Typically, I don't use lite (free apps) for use in speech therapy. I find the in-app purchases and advertisements to be highly distracting and take away from learning. However, there are always exceptions and the Toca Hair Salon Christmas Gift is one of them. So here is an early Christmas gift from Toca Boca! How it works:  ...

  This blog is based on the following presentation from the 2011 ASHA Convention: Exploring Child Characteristics/Family Factors in Evidence-Based Practice for Autism By Twyla Perryman, PhD, CCC-SLP Assistant Professor East Carolina University, Greenville, NC perrymant@ecu.edu    Dr. Perryman and Kathie Dr. ...

I love to hug children Hugs feel so good I'd hug them every day If only I should. But hugs are for parents Grandparents and such Professionals should go with High fives, knuckles and thumbs up. Today, on Thanksgiving Give your family your best Squeeze them with hugs Save high fives for the rest. ...

As Thanksgiving and Christmas approach, I realize that many families and caregivers, as well as staff, struggle to include the elderly patient with swallowing or cognitive-communication impairments in the holiday celebrations. If Mom or Dad have swallowing or memory deficits, it definitely impacts the celebration. It's awkward to talk ...

I'm working with several young, bright children on the autism spectrum and I need a new, creative way to teach the alphabet. I want to take them beyond rote memory skills and into conversational speech. What kind of ideas do you have for me? Shannon, SLP Kathie's Tips:  Have I got a great, new, techie, alphabet chart to share ...

I love my Humpty Dumpty. He's right here by me To wish you a happy Halloween With Halloween letters In support of ASD. I always think of ASD With courage and with grace. Autism has its thunder And its mask is spooky too. But underneath's a loving face. This Halloween message from Humpty and ...

This is the last week of my Piccolini Perfecto Pasta creations. Please take a look at my previous two recipe posts for ideas on how to create a delicious rainbow of flavors and nutrients using Barilla's Piccolini vegetable pastas. The third and final recipe includes the Mini Rotelle (aka mini wagon wheels), wonderfully made with spinach ...

It scares me to think that a child with ASD could have a tantrum on my watch. My knees -- they are a-shakin' at the thought. It will happen, and when it does, what will I do?   Children with ASD have tantrums. They hit and pound. They flail. They scream. They may bang their heads against a wall or throw items. They may spit or ...

All through September at our school we talked about apples: red ones, yellow ones, green ones, little ones, big ones and everything in between! Now that October is upon us and Halloween is just two weeks away, it is time for our next topic of ... pumpkins! The teachers are talking all about those happy round orange friends we see every ...

Part III-A, posted last week, my blog presented some fun strategies for targeting humor/ laughter and attention/focus for the very young autistic mind. The purpose of these two blogs is to mesh the right side of the brain with the left side of the brain and to help a person with ASD ''dance'' in a more synchronized fashion. Here are two ...