All About Autism

What Month Is It?

Posted on October 3, 2013 by all about autism

October is full of vibrant colors, isn’t it? The bright yellow sun, brilliant blue sky, and beautiful hues of fall color. Pops of pink even seem to appear in the rich red leaves.

Speaking of pink, reading the Erie Times-News this morning I was encouraged to wear pink on October 9^th in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. “Of course” I thought. Then I remembered that on October 9^th I was planning to wear orange for National Bullying Prevention Month. What would I do? “I could wear both,” I thought. “Pink and orange do complement each other.” It reminded me that October is full of color but not just in the scenery.

October is a month of advocacy. Organizations and individuals working for truly important causes. I encourage you to look at the October colors of fall in a different way; through the eyes of advocacy. And, instead of choosing one organization, I suggest supporting multiple. There are several ways to do so, such as contacting your legislator for funding, donating time, and encouraging friends and colleagues to give as well. You can also wear a color.

So, this month let the shades of October drape your wardrobe. What seems to be a simple act of wearing a color may become a visible statement that we collectively support, advocate for, and recognize the organizations, individuals, families and communities each campaign champions!

It’s October. This month is:

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month–pink
National Bullying Prevention–orange
Domestic Violence Awareness Month – purple
Safe Net Erie
National Down Syndrome Month – purple / yellow
National Physical Therapy Month– green
Dwarfism Awareness Month– green
Mental Illness Awareness Week 3rd-9th – green

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged advocacy, asd, Breast Cancer Awareness, Bullying Prevention, Domestic Violence Awareness, Dwarfism Awareness Month, encourage, Mental Illnes Awareness Week, National Down Syndrome, october, Physical Therapy Month, support, walk | 1 Comment

31 Days to Unite Against Bullying

Posted on October 1, 2013 by all about autism

Artwork by the students of room 122

It’s October. This month alone it’s estimated that 38% of children with ASD will be bullied, according to a study published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.

This time of year there’s talk of falling leaves, pumpkins and, of course, Halloween. It’s also a month when the color orange is displayed, not just in pumpkins patches, but for a greater cause: to stop bullying.

Bullying is rampant within schools across the country and it’s for that reason that October has been designated National Bullying Prevention Month. Whether an educator, student, or family member you can take an active role during the month by:

Signing-up yourself and your school as a champion against bullying
Add your name to the digital “The End of Bullying Begins With Me” petition
Spread the word to stop bullying via Facebook and Twitter
Use the www.pacer.org classroom toolkit to raise awareness

There are 31 days this month. That’s 31 opportunities to raise awareness of bullying prevention through outreach and education. Join us on Wednesday, October 9th as our students stand with local middle and high school students, teachers, and members of the community at the Millcreek Mall to sign an Anti-Bullying Pledge.

Mark your calendar and make plans to wear orange on Unity Day, October 9th. I encourage you to join us and scores of people around the country to “Make it Orange and Make it End!”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged asd, autism, Ellen, millcreek mall, National Bullying Prevention, october, October 9th, Orange, pledge, Stop Bullying, stop school bullying, Unity Day | 2 Comments

Are Robots an Answer to Social Skills?

Posted on September 26, 2013 by all about autism

All of us have struggled when our children plateau in ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapy. We ask ourselves “what else can we do?”

Dr. Diehl, of Notre Dame turned to technology to investigate this answer. Below are highlights of his research study from his presentation at the BNI last night.

Dr. Diehl and the F.U.N. Lab team enrolled nineteen children with ASD between the ages of six and thirteen. The subjects participated in twelve sessions. In six of the sessions a robot co-therapist was present and in six sessions only the therapist (no robot) participated. The goals were individualized but Dr. Diehl was measuring the child’s response to questions, ability to ask questions and make appropriate social comments.

Joshua Diehl..Photo by Matt Cashore/University of Notre Dame

Dr. Joshua Diehl
Notre Dame

The outcomes were encouraging. Responses nearly doubled during the time when a robot co-therapist was present. Also, these social skills generalized outside the therapy session. Dr. Diehl stated that “children with ASD have strengths understanding the physical world vs. the social world and we can use technology to bridge this gap.” This is true of many children with ASD however, as the study indicated, there were considerable individual differences.

Although a seemingly small study, the results are significant as it’s the largest study of its kind to date. Seventeen of the nineteen children showed overall improvement in social skills with the majority showing greater gains during the sessions that included the robot co-therapist.

In a parallel study here at the BNI, seven children between the ages of three and nine years participated in sixteen sessions. Eight sessions were with a robot co-therapist and 8 were without. Our results were similar to Dr. Diehl’s with significant improvement when the robot was a co-therapist. Generalization outside of the therapy room also occurred.

What’s next?

We are excited to continue our work with Dr. Diehl using the robot as a co-therapist. The future is also exciting for Dr. Diehl and the F.U.N. Lab. They recently submitted a grant to Autism Speaks to adapt robot co-therapy into a more practical form. If approved, Dr. Diehl will be looking at the use of video clips of a robot that could be accessed via an iPad or laptop in a therapy room.

Technology is a key component in the treatment of children with ASD. As Dr. Diehl stated “technology should be used to supplement and enhance but not replace social interaction.” I couldn’t agree with him more and can’t wait to see what the future will hold.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged ABA Therapy, asd, ASD technology, autism, autism speaks, autism spectrum disorder, bni, Dr. Diehl, improving social skills, notre dame, research study, robot co-therapist, robots, social skills | 2 Comments

Robots and Autism Spectrum Disorders

Posted on September 24, 2013 by all about autism

For those of you who live in the Erie area, the Barber National Institute is hosting Dr. Joshua Diehl, a professor at the University of Notre Dame. He will be discussing “Robots and Autism: The Impact, Potential, and the Future” on Wednesday, September 26 at 6:00 pm in our Forum.

Since we first announced our collaboration in May 2012, preliminary results have suggested that many of the child participants have displayed an increase in skill development when the robot is added to therapy sessions.

This program is being offered to the community, free of charge. Act 48 credit is available. Reservations for the event are appreciated by calling (814) 480-6831 or by going online at Barberinstitute.org.

More information about the robot research program, including a video, is available at Barberinstitute.org/robot.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Celebrating: One Woman’s Dream

Posted on September 19, 2013 by all about autism

A dream can be as individual as a fingerprint or as universal as a common prayer.

For parents of a child with developmental disabilities, the dream may be for a child to speak or to walk. For an adult with autism, the dream may be getting a job, living independently or with supports. For one woman, the dream was to enable all children and adults to develop to their fullest potential as they grew up in a community which accepted and valued them.

Tomorrow we will commemorate the life and legacy of our founder Dr. Gertrude A. Barber. It’s a celebration with joyful festivities including the friendly animals of Granny’s Ark petting zoo, Joe Lish, our staff member, providing musical entertainment, and of course we will be wearing our favorite color, green.

For some of the thousands of people whose lives were changed by Dr. Barber, the occasion is cause to remember the significant impact left by this remarkable woman. She often said…

“Our focus has continued to be a mission of faith, hope, and love-to open the doors where they were closed – to bring sunlight where there was darkness-faith where there was despair.”

Dr. Barber was on the front line advocating for children and adults with developmental disabilities. She frequently made trips to Harrisburg lobbying for more funding, and was on the front lawn of the White House when President George H.W. Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990.

Dr. Gertrude A. Barber’s vision brought hope to parents, joy to children and courage to the community by promoting understanding, acceptance, tolerance and inclusion.

The spirit of Dr. Gertrude A. Barber lives on as the Barber National Institute continues to make dreams come true for our children, adults and their families. Thank you Dr. Barber for your leadership, vision, commitment, and teaching us to reach for our dreams!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged asd, autism, autism awareness, autism services, bni, celebrating, courage, developmental disability, dreaming, dreams, education, erie, Founders Day, friendship, green, hope, joy, leadership, special needs | 2 Comments

Have You Heard of Extraordinary Ventures?

Posted on September 17, 2013 by all about autism

Photo courtesy of the Chapel Hill News Observer

Yesterday I was at the gym lifting weights and listening to Squawk Box. My ears perked up as I heard the host talking about employment of persons with disabilities.

The panel members were beginning a discussion on the need for employment as the tidal wave of individuals aging out of school is rapidly growing. I stopped exercising and went over to the TV to listen more closely. What I heard encouraged me.

The Ireland family saw their son getting older and knew there wasn’t “anything” after age 21. Therefore, in 2007 the Ireland family and a group of parents, concerned about the lack of employment for children with autism who were entering adulthood, joined together to find a solution and thus was the genesis of Extraordinary Ventures.

Photo courtesy of Chapel Hill News Observer

Extraordinary Ventures (EV), a nonprofit in Chapel Hill, NC built its businesses around in-demand services that require skills many with autism spectrum disorders already excel. One such venture is a laundry service, ideal for those who like organization and repetition. There is also a successful candle-making business for those who enjoy cooking and crafts. Check out the EV Gifts.

The success of the businesses in Chapel Hill isn’t because EV charges less than similar businesses, but that they are jobs suited to the strengths of many of the individuals. EV’s goal is to provide jobs to a growing cohort of local adults on the spectrum while creating a model that can be used elsewhere.

It’s extraordinary!

What else is extraordinary?

EV employs entrepreneurial recent college graduates to run the organization, assess community needs, and then “start-up” and manage these business ventures designed around the skills of the individual employees. It’s a win win! The graduates have an opportunity to learn while managing.

The Ireland family and Extraordinary Ventures reminds me of Dr. Gertrude A. Barber. She had a desire to fill the need for education and vocational training for children and adults with developmental disabilities. We grew from a one room workshop in the 1950’s to today, 500+ plus adults gainfully employed in the community.

It takes training and understanding the skill set of individuals with development disabilities, playing to those strengths and then mitigating some of their individual challenges. However, Extraordinary Ventures has proven that if you adjust the business to utilize individual strengths it really works. Dr. Barber would be so proud!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged adults working, asd, bni, Chapel Hill, disabilty employment, employment, Extraordinary Ventures, Ireland family, laundry service, vocational training | 2 Comments

Overcome that Obstacle (even with sand in your shoes)

Posted on September 12, 2013 by all about autism

Ryan Flynn, Ryan Carey (my son) and Bryant Kimball
(and the Beast of course)
Trial run in spring

It was cool brisk Saturday morning. Sand had already seeped into my shoes as I walked between the registration table and starting line taking in the view.

The course was set, volunteers prepared and contestants ready to compete. Excitement penetrated the air as it does when it’s a race morning at the Peninsula.

Ryan was ready. He had spoken about the event for weeks and the day had finally arrived. We were minutes from starting, Ryan was at the line, when he turned to me and smiled. A wave of joy washed over me. He was excited and proud. As I looked around at all the contestants, their family, friends, and aides I saw more smiles, heard laughter and positive encouragers such as “You can do this!” “Way to go!”

The cheers were similar to races, but this was unlike any other event. It was an adaptive extreme obstacle course; a first for Erie, Ryan and many contestants.

Similar to the mission of the Special Olympics and the Little League’s Challenger Division, the Barber Beast on the Bay Adaptive Obstacle Course gave children and adults with disabilities an opportunity to compete in an extreme obstacle course. The event was a celebration of achievement. As the day unfolded and contestants ran through sand, made their way across bridges and down slides into pools of water, I was reminded that you can do anything with a willing spirit and a little encouragement.

How do you begin?

You start with the word ‘can.’

Be open-minded. With self-confidence and courage you can do anything you want. No matter what it is, you can overcome that obstacle (even with sand in your shoes). You may not do things like everyone else, but you can achieve your dreams.

Check out the photos by R. Frank Photography for a glimpse of the day!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Adapted Beast Course, asd, barber national institute, Beast on the Bay, Beat the Beast, bni, competition, courage, Frank Photography, Lake Erie, Peninsula, sand run | Leave a comment

Under the Sea

Posted on September 10, 2013 by all about autism

Students on a “field trip” to visit the blue sailfish

Last week one of the teachers used the “ocean” as the classroom learning theme. The students’ were exploring the ocean and when I heard about this I couldn’t wait to talk to them about what they were learning.

As I entered the classroom, I was pleasantly surprised at how each student was fully engaged in the lesson. When I asked them “what did you learn?” every student had something to share.

Kayla was enthralled with the shark book. Jimmy was a virtual encyclopedia about the creatures of the ocean. He told me all about the lightening, jelly and vampire fish and the sting rays. No detail was left unshared. Coral was his next favorite topic. He was fascinated by the array of colors and shapes and knew details that would have made any deep-sea diver proud.

Scuba diving was also a hot topic. Everyone wanted to do it and many remembered when it was taught here as part of Camp Connections.

I could see their eyes light up with joy as they shared. They were engaged and grasping the lessons, which is a testament to the teacher and staff.

How did the teacher succeed?

She incorporated multiple types of media and tactile items from the sea to teach the lessons. Using the iPad she projected education movies and brainpop videos onto the wall. The students enjoyed touching the fish, coral and sea life on the wall. She brought in seashells and coral for the students to feel and used lobsters, sharks and jellyfish as her focus in teaching.

Most importantly she found the area of interest, the ocean, and used it to engage her class. I encourage you to try it! So many lessons can be taught through a topic of interest including math, spelling and colors to name a few. A little time and patience invested to find what that interest is will have big rewards for the student and the teacher.

The final fun experience for the class was a field trip.

The class stopped by my office where I have a beautiful blue sail fish mounted on the wall. They each took turns touching the fish while some talked about its color. It was a fabulous opportunity to experience the ocean with the class and to see how life “under the sea” can transform teaching.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged asd, autism and the ocean, bni, creative education, engaging students, field trip, ocean, sailfish, teaching, under the sea | Leave a comment

Robots & Autism: What’s the impact? What’s the future?

Posted on September 5, 2013 by all about autism

A few years ago I was relaxing at home reading the latest edition of the Notre Dame Alumni magazine. I came across an article written by Dr. Joshua Diehl, Assistant Professor of Psychology, on his robot research and I was hooked. Fascinated and impressed by his work, I began to wonder how we could connect with him.

As the quest to connect began, I remembered that a colleague’s son was attending Notre Dame and, as it turned out, happened to be in one of Dr. Diehl’s classes. Through a series of conversations, emails, and meetings (along with a unified desire to see how robots and autism were linked) we saw an opportunity: to investigate the effect robots have on children diagnosed with autism. Thus began the unique collaboration between the BNI and the University of Notre Dame.

Dr. Josh Diehl
Assistant Professor of Psychology
The University of Notre Dame

Dr. Diehl is the director of our research collaboration using robots to teach social skills to children with autism. The Robot Study was one of six research studies highlighted at the 2013 International Meeting for Autism Research and has gained worldwide attention.

Dr. Diehl also serves as Director of the For Understanding Neurodevelopment Laboratory (F.U.N. Lab) at the University of Notre Dame. The F.U.N. Lab focuses on understanding and improving disorders (including Asperger syndrome, Autism and PDD) and other neurological disorders.

I am thrilled to invite you to a inspiring, educational and informative meeting with Dr. Josh Diehl here at the BNI on Wednesday, September 25th from 6-7pm in our Forum. Come and hear about Robots and Autism: The Impact, the Potential and the Future.

The event is free and open to the public, so whether you are a interested community member, medical professional, teacher or family member, this discussion will move you! Reservations are appreciated by calling us at 814-480-6831. I hope to share this fabulous evening with you!

Check out the video regarding the project!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged asd, aspergers, autism, autism research, bni, Dr. Diehl, FUN Lab, Josh Diehl, medical, notre dame, Notre Dame Alumni, parents, research update, robots, social skills, teacher | Leave a comment

“To Infinity….and Beyond!”

Posted on September 3, 2013 by all about autism

The excitement of a new school year is palpable! Welcome signs drape the walls, the smell of fresh paint in the air, new lesson plans and goals.There is so much to look forward to including how technology will advance learning for students’. It’s playing a key role in transforming the classroom!

Technology in school is becoming the norm when it comes education, support and training for students’ and faculty. We are thrilled and grateful for all the supporters who have made technology possible in the ELBS. Computers in every classroom, 50 iPads and 5 TAPits enable our teachers to work effectively and efficiently with the students building communication, creativity and connection ultimately enabling us to reach new heights!

This year the Elizabeth Lee Black School will begin hosting “Tech Talks.” “Tech Talks” will be a bi-monthly 30 minute conversation at the ELBS for parents, faculty and staff to ask questions and explore the realms of the digital world including new technological ventures. Stay tuned for details!

Everyday technology is changing, we read about it online and in the paper. It’s moving us, with the right guidance, to new heights in education and the classroom. The opportunities are limitless. As Buzz Lightyear said “to infinity and beyond!”

I would love to hear how you are using technology in school this year and to what heights it’s taking you?