Teaching any child safety skills is essential; but it is especially important for those with disabilities. Unfortunately, people and children with disabilities are more vulnerable to abuse. While studies exist that examine safety skill interventions for individuals with intellectual disabilities, few studies address the use of these interventions with children who have autism. In a…
Julie LaBerge is the mother of 14-year-old identical twins sons with autism and a typically developing 9-year-old daughter and is happily married to her husband, David. She is employed as the director of special education & pupil services as well as a school psychologist in the Bonduel School District in Bonduel, Wisconsin. She also serves…
Picture schedules are a favorite easy-to-use intervention for parents and teachers. These visual supports are easy to create, portable, durable, and easy for children to use independently. Video modeling is quickly becoming another frequently used intervention. Both strategies focus on the visual strengths of individuals with autism. In a recent article published in the journal,…
Writing can be especially hard for children with autism spectrum disorders. Their deficits in motor skills, imagination, and organization paired with literal thinking makes writing instruction feel like a daunting task. In Planning Instruction and Self-Regulation Training: Effects on Writers with Autism Spectrum Disorders researchers taught three elementary school aged boys a strategy for writing…
In His Shoes: A Short Journey Through Autism is an excellent introduction to autism and should be required reading for any middle school student participating in a peer tutoring program. Keating-Velasco introduces the reader to Nick, a 13 year old with autism, and shares how he views the world. She writes about common situations such…
Jed Baker, Ph.D. will provide the opening keynote address for OAR’s 2009 Applied Autism Research and Intervention Conference. His presentation will take place at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, October 23. In the article below, he discusses the topic of his presentation. You can also read more about him at the end of the article. During…
A professor in the Division of Applied Research and Educational Support at the University of South Florida, Glen Dunlap, Ph.D. works on research, training, and demonstration projects in the areas of positive behavior support, early intervention, and family support. Currently a member of OAR’s Scientific Council, he has been involved with individuals with disabilities for…
A member of OAR’s Scientific Council and the recipient of the 2004 Autism Society of America’s Outstanding Professional Award and the 2006 Princeton Fellowship Award, Brenda Smith Myles, Ph.D., has written numerous articles and books, including Asperger Syndrome and Difficult Moments: Practical Solutions for Tantrums, Rage, and Meltdowns (with Southwick) and Asperger Syndrome and Adolescence:…
We all know this rule: Don’t go anywhere with a stranger. But let’s say you meet a cute guy at the movies. The two of you chat for a few minutes while you’re waiting to buy popcorn. Then he asks you if you want to walk around before the movie starts. How would you react?…
Shawn A. Henry is the Executive Director at the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI). He concentrates on developing statewide change efforts in promoting advances in the training of professionals serving students with autism. Brenda Smith Myles is the Chief of Programs and Development at OCALI, an associate professor in the Department of…
