome as we have a room with DVD for them (if needed).  Also there will be an opportunity to purchase her book, “Living with Max”.

We will also be having another speaker, Mary from Camp Autism.  She will be talking about what Camp Autism is about and what their goals are.

Remember: RSVP via, Facebook, this blog or, on Monday 08/10/12 on 3451 8714 or 3451 8772

Try this approach for dealing with difficult behaviours

Difficult behaviours are a daily reality for most parents of kids with Asperger Syndrome. Whether you’re dealing with negativity, aggression, meltdowns, or other challenging behaviours, the stress can take its toll. Many  parents  feel like they’ve reached their wits’ end – they’re tired, chronically stressed, and often feel defeated because the conventional parenting methods they’ve been using aren’t working with their child.

If you’re dealing with difficult behaviours and you feel like you’re not making much progress, try the following approach:

• Analyse the behaviours. Look for what your child is communicating through his or her behavior. If your child starts screaming or acting up every time you walk into your local department store, consider what he might be reacting to (could it be that he’s sensitive to the noise, glaring lights, or large crowds of people?). Analyse and address the root cause of your child’s behaviour, particularly if it occurs regularly.

• Avoid behavioural triggers. As you become more adept at determining the root causes of your child’s challenging behaviours, you will likely start to notice patterns and a core set of triggers for your child (e.g. noisy environments, transitions from one activity to the next, hunger, etc.). With awareness and focus, triggers can be addressed or often avoided altogether.

• Choose your battles. Your child may have a number of problematic behaviours, and attempting to address them all at once will be immensely frustrating for everyone involved (not to mention it probably won’t work). The best approach is to concentrate on one or two behaviors at a time. Start with the most critical behaviours (e.g. if your child is aggressive or self-injurious, those behaviours would be a good place to start) and work your way from there.

• Develop a behaviour strategy. Conventional discipline approaches often don’t work for children on the autism spectrum. Some of the characteristics of kids with Asperger’s Syndrome make certain methods completely ineffective. For example, discipline that relies on the ability of your child to see how their actions affect others may not work, as your child may not be capable of seeing another person’s perspective. Develop a behaviour strategy that focuses on minimizing the triggers for problem behaviors; teaching and reinforcing more appropriate responses; and providing related, reasonable, and respectful consequences that work for your child.  Consistency is key.

• Be proactive. There are several steps you can take to reduce challenging behaviours. Maintaining routines, providing advance notice of changes and transitions, minimising triggers (as noted above), and using visual cues for different activities are just a few options. In addition, since these behaviours often occur when a child is frustrated at not having the necessary skills to cope with a task or situation, encourage and support development of new skills as much as possible.

• Separate the behaviour from the child. Difficult behaviours can dominate a family’s time together – it’s natural to feel anger and frustration from time to time.  The key is to separate the behavior from the child.  Keep your focus on discouraging the behaviours – while encouraging and supporting your child.

As the parent of a child with Asperger’s, I know the challenges and frustrations you’re dealing with first-hand. Hopefully through my posts parenting becomes easier, less stressful, and more enjoyable!