Autism Archives - Making Time for Mommy

Autism & Sensory-Friendly Family Events In The Chicago Area April 2019

April 2, 2019 by Alicia Marie

Today is World Autism Awareness Day (or Autism Acceptance Day to some though you can read why I’m sticking with “awareness” for now). As a mom of a child on the Autism Spectrum, every day is Autism Awareness Day in our home but I appreciate those that spend this month trying to learn a bit more about Autism. For those who have Autism and those who love someone who has Autism, April means more special events than normal that are created with our families in mind. I thought I’d share some fun events going on in the Chicago area this month. Some are specifically celebrating Autism Awareness Month, some happen frequently throughout the year, some are special Easter events, and some are just sensory-friendly events I thought I’d add to the list. If you know of more Autism Awareness/Acceptance or sensory-friendly events going on in Chicagoland this month please let me know!

April 6th- Zoos Go Blue at Brookfield Zoo

Throughout the day, special Zoos Go Blue activities will be taking place for families with children on the autism spectrum. The zoo has also designated a quiet break area in the Discovery Center’s Founders Room for those who might be in need of some downtime during the day.

From 11:00 a.m. to noon, the Carousel will have a “quiet hour” with its music turned off. At 1:00 p.m., families can attend a sensory-friendly Dolphins in Action presentation with welcoming remarks from Colleen Shinn, director of community outreach-Midwest and South Central Regions for Autism Speaks. In addition, guests can attend special Zoo Chats to learn about some of the animal ambassadors. These informal talks take place at 11:00 a.m. in the Bramsen Animal Ambassador Pavilion and at 2:00 p.m. at Hamill Family Play Zoo.

The zoo also has several “care kits” that can be checked out on a first-come, first-served basis by families that include noise-reducing headphones, hard copies of visual schedules, autism stickers, and ID bracelets in case a child gets separated from his or her family. In addition, to help families prepare for their visit, several adaptive tools may be downloaded from the zoo’s website at BrookfieldZoo.org/Accessibility. These tools include a visual schedule and a story about the zoo’s Living Coast exhibit that, through illustrations and written descriptions, can help prepare a child for what he or she will see and may feel during their visit.

April 6th- Play Well Day at LegoLand in Schaumburg

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago is teaming up with AUTISM SPEAK^TM to provide a brand new sensory friendly LEGO experience! Events occur the first Saturday of every month from 8:30am – 10:00am!

Special accommodations will be made during Play Well Days including:

Reduction of sound and light levels
Quiet spaces
A reduced center capacity
Staff trained by Autism Speaks
Discounted admission pricing

Reserve your tickets here.

April 6th- Special Needs Screening of Dumbo at Studio Movie Grill in Chicago & Wheaton

Special Needs Screenings are shown with the lights up and the volume lowered and children are free to move around, talk, or even dance in the aisles during the movie. The sensory friendly screenings are free for children with special needs and their siblings (parental guidance is always suggested). Adult tickets are available at before-noon price. Special Needs Screenings are shown at 11:00am at all SMG locations except EpiCentre.

Get more details here.

April 7th & 14th- Sensory-Friendly Bunny at Various Locations

All families with children with autism and other special needs can enjoy the time-honored tradition of a visit with The Bunny, in a more subdued and calm environment. While visits with The Bunny are free, cherished photo memories will be available for purchase at each sensory-friendly event.

Reservations are limited. Please RSVP to reserve your spot today! Find a list of locations and learn how to register here.

April 13th- PossAbilities Easter Egg Hunt at Calvary Church in Orland Park

At the Easter Celebration egg hunt Calvary leaders want all children to have an enjoyable time. They will have a reserved area for children with special needs, such as sensory or mobility. This space will be away from the crowds and wheelchair accessible. Please register your child by emailing [email protected].

April 13th- Play For All Autism Awareness Celebration at the Chicago Children’s Museum

Join Chicago Children’s Museum and Autism Speaks as they celebrate World Autism Month! This autism-friendly event is a celebration for families affected by autism and will include sensory activities, quiet spaces, and a resource fair.

Free admission will be given to the first 250 children and families with disabilities who register!
For more information, visit: https://bit.ly/2u2PTzZ

April 14th- Special Needs Easter Eggstravaganza in Geneva

Special Needs Easter Eggstravaganza: Experience Easter together!

-For families with children with special needs and their siblings
-Families will travel together on a sensory friendly scavenger hunt to find candy and toy-filled eggs!
-Participate in an interactive experience showing the miracle of Easter.
-The event is FREE and there is NO REGISTRATION required.
-There will be drawings for lots of great prizes!

Get more details here.

April 19th- Bunny Bash in Oswego

Join us for this years Bunny Bash 2019!! This year it will be held at our new Oswego Location! There will be a bounce house, balloon artist, crafts, games and more! Maybe even the Easter bunny will make an apperance! (While this does not state that it’s an Autism/Sensory event it’s hosted by a company that provides ABA therapists.)

April 27th- WE CAN Carnival – Autism Awareness Month in Chicago

Come and join us for the carnival that celebrates the amazing abilities of children in this wonderous event filled with fun and activities! There will be numerous carnival games and prizes, face painting, popcorn, bouncy houses, and the city of Chicago firetrucks and police cars!

This is a FREE event to the autism community! Registration is required, RSVP by 4/24/19: http://bit.ly/2TBDmBQ

April 28th- Sky Zone Cares Sensory Event in Joliet

Enjoy the freedom of jumping. Sensory hours provide a quieter and relaxed jumping experience. Just a chance to jump and smile and know that SKY ZONE CARES!

Modified safety Measures
Less crowded environment
Added staff to support all needs of all jumpers
Light and sound reduction

Get more details here.

April 28th- Friendship Playdate at Kidville Lincoln Park in Chicago

Children of all ages and abilities can enjoy arts & crafts, sensory gym, and snacks!

This event is free! Please register through the link: bit.ly/TNPnKidville

Looking ahead to events in May that you can register for now (things sell out quickly!)

May 4th & May 11th- Variety at Play Fantasy Amusement Carnival in Aurora

Your child with a disability and family are cordially invited to join Variety the Children’s Charity of Illinois, the Fox Valley Special Recreation Association and the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association for a private carnival event. The carnival will be closed to the general public during these times allowing families with children with any disability extra time to safely enter and exit rides which will be run at slower speeds when possible and for shorter duration if requested. Complimentary ride wristbands, popcorn and cotton candy will be provided along with one game prize per child.

Thank you to Fantasy Amusements for providing this event FREE for families of children with disabilities, their parents/caretakers and siblings. Limit 6 free tickets and 1 date reserved per family. Register here.

May 5th- Low-Sensory Mornings at MSI in Chicago

Low-Sensory Mornings are a series of events dedicated to providing sensory-friendly time with Museum exhibits.

On select dates throughout the year from 9:30 a.m. – noon, MSI’s exhibits will be altered, including lower exhibit volume, dimmer lights and limited crowding. On these days we’ll offer additional accommodations including a designated quiet room offering sensory toys, water and a space to relax. You can also check out noise-reducing headphones and weighted vests for free from Guests Services in the Entry Hall.

Get more details here.

May 6th- Calm Waters at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago

Calm Waters is an exclusive event for guests with disabilities to explore Shedd Aquarium’s exhibits and experiences in a comfortable and accepting environment. Modifications for this event will include limited capacity and streamlined entry with advance registration.

Family members and companions are welcome. This event is $24.95 (free for members).

You can learn more about Calm Waters here: https://www.sheddaquarium.org/plan-a-visit/visitor-guide/Experiences/calm-waters/

May 18th- Sensory Saturday at the Field Museum in Chicago

This event welcomes families and children with disabilities as well as with sensory processing needs. Siblings, family members, and caregivers are also welcome.

Sensory Saturday is free with museum admission and advance registration, but space is limited to 40 guests so that families can enjoy a crowd-free space. To register, please email [email protected].

The Crown Family PlayLab is geared toward young children, but you’ll find many opportunities for children of all ages and abilities to learn and create through hands-on exploration with tactile opportunities and sensory tools.

Get more details here.

Get my free sensory-friendly Chicago guide for more sensory-friendly fun in Chicago! (This is a work in progress as I’m still adding places!)

To add an event to this list you can email me at: [email protected]. All events MUST be family-friendly and must be for families who have loved ones with Autism or other sensory needs :)

Filed Under: Autism, Chicago, Special Needs Tagged With: Autism, Chicago, special needs

Autism And The Special Olympics: Our Family’s Journey

March 14, 2019 by Alicia Marie

It took a while to find the perfect sport for Lucas to participate in. He tried football but would meltdown every time the team intercepted the ball because, no matter how many times we explained the rules, he was convinced they were cheating by taking the ball. Soccer games were spent running around the edges of the field, not even paying attention to the ball’s location. He tried karate as well but the rigid rules just weren’t a fit with Luke’s personality and trying to do the step-by-step katas that other kids were seeming to master so easily just frustrated him. His brain just couldn’t remind his body of the steps fast enough for him to perform the sequence of steps he needed to do.

Eventually we found a few things that he could participate in that were perfect for him. He joined a boy’s hip-hop class (with an inclusion aide) where they slowly worked on one recital piece for most of the year and then spent the rest of the time learning dance moves that they were encouraged to be creative with. Luke joined a baseball team made for kids like him who can’t otherwise play baseball on a team and there are a lot of volunteers and parents on the field with the kids to help. He also discovered a love of gymnastics, which is more of an individual sport with teammates to cheer you on and involves the movement his body so desperately craves.

We originally tried gymnastics at the park district (with an inclusion aide) but they spent most of the time every week waiting in a line to do somersaults and cartwheels. Lucas got bored easily and the waiting was difficult which led to behavior issues but we stuck it out because he loved the sport so much. When I learned about a Special Olympics gymnastics program that was starting up at a local gymnastics place I quickly signed him up.

For years I wasn’t sure if Lucas was allowed to participate in Special Olympics because I didn’t know if Autism “qualified” but it turns out it’s based on the child and not necessarily any specific diagnosis. When Lucas first started on his Special Olympics team I searched online to learn more about what participating as a child who has Autism was like and there was nothing so that’s why I wanted to share a bit about my son’s experience and what I’ve observed.

This is Luke’s second year participating in the Special Olympics. Last year he went to Regionals and the State competition and this year he participated in Regionals and will be headed to the State competition again over the summer for the Illinois Special Olympics “Summer Games”. He competed in only two events last year but this year is competing in all six events available for male gymnasts.

The competitions we have been to are in large areas which may be hard if your child has any sensory processing difficulties. Lucas has SPD but is a seeker so he has no problem with large crowds, bright lights, or loud noises but those that are avoiders may find the competition atmosphere overwhelming. It did seem like our local organization tried to help this situation by splitting the Regionals into AM and PM sessions so all the participants weren’t in the gym at the same time. I think some may benefit from competing just in front of a small group without all the other participants and observers around but it didn’t seem like any of those accomodations were made (which could be because nobody requested them or because that wasn’t an option- I’m not sure.)

I was a bundle of nerves the first competition he went to. Parents are not allowed on the gym floor during competition so I wouldn’t be near him if he needed me. Knowing that he typically melts down when he makes a mistake and with a crowd of people watching my biggest fear is that he would mess up, start yelling, and take off running. Sure enough it happened. He did the wrong jump during the vault event, realized it as soon as he landed, and ran out of the gym. Thankfully he has an awesome coach and staff that are wonderful with him and had learned, by that point in his first year, how to de-escalate the situation by helping him calm down. By the time I got from the upstairs viewing area and found them he had calmed down a bit but by the time he was ready to go back in his group had moved on to another event and he couldn’t do his second jump. I was dissapointed because that seems like something that should be allowed for those that need it. I understand the need to move on when there are a lot of participants that need to have a turn but letting the child go back later to finish the event should be an accomodation that is easy enough to make.

I discovered that, in Special Olympics, all participants get some kind of reward. They have gold, silver, and bronze medals for the three who receive the highest scores in each event but then everyone else receives ribbons. Losing can be extremely difficult for those on the Autism Spectrum so it’s nice that everyone who participates feels like a winner. Some may not like this practice of participation awards but, in this instance especially, I think it’s important for these athletes to be encouraged and rewarded. They may not have won but they put in a lot of hard work!

At this year’s Regionals event Lucas won 3 Gold and 4 Silver medals. You only need to receive one Gold medal in any event to move on to the State competion where you can then compete in everything (even if you didn’t receive a Gold medal in that event.) He is very excited and very proud of his medals. Just look at that bling!

Overall, our experience with Special Olympics Illinois has been wonderful. I wasn’t sure what to expect but it’s been great for Lucas to be a part of. He has developed skill-wise, enjoyed being part of a team, and gained a lot of self-confidence. I’d love to connect with others who have loved ones that are interested in participating in the Special Olympics and am happy to answer questions you may have. You can chat with me on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

Interested in getting your child involved in sports? Check out my guide to help you figure out what sport would be a good fit for them based on their personality, interests, and natural skills! My boys have benefited greatly from participating in sports (which you can read about more here.)

Filed Under: Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder, Special Needs, Sports Tagged With: Special Olympics, Sports

How To Help Your Child With Special Needs Develop Play Skills

October 10, 2018 by Alicia Marie

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PlayWithPlaymobil #CollectiveBias

Did you know that play doesn’t come naturally for all children? Some children, especially those with developmental disabilities and specifically those on the Autism Spectrum, may find play challenging (especially pretend play). In fact, one of the early Autism signs that Lucas showed at the age of 2 was his lack of play skills. When he was younger, he typically just gathered toys in piles or lined them up. His skills have developed some but still his play time often consists of him acting out stories he has heard or seen other kids (or his favorite video creators) play. Not much of his playtime is filled with creative play ideas that he has thought of and developed himself but his ability to play using different play patterns has greatly improved over the years.

Lucas went through years of developmental therapy where he would sit with a trained therapist and play while he worked on his other skills like motor skills, language skills, and social-emotional skills. Even though he worked on play skills at therapy, I still feel like as a parent, a large part of my job in those early years was modeling play and showing Lucas how to play, both with toys and with other children. I wanted to share some tips from my experiences over the years for any other parents that might have children who need to be taught how to play.

(Hover over the image above to get more information about the PLAYMOBIL toys shown and to purchase at Walmart!)

First, providing skill level-appropriate toys is a must and just as important (if not more important) than making sure toys are age appropriate because many children on the Autism Spectrum have younger interests. I love toys that kids can practice a variety of play skills with, from functional play to imaginative play and cognitive play to emotional-social play. Toys like PLAYMOBIL that feature iconic, realistic characters children have seen before (like the sets that feature community helpers) are wonderful because they can “drive” the vehicles around, mimic things they’ve seen firefighters and school bus drivers do before, portray a character’s emotions while playing, and (hopefully eventually) make up all kinds of stories with the character toys and their props and playsets. My kids love their PLAYMOBIL Take Along Police Station, Rescue Ambulance, and Rescue Ladder Unit. These toys are made to last and I love all of the details that go into each set!

PLAYMOBIL toys are classics but they are new on Walmart’s shelves so I was happy to find a great assortment of sets there and you are sure to find something that will interest your child. We ended up purchasing three different sets but there are a lot more on our wish list. Personally, I thought the fantastical dinosaur ones were pretty cool while Jacob had his eye on the Police Cruiser and Lucas wants to add the school bus to their collection.

Second, show your child how to play with their toys in the most basic ways. If your child typically just gathers or lines toys up, they most likely do not know what to do with the toys. Pick up a play phone and pretend to talk on it or roll a play vehicle back and forth and make sounds the vehicle makes (or press buttons on toys like these to start siren noises).

Third, play with your child! I would often role play different situations with the toy characters and talk out loud about what I was doing as I “played” so not only was Lucas seeing the toys being played with in different ways but he also heard my train of thought while playing.

Fourth, try out different environments during playtime. I love taking toys outdoors on nice days (and I’ve been thankful for these last couple of 80 degree October days here in Chicago!). You can also head to a local park or playground or even play in your sandbox if your child doesn’t have an aversion to the mess. This will help them transfer their play skills to different environments easier so they can take skills from their home to the classroom or a friend’s house.

Fifth, schedule a short playdate with another child who they know and stay nearby to help your child navigate through difficulties that may arise. While children may not play with the other child, having another child there provides the opportunity for social play should your child choose to engage in it. Even just one or two social interactions at the playdate, like practice sharing or taking turns, is beneficial when learning cooperative play skills.

Lastly, don’t give up! Teaching our kids to play can be challenging sometimes because they may not show interest or it may be difficult to break their repetetive actions as you try to teach them something new but keep at it. I know it can seem like there is a list of skills a mile long you are working on and it can be overwhelming but learning play skills is an important part of childhood and something many children with developmental delays or who are on the Autism Spectrum can learn with practice.

I hope these ideas have helped! What other tips do you have for helping children with special needs learn how to play? I’d love for you to share them with me on social so I can pass them on to my readers! Find me on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. You can also find more fun play inspiration here!

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Filed Under: Autism, Parenting, Special Needs Tagged With: Autism, play, special needs

Helping Children Who Have Developmental Disabilities Learn How To Play

February 20, 2018 by Alicia Marie 8 Comments

Thanks to Hasbro for sponsoring this post and creating this amazing resource for families.

The importance of play is something I feel passionately about, and something I’ve written about numerous times before here on the blog. Play helps children develop a number of skills such as learning to cope with their emotions, learning to share, and developing their communication skills. As important as play is though, and as simple as it might seem to some, play is not something that comes naturally to all children. Some children, especially those with developmental disabilities and specifically those on the Autism Spectrum, may find play challenging.

I remember when Lucas was younger his “play” time consisted of gathering toys or lining them up. There was no playing, and that was one of the red flags that the developmental pediatrician noticed when evaluating him before diagnosing him with Autism at the age of two and a half. Still to this day, even though his social skills have developed and he no longer spends his time lining things up, he doesn’t really “play”. He still loves to gather toys and sometimes he participates in what looks like imaginative play but, in reality, the majority of his “play” is just acting out things he has seen other kids do or things he has seen on television or YouTube.

While some children may always have trouble with this skill, many just need a bit of help learning how to play. For children with developmental disabilities, play isn’t always accessible out of the box. More often, countless toys are relegated to the back of the closet or the donation bin. Even more importantly, the joy and benefits that play can bring — the connection to peers, siblings and other generations — may be lost. Hasbro saw this happening and wanted to help so they created ToyBox Tools in collaboration with The Autism Project, to help make play more accessible to children with developmental disabilities. ToyBox Tools is a collection of resources for parents, teachers, and caregivers to help them engage children in the joy of play using some beloved Hasbro brands, including My Little Pony, Transformers, Playskool, Baby Alive, and Hasbro Gaming.

Through the ToyBox Tools website, visitors can browse the tools online, and then download and print them for use at home or in the classroom. The tools help with three different levels of play, from basic play to expanding play to social play. The tools encourage positive behavior during (or through) playtime. Resources include:

Playbooks with step-by-step instructions on how to play with select Hasbro toys and games
Wait cards to teach children the skill of waiting while others are taking a turn
Countdown timers to help support the passage of time and number of turns
Playmats that serve as a fun and useful backdrops for play
First/then boards and sequencing cards that help children with multi-step tasks
Break cards children can use to indicate that they need a break during playtime

I really love this resource that Hasbro and The Autism Project have created and it’s one that I wish had existed when Lucas was younger. These supportive play tools provide a kind of structure that is critical to the way certain children manipulate concepts to understand play and the instructional videos, printable materials and play-mats are designed to help families, caregivers and teachers unlock the power of play, and to make play more fun and enjoyable at a child’s own pace.

Hasbro toys can be purchased at HasbroToyShop.com, but the ToyBox Tools resources found at Hasbro ToyBox Tools are free for parents to download and use.

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Filed Under: Autism, Special Needs, Toys Tagged With: Autism, Hasbro, play, special needs

An Awesome Program For Special Needs Families

January 9, 2018 by Alicia Marie 16 Comments

Thanks to ABLEnow for sponsoring this post.

In December of 2011, my youngest son, Lucas, was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. It came as no surprise to me since there were numerous red flags that had caused me to seek an Autism diagnosis in the first place, the most alarming of which was the loss of language he had acquired his first couple years of life. Those preschool years were filled with hours of research and therapies, all aimed at helping Lucas develop basic self-help, language and social skills. Now that he is in elementary school (3rd grade!!) the focus is on helping him catch up academically, develop more complex social skills and caring for his emotional and mental well-being.

I’ve also started thinking more about the future and what that will look like for him. I get asked if he will ever go to college, live on his own, and have a family and the truth is I don’t know. I hope he is able to and that is what we are working towards but, even though he is considered ‘high-functioning’, there are still many daily tasks that he needs assistance with and many other skills he has yet to master. He’s come so far in the past several years so I’m hopeful for his future but, in other ways, we’ve had new challenges and new diagnoses this past year that have made things even more difficult in some aspects. (While he struggles in so many ways though, I’m proud to share that his peers voted him on student council this year which was a huge win and really meant a lot to him because it showed him that he can achieve anything he wants to!)

Even though I can’t control the unknown future, there are some things I can do in the meantime to ensure financial-peace-of-mind. One of them is setting up an ABLEnow account for him. An ABLEnow account is a tax-advantaged savings account for eligible individuals with disabilities that we can use to pay for a variety of qualified disability expenses related to maintaining Lucas’ health, independence and quality of life. It provides a greater sense of financial independence and a reliable tool to build the best life possible.

These accounts are now possible thanks to the ABLE Act that was signed into law in December of 2014. Before the Act was passed, people with disabilities could not save for the future out of fear of losing their public benefits which is sad because people were basically being forced to stay in poverty and could never get ahead. Thanks to the ABLE Act and the new ABLEnow program (a national ABLE savings program offered by the Commonwealth of Virginia), eligible individuals can save and invest in a simple, affordable and tax-advantaged ABLEnow account without jeopardizing their eligibility for certain benefits that are critical to their health and well-being, such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). ABLEnow empowers people with disabilities to achieve more independence, greater financial security and a better quality of life.

Learn more about ABLEnow in the video below. (It’s important to note that ABLEnow, one of the country’s premier ABLE programs, is administered by the Commonwealth of Virginia, but available to eligible individuals in any U.S. state – whether your home state has an ABLE program or not.)

The ABLE National Resource Center offers a helpful comparison tool for state ABLE programs here so you can compare the programs for yourself but I feel like ABLEnow has such good advantages, like low fees and the ABLEnow debit card at no additional cost, that it’s worth looking into regardless of where you live. I also like that anyone can contribute to a loved one’s ABLEnow account. Contributions make an excellent gift for birthdays or holidays and won’t jeopardize much-needed disability benefits.

Have questions about the program that I haven’t answered? Check out ABLEnow’s FAQ section. If you want to open an account you can do so here (and good news busy moms and dads, it’s easy and quick to open and can all be managed online!)

Have you heard about the ABLE Act before? How would an ABLEnow account benefit your family member who has a disability?

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of ABLEnow.

Filed Under: Autism, Special Needs, Special Needs & Charities Tagged With: Autism, special needs

Sensory-Friendly Gift Ideas

November 26, 2017 by Alicia Marie 23 Comments

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post and includes affiliate links.

When my boys were first diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder I spent hours searching for the best items that would help them regulate their little bodies. Now years later, we’ve tried a number of things- some we’ve loved and some they didn’t really use. Today I’m sharing my favorite sensory gifts for sensory seekers.

ZURU’s Tangle

The ZURU Tangle is a fidget toy that provides sensory and motor stimulation that has been found to help stimulate and maintain attention. It’s also a great tool as a means to relieve stress and anxiety. The shape, color, texture and visual impact of Tangle stimulates the brain and makes Tangle a fun and functional toy for children and adults alike. Tangle come in a variety of colors including Classic, Crazy, Metallic, and Sparkle. You can get multiple Tangles and connect them to create longer and more colorful Tangles! For under $5, it’s an affordable and collectable toy for everyone. ZURU’s Tangle is available at Walmart and Toys “R” Us.

Doorway Gym

In our old home we had a doorway “gym” hanging in the doorway of the boy’s room. The most used piece was a hammock but our set also had a swing, rings, pull up bar and rope to climb. The set was perfect for days we were stuck inside and the hammock swing was good for restoring balance to the vestibular system and providing deep pressure (both of which help kids on the spectrum feel more in balance). I can’t recall the name of the set we had but it was similar to the one linked below on Amazon. Whichever set you choose I recommend finding one that doesn’t need to be screwed in and has multiple ways it can be used.

Lycra Tunnel

If you are looking for a sensory toy that doesn’t take up much space you’ll want to consider a lycra tunnel. These soft, resistant fabric tunnels encourages heavy work and is the perfect activity for coordination, gross motor skill development, low tone and sensory-seeking.

Mini Trampoline

If you have a child who constantly has to be moving you will want a trampoline to let them burn off energy- especially during the colder months. We had a small square one with a handle that my sister-in-law had bought but I really like this one because it’s enclosed.

Theraputty

Theraputty is great for strengthening hand muscles and improving fine motor skills. It is sold in a set of various colors, each one having a different firmness. Children can start with the softest one and switch to different colors as their hand muscles strengthen and they find the putty easier to manipulate.

HOOT for Kids Subscription Box

Children on the spectrum can have a limited range of interests and play materials, which can make it difficult to engage in purposeful play. HOOT for Kids encourages the use of sensory materials that can help children reach developmental milestones in a unique way by tailoring each toy and activity to their specific needs. HOOT for Kids’ Treasure Boxes are tailored for your child by the in-house Pediatric Occupational Therapist. Starting at just $34.99, each Treasure Box includes a personalized activity card with suggested tips for play, including instructional tips for parents on how to play with their kids utilizing each of the hand-selected toys. This subscription box is well thought out and I love that it comes with the activity card to help parents navigate playtime with their child.

Weighted Blanket or Lap Pad

Weighted products, including lap pads, have proven useful as a calming tool for individuals with sensory issues, ADD, ADHD, autism and hyperactivity. I’m linking to one that has good reviews and is affordable but you’ll want to ask your child’s therapist what weight they’d recommend since each child’s needs will vary. You can also look online for tutorials to make your own weighted blanket or lap pad.

Playfoam

We didn’t have playfoam when the boys were younger however we just recently got some of this last weekend at the Chicago Toy & Game fair and it’s great for creative tactile play! Kids can squish, squash, roll, and sculpt while molding the muscles they need to write, draw, and manipulate objects with their little hands. Best of all, playfoam has a great no-stick formula and never dries out.

What would you add to this sensory-friendly gift list?

You might also like the following posts:

Tips for navigating the holidays with a child who has special needs

15 Christmas Themed Sensory Activities

Filed Under: Autism, Christmas, Gift Ideas, Sensory Processing Disorder, Special Needs Tagged With: gift guide, Sensory, SPD

Sensory-Friendly Fun For Families At LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago

May 25, 2017 by Alicia Marie 7 Comments

As a parent of a child on the Autism Spectrum, I am so excited to share about the newest sensory-friendly event in the Chicago area for families affected by autism and other sensory sensitive disorders! LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago is teaming up with Autism Speaks, a non-profit dedicated to autism advocacy, to host Play Well Days – a series of sensory-friendly mornings of fun for all children.

Beginning this June, Chicagoland’s ultimate indoor LEGO playground will open early at 8:30 a.m. on the first Saturday of every month with activities and attractions specially-designed for children, families and groups with disabilities. Staff specially trained by Autism Speaks, as well as LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago’s Master Model Builder, will help facilitate fun throughout the Center’s 12 attractions until the center opens to the greater public at 10 a.m.

Special accommodations will be made during Play Well Days including:

Reduction of sound and light levels
Designated quiet areas
A reduced center capacity
Staff training by Autism Speaks
Special $5 Ticket price
Earplugs will be provided at request

Here’s a great video you can watch with your child to help prepare them for the event:

Admission for Play Well Days is $5 per person, and tickets are available online or at the door. You can register online for the sensory-friendly mornings here.

Filed Under: Autism, Chicago Tagged With: Autism, Chicago, LEGOLAND

Preparing For Sleepovers With A DIY Personalized Pillowcase

August 15, 2016 by Alicia Marie 20 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #RestEasySolutions #CollectiveBias

Read on to learn why we love GoodNites products and how they will help my bed wetter feel confident enough to go to sleepovers this school year! (If only his mom was as ready as he is….)

The school year brings more time with friends and with that comes invitations to birthday parties and requests for play dates and sleepovers. My kids haven’t had sleepovers with their friends yet but I know that is coming soon now that they are in 2nd and 3rd grade. Lucas would be so excited to go to a friend’s house for a sleepover but a few questions arise when thinking about this typical childhood “rite of passage”.

First of all, he’s my baby and he’s never slept over anywhere since he was a toddler so that would be hard for me. My main concern though is mostly related to his Autism and how the parents would handle that. I think I’d have to know them very well and them know him extremely well and us both know that they’d be able (and willing!) to handle his meltdowns. He’s high functioning, so many times he is just like any other 2nd grader, but sometimes he gets overwhelmed. Taking care of a child on the Autism Spectrum is a lot to ask of someone!

Another issue of concern is that he still wets the bed at night sometimes. Though 1 in 6 kids age 4-12 wet the bed once or more per week after potty training ends, I know that he is embarrassed by it. Being seven and not wanting anyone to think he’s a “baby”, I know he’d be devastated if he had a nighttime accident while at a friend’s house and woke up in wet pajamas.

While I can’t overcome the fear of the unknown “what if’s” that accompany raising a child with special needs, I figured out a solution to the whole bed wetting issue! No, I didn’t magically stop him from wetting the bed, but I did come up with a way of hiding it if he does have an accident at night while he’s at a sleepover.

We bought him more GoodNites TruFit Underwear. They look and feel like real underwear but they hold absorbent, disposable inserts that provide outstanding nighttime protection that keep sheets and pajamas dry all night long. (We’ve used these before when we go on vacation and sleep in hotel beds and we love them!)

In addition, we personalized a pillowcase he could carry to sleepovers and inside the pillowcase we created a space for him to hide his GoodNites TruFit Underwear and inserts. It was easy to do by using a zippered protective sleeve inside the pillowcase. When it’s time for bed he can just unzip the pillow protector, pull them out and put them on under his pajamas. He then is ready for bed and can go to sleep confident that he won’t wake up in wet pajamas!

Personalizing the pillowcase was easy and a fun craft for him to do with mommy!

Here is what you need:

Fabric markers
Stencils
White pillowcase
Zippered pillow protector
Pillow
Piece of cardboard (optional but recommended)

Directions to make a personalized pillowcase:

1) Decide what stencils you want to use and where you want them on the pillowcase. Lucas chose to do the letters of his name and some favorite animals.

2) Put the piece of cardboard inside the pillowcase so that the marker does not bleed through to the other side of the pillowcase

3) Set your stencil where you want it and color inside of the stencil. Repeat for as many stencils as you have.

4) Put the zippered pillow protector on your pillow and then put the decorated pillowcase over that one

Once that is done, put your GoodNites TruFit Underwear and an insert in the zippered pillow protector, zip it up and your child is ready to go to their friend’s house or Grandma’s!

There are a couple other products in the GoodNites line that are great for children who wet their bed. GoodNites Bedtime Pants are more absorbent vs the leading training pant and have 25% stretchier sides to fit and move more like underwear. GoodNites Bed Mats are also available. These disposable mats that have a waterproof backing and can be placed directly on the bed to help cut down on sheet changes. They are designed with micro-pocket technology to lock in odor.

GoodNites are the #1 night time protection brand and all of their products can be found at Walmart. While supplies last, you can save $2 on them! The coupon will be live during certain periods so keep checking back for more chances to get the coupon.

How do you prepare for sleepovers? I’d love to hear some of your tips since this is a new chapter in my parenting journey!

Filed Under: Arts and Crafts, Autism, crafts, Parenting

A Parent’s Fight For Special Education Services

June 23, 2016 by Alicia Marie 15 Comments

There are many things in life that I take for granted and, before becoming a mom, I assumed that public education for my children would be one of them. I was wrong. My children go to public school but I no longer take their education for granted and that’s because I’ve had to go through numerous fights with the school districts to get it. This is a fight that many parents of children with special needs know too well.

Lucas is on the Autism Spectrum so he is protected by a Special Education law called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) which says it is his right to receive free appropriate education (FAPE) from the school district. Appropriate education should be uniquely designed to meet his needs. The problem develops when the parent and school differ on what “appropriate” means and sadly, as I’ve learned, this doesn’t mean they need to provide the best education for him, just an adequate one that’s enough to get him from one grade to the next.

My fight for my youngest son began before his first day of school even started. Having been in the state’s early intervention program, his first day of public school was the day he turned three years old which happened to be during the district’s extended school year (also known as ESY or summer school). The school insisted he be put in their general education preschool room even though I was adamantly against it for a number of reasons. They told me they’d see how it went then we’d meet once the new school year started and if he needed to be moved to their special education classroom they’d do that (after the school year had started). I repeatedly told them I didn’t agree with that decision but in the end had no choice but to let the school put him where they wanted to put him for ESY.

His first day of school went horrible, as I had expected. The environment in that classroom became unsafe for both him and the other children. He had numerous meltdowns and had escaped the room a couple times. The staff in there was not trained to handle children with special needs. And I’ll never forget the homework he came home with that first day. My child, who had just turned 3 that day and had a speech delay, was being asked to “describe a baseball game using your five senses”. This child who spoke only a handful of words, didn’t know what baseball was and didn’t know any of his five senses, was definitely in the wrong classroom.

The teachers in the room, and finally the Principal, also ended up realizing that the general education setting was not appropriate for him but I still had to fight for weeks to have the meeting scheduled for before the school year started. They kept insisting we’d just have another meeting once the school year started and then he was would be switched to the other program. To me, it didn’t make sense to start the school year in one program and move him a week in and I believed that would be detrimental to him, causing unneeded stress and problems. They finally agreed to have the meeting before the school year started and changed his placement to a Special Education classroom.

He was put into an appropriate classroom for the school year that was specifically designed for children who had Autism. It was a small class size with numerous aides and therapists in the room at a time and ran a couple hours longer than the typical preschool day. There were picture schedules, repetition, built in therapy and everything my son needed- including a room staffed with people that understood and had experience working with children on the Autism Spectrum.

Lucas had two great years of preschool. The last year he even started taking a daily trip to the general education classroom (accompanied by an aide) to spend 15-30 minutes at a time in there, testing a new environment. Having found success in those short periods of time in the general education class, Luke’s team decided to give him a split day when he went to Kindergarten. Since our neighborhood school didn’t have an Autism specific classroom they bussed him across town, to the school that did. Though our district only had half day kindergarten, Luke would spend the whole day at school because they felt that academically and socially just a couple hours was not enough for him. He would go to AM Kindergarten in their Autism classroom, eat lunch, and then spend the second half of his day (accompanied by an aide) in the PM general education Kindergarten classroom. It was the best situation that I could have dreamed of and it was designed to give him everything he needed to learn. He’d have one on one assistance and a smaller group for some of the day but still get some time to interact with children who were higher functioning and could model language and social skills which is what he had been missing in the Autism only classroom.

A few months into the Kindergarten school year we ended up moving to a new district and I found myself fighting for his educational needs again. This was a smaller district with a smaller Special Education staff and budget. The district didn’t offer full day kindergarten and wouldn’t allow him to go to both the AM and PM sessions. They also did not offer a special education classroom or would bus him somewhere that did like the other school was doing. So they cut his school day in half, took away his time in a special education classroom, took his bus services away and reduced the amount of time he worked with therapists. They still gave him an aide to help him as he navigated the school day but I felt completely defeated. Almost everything I had fought for was gone. To make matters worse, my son went from being in the middle of his class academically, to being in the bottom one percent by the end of his Kindergarten year.

So he started off first grade extremely behind and, though I think he made huge advances during his first grade year, he is still behind. Now he’s headed into second grade next year and I’m back to fighting the school district again. This time I’m trying to get him in our district’s extended school year program (or ESY) for academics. This program helps children who have shown academic regression in the past so that they don’t fall even farther behind than they already are. Though my son has in fact shown regression previously, and was in summer school last year, I was told that this year the Special Education director of the district said he doesn’t qualify because of his test scores. My son, who is going into second grade and can’t put letter sounds together to read words, does not qualify for academic summer school because his reading test score, at the bottom 27% of his class, is not “low” enough? That reading test score of 27% was with assistance, since my son requires help taking all tests, which only makes me wonder what his test scores really would be if he had taken it himself and not had help. In my eyes he is qualified because he has previously shown regression and is behind academically so I have to call the Special Education Director and try to get her to reverse her decision by asking her to actually look at his file, his IEP, his teacher’s notes and perhaps even talk to his teachers and therapists (who all felt he would benefit).

I just wish that parents of children with special needs didn’t have to fight for Special Education services that our children need. Our children are entitled to an education that is tailored to their special needs and a placement that will allow them to make educational progress. I’m not satisfied with my child just barely making it to the next grade. Scoring in the bottom 27% on a reading test (that he had help with) and being told the school district views that as “acceptable”, when reading is the basis of almost everything else he will do in school, is not okay. I want him to have a shot at success, like every other child does, and I’m going to fight until he has an even playing field.

Have you been through a similar struggle? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

Filed Under: Autism, education, Special Education, Special Needs Tagged With: Autism, education, Special Education, special needs

10 Great Educational Products For Children On The Autism Spectrum

April 6, 2016 by Alicia Marie 2 Comments

Thanks to Lakeshore Learning for sponsoring this post.

In honor of Autism Awareness Month, I wanted to share 10 great educational products for children on the Autism Spectrum. Most of these are products I’ve used with my own boys or in a classroom setting. They also have the added benefit of being great for all kids so even siblings or classmates not on the spectrum can enjoy them!

Magna-Tiles

These are fun to build with and were a favorite in my classroom when I taught Pre-K. I love these for children on the Spectrum because they are magnetized and stick together which helps minimize frustration for children as they are trying to build. Many children stick with simple designs but kids can really use their imaginations and build something fun with these.

Good For Me Reward Kit

Sticker charts work amazingly well for Lucas and many children on the spectrum. Being able to see his progress and how far he has to go is very motivating for him and encourages him to continue good behavior and other tasks we want to see him do. A clear goal and reward planned ahead of time are ideal for these types of charts.

Following Directions Building Sets

Have a little one who has a hard time following directions? This building sets bundle is perfect for them! I like this for Lucas because he has a hard time following directions that are more than just a step or two and this will help him practice the skills he needs to work on. It also allows children to start with easy creations and then build up to more complicated ones which gives them a sense of accomplishment.

Flip & Read Sight-Word Sentences

Learning sight words is all about one thing- repetition! Every child learns things in different ways and I love this set of books to help kids practice the sight words they need to master before they can start to read. I think this is great for Lucas because he hates plain flashcards and teacher or parent directed tasks. With these he creates the sentences he needs to read which gives him just enough control of the situation to actually be willing to sit down and do this.

What Should You Do? – A Game Of Consequences

In this fun-filled game of consequences, players face everyday dilemmas that deal with topics like honesty, bullying, manners and more. As children race around the game board, they take turns deciding what they should do in each situation—moving closer to the finish line with each correct answer! For children who are still learning social skills this game is perfect!

Understanding Addition & Subtraction Using Manipulatives

Kids learn best through hands-on-learning, especially when the concepts are as abstract as mathematics. This set of manipulatives help children connect an object to a number for learning addition and subtraction.

Sensory Ball Set

This set can be used for a number of things, from playing catch and practicing hand-eye coordination to using the smaller ones as fidgets. These balls are also a great way for kids with tactile sensory issues to get used to touching different textures.

Real-Working Cash Register

Once children start learning about money this cash register is perfect for helping them practice money skills. We love setting up a little store with empty boxes and then “shopping” and paying for our items.

Kids Can! Resolve-A-Conflict

With siblings, conflicts are bound to arise so having this can of tools on hand is wonderful. Whether children decide to pick and number, draw straws or roll a dice, they learn to solve their own problems. We are really enjoying using this set and I feel that our house is much more peaceful now.

Engineer-A-Coaster Activity Kit

This fun kit lets children create a “roller coaster”. It provides hours of play as children learn to follow directions and learn from trial and error. I like that it’s large enough for two children to play at the same time so children can work together to build it (or at least side by side).

Find more toys and educational products here. What products do your children love to use to learn and practice important skills?

Filed Under: Autism, Early Childhood, Sensory Processing Disorder, Special Education, Special Needs Tagged With: Autism, Lakeshore Learning, Learning Activities

How To Host A Playdate That Includes Children With Autism

February 20, 2015 by Alicia Marie 2 Comments

What if your son comes home from school wanting to invite a new friend with autism over for a play date? Perhaps there is a new little girl with Asperger’s in your daughter’s class who could use a friend? For parents of non-autistic children, the idea of having a child on the autism spectrum over for a play date can be a little scary. But it doesn’t have to be! Cara Kosinski, long time pediatric occupational therapist, speaker, author of The Pocket Occupational Therapist Book Series, and mom to two boys with autism, has ten insightful tips for parents about what they can do to create a great playdate among children of all abilities.

(Alicia’s note: I know a list of how to host a playdate may seem a little extreme and this might seem like a lot to do to have a kid over for an hour but don’t let that scare you. Giving your child opportunities to interact with children of different abilities is a great way to raise a compassionate child and enables them to see the similarities, not differences, in their classmates. As a parent of a child with Autism, I can tell you that even if your playdate isn’t perfect, the fact that you cared enough to try means so much!)

Here are Cara’s tips:

Practice playing. It may be hard to believe, but the act of playing doesn’t come naturally to some kids. For example, children with autism often have difficulty with taking turns, having conversation, and interpreting nonverbal gestures. Practicing and explaining this to your child may help him to feel more comfortable. Together, discuss strategies that can be used to help facilitate play. What is a facial expression? Make different faces and ask your child to guess your emotion.

How do I find children with common interests? Teachers are amazingly insightful and may provide wonderful help to identify the children who tend to play together and enjoy similar interests. Volunteer in your child’s classroom to see who your child is interested in playing with. Additionally, birthday parties are great opportunities to observe those children who may be a good match for a playdate. Clubs and activities allow children with similar interests to enjoy each other’s company. My son showed an early interest in chess. I often arrived early to pick him up from chess club and to determine who showed interest in my son. The same is true for Lego club, music classes, art, or sports.

Remember that parents of children with special needs are used to answering questions about their children and are often quite comfortable discussing ways to help create successful social interactions. Also, be mindful that many families’ schedules are busy but a child with special needs may have additional appointments for therapy, medical, and developmental concerns. Be flexible in scheduling and do not be offended if the playdate needs to be re-scheduled.

Shared interests can make a playdate successful. Identify what the children have in common. Build activities upon mutual interests. So, set up Legos and build Angry Birds or Minecraft structures. If the children like the same movie, set up puzzles, art, baking, or sensory play based on the movie. Consider meeting at a location such as a park or museum. Siblings should not be a part of the playdate to allow for targeted friendship building between the two participants.

Make a plan and then review it with both children who are participating. At the beginning explain what the playdate will look like: First, we will work on a puzzle, and then a snack, etc…. Many children who have special needs benefit from a visual schedule and knowing exactly what is coming up next. ALL of us enjoy predictability and feel more confident with a specific plan in place. However, be flexible if any difficulties or disagreements arise.

Consider food allergies and sensitivities. When planning a snack contact the other child’s parent to determine which foods are safe for both children. It can be very meaningful for the other parent and is a critical step to avoiding potential life-threatening reactions to foods. Do not be offended if the children do not eat what is set out for snack. The kids may just be too excited to eat!

Be mindful of any physical limitations. For example, many children with sensory issues do not prefer to get messy, dirty or wet but they can be super at doing other things such as building or creating. It’s always a sensitive topic to talk about someone’s weaknesses, instead ask, “What is Billy great at doing?”

Provide adult supervision and support throughout the playdate. Since children of all abilities have different personalities, disagreements may arise. Consider ways to resolve conflicts such as asking both kids to take five deep breaths or closing their eyes and counting to ten. Make sure to ask the other parent which strategies are used when their child becomes stressed or upset. Preparation is a key ingredient in successful interaction when facilitating a playdate.

Begin with short playdates of an hour. Keep the first playtimes shorter until the children become more comfortable with each other. Consider having more short yet frequent play times with the same friend since relationships can take time to build. It’s important to end on a good note. So, if the children are in any type of conflict, help to facilitate a peaceful ending.

There is NO such thing as a perfect playdate! Do not put unnecessary pressure on yourself. Both typically developing kids and children with special needs are learning while practicing play and social skills. When learning a skill we all make mistakes. Our children benefit from every social interaction opportunity. Give yourself a pat on the back and enjoy watching new friendships bloom and develop.

What would you add to the list?

Filed Under: Autism, Special Needs Tagged With: Autism, Playdates, special needs

Love Is Greater Than Hate

September 26, 2014 by Alicia Marie 1 Comment

Weeks ago a story emerged in the news that caught the attention of many people, myself included. It was the tale of an ALS Ice Bucket challenge gone wrong. In Bay Village, Ohio three teens challenged one of their fellow students, a fourteen-year-old boy with Autism to take the ALS Ice bucket challenge. But instead of ice water, the teens dumped a bucket off the roof of a house filled with urine, spit and feces on the teen.

This story filled me with sadness and broke my heart to see kids doing something so cruel to a peer. The fact that this teenager has Autism gives me anxiety as I consider my own child’s future and how he will have to not only navigate life with Autism but learn how to exist with many who don’t understand him. While he will learn a lot as he grows up, I feel it’s my job as his mom to help teach him these things.

It’s also my job to try to make the world a better place for him and to prove that love is greater than hate. When I was contacted by GiveForward about working with them to promote a fundraiser for the boy and his family, I jumped at the opportunity. More so than raising money, it is a chance to show them that they are loved. The goal is to get a thousand people to leave words of encouragement! Please join us on the fundraiser page. Give if you can but whatever you do, please leave a comment filled with love.

Filed Under: Autism, Special Needs

Why I’m Still Fighting For Autism Awareness

April 2, 2014 by Alicia Marie 5 Comments

Today, April 2nd, is Autism Awareness Day which many people have changed to Autism Acceptance Day. Here are my thoughts on why I’m still fighting for Autism awareness when many seem to have abandoned that cause in exchange for acceptance….

Yesterday, one of my Facebook friends posted about Autism saying that everyone is already aware of Autism. I’ve seen comments like that before from various people about how we don’t need Autism Awareness anymore but that we need Autism Acceptance instead. I agree that we need acceptance but I think we still need to be fighting for awareness. Until we have awareness of not only Autism existing but WHAT it is, we will never get the acceptance our Autistic community deserves.

You may be thinking that people *know* what Autism is already but I completely disagree. I believe most people have heard of it but I still believe that most people do not know what it is. Wondering why I think this? Because of comments I get like this….

“Your child doesn’t LOOK Autistic.”
“Will he outgrow it?”
“How did he get it?”
“My ______ (insert random person they know) has Autism and they _____ (insert random fact that makes them think they know what they are talking about)” and then assume my child is JUST like that person they kind of know.

The truth of the matter is that EVERY person who has Autism is different. It’s a spectrum disorder so no two cases of Autism will look exactly the same though there are sometimes similarities. Some of the above questions are asked by well-meaning people because they have questions and want to know more. Only after we (the Autism community) educate them on what Autism is will the process of acceptance truly be able to start.

So today, as everyone else pushes for acceptance, I’m going to continue pushing for awareness. The newest numbers show 1 in 68 children have Autism (it was 1 in 88). Autism is not going to disappear so I encourage everyone to learn more about it and then let’s talk about acceptance and inclusion.

Filed Under: Autism Tagged With: Autism, Autism Acceptance, Autism Awareness, Autism Awareness Day

Love You To Pieces Craft

February 13, 2014 by Alicia Marie Leave a Comment

Looking for a last minute Valentine’s Day craft? Check out this adorable heart that Lucas brought home from preschool! It has added meaning to the parents of all the children in his classroom since puzzle pieces are symbolic to parents of children who are on the Autism spectrum.

Making this craft is super simple. Draw a heart on a piece of paper, glue some puzzle pieces on to the heart, and then paint it any color your child would like. What a special craft to make and give to loved ones!

Filed Under: Arts and Crafts, Autism, Valentine's Day Tagged With: heart, Heart Shaped Craft, Valentine's Day, Valentine's Day Craft

Tips For Parenting A Child With Sensory Processing Disorder

January 28, 2014 by Alicia Marie 2 Comments

Today’s guest post is from Celina Miller, a fellow special needs parent who is a passionate advocate for children affected with Autistic Spectrum Disorders.

How much sensory can my kid with Sensory Processing Disorder {SPD} take?

This is a question I’m faced with daily. My 12 year old has Asperger’s and with that comes the complex and confusing world of Sensory Processing Disorder. I never know what’s too much, or what’s not enough, sensory input for him. The other day, I’d finally convinced my son to help me clean up our playroom. As he put away toys and straightened up, I started the vacuum. Immediately, he put his hands over his ears and stood completely frozen. He was so overwhelmed he couldn’t even ask me to turn it off, nor could he leave the room. I was taken aback – this wasn’t like my high-functioning sixth grader who plays basketball and loves to dance. I knew the vacuum would bother him, but I thought he would get through it and we would move on.

So why was it that this time the vacuum completely shut him down – whereas before it didn’t? Or why is it that sometimes on the basketball court he covers his ears after the crowd roars and sometimes he’s completely unfazed? I never know how much sensory exposure he can take and so I never know how much I can expose him to – which often leaves me feeling just as uncomfortable as he is.

I feel like I’m flying by the seat of my pants when it comes to my son’s sensory issues. How can I know what he’ll react to, and when? The answer is I will never know, and the truth is he often doesn’t know as he’s still learning what works…or how he can make it work for him. If you’re a mom with a child on the spectrum or who has sensory integration dysfunction, you totally understand how I feel like the rug has been pulled out from underneath me, which is probably how my son feels when he’s overstimulated.

Here are five thoughts that help me, and may help you, get through a day in the life of the maze that is sensory integration disorder.

1. What doesn’t kill us only makes us stronger. A phrase I live by personally, but I have found it translates in the sensory world as well. I don’t avoid stimulating things. Exposing my son to different types of sensory stimuli helps him learn to cope with it and to be prepared the next time he comes across it. And while he may be bothered, it really won’t kill him. He will get over it. I never want to hinder him by what I think he may or may not be able to handle. In this world, I have to take his lead, give up control, and let him learn what works for him and what doesn’t.

2. Every day is a new day, and every day is different. I have learned that each sensory experience is interpreted differently every day. And depending on what else is going on during that experience, my son’s reaction may or may not be different. I’ve come to know that even a slight change in body temperature will make his sensory dysfunction… more dysfunctional. Just like he wakes up every day prepared for the unknown, so am I.

3. Talk about it. When I’m able to talk to my son about his sensory experience, we both understand it better. When I ask him to verbalize what he saw, heard, smelled or felt, he is able to learn from his experience and perhaps handle it differently next time. This conversation also helps me to better understand what’s going on in his world.

4. Don’t sympathize, empathize. I will never feel sorry for my son, I think he’s an amazing person with amazing gifts. He also has challenges to overcome and I do have empathy for that. I hurt when he hurts, and I smile when he smiles. When he’s left overwhelmed, in a different way, I am too. It is in this way that I can empathize with him.

5. Be an advocate. This will help you both. When I’m able to go before my son and tell people he has asperger’s – like at school, church or in sports – I’ve removed the elephant from the room. Is my son amazing and remarkable? yes. Is he also quirky and unbelievably inquisitive? yes. And when others have the opportunity to prepare themselves for the possibility that he may become overstimulated on the basketball court or during a burst of applause in the middle of the school play, everyone has the benefit of more understanding. And this understanding gives them the ability to see my son not for a quirky kid, but for that amazing boy who is gifted and overcoming challenges most of us couldn’t imagine. It gives people an opportunity to admire him – just as I do.

Celina Miller’s Bio

Celina Miller is the mother of Jim, who was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome when he was in the 2nd grade in 2009. Celina has worked tirelessly to gain the education support for her son’s civil right according to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Celina has worked with the Oasis Center for Women and Children and has spoken on the importance of supporting children with mental disorders and their families. She has also been active in fundraising and reviewing grants with Autism Speaks in the Birmingham, AL area

(All thoughts above are those of the guest post Author.)

Filed Under: Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder, Special Needs Tagged With: Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder, SPD, special needs

The Sensory Child Gets Organized

October 27, 2013 by Alicia Marie 5 Comments

As a mom of a child on the Autism spectrum and another with un-diagnosed but suspected SPD/ADHD, life is sometimes completely chaotic at home. I know this is because my kids “hold it together” all day at school and then can finally be themselves at home but it is still extremely stressful at times. Since October is ADHD Awareness Month I was offered a book to review called “The Sensory Child Gets Organized” that promised to share “proven systems for rigid, anxious, or distracted kids” and was skeptical at first but so far I’m learning a lot from it.

In the book the author, Carolyn Dalgliesh, provides simple, effective solutions that help kids thrive at home and in their day-to-day activities and helps parents:

Understand what makes their sensory child tick
Create harmonious spaces through sensory organizing
Use structure and routines to connect with their child
Prepare their child for social and school experiences
Make travel a successful and fun-filled journey

With The Sensory Child Gets Organized, parents get an easy-to-follow road map to success that makes life easier—and more fun—for your entire family. I like how the book includes picture examples of schedules and spaces along with writing space for parents working through the book. There are also some great resources in the back of the book.

Here are a few tips that I’ve learned so far and plan on implementing with my kids:

1) Arrive at birthday parties (or any event where there will be a lot of people) early so the kids can have some time to get comfortable with the location in a small group before there is a large crowd

2) When thinking about the upcoming holiday events make a “must do” list for your sensory child. Consider letting them skip events so they can have a little downtime and enjoy the events you really want them to go to.

3) Organize feelings by having the child rate where they are on a scale of 1 to 10 (with words or pictures). Jacob seems to get just as upset about tiny things as he does about big things so I want to start having him rate his feelings so he can start to realize when he is “just a little” mad vs. “really” mad and learn to react accordingly.

4) Build flexibility one small step at a time. One example was to create a “choices when there is a change” jar that can be used when something in their schedule changes. If something gets cancelled and they are very upset they can pick an alternative activity that they love doing that will make the activity getting cancelled a little easier for them.

I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the book. If you have a child with some sensory processing difficulties I thing this book will be beneficial in helping you create the best home environment for your kiddo as possible.

(Disclosure: I received this book for free but all thoughts are my own.)

Filed Under: ADHD, Autism, Book Reviews, Sensory Processing Disorder, Special Needs

Sevenly’s Weekly Cause: National Autism Association

August 20, 2013 by Alicia Marie 1 Comment

I was so happy to see that Sevenly, a for-profit social good company that I love, is supporting another Autism related cause this week! $7 from every single item sold goes directly to the National Autism Association to provide behavioral therapy or communication tools to children with Autism. If you have a loved one with Autism this is a great way to support the cause both financially and with a conversation provoking shirt.

I want to get this fabulous shirt for Lucas:

And this is my favorite one I’d wear myself:

Totally cute, right!? Learn more about this week’s cause and/or purchase an item from Sevenly to support those with Autism here {but keep in mind that each week they change causes so hurry!}

Filed Under: Autism, Causes/ Charities, Fashion, Shopping, Special Needs, Websites I love Tagged With: Autism, National Autism Association, Sevenly, Social Good

Free Disability Awareness Activities for Kids

July 31, 2013 by Alicia Marie 1 Comment

As a parent of a child with Autism I am anxious for the start of the school year. As much as I worry about how well my son will do, I worry even more about how others will treat him and accept him. I was really excited to get an email from Easter Seals about their free FRIENDS WHO CARE® disability awareness program that helps parents and educators teach kids about children and adults with disabilities. My hope is that every parent will teach their child compassion and acceptance for others.

Sponsored by long-time Easter Seals partner, Friendly’s Restaurants, LLC, FRIENDS WHO CARE is an interactive program that helps students learn how kids with disabilities go to school, make friends and play. It encourages kids to accept their peers with disabilities as people first, and to find ways to include everyone in school and after-school activities.

FRIENDS WHO CARE® is also fun! The curriculum explores a range of disabilities and includes specially crafted learning activities, hands-on exercises, guided discussions and guest speakers. It starts with an introduction to disability, and looks at vision, hearing, and physical disabilities and then at learning disabilities including ADHD, autism and intellectual disabilities.

Visit their Web site to download the free FRIENDS WHO CARE materials!

Filed Under: ADHD, Autism, Back To School, Special Education, Special Needs Tagged With: ADHD, Autism, Disabilities, Disability Awareness Program, Easter Seals, special needs

National Autism Association’s Give A Voice Program

July 20, 2013 by Alicia Marie 1 Comment

I wanted to share about the National Autism Association’s new Give A Voice program. If you have a child with Autism and are in financial need, this is a great program that can help you get a communication device for your child. If you are looking for a great cause to donate to, this post is for you, too. The information below is from the NAA.

The intent of this program is to provide communication devices to individuals with autism who are non-verbal or minimally verbal, and whose communication challenges put them at increased risk of injury or harm.

The NAA has very limited funding to begin this program and will provide communication devices to only fifty applicants during this initial round. Every application will be carefully reviewed and all information submitted will be verified by NAA staff. This program is intended for families who are in dire need of financial assistance and are otherwise unable to attain a communication device.

NAA’s Give A Voice Program will provide qualifying individuals with an assistive communication device including:

– A 16GB Apple® iPad® Mini (WiFi version)
– AppleCare+ Protection Plan
– Proloquo2Go Augmentative and Alternative Communication Software app
– Gripcase Protective Case with Stand – generously donated by Gripcase USA.

Grant applications must be postmarked by July 31, 2013.

For full program details and eligibility requirements, click here.

Funding is desperately needed for this program. To make a tax-deductible donation, please click here.

(Disclosure: I was not compensated for posting this and I am not a member of the NAA. I just thought this may help another Autism family.)

Filed Under: Autism, Causes/ Charities, Special Needs Tagged With: Autism, Communication Device, Grant, NAA's Give A Voice Program, National Autism Association

Build A Bear {Wordless Wednesday}

April 24, 2013 by Alicia Marie

Soccer was cancelled the other day due to rain so we headed to Build A Bear to pickup their Autism Awareness Bear. Lucas and Jacob each wanted something different so I got the bear we went for, Lucas got a pink one with a My Little Pony outfit, and Jacob got a white bear in an Iron Man outfit.

***

Lucas loves cuddling with his stuffed friends!

(Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post :) Thoughts are my own.)

Filed Under: Autism, Wordless Wednesday Tagged With: Autism Awareness, Build A Bear, Stuffed Animals

Free Online Autism Conference 2013

April 9, 2013 by Alicia Marie 1 Comment

As a parent with a child on the spectrum I want to learn as much about Autism and parenting a child with ASD as I can. There are some conferences that I learn about but leaving to attend them is usually not easy to do.

When I learned that this online Autism conference was happening again this year I quickly signed up. I only got to hear a couple speakers last year but I took a ton of notes and learned some valuable information.

If you have a child with Autism I suggest that you sign up for this FREE conference even if you can only make one or two of the webinars. Hurry though! The conference is this weekend!

Filed Under: Autism, Special Needs Tagged With: Autism, Autism Conference, Online Conference

Autism Awareness Bracelet Giveaway

April 5, 2013 by Alicia Marie

I love featuring products that raise awareness for Autism and even more so when the company that makes them donates to the cause. The bracelet above is from Angela Moore and 15% of the proceeds go back to the Autism Society of America. The Autism Awareness collection also includes little girl bracelets, pendants, earrings, necklaces and ties.

GIVEAWAY:

One reader will win the bracelet pictured above

HOW TO ENTER:

{Do any or all of the following, leave a separate comment for each you do}

1) Leave a comment telling me who you want to win the bracelet for

2) Share this giveaway on a social network

3) Comment on another one of my posts

4) Subscribe to this blog {look in upper right corner}

Giveaway ends April 28, 2013 at 11:59pm Central time. Giveaway open to US residents ages 18 and over only.

(Disclosure: I was not compensated for posting this giveaway.)

Filed Under: Autism, Giveaways Tagged With: Autism Awareness, Bracelet Giveaway

Products To Help Keep Kids With Autism Safe

April 3, 2013 by Alicia Marie 3 Comments

Now that Lucas is getting a little older and more independent I am looking into safety products for children with Autism because he has no fear, often acts without thinking, and will run off if given the chance. Since we will be out and about this summer I want to do everything possible to make sure he is safe.

For today’s Autism related post I wanted to share some products that I’m looking at getting for Lucas who is preschool age. Obviously these products are not substitutes for the watchful eye of a caregiver but instead should be used in addition to correct adult supervision. I am not recommending or endorsing any of these products and am not affiliated with any of them. Check with your child’s doctor first before using any of these.

Tattoos With A Purpose {sold here}

***

Angel Guard for Seatbelts {sold here}

***

Kid Safety Bands {sold here}

***

Window/Door Alarms {sold here}

***

Lucas is a little young but I’d get this shirt if he was older…

Alert: I Have Autism Shirt {sold here}

What safety products do you use? I’d love to hear your recommendations in the post comments!

Filed Under: Autism, Safety Tagged With: Autism, Autism Awareness Month, Safety, Safety For Children With Autism, Safety Products

Autism Awareness Shirts From Sevenly

April 2, 2013 by Alicia Marie 1 Comment

Each day during the month of April I feature something Autism related. Today I’d like to share about Sevenly and what they are doing to raise money for Autism Speaks this week. (Please note: I am not affiliated with Sevenly in any way.)

This week Sevenly is donating $7 from each purchase to Autism Speaks. Here is what will be done with that money according to Sevenly:

“Technology and sensory therapy play a critical role in helping children with autism develop communication skills. With your support, we will provide tools, resources and therapy to a child with autism. This week, we will provide the most precious gift to families of children with autism; the gift of communication.”

I love this shirt for myself:

buy it here

and this one I want to get for Lucas:

buy it here

Cute clothes for a great cause! They also have men’s shirts. Which one is your favorite?

Filed Under: Autism, Causes/ Charities, Fashion Tagged With: Autism Awareness Month, Autism Speaks, Sevenly

Light It Up Blue For Autism {April 2nd}

April 1, 2013 by Alicia Marie 1 Comment

As many of you know my youngest son, Lucas, is on the Autism Spectrum. I’d be honored if you’d join me and Autism Speaks in the “Light It Up Blue” campaign to raise awareness for Autism.

Each April 2, Autism Speaks celebrates Light It Up Blue along with the international autism community, in commemoration of the United Nations-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day. Light It Up Blue is a unique global initiative that kicks-off Autism Awareness Month and helps raise awareness about autism. In honor of this historic day, many iconic landmarks, hotels, sporting venues, concert halls, museums, bridges and retail stores are among the hundreds of thousands of homes and communities that take part to Light It Up Blue.

Here are some ideas of how you can participate as an individual or family:

Where blue clothing tomorrow
Purchase a blue light bulb (Walmart and Home Depot stores have them) and change your porch light to a blue bulb
Spread the word via social media by updating your Facebook status or tweeting out an Autism fact.
Sign the petition to ask President Obama and Congress to develop and implement a comprehensive national plan to address autism.
Participate virtually by taking photos on your smartphone and lighting them up blue with a festive picture frame. Email them, or share on your social networks to become part of the Light It Up Blue movement. (Get the app here)
Make a donation to Autism Speaks

Here are some facts from Autism Speaks that you can share:

Every 11 minutes, a child is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.
Autism now affects 1 in 88 children and 1 in 54 boys
Autism prevalence figures are growing
Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.
Autism costs a family $60,000 a year on average
Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases

If you participate I’d love to see pictures! Feel free to share them on the Making Time For Mommy Facebook page :)

Filed Under: Autism, Causes/ Charities Tagged With: Autism, Autism Speaks, Light It Up Blue

Zoos Go Blue

March 30, 2013 by Alicia Marie 2 Comments

I recently learned about “Zoos Go Blue” and am really excited to share about this with you all. Through a national partnership with the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, member Zoos & Aquariums from across North America will be participating in the inaugural “ZOOS GO BLUE” event in April to support Autism Awareness Month. Find out if your zoo is participating here. You can register for up to 6 people for free basic admission and parking.

If you live in the Chicago area, Brookfield Zoo’s special event is April 28th. The Zoo is also going blue that day so I’m really excited to visit with my family and see everything lit up blue.

In addition, there is a toolkit for families who want to visit the zoo that will help them prepare their child for the visit. Lucas is a little young for this but I think it’s a great resource for families with older children. (The toolkit can be found at the link provided above.)

(Disclosure: Like most of my Autism related posts this is not sponsored and I’m not affiliated with any Zoo, other than having a membership to one that I paid for with my own money.)

Filed Under: Autism, Chicago, Events Tagged With: Autism Speaks, Brookfield Zoo, Light It Up Blue

Blue Flowers For Autism Awareness

March 29, 2013 by Alicia Marie 3 Comments

In the month of April you will see a lot of reference to the color blue here on my blog and elsewhere. This is because on April 2nd it is Autism Speaks’ “Light It Up Blue” day to raise awareness for Autism. Some buildings even turn blue! I’ll be sharing more about it on my blog in a few days but wanted to share about FTD’s deals, donation towards Autism Speaks, and especially their BLUE flowers! What a great gift to give a parent raising a child with Autism.

Here’s more information:

FTD is going blue for Autism Speaks! FTD has created a website for all supporters of Autism Speaks! All customers get a 15% discount with orders bought through here: http://www.ftd.com/34384/

PLUS they’re offering an additional 10% of each purchase to be donated back to Autism Speaks. Their network of more than 12,000 florists offer a huge selection of fresh flowers, plants, premium gourmet foods, gifts and gift baskets. Let’s Light It Up Blue and buy something special for your special someone!

(Disclosure: I’m not affiliated with FTD, just had to share what they are doing to help families like mine who have a loved one with Autism.)

Filed Under: Autism, Causes/ Charities Tagged With: Autism, Autism Awareness Month, Blue Flowers, Light It Up Blue

AutisMate: iPad App For Children With Autism {$149.99 Value Giveaway}

February 14, 2013 by Alicia Marie

AutisMate, a new iPad app from SpecialNeedsWare for those with autism, stands among the most respected and innovative options to help children develop communication and behavioral skills despite the challenges of autism. Individuals are given a comprehensive set of tools to navigate life with ease, providing for the lifelong learning, development and changing experiences of those across the spectrum.

While most autism apps on the market focus singularly on promoting one expressive form of communication, AutisMate recognizes the unique nature of every case of autism and works to first build comprehension on a personalized level to unlock a more varied set of expressions and needs. It allows children with autism along with their caretakers and teachers to easily import personal images, video, audio and other information into a visual scene-based platform.

To save time and effort, users also have the option of uploading videos, stories, and schedules geared specifically for autism from a vast content library. A GPS feature allows scenes to change according to the user’s location, making the software even more intuitive and applicable in real-time. This platform grows with the user and caters to his or her unique needs.

The research-supported app has already helped hundreds of users to fully express themselves and improve connections with their families. Many users have expressed their support for AutisMate and shared stories of success and progress. One testimonial that SpecialNeedsWare has received is from a mother of a 7-year-old boy with autism: “I recently used [Autismate to help my son] understand what would be happening at a hospital visit to have tubes put in his ears (a procedure he had done before and had gotten very upset). This last visit he was calmer and cooperated really well! Thank you so much for providing a tool that gives me a way to help my sweet, loving son find understanding by allowing him to ‘think in pictures’.”

You can learn more about AutisMate at www.autismate.com. To purchase the app on iTunes, click here. Please follow AutisMate on Facebook and Twitter.

GIVEAWAY

One reader will win a download code for this app (a $149.99 value)

HOW TO ENTER

{Do any or all of the following, leave a separate comment for each you do}

1) Tell me why you need this app

2) Share this giveaway on a social network

3) Share this giveaway directly with another parent of a child who has Autism

4) Follow @aliciamarie112 on Twitter

5) Follow @autisMate on Twitter

6) Like Making Time For Mommy on Facebook

7) Like AutisMate on Facebook

8) Comment on another one of my posts

Giveaway ends March 3, 2013 at 11:59pm Central time. Must be 18 or older to enter. Note: This giveaway is for the app only and does not include the iPad.

(Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post and do not have an iPad so I have not used the app. I am posting in hopes that it will help one of my readers. This giveaway is not associated with Facebook in any way.)

Filed Under: Autism, Causes/ Charities, Giveaways, Special Needs, Teaching & Learning, Technology Tagged With: Autism, Autism App, AutisMate, giveaway, iPad App, iPad App For Children With Autism

Ability Path’s Holiday Gift Guide For Children With Special Needs

December 13, 2012 by Alicia Marie 1 Comment

I’m excited to share the 2012 Holiday Gift Guide For Children With Special Needs put together by Ability Path. The guide features gift ideas from many bloggers, including a suggestion from me. If you have a child with Special Needs on your “to buy for” list you have to check this guide out.

You can find the Holiday Gift Guide here. Enjoy! :)

Filed Under: Autism, Causes/ Charities, Christmas, Gift Ideas, Sensory Processing Disorder, Special Needs, Special Needs & Charities Tagged With: Autism, gift ideas, Gift Ideas for children with special needs, Sensory Processing Disorder, special needs, Special Needs Parenting

Santa Visits For Children With Special Needs

November 24, 2012 by Alicia Marie 3 Comments

Visiting Santa is a really fun Holiday tradition for most families. It’s one I loved as a child and was excited to continue with my own children. The first couple years went well but eventually, visiting Santa became a tradition that I dreaded. It has turned into an overwhelming experience for my boys and as a mom, when my children aren’t having a good time, I’m not enjoying the tradition either.

As a mother of two preschoolers with special needs I am honored that Ability Path contacted me to share about their “Caring Santa”. It brought tears to my eyes to realize that people cared enough about my children and other children with special needs that they’d work together to create this special experience for our children.

This year Caring Santa will be at over 80 locations across the United States. Here are more details from Ability Path: Due to this collaborative effort and greater mall participation this year, more children with special needs and their families will have an opportunity to participate in the time-honored holiday tradition of taking a photo with Santa in an environment set up to support the sensory, physical and other developmental needs of children with all abilities. Each mall will be asked to make some minor modifications to subdue the mall the morning of Caring Santa, and the result of that will be a magical experience for families; and some will walking away with their first-ever holiday photo of their child or family with Santa. Until now, visiting with Santa and the Bunny really wasn’t a reality for families of children with special needs.

Last year, families who have experienced Caring Santa expressed great appreciation to participating malls for the extra care and welcoming environment. While the accommodations made are for the child with special needs, often there are siblings who, as a result of their brother or sister’s disability don’t have the opportunity to partake in moments like these. The Caring Santa event is as much for them as it is for the child with a disability. It is truly a morning for making memories for children of all abilities!

You can look to see if there is a location near you and RSVP by clicking here.

A HUGE thanks to Ability Path, Simon Malls, and Noerr Programs for organizing these events.

(Disclosure: This is not a compensated post.)

Filed Under: Autism, Christmas, Events, Sensory Processing Disorder, Special Needs Tagged With: Ability Path, Santa Visit, special needs

Jump For Free {And Support Autism Speaks}

July 24, 2012 by Alicia Marie Leave a Comment

Most Pump It Up locations are having an open jump tomorrow {Wednesday, July 25th} from 6-8pm so your children can jump for free when you make a donation to Autism Speaks!

Check out their website to see if a location near you is participating!

Filed Under: Autism, Events Tagged With: Autism Speaks, Pump It Up

This Is What Autism Looks Like In My Child {A Response To 50 Cent}

July 6, 2012 by Alicia Marie 14 Comments

{UPDATE: On July 8th, 50 tweeted this: “I realize my autism comments were insensitive, however it was not my intention to offend anyone and for this I apologize.”}

Some of you may have heard of rapper 50 Cent’s recent comments on Twitter about Autism. I only heard about this today and as a parent of children with special needs, including a child with Autism, I am furious.

Here are the statements he made in response to someone who tweeted him:

‘yeah just saw your picture fool you look autistic’

‘I don’t want no special ed kids on my time line follow some body else’

{You can read the details over at the Huffington Post}

So in response to 50 Cent…

THIS is what Autism looks like in my son, Lucas

Want to support our family and all the other ones who love someone with Autism?

You can tweet: “Hey, @50cent this is what #Autism looks like! http://wp.me/pibQB-3cA via @aliciamarie112”

OR you can share your thoughts on his Facebook page

Filed Under: Autism, Special Needs Tagged With: 50 Cent, Autism, special needs

Autism Doesn’t End In April…

April 27, 2012 by Alicia Marie Leave a Comment

image from cafepress.com

Throughout the month of April I have posted every weekday for Autism Awareness Month. This will be my last daily post but definitely not my last Autism related post. The support that I have gotten from those that are also affected by Autism has been overwhelming and I have enjoyed sharing personal stories, resources, and quotes I have found along the way.

What kind of Autism related posts would you like to see here at Making Time For Mommy?

Filed Under: Autism Tagged With: Autism, Autism Awareness Month

What are you doing? – A Film About Autism {Trailer}

April 26, 2012 by Alicia Marie 1 Comment

Here is more information on this film from Autism Awareness {Australia}:

“What are you doing?” is a short film, created by Autism Awareness, which aims to teach school aged children about acceptance and understanding of their peers with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

The film addresses some of the fears children may have about ASD, answers their questions and helps show them how they can be a great friend to a classmate on the autism spectrum. The film includes enlightening interviews with the brothers, sisters, cousins and friends of children on the spectrum. These friends and family members share their thoughts and experiences on what it is like to share their life with someone on the spectrum.

Through beautiful imagery, engaging narrative and quirky animation, the film sends a message that children with autism should be accepted, supported and encouraged by their peers to be a part of their community.

“What are you doing?” will be screened at schools across Australia later this year and we hope, in the future, throughout the world!

*****

Here’s my question:

How do we get this film shown in schools here in the States?

This is a film that desperately needs to be seen by children in our schools.

Filed Under: Autism, education Tagged With: Autism, Autism Awareness, Autism Education

Sensory Friendly Films At AMC Theatres

April 25, 2012 by Alicia Marie 2 Comments

AMC Theatres offers sensory friendly movies once or twice a month at many of their theaters across the nation. I’ve written about this program before but wanted to share the newest movies being offered. Here are the movies they plan on showing from now through the end of the summer:

May 5 – Pirates! Band of Misfits

June 16 – Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted

June 30 – Brave

July 21 – Ice Age: Continental Drift

August 11 – Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days

*****

*More details can be found here*

Filed Under: Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder Tagged With: AMC Theatres, Autism, Sensory Friendly Films, Sensory Processing Disorder

The Stories Of Autism Gallery Is Live

April 24, 2012 by Alicia Marie Leave a Comment

Last month I told you about Stories Of Autism and the great photography experience we had with Megan of Firefly Nights Photography. {If you missed it you can find that post here}. I have been checking to see if the gallery was live pretty much every day and I’m happy to say that it went live this past weekend! Along with the beautiful photography are some stories and words full of love from the parents that raise these amazing children. {You will notice mine is a little short but that’s because I thought we were only supposed to write a couple sentences.}

**CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE COMPLETE 2012 STORIES OF AUTISM PHOTO GALLERY!!**

Filed Under: Autism, Photography Tagged With: Autism, Photography

Donate To Autism Speaks With Swagbucks

April 23, 2012 by Alicia Marie Leave a Comment

Swagbucks is an online portal dedicated to helping you earn digital dollars called “Swag Bucks”, which can be redeemed for exclusive Swagbucks.com merchandise. You can earn points for doing various things like using their “search” function when looking for something online, taking quizzes, watching videos, and a variety of other things. I earn most of my points by searching for information on the web and then redeem my points for gift cards.

Along with great products, Swagbucks normally features a charity of the month that you can donate your Swagbucks to. This month they have teamed up with Autism Speaks so people can donate their Swagbucks to Autism Speaks. Here are more details from the Swagbucks website: “The Swag Bucks you donate all this month will be turned into a cash donation, given directly to Autism Speaks. Every Swag Buck you donate will help make life easier and more manageable for those with autism and those supporting them. Every Swag Bucks donated equal $0.01, so donating 1,000 Swag Bucks is equivalent to donating ten dollars. The deadline for donations is Tuesday May 1st at 12:00pm PT.”

Want to donate your Swagbucks to Autism Speaks? Click HERE to find out how! Not a member yet? It’s easy to join and start earning. Click HERE to join!

*****

(Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. I have used my Swagbucks referral link though so when you win, I win!)

Filed Under: Autism Tagged With: Autism, Autism Speaks, Swagbucks

New Android Phone Apps For Children With Autism

April 20, 2012 by Alicia Marie Leave a Comment

You can download the apps in the Google Play store here. Some are free and some cost 99 cents.

(Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. I received this email today and wanted to share this resource.)

Filed Under: Autism, Smartphone applications Tagged With: Android applications, Autism, Smartphone Applications

Special Needs Moms {A Look Inside}

April 19, 2012 by Alicia Marie Leave a Comment

My cousin posted this on Facebook. I’m not sure of it’s origins but I just had to share :)

Filed Under: Autism, Parenting, Sensory Processing Disorder, Special Needs Tagged With: special needs, Special Needs Parenting

Autism Graphics

April 18, 2012 by Alicia Marie Leave a Comment

I came across a site today called My Autie Space that’s full of amazing Autism related graphics that can be shared online {they even have code boxes for easy sharing!}. Here are some of my favorites:

For Kids:

For Parents:

For Teachers:

For Autism Awareness Month:

***

Find many more graphics at My Autie Space!

Filed Under: Autism, Websites I love Tagged With: Autism, Autism Graphics

A Mother’s Autism Prayer

April 17, 2012 by Alicia Marie Leave a Comment

by Elizabeth Scott, author of Raindrops on Roman
Overcoming Autism: A Message of Hope
www.rdrpublishers.com
© 2009 Robert D. Reed Publishers
THIS BOOK IS NOW AVAILABLE ON KINDLE (click here)

Filed Under: Autism Tagged With: Autism, Autism Poem

ABC’s “What Would You Do?” {Autism Awareness Month}

April 16, 2012 by Alicia Marie Leave a Comment

“What Would You Do?” set up their cameras at the Chit Chat Diner in Hackensack, N.J., to see how bystanders would react when they saw a family with an autistic child being berated by our actor for the child’s behavior — something many parents of autistic children say they deal with on occasion. {Find out more about the segment here.}

The ABC News blog had this poll on their site:

I couldn’t believe how many people thought that families should leave. I was also disgusted by some of the comments from readers of the blog.

I was interested to watch this segment to see how people would behave in this situation. I was surprised that the patrons reacted the way they did because I expected just the opposite.

You can view the whole segment here. After watching it, what did you think?

Filed Under: Autism Tagged With: Autism Awareness Month, What Would You Do?

Missing Pieces {A Song For Autism Awareness Month}

April 13, 2012 by Alicia Marie Leave a Comment

Came across this song today. I am normally not a fan of country music but this song, sang by a father of a child with Autism, is very touching.

Filed Under: Autism, music Tagged With: Autism, Music video

Autism & Learning {Infographic}

April 11, 2012 by Alicia Marie Leave a Comment

Via: Online College Advice

{Please note: The statistic on how many are affected by Autism is an old statistic. It was recently changed to 1 in 88.}

Filed Under: Autism Tagged With: Autism, Autism and Learning, Autism Infographic

$25 Target Gift Card Giveaway {Autism Awareness Giveaway Hop}

April 10, 2012 by Alicia Marie

Hosted by:

Lindsay @ Just Another Book Addict

Heather @ Fire and Ice

Pixie @ Page Turners

Kathy @ I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

April is Autism Awareness Month. To help spread the word about Autism we are hosting a giveaway hop.

Each participating blog is hosting a giveaway. You will find lots of variety among the prizes. Some of the blogs are giving away prizes that relate to autism, other blogs are giving away gift cards or other prizes and posting information about autism to help make others aware.

To find out more about Autism you can visit Autism Speaks here. If you have a child that shows signs of Autism I urge you to have them evaluated by a qualified Doctor. The earlier they are evaluated the more help they can receive if they need it.

GIVEAWAY

$25 Target Gift Card

MANDATORY ENTRY:

Visit the Autism Speaks website {found here} and tell me one thing you learned about Autism

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES:

{Do any or all of the following, leave a separate comment for one extra entry each}

1) Share this giveaway on a social network

2) Like Making Time For Mommy on Facebook

3) Follow me on Twitter

4) Re-pin something from my Autism Pinterest board

5) Enter another one of my giveaways found here

Giveaway ends April 17, 2012 at 11:59pm Central Time. US Only.

(Disclosure: This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, or associated with Facebook in any way.)

Find more giveaways here.

Filed Under: Autism, Giveaway Hop, Giveaways Tagged With: gift card giveaway, Giveaway Hop

Autism Awareness Wreaths

April 9, 2012 by Alicia Marie 1 Comment

How cute is this wreath from A Modern Day Fairy Tale? I will be searching for old puzzles at garage sales this Spring so that I can make one for our door. View her post here

This cute ribbon shaped wreath can be found on Etsy in the Charlee Rose Designs shop. You can purchase it here.

This wreath was uploaded to Pinterest by the person who made it. She also has photos of two other ones that she made. See her Pinterest board here.

Filed Under: Autism, crafts, Special Needs Tagged With: Autism, Autism Awareness Month, Autism Wreaths

Free Online Autism Conference {Autism Awareness Month}

April 6, 2012 by Alicia Marie Leave a Comment

A mom in one of my Facebook groups shared about this free online Autism conference. It’s a week long and has over 40 sessions for parents of children on the spectrum.

Sessions Include:

– How To Be An Effective Advocate For Your Child

– How to turn deficits into strengths

– How to use specific sensory activities to positively impact behavior

– 6 Tools For Managing The Emotional Aspects Of ASD Parenting

– Practical Solutions For Real Life Challenges

…and MORE!

To get more details and to register you can visit the site here.

(Disclosure: This is not a compensated post. I am sharing information from their website because I think my readers would be interested. I have registered to attend this online event but have not attended one of their previous conferences.)

Filed Under: Autism, Special Needs Tagged With: Autism, Autism Conference, Free Conference

#Pin4Autism And Make A Difference {Autism Awareness Month}

April 5, 2012 by Alicia Marie Leave a Comment

I am a huge fan of any company that donates money to a great cause on behalf of it’s consumers so I’m really excited to share about what Lindt is doing. For the third year in a row, Lindt is partnering with Autism Speaks to raise money for Autism Awareness and it’s simple for you to be a part of it.

For every re-pin on Pinterest that Lindt gets {between now and Easter} they will be donating $10 to Autism Speaks {up to $10,000}. I know the majority of you are as Pinterest-obsessed as I am so why not raise money for a good cause while doing something that you enjoy?

All you have to do is visit their #Pin4Autism board on Pinterest and select and re-pin the Easter tradition photo that you enjoy most. Pin donations are limited to one per person but you can maximize your impact by inviting friends and family to get involved by sharing about #Pin4Autism on your Facebook pages, in your Twitter feeds or anywhere else that you connect with others.

Here are the steps Lindt would like you to take:

Visit our #Pin4Autism board on Pinterest
Select the “Re-Pin” button on the tradition photo that you enjoy most.
You can even customize the caption of the repinned image so that it includes your own personal message. Just make sure to keep the #Pin4Autism hashtag along with the donation text within caption to ensure that your donation is included. Example Caption (bolded portion must remain): “Egg decorating is my favorite Easter tradition! [I just donated 10 dollars to the Autism cause by pinning this photo. Learn how you can #Pin4Autism too by clicking on the image above.]”
Select “Pin It”
You’ve donated!

Want to help even more? Recreate one of the Lindt inspired projects {could be a recipe or craft} that incorporates Lindt products on Lindt’s Pinterest page and email Lindt and include the image or link to your creation, along with the subject line: #Pin4Autism Donation. The amazing folks over at Lindt will donate $25.00 to Autism Speaks in return

And as an added bonus…. if you re-pin something as part of Lindt’s #pin4Autism you get one extra entry into my giveaway for the $125 gift card & Eucerin lotion! All you have to do is follow Lindt’s directions above and once you are done go to my Eucerin/Visa gift card giveaway {found here} and leave a comment saying “I pinned 4 Autism!” AND you can get this extra entry in every one of my Eucerin/Visa Gift Card giveaways in the future {there are about 9 or 10 that will be posted in the months to come}! That is how much I want you to #pin4Autism :)

(Disclosure: I wasn’t compensated for this post. Autism Speaks is a charity I support as a mom of a child with Autism.)

Filed Under: Autism, Brand Ambassador, Causes/ Charities, Easter Tagged With: #Pin4Autism, Autism Speaks, Easter, Lindt

Special Cookies {Autism Awareness Month}

April 4, 2012 by Alicia Marie Leave a Comment

When I discovered these cookies on Pinterest I just had to share them. I clicked on about 15 different images taking me to spam websites but I kept searching and finally found where this picture originated from. These cookies are from the blog, The Sweet Adventures Of Sugarbelle. The cute labels can be found over at the blog, Thirty Handmade Days. What wonderfully creative women!

I am definitely ordering a puzzle piece shaped cookie cutter for next year so that I can recreate these. Anyone know of any stores that sell this cookie cutter shape?

Filed Under: Autism, Recipes Tagged With: Autism, Cookies, Puzzle Piece Cookies

Puzzle Piece Jewelry {Autism Awareness Month}

April 3, 2012 by Alicia Marie Leave a Comment

Puzzle pieces are a well known symbol for Autism awareness. Here are a few of my favorite pieces of jewelry for the mother or grandmother of a child with Autism. {Click on the images to be taken to the websites they come from}

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Filed Under: Autism, Fashion Tagged With: Autism, jewelry, Puzzle Piece Jewelry

Keep In Touch

Looking ahead to events in May that you can register for now (things sell out quickly!)

ZURU’s Tangle

Doorway Gym

Lycra Tunnel

Mini Trampoline

Theraputty

HOOT for Kids Subscription Box

Weighted Blanket or Lap Pad

Playfoam

What would you add to this sensory-friendly gift list?

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