Reading to your child is the best predictor of successful school outcome.

Plan book time into your daily schedule.

The memories will last a lifetime.

You can access all of my Autism Spectrum Blogs for ADVANCE Magazine for the Speech-Language Pathologist through one new article, 2011 ASHA Convention Coverage. Each of the sessions I attended and blogged about deal with some aspect of autism/ASD. These are intended for SLPs, other professionals, and parents. If you have any questions, please give me a click.

Did you know SLP stands for more than Speech-Language Pathologist?

We stand for so much more. The other meaning for SLP is “Simply Love People.”

As we walk into a new year, 2012 has many promises ahead for those who simply love people. The year will march along in its own way, day-by-day. Some of those days will be filled with rewards and some may not. Many of those days that lie ahead will see sparkles of stardust through a child’s eyes sprinkled with fashion and care from their SLP.

Those days will fill themselves with words that the SLP carves out of knowledge, hard work, dedication and love for their profession. Why? Because we simply love people and the SLP’s goal in life is to help people (both children and adults) achieve their goals.

2012 will not come cheap or easy for those who simply love people because we care, but never too much. We spend our own finances. We learn at a pace beyond compare. We dream of our clients at night and do more than our share during the day. But the smiles from across the table, or over the phone, or five-in-the-hand tell us that our hearts know the answers as to why we are SLPs and work with children on the autism spectrum and all disabilities with speech and language needs.

2012 will give us legs to walk the walk and eyes to see all that we can be to a child with speech/language disorders and his/her family. The SLP is most often the first line of communication to the young family. As that child grows, the importance of the SLP is relied on more and more by the family in order to make good choices for its child’s education, home and community. That’s the SLP. It’s a daunting responsibility at times, but we do it because as SLPs, we simply love people.

2012 will be a year of learning more about autism/ASD in the life of the SLP and in the world community. There is research being conducted around the globe, but most important is what the SLPs are doing with an individual child. As SLPs and parents, don’t let one methodology drive your therapy. Don’t let yourselves be intimidated. The SLP should set a goal of obtaining all of your CEUs in some facet of ASD this coming year so that you can walk that walk. Perhaps most important of all is to listen to the parents’ wants, needs and concerns.

2012 will end all too quickly. There is one thing I know for certain: people who simply love people will live for years to come through the legacy they so generously bestow. That’s the SLP in all of us who have made this profession a lifetime of commitment, reward, and joy.

May your New Year be filled with good things for your family and for all of our children with ASD and all speech/language needs and their families.

Have YOU read these to your child?

The Book Review’s 10 Best Illustrated Children’s Books for 2011, in alphabetical order, are: “Along a Long Road,” written and illustrated by Frank Viva (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers); “A Ball for Daisy,” written and illustrated by Chris Raschka (Schwartz & Wade); “Brother Sun, Sister Moon: Saint Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the Creatures,” written by Katherine Paterson, illustrated by Pamela Dalton (Chronicle Books); “Grandpa Green,” written and illustrated by Lane Smith (Roaring Brook Press); “Ice,” written and illustrated by Arthur Geisert (Enchanted Lion Books); “I Want My Hat Back,” written and illustrated by Jon Klassen (Candlewick Press); “Me … Jane,” written and illustrated by Patrick McDonnell (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers); “Migrant,” written by Maxine Trottier, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault (Groundwood Books); “A Nation’s Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis,” written by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Kadir Nelson (Dial); and “A New Year’s Reunion,” written by Yu Li-Qiong, illustrated by Zhu Cheng-Liang (Candlewick Press). Next year, The New York Times Best Illustrated awards will celebrate its 60th anniversary.

There is no better language learning that reading to and with your child.

The best predictor of school outcome is how much a child reads and is read to at HOME.

 We Connect Now offers stories, law, a blog, focus of the months, events, news, links, and contact information. I spent some time on this site after being contacted by the creater. I am impressed and want to recommend it to both students and parents as a fine resourse for ASD and all disabilities.

Thank you Gabriela, for sending this my way in order to share it with my readers. SLPs, this would be a great resourse to share at an IEP with the parents of  high school students who plan to attend college.

• Prepare your child for a change in your routine
• Tell your child what your plans are ahead of time
• Use Social Stories if your child is familiar with this technique
• Show your child pictures of relatives/friends/places you will see and attend
• Read familiar/favorite non-holiday books to your child
• Play familiary/favorite non-holiday music that is calming to your child
• Take food that your child will eat when going to relatives/events
• Take the child’s favorite toy when going to relatives/events
• Buy the child his/her own camera to take pictures (if appropriate)
• If the lights bother your child let him/her pick out a pair of sunglasses
• A flashlight is often calming so that the child can focus on only one item
• Don’t force your child to sit on Santa’s lap – let him/her tell you and you can tell Santa so that they don’t feel left out
• If loud noise is an issue – provide a headset, iPod, earmuffs, etc.
• Take a washcloth with you so that your child can cover his/her face if the stimulus becomes overwhelming or if a tantrum develops

What better time to teach social skills to children with ASD than at Christmas!

Santa would so approve. 

            I believe that all children with autism want to please their parents, teachers, friends, speech therapist, and yes, Santa. I believe they don’t always know how. In fact, I know they don’t know how to make the right social choices. Many people without ASD don’t make good social choices either.

          Christmas is a perfect time to make comparison lists of right vs. wrong, good compared to bad, and in Santa terms, between naughty and nice. Start making your lists of naughty and nice things to do for the holidays and compare them. Talk about them. Do the nice ones – together.

          Acts of “niceness” at Christmas

encourage good social choices year round.

Thoughts for Thanksgiving Hugs 

I love to hug children

They 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.