[Nancy Walton]

Hello Keith and all other featers,

There will be a South Fraser ASBC meeting on July 21 which Keith can attend. I have not chosen a speaker yet for this meeting, but the meetings are usually infomative for parents seeking information on ABA.

I will not be having a meeting in June. Both Paul and I are unable to host the meeting.

So, I look forward to seeing everyone in July. The meetings are in South Surrey at the Semiahmoo House Society, 15306 24th Ave, South Surrey.

Nancy Walton

[Nancy Walton]

Check out Monday's Vancouver Sun, the Lower Mainland section. There should be an article about Roxanne Black's son getting turned down at a private Catholic school because he is autistic.

[Nancy Walton]

Swimming Instructions

My son is moderately autistic and has done a lot of swimming lessons. For the first few years, (6 or 7 lesson sets), I have sent in a therapist. Sometimes the therapist can give the instructor pointers on how to insist on Casey's attention. In your case, it sounds like you need your consultant to design a program for reinforcing good listening and good behavior.

This is my next step in swimming lessons. The therapist is going to sit at the side of the pool and deliver tokens as my son listens to the instructor and/or does a good model of what the instructor wants.

Swimming can be a very confusing and complicated time for an ASD child. To aide my son's attention and understanding, I video taped my daughter doing various things that I want my son to do in the water and on the deck. I took matching photos. We are going to show him the video and hold up photo's of each segment. So when he is supposed to do flutter kick in the pool, we can hold up the picture of flutter kick and hopefully my son will remember the video footage of how to do kicking. You may not have to do something as elaborate. Even without this, it is amazing what my son has been able to do. At age 7 he is at level 5.

Good luck. Keep it ABA.

Nancy Walton

[Nancy Walton]

Regarding the recent ASBC meetings about "Taking Peer Play to school".

Lisa showed us videos of peer play in action and explained what was going on and how the school moments were achieved. It is, unfortunately, difficult to replicate what any parent could get out of this presentation through e-mail. Particularly, because every parent may each take a different lesson away from this meeting as it applies to their own child. What may interest you, may not be what the person e-mailing you was interested in.

We are also unable to video tape these meetings due to possible misuse or liability reasons (the speaker is not there with you to answer your questions, so misunderstandings can arrise).

Clearly we need more opportunities like this, so that all parents can attend from all regions. NOBODY is paid to put on these meetings. Right now, we only have meetings like these in the North Shore, South Surrey, and Nanaimo. If you would like these speakers to come to your area, start up an ASBC group. You could even just arrange a meeting place every 2 or 3 months and invite speakers. Ask for donations to cover the costs of the speaker, or get help from ASBC (you might want to become a member while you are at it).

Attending meetings like this continues to add to your knowledge so that you are able to guide your child's program. Anyone can bring these speakers to their own community.

We need to support each other. We each need to do our part. There is no one out there paid to do this for us.

Nancy Walton

[Nancy Walton]

Just a reminder of the South Fraser ASBC meeting tomorrow night, Thursday May 19, 7-9pm.

This is a must for parents of preschool or school age autistic children. The presentation is: "Taking Peer Play to School — a playful look at how to integrate peer play for the mid to low functioning child into the school environment".

Senior Therapist Lisa Moody will present a case scenario, including video footage, of how it should look and feel across home and school environments and age spans, as well as how to trouble shoot tricky situations as they arise.

This presentation was given at the North Shore ASBC meeting last month. I have heard that it was a valuable presentation. Lately parents have been discussing possible school options for their children. This is an important presentation to demonstrate what is possible.

All are welcome: Parents, grandparents, friends, teachers, district administrators, therapists, judges, politicians and Service Providers.

Please note, this meeting is on May 19th, the third Thursday of May (not the second). Meeting time is 7-9pm. Address: 15306 24th Ave, South Surrey.

Entrance is by donation; materials, coffee and treats are always supplied. We hope that you can join us.

Nancy Walton
wiklo@shaw.ca or
604-538-8021 for more information

[Nancy Walton]

I am pleased to announce that on Thursday May 19th, the South Fraser ASBC meeting will present: "Taking Peer Play to School — a playful look at how to integrate peer play for the mid to low functioning child into the school environment".

Senior Therapist Lisa Moody will present a case scenario, including video footage, of how it should look and feel across home and school environments and age spans, as well as how to trouble shoot tricky situations as they arise.

This presentation was given at the North Shore ASBC meeting last month. I have heard that it was a valuable presentation. Lately parents have been discussing possible school options for their children. This is an important presentation to demonstrate what is possible.

All are welcome: Parents, grandparents, friends, teachers, district administrators, therapists, judges, politicians and Service Providers.

Please note, this meeting is on May 19th, the third Thursday of May (not the second). Meeting time is 7-9pm. Address: 15306 24th Ave, South Surrey.

Entrance is by donation; materials, coffee and treats are always supplied. We hope that you can join us.

Nancy Walton
wiklo@shaw.ca or
604-538-8021 for more information

[Nancy Walton]

Forgot to say the time for the South Fraser ASBC meeting Thursday April 14

It's 7pm to 9pm.

15306 24th Ave
South Surrey

I will sharing ideas for the bookeeping of ABA programs as well as helping new parents get started. All are welcome. See you there

Nancy Walton

[Nancy Walton]

Piano a la ABA

My son has been learning to play piano through his ABA program. He learns new songs by memory since he can't read music yet. In an attempt to have him learn to read music we have had him tap out 4 quarter notes, RR with a half note and two quarter notes while counting 1,2,3,4. But we have not been able to move the half note around. I think the 1,2,3,4 is confusing him.

I was thinking of getting him to play these on the piano, but can't figure out how to establish a "beat" as he is playing them. We eventually want to move to playing different notes (right now the quarter note and half note are on blank cards. He can already match notes. He just doesn't know what they are for yet.

Has anyone got any tricks up their sleeves for introducing note reading?

Nancy

[Nancy Walton]

I have to agree with Barbara and Avery. I'd like to add that once you do get your team hired, start keeping your eyes open for more therapists. That way, you are handpicking people that have somehow already demonstrated to you the kind of personality you want. I have taken phone numbers from Chucky Cheese birthday organizers, swim team members, Starbucks servers (a good source), clothing sales persons, Grocery cashiers, choir singers, and waiters. You can pass on people of interest to other feat members, or just keep them in your file for when you need a new therapist. Trust me. You never know when you will need a new therapist.

Once you do have your team hired, you may want to give them something I call "therapist expectations" that explains everything from how much they get paid (I don't pay for training…they get it for free), to what they can expect from me. I have a copy I can e-mail it to you (or anyone else interested) if you e-mail me at wiklo@shaw.ca and put "therapist expectations" in the subject.

Good luck.

Nancy Walton

[Nancy Walton]

Hi Barb,

And I apologize to you. After chatting with you on line, I fully understand what you were really trying to say to everyone. I DO want to stress, that the rest of your post was very important and I hope new people to the group understand where we have come from.

I want to say that my point got taken off into another direction. My point was that we be courteous to each other. I was not saying that we should change the parameters of the chat. The reason that the parameters are there is so that new people do not have to have the painful experiences that many of the old-timers have had.

We warn you away from alternative therapies because we have been there and tried that. I don't think it is so much the alternative therapy that was painful (as I never did anything that compromised my sons ABA program or his health), but it was the constant wracking of my brain – trying to figure out how to cure my son – that was painful. I can remember my head hurting as I pondered all the alternatives that I should be trying.

I think I stopped worrying about it when I was reintroducing my son to wheat (we did the gluten thing…and he did have a diahrea problem which got better). As we were increasing my son's wheat intake, his speech was suddenly improving. My consultant jokingly said, "well, what ever you are doing, keep doing it, it's working". Well, ofcourse the increase in wheat wasn't working….he was just ready to talk. It was then that I let go. Quit worrying. When opportunity arrises, I try something else, but I don't get all wrapped up about it.

The important thing is to keep your eye on the ball. ABA. Get that going. It works. It's slow (for some, very fast for others), but it works.

OH, and one more thing…take care of yourself. Yes, YOU, the parent. Take care of yourself. Your child needs you. Go have some fun. Rest your brain now and then.

Thanks for listening again,

Nancy

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