Id card for little wanderer

Roughly half, or 49%, of children with autism attempt to elope from a safe environment, a rate nearly four times higher than their unaffected siblings.I had Gabe used to wader alot so I looked online to what other parent are doing  I saw id badges. They were pretty boring I have a diploma on business management so I have some practice making business cards. I went into Microsoft publisher and selected business cards and entered their data. Don't worry I changed info to make fake card for this example. What I did to get kids to like their card was I asked them what their favorite super hero was. I had left over card from when I was in school.We would visit business and they told us to network and suggest these card to make our own cards to give out when we attended meeting or interview. Once I made id card I simply printed them out when I was done. They are pop out cards once it was done 1 sheet make about nine cards. I put one card in their wallet in back pack another I kept in my wallet and another I gave to my mother so they would have picture in case they got lost.  http://www.officedepot.ca//business-cards/avery-business-card-38876.asp.

begining to write finger placement

I went with Gabriel to occupational therapist and she told me something neat about hand placement. She said common mistake was to go to high on the pen to write. Simple reminder is to either buy sticker to place where you want finger or to use nail polish from around the house to pain two spots where you want little ones to put their fingers.Red sticker can be bought at dollar store but I just used what was around the house.

Crayola dry erase activity Centre

My sons ta gave him this as gift and it is greatest gift ever. I actually have it for both sons to help to read. I used sheet provided and also bought book of mazes and cut down the center to take out sheet so I could put under plastic so they could practice hand eye coordination.They had regular abc sheet that came with. But while they were good. I looked at regular dollar store and found more uses for crayola dry erase.   This is sheet that came with. It came with four but I lost 2 after taking on cross country trip.

I found a maze work book and simply sheet down cut down the middle. Then simply placed sheet inside. So that Gabe could practice hand eye coordination. He loves mazes and I usually start him on these sheet first. This workbook was luck find I found at local local store for about $2. It has bright colour and is fun. Great part of crayola dry erase board is that you can place sheet under plastic wipe of and resuse. So you don't have to buy multiple books once their done. Plus it eases their anxiety over making mistakes since they can wipe of and try again easily. Again these book DON"T come with it I bought separately and cut sheet out to place inside. 

This was another great dollar store find found a number maze book again by crayola. The cost was about $2 plus tax. Not work sheet that came with I bought regular book and cut sheet down middle to fit. 

 This work book is most versatile and most expensive cost around $8 by target I photcopies sheet to place inside due to size would be awkward to cut out. I had this book before Gabe was given dry erase as gift but you can also photocopy sheet to place inside. What I like about it is bright color and it has arrows to show direction and which step is first. Label 1 and direction arrow and 2 etc to show how each letter is supposed to be written.

I bought file folder for the different work sheet. Once Gabe has completed set of five he gets sticker to put on his folder. He has been doing pretty well and writing has improved alot as well as letter recognition. 

Here is set I was speaking about. You can buy at Target in Canada for roughly $15 plus tax. Additional work sheet found at local dollar store  http://www.crayolastore.com/product/crayolareg-dryerase-activity-center

pops program

For those that don't know you can ask for pops program for free speech therapy and occupational therapy in Canada. The caveat  being cut off is five years old.  Which as special needs mom is really frustrating. Most like myself don't know until later in life around 4 years that there is anything wrong. I addressed issues with pediatrician since he was twin said he will find his words. He's still young. But he didn't and because of that by the time I discover supports most were no longer available. Anyhow that was my rant. Luckily in time frame I had I signed him up for some speech therapy and occupational therapy covered under ohip. It friendly uses toys to help develop language. He actually looked forward to weekly therapy. Each child has about ten blocks. But in short time and incredible progress. By no means is he "cured of autism" which in my opinion isn't a thing. I hear that phrase a lot but I hate that expression it like implying child is broken. Which I don't believe he is. But his speech has improved a lot and he happier boy now he can talk. Here is link to program. I don't drive but here is pic of us on the road to appointment.Since it was little early in morning I had to take them both. Here link to program to those who are interested. I took them for lunch after for doing an awesome He had improved eye contact and speech. He actualy doing alot better in school. I think it mostly because of work done with this program. Even better I had referral from pediatrician of speech delay so I was able to get speech therapy and they  refered me to get full assessment for more supports at school. But I didn't need full assessment to start.  . http://www.trilliumhealthcentre.org/programs_services/womens_childrens_services/childrensHealth/specialized_childrens_services/paediatricOutpatientServices.php

Endless abc

 Here is one of the best apps I have seen yet. When they touch individual letter it play sound letter makes phonetically.Once it in place it tell you letter.  Then one they have spelled word it say it has cute animation and explanation of the word.It is free to try but whole alphabet cost about $4 You can find it in both android and itunes click link to go to app

Once you touch letter it become animated. Moving around and making sound the letter would sound phonetically. Once letter is in place it says what letter actually is.

Once Word is spelled out it will become animated and act out meaning of the words.



                                                                               

First then app

This program is great for any mother with android phone or also available on iphone for portable visual schedules on the go. I usually use this for mostly morning routine when boy are getting ready for school. It is highly interactive. you can do one image at a time or use first then model. As well as you add pictures you have option of recording your voice saying different activity so they can use verbal cues on the touch picture. I posted a few visual schedules and I was looking online at special need apps and I highly recommend this one. You don't need to have rolls of picture on string to flip through to show each step . I used to have routine printed on wall but  had to reprint for certain order. This app has picture step you can search and add with touch of button.Has different view for different types of difficulty. There is one picture at time then first then and list option.I used this and find it really great to create everyday routines. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.apps.gk.firstthen



There is first then view

Then list setting if they can follow more instruction

You can set timer to make them more aware of time or leave off under settings.