Archive for » March, 2010 «

Games, exercises, and general help – revisted

By Jenn
31
Mar
2010

We found these helpful resources last year that are worth looking at again. They may offer help and information for you and your special needs child.

Games:
Mouse Trail Fun animated online exercises to help kids with autism (likely for any child)

Exercises:
Fernridge Press Therapy for Behavior Problems, Learning Problems, ADD and Autism.

General Help:
Patient Advocate The National Financial Resources Guidebook for Patients: A State by State Directory of information for patients seeking financial relief for a broad range of needs including housing, utilities, food, transportation to medical treatment, and children’s resources.

 
Category: autism, parenting, products  Tags: , , ,  Leave a Comment

Do your kids act out before illness? revisted

By Jenn
30
Mar
2010
Back in September, I asked this question. And the same subject has come back up in our home. My daughter attempted to go back to school yesterday even though she clearly has a kick ass cold. It didn’t go well and her teacher made some comment about it being clear she didn’t feel well. We’ve tried to explain that if her behaviors change, illness is the first thing to check for, but maybe that’s hard to remember when you care for that many kids?
Anyway, here’s the original post.
This question seems to be answered for me by my own daughter’s behaviors over the last year or two. It wasn’t until we had a neutral party who could view her behaviors both in school, and out, that we were able to get some back up on our theory.

Here is a case in point;
Last Thursday, Nove had a meltdown at the end of the day when she couldn’t or wouldn’t complete some work before playing with her new found friend (the para teacher’s daughter). It turned into a kicking, screaming, walk down the hallway. Nove couldn’t explain to us at home what had happened until the next morning after she refused to go to school. Then, she could only explain a little bit of the issue.

So, yesterday (monday) she came home from her dad’s house with a stuffy nose and big bad cold. Now, normally, I wouldn’t attribute the cold with the meltdown since they were several days apart, but I don’t know for certain when she actually presented with the physical symptoms since she was with her dad for a few days and I didn’t see her.

But, we saw the same behaviors several times throughout the year last year and had back up from one of the case managers who was made aware of the situations. He was able to see it happen several times before school was out though none of us usually “see” it until she actually presents with a runny nose, fever, or other physical symptom.

Think about it this way, when you get a cold, you feel tired, achey, run down. You can tell someone what you feel. Kids with Autism or other special needs probably can’t. They often have verbal or communications delays or impairments, so when they feel run down, they may not be able to tell anyone what that feeling is. They may not even be aware that they don’t feel good, but only notice their frustration and anger levels are pretty low.

So, do your kids act out, melt down, or otherwize fall apart when they first begin to get sick?

 
Category: parenting, school  Leave a Comment

Hell in a handbasket

By Jenn
10
Mar
2010

Hi. I will not state the obvious.

Okay, I guess I have to. It’s been a while since I wrote. I have my reasons. Don’t we all?

I’m back because I haven’t written about Nove’s progress in a while and since the school seems to have hit another wall with her, it’s time to dump my fear and frustrations again. 100_0621

School is nearly over. We have, what, 3 or 4 months left? It has flown by mostly because I don’t spend every day dreading that I will get a call from the school to come get my child. This is worlds better than last year. We have watched her work papers come home and can actually read Nove’s handwriting now. It is possibly neater than her 12 year old sister’s handwriting.

She knows her right and left and can accurately name them. She “gets” money even if she still isn’t sure of which coin is which. She goes the bathroom unassisted when reminded, and often all on her own without a reminder.

So, what’s gone wrong? Her teacher writes that Nove has been refusing to do her work. They have taken away her option to go spend time with the home room class, music and ……… well, whatever else they thought would work. Apparently nothing has. Welcome to the wonderful, wacky world of Nove.

They ask that we reinforce their efforts by denying Nove fun things at home when she hasn’t done her work at school. They started sending home daily sheets with her behaviors and accomplishments (or lack thereof). Just this week the papers came home.  It took a few days to discuss and decide what to try at home, because, just like at the school, Nove doesn’t always care about what she is allowed or not allowed to do at home.

We’ve decided that she’ll get reduced time on the computer because that seems to be what she most enjoys. Last night she did not care. Tonight, the timer was set and she got off when it rang. No argument, no hissy fit.

She’s not fighting going to school. She gets ready, seems happy, and even smiles and waves from her bus seat on some days.

The teacher said she doesn’t think anything has changed at school to set this off. We’ve shared what has changed at home, but I don’t believe it is the cause. The more I think about it, it seems to be an event, or person, or some thing at school that has set this off.

Nove isn’t talking. I’m left hanging.

Category: autism  Leave a Comment

Seeking feedback and review of new clothing line Soft

By Jenn
08
Mar
2010

I want to pass along this opportunity for professionals to help do an important product review and offer feedback for a line of clothing geared for kids with sensory differences.  Here’s the info, please feel free to keep passing this on.

Greetings!

Feedback is very important to us at Soft.  We have been testing samples of our adaptive clothing line for children with tactile sensitivity for over 2 years–surveying parents and kids on what works and what doesn’t.  We continue to do this for each new round of design and production. 

This time, before we go into production again for our next collection, we are hoping to get specific feedback from professionals in the field: Occupational therapists, physicians, special educators and more.  Since you see such a range of sensitivity, and make recommendations to parents on therapeutic programs and approaches–your input will help us to be as inclusive as possible in our design.

If you are a professional in the field of Sensory Disorders, and wish to fill out a short survey on our clothing–we will send you a few samples to look at (and keep), and give us your feedback on.  Participants will also receive a 10% off coupon on any Soft purchase.  Please respond to this email, with the below information, and your package will go out today!!

Regards,
Jessica Ralli,
Director, Soft

softName:

Mailing Address:

email address:

Profession:

May we publish your feedback on our website?

 
 
 
 
Category: products, sensory integration  Leave a Comment