This page is helpful for anyone who wants to learn more about autism, attention deficit, sensory processing, and mental health issues. The information here is valuable and anyone who is looking for insight and tools to help individuals with special needs. Our approach to working with children who have special needs is to build a relationship and connect with the child. Then, once trust has been established, we break down skills, scaffold, and use a wide spectrum of MORE...
Special Needs
Discover why crossing midline is important for child development and easy exercises that…
Playing is critical for childhood development. Through play, children stretch their imagination and…
Understanding and Having Empathy for Children on the Autism Spectrum. Meet the child…
Strategies and therapy tools that experienced therapists use to optimize the progress, growth,…
Tools and Strategies to Help Children Take Control of Their Anxiety
Setting clear goals and intentions can help children & turn your world around.
Understanding how to help children with autism or Oppositional Defiant Disorder.
Dealing with Childhood Fear and Anxiety.
Social Skills
An adorable book everyone will fall in love with that explains facial expressions…
Preschoolers and toddlers will love pretending to be their favorite community helpers with…
Explore feelings with this easy craft that is a great companion activity for…
When children can successfully navigate social situations, integrate perspective taking and create lasting…
Help children understand about privacy, strangers and what is appropriate to share with…
An interactive social skills activity, perfect for classrooms and groups, to develop perspective…
A step by step curriculum that demonstrates how to scaffold and build social…
Bolster a child’s self-esteem! Healthy self-esteem is like a child’s armor against the…
Sensory
We have 3 Sensory Activities to Explore the Letter “X” so you could…
A lesson in plant science, a sensory integration exercise, creating an experience that…
Tools and Strategies to Help Children Take Control of Their Anxiety
Sensory play for kids is such an important piece in child development, so…
Practical sensory processing tips and suggestions for parents and educators who want to…
Sensory Autumn Art! A deliciously tactile art project using items from your yard.
Try this super-satisfying emotional control activity! Help children process anger and anxiety by…
Play-Dough Press a fun way to work on a variety of vision skills…
Auditory
Hearing a story, directions, a list and then being able to repeat it…
A printable listening game that combines sequencing, following directions and pizza.
A fun music activity using recycled items for kids to explore sound and…
An amazingly simple listening activity that anyone with a cell phone can do.
A silly version of Simon Says that really gets the kids to listen…
An active game designed to help kids learn to listen and develop good…
A Language and Listening Game to teach children to tune in and follow…
A twist on a classic game that will help children learn object permanence,…
Visual Processing
Playing fine motor and vision games will get kids ready for reading and…
An explanation of the different areas relating to visual processing with advice and…
The Visual Memory Games included here focus on visual memory and attention. These…
Photo Face Collage is an excellent activity for combining social skills and recognizing…
Play-Dough Press a fun way to work on a variety of vision skills…
A fun way to work on visual tracking skills! Combine water, balloons, and…
Make a nature mandala! An outdoor nature scavenger hunt and visual processing activity.
A hidden object game using recycled items that works on visual scanning skills…
Resources
Here is our resource page for information and services for all children; including services and resources for children with special needs, child development, parenting advice and educational resources.
- Autism links
- Association for Science in Autism Treatment ASAT is a not-for-profit organization of parents and professionals committed to improving the education, treatment, and care of people with autism.
- Autism Society The Autism Society, a grassroots autism organization, exists to improve the lives of all affected by autism.
- Autism Research Institute ARI advocates for the rights of people with ASD, and operates without funding from special-interest groups.
- Autism Support Network The mission of Autism Support Network is conveyed in their tagline: connect, guide and unite.
- NIH An autism fact sheet
- Everything You Have to Know About Autism An overview of autism from diagnosis to treatment.
- Free Resources from Kori at Home Free resources for families with autism
- Books and Authors
- Marcia Goldman Marcia Goldman is an author who has her Masters Degree in Special Education and has spent the last 25 years focusing on providing therapeutic-based programs for children with autism and their families.
- Geek Club Books Geek Club Books goes beyond the story to entertain and educate with a social mission. They use engaging technologies and the art of storytelling to tell the ‘real’ stories about autism for acceptance and understanding in the classroom, on the playground and in the community. Their goal is to profoundly change how the world views autism…one story at a time.
- How to Be Human; A Diary of an Autistic Girl by Florida Frenz Diagnosed with autism as a three-year-old, Florida is now an articulate 15-year-old whose explorations into how kids make friends, what popularity means, how to handle peer pressure will resonate with any pre-teen.
- Marissa Moss Marissa Moss is an award-winning author of many popular books and series, including Amelia, Mira’s Diary, and The Blood Diaries.
- Creston Books Creston Books is author/illustrator driven, with talented, award-winning creators given more editorial freedom and control than in a typical New York house.
- Dyslexia
- How to Treat the Symptoms of Dyslexia Medication won’t diminish the symptoms of dyslexia, but accommodations at school, at home, and in the workplace can help children and adults manage their learning disability and perform to the best of their ability.
- Treating Dyslexia Children with dyslexia can learn to read, but there is no quick fix for this reading disability • Teaching these children requires a systematic approach that builds on previously learned skills one step at a time •
- Test for Dyslexia: 37 Common Traits Most dyslexics will exhibit about 10 of the following traits and behaviors. These characteristics can vary from day-to-day or minute-to-minute. The most consistent thing about dyslexics is their inconsistency.
- Education
- 100+ Video Sites Every Educator Should Bookmark Bringing multimedia into the classroom is a great way to engage students in learning. Supplementing lessons, opening up new interests, and offering inspiration, online videos make for an incredible teaching tool.
- Scratch.MIT With Scratch, you can program your own interactive stories, games, and animations — and share your creations with others in the online community. Scratch helps young people learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively
- Khan Academy Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom.
- Support Services and resources for children with special needs
- Vision therapy A video explaining vision therapy.
- Autism Sevice Dogs If you’re a dog person, you already know how therapeutic a dog can be. Think of how calm and centered you feel when your pet leans into you at the end of a long day. Autism service dogs take companionship to the next level, providing life-changing physical, intellectual, and emotional support.
- Camp Attitude A Christian-based camp for people with special needs. “Our mission is to promote active participation in a safe & inclusive outdoor environment. We strive to encourage positive attitudes through a quality camping experience. Helping people reach their dreams and overcoming unusual obstacles and challenges are central to our mission.”
- In Home Support Services-Santa Clara County The In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program is a federal, state, and locally funded program designed to provide assistance to those eligible aged, blind, and disabled individuals who, without this care, would be unable to remain safely in their own homes. This link is for Santa Clara County, California. To find the information in your county do an internet search for In Home Health Service + your county.
- PhDinSpecialEducation.com This “handbook” offers resources for parents at every stage of the journey of caring for their special needs children.
- Parents Helping Parents PHP increases the quality of life for our most vulnerable by providing services, resources, and support for children with special needs, their families, and caregivers.
- Regional Center The state of California has 21 Regional Centers that provide specialized services for people with developmental disabilities. Assessment and diagnosis, counseling, family support, advocacy for legal protection and many more services are available for individuals and their families.
- Kids with Dreams Kids with Dreams is a volunteer organization serving as a gateway in connecting Stanford students and other local volunteers with physically and mentally disabled youth.
- Healthier Kids Foundation of Santa Clara County The mission of Healthier Kids Foundation is to ensure access to and advocacy for health care services for all children through family-centered and innovative approaches. The premise of Healthier Kids Foundation believes that one child without access to health care or health coverage is one child too many.
- Best Buddies International Best Buddies® is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)
- Providers and Therapies
- Occupational therapy A resource for occupational therapy and sensory processing resources. “The therapeutic use of work, self-care, and play activities to increase development and prevent disability. It may include an adaptation of task or environment to achieve maximum independence and to enhance the quality of life.”
- Linda Mood Bell Lindamood-Bell helps children and adults improve language processing — the foundation of all communication and learning.
- Michelle Garcia Winner Social Thinking is a treatment framework and curriculum developed by Michelle Garcia Winner targets improving individual social thinking abilities, regardless of the diagnostic label.
- Sonrise Program The Son-Rise Program was originated in 1974 by parents, Barry Neil Kaufman (best-selling author, Son-Rise: The Miracle Continues) and Samahria Lyte Kaufman for their son.
- Greenspan Floortime The Greenspan Floortime Approach is a system developed by the late Dr. Stanley Greenspan. Floortime meets children where they are and builds upon their strengths and abilities through interacting and creating a warm relationship
- Beth Harmon, SLP A speech therapist specializing in augmented communication, assistive technology, and social skills.
- Health and Diet
- Sodium Girl: Sodium free recipes Low salt and sodium free recipes.
- Foraging for Wild Edibles Get the children outside and in touch with wild edibles.
- Information About Celiac Disease Information and resources for people with Celiac Disease.
- The Top 10 Diets for Children with Special Needs When a child is diagnosed with special needs, it’s natural for parents to start looking for ways to improve their child’s quality of life. Diet is one area that can be modified relatively easily. Sometimes dietary changes are necessary due to allergies or celiac disease, and sometimes families choose a new diet for overall improvements in health.
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