Autism Spectrum Across Ages and Environments

In Memoriam

2013-03-25T16:51:00Z

Dear Friends and Colleagues, I am very saddened to write this post letting you know that our dear friend and colleague, Kathie Harrington, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Kathie left a wonderful legacy for all of us with her passion for writing about autism. She touched countless lives of clients, parents and professionals through her private practice, books, blogs and international speaking engagements. In May 2012, she was honored to be the keynote speaker at the Florida Speech...(read more)

Kathie’s Power Word Countdown #6

2013-03-21T13:55:00Z

[EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the final post in the Autism Spectrum Across Ages and Environments blog. Kathie Harrington, MA, CCC-SLP, passed away on March 19, 2013. A memorial service for her will be held in Boulder City, Nevada, at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery on April 19, 2013. If you would like to honor Kathie's memory, the family suggests supporting an organization near you devoted to autism education and treatment. For the past 2 years, Kathie has provided a lot of wisdom and support for SLPs and...(read more)

Kathie's Power Word Countdown #5

2013-03-14T13:04:00Z

Work Hard and Have Fun I thank my husband, Tim, for this lifesaving Power Phrase for our son, Doug. This was coined not for school, not for the home, but for the job. Work hard and have fun has been used every day for the past eight and one-half years as Doug walks out the door to leave for work. This phrase is simple, short, direct, and memorable. It is visual, as you can see below, and repeated often. This Week's Power Phrase is WORK HARD AND HAVE FUN Doug didn't always have a bad day at work but...(read more)

Kathie's Power Word Countdown #4

2013-03-07T14:34:00Z

Some form of negative behavior is always going to be an aspect of children on the autism spectrum. It takes a bag of tricks and sometimes a barrelful to teach them self control and how to respect the feelings of others. It is innate that children want to please the adults in their world. Children want to make us happy, but sometimes they don't. Sometimes, they can't because their disorder makes it impossible to do so on their own. That's where our bag of tricks come in and utilizing Power Words/Phrases...(read more)

Kathie’s Power Word Countdown #3

2013-02-28T14:03:00Z

What was your favorite thing that happened today? Who is your favorite singer? What is your favorite book? Do you have a favorite sport? I have a favorite time of the year, do you? My babysitter used to show me her favorite thimble. FAVORITE is one of my favorite words and it is powerful. I use it all the time and you should too. It's one of Kathie's Dozen Power Words that you will want to share with parents. Read on and I will reveal a great strategy that most parents need to know because they struggle...(read more)

Kathie's Power Word Countdown #2

2013-02-21T15:22:00Z

I'm sitting here at this moment watching the movie Rudy. This1993 football movie is about Daniel Ruettiger, AKA Rudy, staring Sean Astin, who dreamt of playing football at the University of Notre Dame despite his small stature and other obstacles. He worked hard just to earn his way into Notre Dame and even harder to earn a spot on the bench of the renown football team. To earn any playing time during the last game of his senior year with new coach, Dan Devine, seemed impossible. But sometimes, the...(read more)

Kathie's Power Word Countdown #1

2013-02-14T14:44:00Z

In last week's Autism across Ages and Environments blog, Power Words , I told you that I would be spotlighting a dozen words and phrases that I have used over the years to empower children and adults on the autism spectrum. In doing so, these words and phrases are verbalized, posted, shared, and drilled into children with ASD to make their world of language more spontaneous and independent. Power Words/Phrases are magic because: They teach a child HOW to learn They instill theory of mind (TOM) They...(read more)

Power Words

2013-02-07T17:49:00Z

Everyone loves power. Everyone needs words to attain power. We can empower our children with ASD by giving them POWER WORDS or we can leave them powerless. Teaching skills to children with ASD is not enough. Colors, months, dates, counting, are not what make a person successful and functional in the world. This series of Kathie's Dozen Power Words will assist children and adults with Autism ~ across Ages and Environments. I'm a huge proponent of individual speech/language therapy when children are...(read more)

Just To Help You Smile

2013-01-31T14:11:00Z

My father was a huge influence in my life and ultimately, in my career. He was not a professional man. He was patriotic. He worked hard. He was kind and generous. He owned a café, The Red Rooster in Iowa Falls, IA. I worked there, first as a dishwasher, then as a waitress, and what I loved most, as a fry cook. I learned a lot about all three of those jobs but what I remember most was the big, wooden, carved sign that my dad had specially made. It hung over the door just as one exited the kitchen...(read more)

Just To See You Smile

2013-01-24T13:05:00Z

"This is my son, Blain. It was taken a couple of years ago. He rarely smiles in pictures or in life, so I appreciate this picture ." (Copied from a post on Facebook 1-3-13, from the mother of a young man with ASD.) There was a picture of Blain (fictitious name) with a semi-smile that accompanied this post and I could feel the love and joy that radiated from this mother. Children on the autism spectrum are usually beautiful people. They certainly use facial expressions during tantrums and let us know...(read more)

Kathie’s Top Ten List to Join Hands with Parents

2013-01-17T17:12:00Z

Hands have fingers, thumbs, nails, joints, skin, bones, muscles, and tendons. They are flexible and can be molded, folded, and wrapped. Use yours. I learned early in my career that one of the most meaningful things one person can do to assure sincerity, acceptance, and understanding is through the power of touch. Not a slap. Not a high-five. A firm palm on a shoulder or forearm will do. Timing is everything and silence is paramount. Parents grieve because dreams for their child change. The IEP process...(read more)

A Driver in the Family with ASD, Part II: How the SLP Can Help

2013-01-10T14:20:00Z

My son, Doug, drives slowly around our city of Las Vegas. He drives to work on the Las Vegas Strip, to the athletic club, and to go shopping. He has a blue ruler in his car at all times to measure the exact distance from his stomach to the steering wheel before he ever places the key in the ignition. People with ASD adhere to sameness, rules, and exactness. It works for Doug. He's a good driver. In the Dec. 13, 2012, Autism Spectrum across Ages and Environments Blog, A Driver in the Family with ASD...(read more)

Five Things to Know About Autism in the New Year

2013-01-03T14:09:00Z

Has it really been thirteen years since the turn of the century? Young children who were diagnosed with autism in 2000 are now in their teens. Teens who were dealing with autism in 2000 are now adults. Perhaps you, as an SLP, were just worrying about how the new century was going to affect your computer at this time some thirteen years ago. Time marches on . Growth takes place. We learn from each other. A new year is about to begin. It is time to review FIVE important things about autism that remain...(read more)

Social/Language Therapy: A MUST!

2012-12-27T13:02:00Z

Social skills aren't really so hard. Most children glean them during play and with appropriate guidance. No, social/pragmatic skills aren't hard at all, not unless you have ASD (as well as other mental disorders) Social skills only . . . Make or break every relationship Determine whether a person will attain or maintain employment Gives one the ability to utilize his/her full and appropriate intellectual capacity Gives a person freedom to communicate in a typical manner Make the person who lacks...(read more)

Social Skills Impact Life

2012-12-20T14:38:00Z

As an SLP you have the skills to teach children and adults on all levels of the autism spectrum social strategies they will need throughout their lives. As an SLP you have the responsibility to speak up at an IEP in the school or any setting when you hear that "social skills do not impact education" and state all the reasons why they do. As an SLP you must convince parents/caregivers/professionals the importance of all social aspects of communication AND share strategies through demonstrations/handouts/conversations/any...(read more)