Multiple Sclerosis Online Information - National Multiple Sclerosis Society

Hi Everyone,

You learn something new every day. At risk of doing serious damage to my credibility as a special education teacher, I must admit that I was unaware that children and teens could have multiple sclerosis (MS). It is an autoimmune disease that I have aways associated with people over 20 and I have never had to deal with the issues around the impact of MS in my teaching practice.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society has produced an excellent handbook to support the knowledge of school personnel. You can download a copy for your self by clicking here.

I would also encourage you to have a good look around their website which has some terrific online training materials in both written and video format.

I get excited about a discovery like the one I made today. Although my professional and personal life is as overcrowded and busy as any other teachers' , I am a great believer in being prepared. Lighthouse educational practice involves being ready to meet a need before it presents as an issue in the school or in your classroom.

Take some time to read through this 36 page document and browse through the website today.

It never ceases to amaze me, how often I have done that and then needed that information, to support a student, colleague or family, shortly afterward.

Special Education Apps

Hi Everyone,

The Autism Speaks website, has a great list of iProduct Apps that you might like to explore.

I have just put a big dent in my iTunes account so be warned. There are some amazing resources for parents and teachers on this site. Take some time to look around by following this link.

The Proprioceptive Sense in children with Hearing and Vision Impairment

Hi Everyone,

You might have guessed that I am taking some time this week, to up skill myself in the area of vision and hearing impairments and the impacts that they have on learners.

As an autism consultant, I am finding that I am frequently in the position of supporting teachers with students with a co-morbid hearing and/ or vision impairment.

This article by David Brown, is a very informative and easy read. It describes what the proprioceptive sense is, how it impacts our ability to learn and strategies teachers can use when this sensory system is challenged.

If you want to join me in some quick professional learning, follow this link to the article.

Auslan Tutor App - Free from the iTunes Store

Hi Everyone,

I am in the process of becoming 'Mac literate'. I bought a Mac book just before Christmas. It is taking me twice as long to write posts and anything else, that I would normally do with a computer. Perhaps it is a foolish thing to do, when I have just committed to being more prolific on my blog this year.

Got to love the journey though - right?

Today though, I want to draw your attention to the Auslan Tutor App for Apple iProducts such as the iPad and iPhone. You don't have to have a hearing impaired student or family member, to benefit from using this application. I use key word signing daily in my work; primarily to provide visual cues to support the receptive language skills of my students. I encourage teachers that I support and mentor to do the same.

Some of these teachers have taken the use of this application one step further and are using it as their text and resource to teach their students Auslan too. The students love it and it is creating an inclusive culture in schools in preparation for a child with a hearing impairment, choosing to sign, who may be enrolled in that school down the track.

Using the video reference library, you could learn a word a day, or add signs to class songs. As they say, 'From little things big things grow'.

The best bit is that it is free! So, follow the link to the iTunes store for more information and to download it today.

Auditory System and Hearing Impairment - Free E-learning Course

Hi Everyone,

Today I completed a free E-Learning course, offered by the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children - Renwick Centre, which is part of the University of Newcastle.

The Course ' Auditory System Hearing and impairment' is aimed at people looking for an introduction to hearing impairment and the auditory system. I found it interesting as a teacher and as the middle aged daughter of elderly parents, adjusting to hearing loss that is the result of the normal ageing process.

The topics covered are:

• The anatomy of the ear
• Causes of hearing loss
• Types and degree of hearing loss
• Audiograms
• Hearing aids
• Cochlear implants
• Tactics to help when communicating with people who have a hearing loss.

Check it out for yourself by clicking on the hyperlinks.

Happy New Year

Hi Everyone,

It is hard to believe that another year has passed and I am sitting here making plans for the new school year.

I am feeling a bit embarrassed, that I have neglected this blog during the past 12 months. I plan to make amends for this, over the next few weeks before the Australian school year starts again.

2010 was a very busy year. Too busy in fact!

I had three jobs and spent lots of time working on Nings and websites to support those roles. I loved working for the Positive Partnerships Team, travelling all over Victoria, teaching teachers about inclusive practices for working with students on the autism spectrum.

It was also my first year working for the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, as an autism coach. That involved visiting teachers in mainstream and special education settings 3 days a week; providing support and guidance to meet the needs of specific students in their natural environments. I have a two year contract now, to continue that work, so I must be doing something right!

I did miss having a class of my own last year. I will be in the same position this year. However, in my 2 day a week role at Belvoir Special School, this year, I will be able to get back into the classroom again and work with some sensational kids, with a wide range of learning strengths and challenges. I am so much looking forward to that!

I am trying hard to get my work life balance in order. It has been an ongoing issue with me. Every year it tops my New Year's resolution list and I am making some headway. It is a small steps process for me though.

Thanks to all of those people who visited my blog in 2010. There were over 96 000 of you. I really appreciate you sticking with me . Many thanks to all of the parents, therapists and teachers, who have kept me informed and 'real' in the way that I view 'differbility' and inclusive practice. I love reading your blogs, so please keep writing them.

Have safe a sensational New Year : - D

The Specials - A series exploring young adulthood

I love this british TV Series called 'The Specials'. The series follows the lives of a group of young people with special needs, as they make their own way in the adult world. All of the episodes of Series 1 are available via YouTube.I can't wait to share this series with our teens at my Special School and I am really looking forward to Series 2!

Your Therapy Source News

Click here to read the magazine

Autism Help - Autism Information

Hi Everyone,
If you have a new diagnosis of Autism and you looking for a website that will provide you with easy to read information, that is simple to navigate through, Autism Help is the site for you.
Autism Help covers all the information , that you will need to understand both the strengths and impacts of an autism diagnosis, from pre-school through to the tertiary years.
I wish you well on your journey.

Science Bob - Science experiments for kids

Hi Everyone,
I had a great time working with the junior classes, at Belvoir Special school today. The highlight was making a home made lava lamp, during the science lesson. Joanne, their amazing classroom teacher, found the lesson plan on the Science Bob website. What a sensational find! It is full of simple and highly engaging science experiments and multimedia presentations, suitable for primary aged kids, in both special education and inclusive classrooms. I will definitely be adding this site to my science links.

What is Communication Shutdown ?

Social communication is one of the biggest challenges for people with autism. Shutdown Facebook or Twitter on Nov 1 to have some idea of what it's like.

Safe 4 Kids - Protective Behaviours Resources

Hi Everyone,
I have been on a web quest all year, trying to get my hands on the 'Sing Yourself Safe' CD. I posted a plea for help to locate the CD, earlier in the year, and it was read by the owner of Safe 4 Kids , Holly -ann Martin, during the week.
Hooray ! Not only is that quest now over but I have also found a terrific range of other resources, to support my protective behaviours program in mainstream and special education settings.
Visit the Safe 4 Kids website to check them out for yourself.
Thanks so much for getting in contact, Holly-ann. : - )

White noise Improves memory in children with attention disorders

Hi Everyone,

I have just read an interesting article, on the Pediastaff blog, about studies at Stockholm University in Sweden, indicating that white noise can have a significant impact on concentration and on task behaviours, for some people with attentional disorders and difficulties like ADHD.

The studies also showed, that white noise was extremely distracting for people who do not usually have any trouble concentrating. So, the quest for this morning was scour the Internet to find some iProduct applications, that kids could use in class, on their iTouch, iPad or iPhone, via the App shopper website, as white noise adjustment strategies.

There are loads!

These are free and easy to use:

Mood Tweak

Yoga Sound

Tuneout Sound Blocker

Here is a link to the Stockholm University research paper, if you would like more specific details about the research project.

IN THE NEWS & ON THEIR LIPS

Hi Everyone,

The Dogo News and BBC Class Clips sites, host some terrific current affairs resources, to help stimulate oral language and comprehension activities in the classroom. I am always on the look out for short length, highly engaging texts, to use with my non and reluctant readers and/children with language disorder, in upper primary and secondary settings. Both of these sites really fit the bill.

Although I have used them during the literacy block, I do find that students sneak off to have a quiet read and think about them on their own - which tells me that I am on to a winner!

Arts Alive Virtual Dance Studio and the Help Kids Learn Train Tracker Game

Hi Everyone,

What do the Arts Alive Virtual Dance Studio and The Help Kids Learn Train Tracker game have in common? For me, it's that they are two online programs that I use regularly, with kids needing some quiet time to self regulate, when the classroom environment becomes too overwhelming. A five minute stint on one of these programs can mean the difference between a 'meltdown' and being able to successfully re-engage in classroom activities, for some of my students.

I use lots of interactive software programs in my work with children on the autism spectrum. These two, are my most often requested recreational or calming activities for mainstream primary students. The key seems to be that they provide children with the opportunity to make simple choices, which helps them gain a sense of control over their environment again.

Both are great fun to play and I must warn you that they are highly addictive. You may want to set yourself a time limit before trying them out. A timer is a definite must when using them with kids in the classroom.

Free Children's Stories.com - Daniel Errico

Hi Everyone,

I received this email from Daniel Errico this morning.

Dear Sue,
My name is Daniel Errico and I'm owner of the site freechildrenstories.com. I've been reading up on your Teacher Space and Junior Crew Book Shelf sites and enjoyed them.
If you have any interest, my site offers free stories for kids and includes a fully illustrated and narrated online storybook, The Journey of the Noble Gnarble. Hope all is well. Thanks,

Daniel Errico

Daniel's site is terrific for recreational reading, as well as a fabulous resource for teachers wanting to encourage students to write and illustrate their own stories. I know a few art teachers who would definately use the site to teach story telling through art. Go and check it out for yourself.

Free eBooks for Kids

Hi Everyone,

Kathy from Ireland, sent me an email asking if I knew of any good free book sites that kids could access online.

I had to chuckle because I have spent many hours over the past 3 years, building up a collection of sites to use and share in my own teaching practice. My aim was to provide a resource that students in my special education class could access independently. I set up a blog page so that the kids could just click on a picture of a book that appealed to them or access favourite sites by clicking on a link in the margin. The site hosts are wide range of text types that would appeal to Pre-School and Primary aged students.

I'm not on class this year but the site is still available for use if you would like to check it out. There is a permanent link to the Junior Crew Book Shelf in the right margin of this blog or you can find the sites by clicking here or on the picture above.

Thanks for the email, Kathy and good luck with your reading centres project.

What happened to the Priory Woods Website?

Hi Everyone,
The Priory Woods website has a new look. I was a huge fan of the old Special School site's cause and effect programs and was disappointed to see, that due to legal issues, many of my favourites are missing from the new line up. The new site is still in the process of being built but the pre-build teasers look very interesting. Click on the picture to check out their program resources to play online or download.

Into the Book

Hi Everyone,
I spend a lot of time talking to teachers about how to assist students in developing reading comprehension skills. I am also a big fan of providing kids who need extra support, with the opportunity to work independently . This morning I was visiting the Tips Tools and Technology for Today blog and found this sensational reading comprehension program - Into the Book.
The program is a free, highly interactive, multi-media package which focuses on these eight learning strategies:

•Using prior knowledge
•Making connections
•Questioning
•Visualizing
•Inferring
•Summarizing
•Evaluating
•Synthesizing

I can see this program being put to great use in Grade 3 + classrooms and can't wait to see it in action with the kids I am currently supporting in inclusive classroom settings.

Individual Learning Plans Dr. Seuss Style

ILPs Dr. Seuss Style
(author unknown)


Do you like these ILPs?
I do not like these ILPs
I do not like them, Geez Louise
We test, we check
We plan, we meet
But nothing ever seems complete.

Would you, could you
like the form?

I do not like the form I see
Not page 1, not 2, not 3
Another change
A brand new box
I think we all
Have lost our rocks.

Could you all meet here or there?

We could not all meet here or there.
We cannot all fit anywhere!
Not in a room.
Not in the hall.
There seems to be no space at all.

Would you, could you meet again?

I cannot meet again next week
No lunch, no prep
Please hear me speak.
No not at dusk. No, not at dawn
At 4 p.m. I should be gone.

Could you hear while all speak out?
Would you write the words they spout?

I could not hear, I would not write

This does not need to be a fight.
Sign here, date there,
Mark this, check that
Beware the student's ad-vo-cat(e).

You do not like them
So you say
Try again, try again!
And you may.

If you will let me be,
I will try again
You'll see.

Say!

I almost like these ILPs!
I think I'll write 6003.
And I will practice day and night
Until they say
"You've got it right!"

Telling others about Aspergers Syndrome - Kids Health Website

Hi Everyone,
This week I had the opportunity to speak to some parents of a 10 year old student with a brand new diagnosis of Aspergers Syndrome. The couple shared that the Kids Health website was helpful in explaining the diagnosis to their child's brothers, sisters, cousins friends and classmates.
Of course, I had a look and discovered that it is also a terrific site to explain all sorts of health and well being issues to kids. Definitely worth checking out for yourself.

90 Ways to help Students with ADHD - Darren Tagliarini

Hi Everyone,
I was just visiting 'The Behaviour Guy' website which is maintained by Darren Tagliarini, a psychologist specialising in challenging behaviour. The site is amazing. It is full of resources which are in line with evidence based research, to read and download.
One of the things that caught my eye today, was this nifty brochure of 90 Ways to Help Students with ADHD. It is definitely going to be part of my travelling resource pack as so many of the children I support in schools have a dual diagnosis of autism and ADHD.
The thought that goes through my mind so often when I am recommending resources for students with special and additional needs, is that if they are implemented as whole class structures and embedded in regular teaching practice, they are common sense strategies that will assist all students. That is what inclusive education is all about!
Here is a direct link to the brochure

Life with Autism - A Student Perspective

Open publication - Free publishing - More 09

Click on the book to read it in full screen mode.

Tots & Tech - Early Years Resource

Hi Everyone,
I have been spending a lot of time this morning checking out resources on Tots and Tech . I am going to spend the next 20 minutes emailing the URL to every Early Years professional I know.
This terrific site contains loads of very practical ideas to help students with disabilities engage in functional and play activities at home and alongside their peers in Early Years settings. The 'Ideas to Share' section is amazing!
I wish I knew about this site when I was teaching in an Early Years Classroom but I am so glad that I am in a position of being able to share the site with others. Check it out. It will be well worth your time and effort.

ZuiTube - For Calming and Learning

Hi Everyone,

I use video footage a great deal in my teaching as most of the students that I work with are visual learners.

The ZuiTube website is like a gigantic, well organised filing cabinet of student friendly material, covering a massive range of topics.

I go to ZuiTube to find material on every topic that I teach as well as for visuals based on students' special areas of interest. I can use the footage as motivators or rewards for working hard, as a calming activity when anxiety levels are escalating or after a meltdown to help a student regain equilibrium.

Check it out for yourself.

Inclusion is a Whole School Approach - Which character do you identify with?

This video is not about inclusion.

It is about people and their response to change.

A school staff is made up of all of the characters in this short video.

I would like to think, that most of the time, I am the person who serves as a bridge that supports others in their journey across the divide between past and future.

Some days though, I'm not. Some days I am the pessimistic, frustrated one or part of the crowd following an inspirational leader in the field.

It's okay to change roles, as long as I don't get caught up with the defeatist crowd.

Have a look for yourself and decide which character best illustrates your stage of the journey at the moment.

Thanks very much to Damien Keel, for introducing me to the video.

Whiz Kid Games - Swinburne University

Hi Everyone,
It's a week for great tips. My colleague Jessie, sent me the link to this terrific life skill focused website, for Early Years and younger students with an intellectual disability. I have had a lovely time playing ( whoops - learning) on this site this afternoon.
Thanks, Jesse : - )

Cooking for Engineers - Easy Visual Recipes

Hi Everyone,

My friend, Angela put me on to this fantastic website today. It's a cooking site! Move over Master Chef - here comes the 'Cooking Engineers'! I know that I will use this site regularly with older students I work with. The recipes are beautifully, visually represented with photographs and presented in a step by step, easy to read manner. Check out that egg! All of the images on this site are like that!

Click on the printer friendly version for a visually, clutter free look.

Now, what am I going to cook first?

Edutopia Webinar - Dr Judy Willis - Neuroscientist & Educator

H Everyone,

This one of my all time favourite Webinars. I regularly use snippets of it, when speaking to groups of teachers about inclusive educational practices and how to work with students with challenging behaviours, learning difficulties and disabilities.It helps teachers to understand, that many of the behaviours seen in children deemed as 'weak choices' are actually unconscious reactive brain activity.

It saddens me that so many students have been labelled as being 'weak in character' when the problem is neurologically based and the solution is about changing the environments in which they are struggling to learn.

This webinar has the power to change the practices of even the most rigid thinking teachers. Of course, first you have to convince them that it is worth while spending an hour of their time to watch it : - )

If you have enjoyed this video, you may like to check out the Edutopia Channel at Youtube. Visit the Edutopia website for a full range of multimedia resources and the support materials to all of their webinars.

Leadership Lessons from a Dancing Guy

I am a teaching and learning Coach in schools, working alongside teachers with students on the autism spectrum.
Over the past 30 years we have moved from a system that favoured institutionalising people on the spectrum, to including all people with a disability in mainstream life.
I think that is amazing!
Not all of the teachers I work with agree with me.
My 18 year old son, a veteran of dinner table conversations regarding the frustrations of my day, sent me a link to this fantastic video which made me laugh and motivated me to keep forging ahead.
Thanks so much to every first follower in every school I have ever visited.

ABC News - On Call + Autism

I have spent the afternoon watching videos and scanning the diverse and excellent range of quality resources on the ABC News On call + Autism website. It is a multi media feast, for people hungry for reliable information about autism spectrum disorders. I plan to share some of the short video sequences with parents and colleagues during the week. Check it out for yourself by clicking on the picture above or any of the hyperlinks.

Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome - Newsons Syndrome

I have been getting lots of email requests for information about Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome, otherwise known as Newsons Syndrome.

Here is how the PDA Contact Group explain the condition.

'Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome is a pervasive developmental disorder related to, but significantly different from, autism and Asperger syndrome. First identified as a separate syndrome at the University of Nottingham, research has continued at the Elizabeth Newson Centre. Children with PDA would previously have been diagnosed as having 'non-typical autism/Asperger' or 'pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified'; but it is important to diagnose them separately since they do not respond well to the educational and treatment methods that are helpful with autistic and Asperger children, and since appropriate guidelines for education and handling have been produced by the Elizabeth Newson Centre specifically for children with PDA.'

If you would like more information about PDA, follow the hyperlinks or click on the picture to visit the PDA Contact Group website.

Inclusive Practice in Mainstream Schools

Hi Everyone,
I am building up quite a collection of quality online resources, to support mainstream teachers develop inclusive practices. You will find them in the blue, professional readings section in right margin of the blog.
In my role as an Autism Teaching and learning Coach, I find myself working with teachers at all stages of the 'inclusive education' journey. Some teachers come on board quickly, while others require a lot more encouragement. Many are coping well, while others find it an emotional and physically exhausting journey - the inspiration for yesterday's post.
Thankfully now that we are in Term 3, all of the teachers agree that the effort to modify curriculum and teaching practices is worth it.
This morning I was sorting through some photographs, taken while visiting schools, and this one caught my eye. Neither of the children in this picture have an autism spectrum disorder or any kind of learning disability. Their teacher uses BoardMaker, to support the learning of all of the children in her class, as an inclusive strategy.
In this picture, the BoardMaker cards are acting as role cards. One child is listening and the other is reading, according to the visual prompt they have in front of them. When they have finished they will swap roles.
There is a student with autism in the classroom . He is able to independently read with his typically developing classmates every day because he understands the process. It is the same for everyone.
Love your work, Jenny ; - )

Teachers and Paraprofessionals - You are Important !

I am important.....
"...I am the decisive element in the classroom. My personal approach creates the climate. My daily mood makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt, or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or de-humanized."
~~Haim Ginott~~

Visual Supports for Students with Autism - Visual Timer

Hi Everyone,
Here is my first go at making a video using the Microsoft Movie Maker program. It was good to remember what it feels like to be working outside of my comfort zone. As parents and teachers, we ask children to do that all the time without giving it a second thought.

If you would like a copy of any of the templates I used, send me an email and I will be happy to forward them on to you. You will find my email address in the right margin of the blog.

I have been busy adding lots of free visual downloads sites to the links area in the right margin too!Check them out while you are here.
: - )

Communication Therapy Blog

Hi Everyone,
I have just visited the Communication Therapy blog and read a terrific post about the function of repetitive questions. Why don't you check it out for yourself. The site is a treasure trove of practical information and advice for teachers and parents.

Videojug - Get good at life!

Playground Games:
How To Play Duck Duck Goose
Hi Everyone,
I have spent the morning looking at loads of instructional videos for children on the Videojug website. The site is terrific for visual learners as it demonstrates a task or game in an easy to follow, step by step manner, using simple and clear language. I am particularly taken with the playground games section. This will be a wonderful tool for me to use, to pre-teach commonly played games to students on the autism spectrum, before they hit the playground.
It is a brilliant reource to use when teaching the procedure text type across learning domains in both special education and inclusive settings !
Take a look for yourself.

Let's Cook - Life Skills for Kids on the Autism Spectrum

Let's Cook - Life Skills for Kids on the Autism Spectrum, uses multimedia (videos, slides, images and text) to demonstrate how parents and teachers can help kids with autism build functional skills through enjoyable, everyday activities such as cooking. Here, Wyatt learns to make waffles. This activity incorporates skills such as measuring, counting, shapes, simple addition and subtraction. Visit the site, by clicking on the hyperlink, to see related slides, downloadable companion materials and other recipes.

Personal Space

Pelican Talk - Speech Pathology Site

Hi Everyone,
I have been busily downloading the free autism articles and visuals that are available at the Pelican Talk website.

I have made a communication themed PowerPoint, for Middle Years students, using the turn taking and eye contact visuals that you will find as free downloads in the Autism tab . It really didn't require much effort on my part as the comic strip style visuals speak for themselves!

There are loads of other free, speech and language resources available on the site, hidden behind the other tabs.

This is a terrific site to explore if you are part of a multidisciplinary team, supporting a student with Helping Children with Autism Funding.

Check out the site for yourself by clicking on the pictures above.

Helping Children with Autism from Lia at Autism Victoria on Vimeo.

Aven's Corner - Games for Children with Autism

Hi Everyone,

I have just spent a good hour and a half exploring the Aven's Corner website.

The site was created by the parent of a child with an autism spectrum disorder. In his own words:

'All of the free kids games at Aven’s Corner are developed with young children with autism in mind, but they appeal to all children because of their simplicity. We have also included fun online kids activities for parents and teachers to do with their children. We hope that our site is beneficial to your child and you have a great time at Aven's Corner!'

I love this simple tooth brushing game .
Oh, I wish I was on class this week.
I will just have to find some children to play with !
Click on the picture or the hyperlinks to explore for yourself.

The Hidden Curriculum

Hi again,

My last post got me thinking about the book ' The Hidden Curriculum - Practical Solutions for Understanding Unstated Rules in Social Situations'. This is one of my favourite books to show teachers when I visit schools because it demonstrates so beautifully how explicit we need to be in teaching social skills to students on the autism spectrum. If you decide to visit the Book Depository website, buy this book too !

Just for the record, the Book Depository do not pay me or give me free books to advertise their website . I was recently introduced to a teacher in a new school. His response was ' I know who you are ! You are that teacher who writes her every waking thought on the internet !'

We both laughed.

My theory is that if you are on to good thing you should share it !

:-)

Asperger's and Girls

Hi Everyone,

It was a 'curl up with a good book day' today. I have spent my Saturday reading 'Asperger's and Girls' which features the writings and understandings of 7 well known autism authors including Tony Attwood and Temple Grandin.

As an autism teaching and learning coach, I spend most of my time working with boys. It was great to read a book that was exclusively dedicated to understanding and catering for the needs of girls with Asperger's Syndrome. For me, the take away message was that it is important to teach our girls the hidden curriculum involved in relationships. I wonder what knew knowledge you will take away from the text?

I read a borrowed copy ( thanks Bambi) but you can get yours at a very reasonable price from the Book Depository website. I order most of my books from there. This UK company delivers very well priced books all over the world and as an Australian, I have never had to wait longer than 10 days before my books have arrived . Better still there is no delivery charge!

Click on the cover of the book to read a full description of the text and order yours for $21.40 from the Book Depository website.

SERU - Special Education Expo Adelaide - South Australia

Hi Everyone,
The South Australian Special Education Expo is on again !
Saturday 3 July 2010 and Monday 5 to Wednesday 7 July 2010 at the Education Development Centre - Hindmarsh. Click on the picture above to download forms in PDF format.
Program Summary
Workshop Descriptors
Registration Forms.
Scroll down to the bottom of the page to view some amazing flash recordings of workshops from previous years. Make sure you have plenty of time to look at these resources because you will find it difficult to tear yourself away.

Just for Julie in Townsville - My favourite Video Links

Hi Everyone,
I have been a bit neglectful of my blog of late because I have been developing a set of regional Nings, to support professionals working with students on the autism spectrum, in the Hume Region in Victoria.
I have had a special request, from Julie Wallace, to duplicate my video links to my blog so that parents and paraprofessionals can access them too.
So, check out the ever increasing list of video links that will appear in the right margin of the blog below my autism links section.
Thanks for getting in touch Julie :-)

Association for Children with a Disability

Hi Everyone,
I have spent the morning reading and watching videos on the Association for Children with a Disability website.
The site contains all the information that parents and teachers in Victoria need, to ensure that children with a disability in mainstream schools get a fair go.
Much of my time, in my role as an ASD teaching and learning coach, is spent ensuring that teachers have access to quality, best practice information about how to develop inclusive practices in schools. This site provides links to all of the major documents which inform our provision and planning for students with a disability and contains some fantastic video footage that examines the issues from a range of perspectives.
Click on any of the blue hyperlinks or the picture to take a look for yourself.

If,

as a teacher,

• I present the same lessons in the same manner that I have used in the past;
• I seek no feedback from my students;
• I do not analyse and evaluate their work in a manner that changes my own emphasis, repertoire, and timing;
• I do not visit or observe other adults as they teach;
• I do not share the share the work of my students with colleagues for feedback, suggestions and critiques;
• I do not visit other schools or attend particular workshops or seminars or read professional literature on aspects of my teaching;
• I do not welcome visitors with experience and expertise to observe and provide feedback to me on my classroom practice;
• I have no yearly individualised professional development plan focused on classroom changes to improve student learning;and finally,
• I have no systemic evaluation of my teaching tied to individual, grade/department and school wide goals,

Then

I have absolutely no way to

become better as a teacher.

Toilet Training Support for Students with ASD & ID

Hi Everyone,
The Act - Now (Autism Consultation & Training Now) website is a great place to go to find evidence based information on how to teach children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) .
I have just been chatting to a colleague about how to toilet train a student with ASD and co-morbid intellectual disability (ID). The ACT- Now site has a terrific fact sheet download on the topic, that I have found to be very useful to refer to when working with children in my own practice.
Another very useful resource is the booklet '1 Step at a Time - A parents guide to toilet skills for children with special needs. This resource has been produced by the Victorian Continence Resource Centre and can be downloaded from their site.

Thinking in Pictures - Temple Grandin

Hi Everyone,

Last week I read Temple Grandin's book 'Thinking in Pictures -And Other Reports from My Life with Autism. Today I found a video that sums up the book beautifully if you are a non reader. Just brilliant!
Enjoy :)

Freaks, Geeks and Aspergers Syndrome - Luke Jackson

Hi Everyone,

I have spent the past 2 days reading Freaks, Geeks and Aperger Syndrome- A User's Guide to Adolescence by Luke Jackson. It is a sensitive , intelligent and witty first hand account of what it is like to navigate through the world with an Aspergers mind.

It will be on my highly recommended list of books for parents to give to their children with Aspergers Syndrome and it would be a fantastic addition to a Middle Years College reading list.

The Teacher's TV video above follows up on Luke and his family three years after the book was written. I was saddened to see that due to bullying and the lack of understanding of teachers, Luke was not able to remain in the mainstream school system which makes me all the more determined to be part of the solution to that problem !

Click on the book cover to find a world wide link to purchase the book.