Latest News
Buy one, get one free Boardmaker or Boardmaker Plus!
Feb 22, 2012 -- 4:20 pm
From Mayer-Johnson.com: Buy one copy of Boardmaker or Boardmaker Plus, get one copy free. Limit five. Cannot mix and match Boardmaker versions. Excludes Boardmaker Studio and all Boardmaker Pre-made Activities. Not available on volume discount purch... Read moreNational Autism Center publishes A Parent's Guide to Evidence-Based Practice and Autism
Feb 22, 2012 -- 2:22 pm
The National Autism Center has published A Parent's Guide to Evidence-Based Practice and Autism. You can download a free pdf of the guide at http://www.nationalautismcenter.org/learning/family.phpIf you prefer a printed copy, they are $24.95 at ... Read more
House passes protections for special ed students Guidelines restricting seclusion and restraint would become law
Feb 21, 2012 -- 4:37 pm
From the Topeka Capitol Journal: The House gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a bill that would write into law the state board of education’s guidelines for use of seclusion and restraint of special education students.The 68-44 vote was a vi... Read more
House Bill No. 2444 (Regulation of Seclusion and Restraint in Schools)
Feb 21, 2012 -- 11:36 am
From familiestogetherinc.org: HB 2444 would regulate the use of seclusion and restraint in school districts for students K-12. Currently, the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) has guidelines in place. To read this entire bill, please down... Read moreDo you live in southeast Kansas?
Feb 20, 2012 -- 4:49 pm
Dustin Hoffman’s portrayal of an autistic savant in 1988’s Rain Man helped flesh out the face of autism in America. House of Cards followed in 1993 and tells the story of a mother who tries to reconnect with her autistic daughter following a fami... Read moreParent Tips for Transition Planning
Feb 20, 2012 -- 4:41 pm
From PACER.org: Successful and meaningful transition services are the result of careful planning. This planning is driven by a young person’s dreams, desires, and abilities. It builds a youth’s participation in school, home and community living.... Read moreStudy: Many Adults With Disabilities Do Nothing All Day
Feb 17, 2012 -- 7:36 pm
A significant number of adults with developmental disabilities have no regular, daily activities, a situation that’s symptomatic of larger problems, new research indicates.The finding comes from a survey of nearly 800 siblings of adults with inte... Read more
Early Recognition Of Child Development Problems Video
Feb 17, 2012 -- 8:23 am
From CDC: Recognizing Child Development Problems / Educational Video. Public domain video courtesy of CDC. It's time to change how we view a child's growth. Do you know all the ways you should measure your childs growth? We naturally think of height... Read moreAfter the Diagnosis By Carin Yavorcik
Feb 15, 2012 -- 2:18 pm
From the Autism Society and Carin Yavorcik:You may be traveling a different path than
you expected.
You wondered during pregnancy if your child would play baseball, if
he'd be good at math, whom he would marry and where he would
go to college... Read more
Creating Safety Plans for Individuals with Autism
Feb 15, 2012 -- 2:12 pm
From Autism Speaks:When it comes to identifying safety risks and preventing emergencies for an individual with autism, you and your family are the best advocates, and most likely the people responsible for taking the necessary steps to develop ... Read more
Sensory Integration: Tips to Consider
Feb 14, 2012 -- 7:16 pm
Sensory Integration: Tips to ConsiderFrom the Indiana Resource Center For Autism
Sensory processing is the procedure in which we take in sensory messages from our bodies and surroundings. Then we interpret these messages and organize our purpo... Read more
Interested in Teaching Reading?
Feb 14, 2012 -- 4:34 pm
From the International Journal of Special Education Vol 22, No 3, 2007:"In most elementary classrooms, students with autistic characteristics are too often dismissed from the literate community (Kliewer, 1998). The autistic child is frequently aske... Read more
Supporting Students with Autism: 10 Ideas for Inclusive Classrooms
Feb 13, 2012 -- 10:32 am
From paulakluth.com:While most educators agree that no recipe exists for teaching any individual student or group of students, there are certainly some guidelines that can be helpful for supporting students with certain labels. Students with autism... Read more
Employment and Post-Secondary Educational Activities for Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders During the Transition to Ad
Feb 12, 2012 -- 1:57 pm
This report describes the post-high school educational and occupational activities for 66 young adults with autism spectrum disorders who had recently exited the secondary school system. Analyses indicated low rates of employment in the community, wi... Read moreJobTIPS
Feb 10, 2012 -- 8:32 am
From dotolearn: JobTIPS is a free program designed to help individuals with disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder explore career interests, seek and obtain employment, and successfully maintain employment. JobTIPS addresses the social and b... Read moreSocial Anxiety and Social Skill Competencies
Feb 09, 2012 -- 5:57 pm
From the Autism Asperger's Digest: by Michelle Garcia Winner, CCC-SLPAutism Asperger’s Digest | November/December 2011
Social skills challenges don’t stand alone. Our social skills are social behaviors that impact how others think and feel.... Read more
Tips for Teaching Independence
Feb 09, 2012 -- 5:53 pm
From Autism Digest.com: Autism Asperger’s Digest | January/February 2012What do you think of when you hear the word independence? For many parents of children with Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) and similar autism spectrum disorders (ASDs)—perva... Read more
Parents, we want to hear your story! Call for Papers:
Feb 07, 2012 -- 8:53 am
From the Narrative Inquiry in Bioethics: Narrative Symposium: Parenting Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders During the Transition to AdulthoodNarrative Inquiry in Bioethics will publish ... Read more
Autism Classroom News This blog focuses on news in the world of autism and innovative ideas and resources for teachers and schoo
Feb 06, 2012 -- 8:51 pm
Here is a blog by Christine Reeves, this is the latest topic!Visual Supports for Home
This is an excellent video with a demonstration of visuals that can be used in the home to support individuals on the autism spectrum. It was put together by th... Read more
Young adults with autism face barriers
Feb 06, 2012 -- 8:48 pm
From ABC News: The transition into adulthood is especially challenging for teens with autism.Families with autistic children have to spend years finding the right education and therapy programs that best fit their child's needs.
Many need to figu... Read more
The Hidden Potential of Autistic Kids What intelligence tests might be overlooking when it comes to autism
Feb 06, 2012 -- 8:45 pm
From Scientific America:When I was in fifth grade, my brother Alex started correcting my homework. This would not have been weird, except that he was in kindergarten—and autistic. His disorder, characterized by repetitive behaviors and difficulty w... Read moreGene Mutation Link
Feb 01, 2012 -- 1:59 pm
From medical express.com:New research from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) might help explain how a gene mutation found in some autistic individuals leads to difficulties in processing auditory cues and paying Spatial attention to sound.
T... Read more
Instructional Management Tips for Teachers of Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Jan 31, 2012 -- 1:07 pm
From CEC: Given the increased identification of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), more educators are becoming familiar with this rather perplexing dis- ability. If your class includes a student or students with ASD, you may need useful a... Read moreTips for helping your child with special education needs with their homework
Jan 30, 2012 -- 12:45 pm
From ChallengingMinds.com: For all parents helping their children with homework everyday takes time and effort. However, for parents of children with special education needs often this can turn into a long and challenging process. Some key tips to... Read moreSummer Camp
Jan 30, 2012 -- 8:45 am
Camp Encourage is enhancing the lives of youth with autism spectrum disorders! As one mother shared regarding her son, "Your camp turned his life around..."The mission of Camp Encourage is to encourage social growth, independence, and self-esteem... Read more
Can Autism be detected at 6 Months?
Jan 27, 2012 -- 1:22 pm
From the daily mail: Scientists have detected signs of autism in babies as young as six months, leading to hopes of a test for the disorder.They made the breakthrough by measuring brain activity and believe it could lead to identifying those infan... Read more
Save the Date!!
Jan 24, 2012 -- 11:58 am
KISN will be bringing Paula Kluth to Kansas for a September 21, 2012 training on Differentiating Instruction. It will be held in Wichita and registration materials will go out to Directors in mid-May. There is a $20 registration fee to cover the co... Read moreAutism Doctors Move Step Closer to Overhauling Diagnosis Rules
Jan 20, 2012 -- 8:51 am
From Bloomberg Business Week: The American Psychiatric Association is moving a step closer to overhauling the criteria for diagnosing autism after two just-completed field studies found the new definition won’t exclude patients who need treatment.... Read moreDental Apps for iPhones & iPads
Jan 19, 2012 -- 5:29 pm
In celebration of February Children's Dental Health Month, Oral Health Kansas is featuring one of the newest communication and educational tools.Dental apps for smart phones are tools families and educators can use to communicate with young peopl... Read more
Infants May Use Lip Reading to Learn Language
Jan 18, 2012 -- 8:12 pm
From ABC News: Infants learn language not only through sound, but also through lip reading, according to a new study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.Researchers say the new findings defy the conventional ... Read more
Rapid Growth in US Inpatient Autism Units
Jan 13, 2012 -- 7:05 pm
Rapid Growth in US Inpatient Autism UnitsMegan Brooks
January 13, 2012 — Over the last decade, the United States has seen a rapid rise in the number of specialized inpatient psychiatric care units set up exclusively to serve children with develo... Read more
Funding for iPads
Jan 13, 2012 -- 8:04 am
Looking for an iPad? The Autism Society can help! Courtesy of the Autism Society’s contact center, Autism Source, they have put together a list of organizations that offer grants and other assistance for individuals with autism who would like to pu... Read moreAssistive Technology Internet Modules
Jan 12, 2012 -- 7:45 pm
The Assistive Technology Modules introduces participants to the latest trends to the basic foundations of assistive technology practice, the Assistive Technology Internet Modules provide educators, other professionals, families, persons with disabili... Read moreAutism Internet Modules
Jan 11, 2012 -- 6:07 pm
The Autism Internet Modules were developed with one aim in mind: to make comprehensive, up-to-date, and usable information on autism accessible and applicable to educators, other professionals, and families who support individuals with autism spectru... Read moreWhat to consider when teens with autism want to drive
Jan 09, 2012 -- 9:27 pm
In the first study to investigate driving as it relates to teens with a high-functioning autism disorder (HFASD), child development and teen driving experts at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's Center for Child Injury Prevention Studies found... Read moreAddressing Sensory Integration Across the Lifespan Through Occupational Therapy
Jan 05, 2012 -- 7:27 am
Occupational therapy practitioners (occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants) support an individual’s ability to engage in every day occupations or activities and acquire skills to promote function. Occupational therapy practitio... Read moreRespite Care May Be More Beneficial Than Autism Therapy
Jan 05, 2012 -- 7:24 am
A little money spent on temporary relief for caregivers goes a long way toward keeping kids and young adults with autism out of psychiatric hospitals, a new study suggests.For every $1,000 states spent on respite services in the previous 60 days, r... Read more
New Effort Emerges To Curb Restraint, Seclusion In Schools
Jan 03, 2012 -- 7:23 pm
A proposal in the U.S. Senate is breathing new life into efforts to limit restraint and seclusion of children with disabilities in the nation’s schools.Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, introduced legislation in late December that would bar restraint and ... Read more
Positive Behavior Support: Assisting Families with Behavioral Strategies in Home and Community Settings
Jan 03, 2012 -- 8:28 am
The most important entity for a child with autism is the child's family. Parents and other family members are essential resources, and their interactions with their child constitute the most important influences on the child's learning and developmen... Read moreTips for a Better Parent-School Relationship
Jan 03, 2012 -- 8:23 am
From the Washington Post: In many ways, parents are the most important teachers children will ever have. But drawing them into schools is often difficult. So is forging a constructive parent-school relationship. Teachers complain about parents who m... Read moreNavigating College
Dec 28, 2011 -- 9:09 pm
This book is written for current and future Autistic college students. In our society, the words autism and college often seem not to go well together. When I was going through high school, I frequently had to argue with my school special education s... Read moreAnother great tool from CEC
Dec 25, 2011 -- 7:33 pm
Emotional Chain Reaction WorksheetIn this lesson, students will become more aware of how emotions affect behavior.
This Tool of the Week comes from Lesson Plan 6 of the Life Centered Career Education Personal-Social Skills CD-ROM.http://www.to... Read more
Top Ten Autism Research Achievements of 2011
Dec 22, 2011 -- 12:54 pm
The young but burgeoning field of autism research continued its exponential rate of discovery in 2011—fueled in no small part by the joint commitment by government health agencies and private organizations to support this vital work. Our Top Ten Au... Read moreNPR Autism Series!
Dec 21, 2011 -- 2:08 pm
Nearly one percent of children in the United States have been diagnosed with some form of autism, a number 20 times higher than it was just a generation ago. A series of reports in the Los Angeles Times explores whether this boom is an epidemic of d... Read moreParticipation in Social Activities among Adolescents with an Autism Spectrum Disorder
Dec 16, 2011 -- 11:37 am
Little is known about patterns of participation in social activities among adolescents with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The objectives were to report nationally representative (U.S.) estimates of participation in social activities among adoles... Read moreUniversal Design for Learning By CAST
Dec 16, 2011 -- 11:26 am
What is the UDL Training Guide Toolkit?Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework for curriculum design that fosters access to learning for everyone. Based in research about the learning brain and the development of new digital media, UDL... Read more
New MIT center to fund autism research
Dec 15, 2011 -- 4:56 pm
A new center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will focus on unraveling the neuroscience behind social behaviors, helping to push forward research and, the scientists hope, to advance diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorders.... Read more
7 Gifts To Take To A Family With Autism
Dec 14, 2011 -- 9:22 pm
Only a few more hours until the Big Day, and still don't know what to give your neighbor/sister/colleague's child who has autism? You're not certain if they like Disney Princesses or Harry Potter legos. You've heard that the iPad is great for kids wi... Read moreEvidence-Based Practice and Autism in the Schools Educator Manual
Dec 13, 2011 -- 7:41 am
Whether you are a practioner who works in a school, medical, or private practice setting, you are more likely to receive referrals for serving children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) today than at any point in the past. As you know, there is tr... Read moreWebinar on Sleep Disorders and Weight Issues Caused by Antipsychotic Medications
Dec 12, 2011 -- 2:39 pm
On Friday, Dec. 16, 2011, the the Autism Treatment Network / Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (ATN/AIR-P) will host a 1 hour Works in Progress webinar on two new signature research proposals, Iron Treatment of Sleep Disorders ... Read moreMichelle Garcia Winner KC Training-March 22-23, 2012
Dec 12, 2011 -- 11:14 am
(Not sponsored by KISN, please reference http://www.socialthinking.com)Michelle's inspiring and practical workshops are designed for parents and professionals alike -- for anyone working with students experiencing social and communication problem... Read more
Antidepressant Helps Repetitive Behaviors in Adult Autism
Dec 10, 2011 -- 3:45 pm
Treatment with the antidepressant fluoxetine may decrease symptoms in adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), new research suggests.In a small, randomized controlled trial of adults with ASDs, those who received fluoxetine had a significant... Read more
Caregiving? Take care to plan for long term
Dec 09, 2011 -- 8:18 am
With the job market still sputtering and program funding drying up, many families caring for loved ones with special needs are struggling to pay everyday bills.Difficult as it is, however, they need to plan for the long term, experts say, not onl... Read more
Hollyrod iPad applications
Dec 08, 2011 -- 4:44 pm
In 2010, HollyRod introduced the “Give the Gift of Voice” campaign to provide iPads to give a voice to those without. To date, HollyRod has given away more iPads for communication for Autism than any other organization. Over 100 individuals rangi... Read moreSocial Network for Parents of Children with ASD
Dec 08, 2011 -- 12:44 pm
One in every 110 children is diagnosed with autism, so you would think that by now there would be more infrastructure to help parents navigate the murky waters of autism. But the truth is that too often, parents receive a diagnosis and are left to f... Read moreScreening May Catch Autism in Kids With Epilepsy
Dec 07, 2011 -- 6:08 pm
All young children with epilepsy should also undergo screening for autism spectrum disorders and developmental delay, a study has shown.In a pair of pediatric epilepsy units, 77% of children screened positive for development delay, and 36% screen... Read more
The Basics of Behavioral Support
Dec 07, 2011 -- 6:05 pm
When an individual with autism is engaging in problematic behavior, such as self-injurious biting, name-calling or lashing out, what can parents, teachers and other support team members do to help? Creating a Behavior Support Plan (BSP) can help fami... Read moreTransition Resources
Dec 06, 2011 -- 4:43 pm
Are you interested in transistion supports for students? Look at the resources compiled by Kansas PBS! Click here http://pbskansas.org/htdocs/resources_tools/transition.html ... Read moreAutism Speaks Visual Supports Tool Kit
Dec 03, 2011 -- 2:26 pm
The Visual Supports and Autism Spectrum Disorder tool kit provides a step-by-step, easy-to-understand introduction to visual supports and the ways that parents and other caregivers can begin using them. The pamphlet provides practical examples of how... Read moreTrained Peers Better at Aiding Autistic Kids with Social Skills
Dec 01, 2011 -- 3:25 pm
A new study suggests training peers can help children with autism spectrum disorder improve their social skills, even more than a direct adult-led intervention. To read more, click here: http://psychcentral.com/news/2011/12/01/trained-peers-better-a... Read moreLiving Life With Autism: Has Anything Really Changed?
Dec 01, 2011 -- 3:23 pm
There’s so much talk of the origins of autism these days, it’s hard not to think of it as a childhood disorder. But we tend to forget that there is a fast growing number of adults living with autism in the country today. According to Autism Speak... Read moreMaking the Most of the Holidays
Dec 01, 2011 -- 10:19 am
While many happily anticipate the coming holiday season, families of sons/daughters on the autism spectrum also understand the special challenges that may occur when schedules are disrupted and routines broken. Our hope is that by following these few... Read moreDo Parents of Children With Autism File More Lawsuits?
Nov 28, 2011 -- 7:10 pm
As the number of children diagnosed with autism has increased over the last few years, new research finds these students are disproportionately involved in lawsuits about whether they are getting a free appropriate public education in the least restr... Read moreTraining Peers Improves Social Outcomes for Some Kids with ASD
Nov 28, 2011 -- 7:00 pm
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who attend regular education classes may be more likely to improve their social skills if their typically developing peers are taught how to interact with them than if only the children with ASD are taught... Read moreWhy Autism Employment Makes Business Sense for Agriculture
Nov 23, 2011 -- 11:07 am
Here is an interesting article from Scott Standifer:The next revolution in autism employment may come from an apple orchard run by a major investment company. Not surprisingly, the parent of a child with autism is at the center of it. TIAA-CREF is... Read more
Save the Date! March 6 and 7 in St. Louis
Nov 23, 2011 -- 11:06 am
Requests for employment service options for young adults with autism are dramatically rising. Autism challenges many traditional practices of the disability employment services community, leaving service providers at a loss. For their part, many memb... Read moreFree Apps from Lakeshore
Nov 22, 2011 -- 7:46 am
Some of Lakeshore's most popular interactive games and activities now available in easy-to-download apps for your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad! These fun new educational apps are packed with features to get children excited about learning, and they are... Read moreHere is an Interesting Video
Nov 21, 2011 -- 7:46 am
Program: Making Our Way: Autism
Episode: Making Our Way: Autism
Daily life for a child with autism is a challenge for the child and the family. Support is available and "Making Our Way: Autism" shows how and where to access that network of suppor... Read more
My Video Schedule App featured at a GREAT price!!!
Nov 16, 2011 -- 7:51 pm
****Special price!!*****The SALE price of 9.99 is the LOWEST price this 54.99 app is only good for the week!
Direct link to purchase this app: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-video-schedule/id463787252?mt=8
For more information of My Vide... Read more
Nov. 17th - FREE webinar to help with the holiday season!
Nov 14, 2011 -- 3:17 pm
The holiday season can be fun, but it can also be a challenging time for children with autism and their families.That's why Rethink Autism is hosting two very special events this month!
Preparing for the Holidays, a webinar with Dr Bridget ... Read more
Upcoming Webinars on Ocali.org
Oct 31, 2011 -- 8:14 am
Access to the Curriculum Webinar Series - Part 4: ImplementationTuesday, November 1, 2011 - 3:00 - 4:00 pm
What are some of the biggest barriers to Curriculum and environmental
access for students with Low Incidence Disabilities? How can
... Read more
Teaching students about Bullying
Oct 24, 2011 -- 1:25 pm
There are many resources available for teaching students about bullying and how to handle bullying. One resource is No Fishing Allowed: “Reel” in Bullying by Carol Gray and Judy Williams. It is available from our lending library. Please contact J... Read morePerfect Targets: Asperger Syndrome and Bullying - Practical Solutions for Surviving the Social World
Oct 19, 2011 -- 8:47 am
Rebecca Heinrichs is the author of the book, "Perfect Targets: Asperger Syndrome and Bullying - Practical Solutions for Surviving the Social World." It is available for check out from our lending library. If you are interested in reading it, please c... Read moreUpcoming OCTOBER OCALI Professional Development Opportunities
Oct 13, 2011 -- 12:37 pm
Upcoming OCALI Professional Development OpportunitiesTo register for any of the webinars below, please visit:
http://communications.ocali.org/lists/lt.php?id=MB4MUAJdVQBKWQFOAgIBAVo%3D
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Reach and Teach All Students Webinar ... Read more
Oct 12, Unity Day: “Make it Orange and Make it End”
Oct 10, 2011 -- 2:37 pm
Join the movement to “Make it orange and make it end!” and unite against bullying. Make your color orange on Unity Day, Wednesday, Oct. 12. That’s the day everyone can link together—in schools, communities and online—and send a message of s... Read moreOctober is Anti-Bullying Month
Oct 05, 2011 -- 2:14 pm
October is Anti-Bullying Month. Being bullied is a major issue for many on the Autism spectrum. KISN has developed a Bullying Prevention Kit with many resources to use with students on the spectrum and their typically developing peers. If you are ... Read morePresident Obama Signs the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act
Oct 04, 2011 -- 9:02 am
On September 30, 2011, President Obama sign the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act. CARA will continue funding at current levels, authorizing $693 million over the next three years. The CAA also required the federal government to create an Interage... Read moreTraining Materials for Oct. 7th Training Series Posted
Oct 04, 2011 -- 8:15 am
Training materials for the October 7th, 2011 KISN Training series are now available online. You can find them by clicking on training calendar, and then clicking on Training Materials to the left of the calendar.... Read more