Comments for readerswithautism.com http://readerswithautism.com Help for struggling readers on the autism spectrum Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:41:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 Comment on Hello, World 2! Leave us a comment and tell us why you visited by Richard Finegan http://readerswithautism.com/2009/12/hello-world-2-leave-us-a-comment-and-tell-us-why-you-visited/comment-page-1/#comment-187 Richard Finegan Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:41:54 +0000 http://readerswithautism.com/?p=785#comment-187 Cynthia: We're also glad you found us. You might share Sara's posts about <strong>anaphoric cuing</strong> with your student's teacher. If he has hyperlexia, this may be successful and you can easily implement it. I've been working mostly with older kids (6th grade through high school) and have certainly seen both improvement with socialization and high academic achievement. My personal feeling is that<strong> helping develop social skills (e.g. partner and group work) are the most important thing we as paraeducators can be doing to help a kid succeed as an adult with ASD.</strong> If the IEP has goals that that force you to address, say, a child's inability to multiply three digit numbers by two digit numbers (when this is not directly related to his ASD and most of his peers also struggle with it) then somebody has missed the boat. Anyway, off my high horse. Good luck, and check in periodically. We really will be posting more frequently again soon. You might also check out our sister website www.thedemandingclassroom.com where I have several other posts relating to paraeducators. Richard Cynthia:

We’re also glad you found us. You might share Sara’s posts about anaphoric cuing with your student’s teacher. If he has hyperlexia, this may be successful and you can easily implement it.

I’ve been working mostly with older kids (6th grade through high school) and have certainly seen both improvement with socialization and high academic achievement. My personal feeling is that helping develop social skills (e.g. partner and group work) are the most important thing we as paraeducators can be doing to help a kid succeed as an adult with ASD. If the IEP has goals that that force you to address, say, a child’s inability to multiply three digit numbers by two digit numbers (when this is not directly related to his ASD and most of his peers also struggle with it) then somebody has missed the boat.

Anyway, off my high horse. Good luck, and check in periodically. We really will be posting more frequently again soon.

You might also check out our sister website http://www.thedemandingclassroom.com where I have several other posts relating to paraeducators.

Richard

]]> Comment on Hello, World 2! Leave us a comment and tell us why you visited by Cynthia Marchinkoski http://readerswithautism.com/2009/12/hello-world-2-leave-us-a-comment-and-tell-us-why-you-visited/comment-page-1/#comment-185 Cynthia Marchinkoski Sat, 06 Mar 2010 14:32:22 +0000 http://readerswithautism.com/?p=785#comment-185 I found your link on Wikipedia and am glad I did. I am a paraeducator working this school year with a 7 yr. old child diagnosed w/ autism. Mostly in a contained classroom (just the 2 of us). When the child does spend time in general ed. it is not seated at a desk, but rather roaming and exploring. A delightful, bright child, and hyperlexic. Speech is a concern; as words and phrases become longer, the tendency is to babble.However, this child reads on grade level w/ questionalbe comprehension.Obviously the retell is a problem. My educational background is psychology, gerontology and therapeutic recreation. I ended up here after retirement and a stint at substitute teaching. What a blessing. I too feel that this position is more rewarding than the classroom teacher, at least at this juncture. I wonder what is in store for the emergent ASD adult? Thank you for your work, insights and shared strategies. I found your link on Wikipedia and am glad I did. I am a paraeducator working this school year with a 7 yr. old child diagnosed w/ autism. Mostly in a contained classroom (just the 2 of us). When the child does spend time in general ed. it is not seated at a desk, but rather roaming and exploring. A delightful, bright child, and hyperlexic. Speech is a concern; as words and phrases become longer, the tendency is to babble.However, this child reads on grade level w/ questionalbe comprehension.Obviously the retell is a problem. My educational background is psychology, gerontology and therapeutic recreation. I ended up here after retirement and a stint at substitute teaching. What a blessing. I too feel that this position is more rewarding than the classroom teacher, at least at this juncture. I wonder what is in store for the emergent ASD adult? Thank you for your work, insights and shared strategies.

]]> Comment on Hello, World 2! Leave us a comment and tell us why you visited by Richard Finegan http://readerswithautism.com/2009/12/hello-world-2-leave-us-a-comment-and-tell-us-why-you-visited/comment-page-1/#comment-179 Richard Finegan Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:04:17 +0000 http://readerswithautism.com/?p=785#comment-179 Jean: Thanks for the link to your website, and we hope you find anaphoric cuing or other techniques discussed here successful in your work with your grandson, Keelan. Richard Jean:
Thanks for the link to your website, and we hope you find anaphoric cuing or other techniques discussed here successful in your work with your grandson, Keelan.
Richard

]]> Comment on Hello, World 2! Leave us a comment and tell us why you visited by Jean Law http://readerswithautism.com/2009/12/hello-world-2-leave-us-a-comment-and-tell-us-why-you-visited/comment-page-1/#comment-178 Jean Law Mon, 01 Mar 2010 06:40:47 +0000 http://readerswithautism.com/?p=785#comment-178 Meant to say our website was established to help people with children on the spectrum access free advocacy in their battle for adequate services in Tasmania, Australia. Jean Meant to say our website was established to help people with children on the spectrum access free advocacy in their battle for adequate services in Tasmania, Australia.

Jean

]]> Comment on Hello, World 2! Leave us a comment and tell us why you visited by Jean Law http://readerswithautism.com/2009/12/hello-world-2-leave-us-a-comment-and-tell-us-why-you-visited/comment-page-1/#comment-177 Jean Law Mon, 01 Mar 2010 06:38:51 +0000 http://readerswithautism.com/?p=785#comment-177 We are grandparents of Keelan, a 13 year old autistic who lives with us. [His mother has 4 boys, 3 of whom are on the spectrum, the other of whom has dispraxia.] We visited your site because of our deep concern for Keelan's poor reading and expressive language skills. My husband is excited by what he has read, and our hope is that you will provide the answers we need to be able to help Keelan. Keelan is unable to function in the classroom, so he is educated at home using a Distance Education Programme. I am a long retired teacher who has been really concerned about Keelan's lack of reading skills - he is excellent at decoding words but that's about it. We are grandparents of Keelan, a 13 year old autistic who lives with us. [His mother has 4 boys, 3 of whom are on the spectrum, the other of whom has dispraxia.]

We visited your site because of our deep concern for Keelan’s poor reading and expressive language skills. My husband is excited by what he has read, and our hope is that you will provide the answers we need to be able to help Keelan.

Keelan is unable to function in the classroom, so he is educated at home using a Distance Education Programme. I am a long retired teacher who has been really concerned about Keelan’s lack of reading skills – he is excellent at decoding words but that’s about it.

]]> Comment on Want More? by Paula Mueller http://readerswithautism.com/want-more/comment-page-1/#comment-175 Paula Mueller Sat, 27 Feb 2010 20:57:33 +0000 http://readerswithautism.com/?page_id=303#comment-175 How do you or who do you see to diagnose for Hyperlexia? No one seems to know what Hyperlexia is in my neck of the woods. How do you or who do you see to diagnose for Hyperlexia? No one seems to know what Hyperlexia is in my neck of the woods.

]]> Comment on About the Finegans by Paula Mueller http://readerswithautism.com/about/comment-page-1/#comment-174 Paula Mueller Sat, 27 Feb 2010 20:52:25 +0000 http://readerswithautism.com/?page_id=2#comment-174 I need some help! My son is autistic, 13 years old. I have know for quite sometime now that he had a major reading comprehension problem. I just learned of the word "Hyperlexia" and I got the school now educated in the word. BUT, they handed me a book and workbook and printed out copies of your posts they thought would help me along and said "see ya" gave me no offer of help within the school. I don't know what to do and/or how to do this. I do home school my son and he does go to middle school as dual enrollment. Please do what you can to get me on the right track. My son is so far behind it's not funny! Thanks. Paula M. I need some help! My son is autistic, 13 years old. I have know for quite sometime now that he had a major reading comprehension problem. I just learned of the word “Hyperlexia” and I got the school now educated in the word. BUT, they handed me a book and workbook and printed out copies of your posts they thought would help me along and said “see ya” gave me no offer of help within the school. I don’t know what to do and/or how to do this. I do home school my son and he does go to middle school as dual enrollment. Please do what you can to get me on the right track. My son is so far behind it’s not funny! Thanks.

Paula M.

]]> Comment on Asperger Syndrome rolled into new Autism Spectrum Disorder by Richard Finegan http://readerswithautism.com/2010/02/asperger-syndrome-rolled-into-new-autism-spectrum-disorder/comment-page-1/#comment-164 Richard Finegan Sun, 14 Feb 2010 17:25:23 +0000 http://readerswithautism.com/?p=924#comment-164 I know there are many diagnosed with Asperger's (or parents of a child so diagnosed) who will be upet by this action. Granted there is a stigma in the minds of most of the public about autism. But as Dr. Temple Grandin has noted (and she knows autism from the inside): "Autism is an extremely variable disorder." It is a spectrum, and whatever stigma exists is simply reinforced if only those with more extreme symptoms are said to be on that spectrum and those with milder symptoms are excluded. It will be better for everyone when the general public comes to recognize what Dr. Grandin recognizes and stops making assumptions based on nothing more than the diagnosis "autism spectrum disorder." I know there are many diagnosed with Asperger’s (or parents of a child so diagnosed) who will be upet by this action. Granted there is a stigma in the minds of most of the public about autism. But as Dr. Temple Grandin has noted (and she knows autism from the inside): “Autism is an extremely variable disorder.”
It is a spectrum, and whatever stigma exists is simply reinforced if only those with more extreme symptoms are said to be on that spectrum and those with milder symptoms are excluded.
It will be better for everyone when the general public comes to recognize what Dr. Grandin recognizes and stops making assumptions based on nothing more than the diagnosis “autism spectrum disorder.”

]]> Comment on Role of the classroom aide: To help the child toward independence by Richard Finegan http://readerswithautism.com/2009/09/role-of-the-classroom-aide-to-help-the-child-toward-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-162 Richard Finegan Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:06:47 +0000 http://readerswithautism.com/?p=463#comment-162 Amy: When I find myself hovering close to the child I'm assigned to help, I'll literally cross the room and look for another child I can assist. We do not want our kids to think we are there to lead them by the hand through every assignment or to eliminate all obstacles for them. That does nothing to promote the independence we want for them. There is definitely a place for special day classes. Sara's is a special day class. But not all special day class teachers are as demanding as they should be. Special day class should not be "dumbed down" versions of general ed. Alternatively, general ed classes are not ideal for every student if the necessary supports (special ed resource teacher, classroom aides) are not being provided there. Making sure your child gets what they need is a constant concern, and from year to year you may have to fight the same fights all over again. Hang in there. You may also want to visit our sister website: www.thedemandingclassroom.com. Richard Amy:

When I find myself hovering close to the child I’m assigned to help, I’ll literally cross the room and look for another child I can assist. We do not want our kids to think we are there to lead them by the hand through every assignment or to eliminate all obstacles for them. That does nothing to promote the independence we want for them.

There is definitely a place for special day classes. Sara’s is a special day class. But not all special day class teachers are as demanding as they should be. Special day class should not be “dumbed down” versions of general ed. Alternatively, general ed classes are not ideal for every student if the necessary supports (special ed resource teacher, classroom aides) are not being provided there.

Making sure your child gets what they need is a constant concern, and from year to year you may have to fight the same fights all over again. Hang in there.

You may also want to visit our sister website: http://www.thedemandingclassroom.com.

Richard

]]> Comment on Role of the classroom aide: To help the child toward independence by Amy Leader http://readerswithautism.com/2009/09/role-of-the-classroom-aide-to-help-the-child-toward-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-161 Amy Leader Fri, 12 Feb 2010 09:14:52 +0000 http://readerswithautism.com/?p=463#comment-161 Thank you for this information and insight. I am currently dealing with a struggle to get the right help for my child's teacher at a Waldorf Methods Charter school in Sonoma CA. My child was born with spin bifida which has so many complications attached to it. One complication which in itself has complications is hydracephalus. He has a VP shunt and of late has had several revisions and one of those was due to an infection. I am sure anaphoric cuing is a large reason as to why he struggles with both written and verbal material. He does his best work when there is visual demonstration such as science labs, painting, etc. I have been volunteering in the class for pre algebra this year to be an anchor for my child. I found that helping any child that needs help is the best practice in being an aide to my child and helpful to the teacher. Due to the infection my son was out of school for over a month and upon re-entry the classroom teacher asked at the IEP meeting that a "special day class" be considered. I was outraged. I had to literally bite my lip to keep from yelling. Fortunate for me the special ed. teacher from UCSF who worked with us during the month he was there set the teacher straight. She clearly spoke that socially my child is best served in a regular ed classroom, and while he needs extra support to stay on task and grasp instruction etc. he is very able to learn and give "output". Thank goodness for this angel who agreed that a classroom aide for at least the morning lesson would be best. It is sad that a teacher with only 15 students in his class feels that he cannot give my child what he needs. I feel if that is the case then it is true that none of the children can be taught by this teacher. I think that your practice of leading a child to being independent is so very important. Special ed or regular ed this is the goal of a solid education is for any child. Thank you for this information and insight. I am currently dealing with a struggle to get the right help for my child’s teacher at a Waldorf Methods Charter school in Sonoma CA. My child was born with spin bifida which has so many complications attached to it. One complication which in itself has complications is hydracephalus. He has a VP shunt and of late has had several revisions and one of those was due to an infection. I am sure anaphoric cuing is a large reason as to why he struggles with both written and verbal material. He does his best work when there is visual demonstration such as science labs, painting, etc.
I have been volunteering in the class for pre algebra this year to be an anchor for my child. I found that helping any child that needs help is the best practice in being an aide to my child and helpful to the teacher.
Due to the infection my son was out of school for over a month and upon re-entry the classroom teacher asked at the IEP meeting that a “special day class” be considered. I was outraged. I had to literally bite my lip to keep from yelling.
Fortunate for me the special ed. teacher from UCSF who worked with us during the month he was there set the teacher straight. She clearly spoke that socially my child is best served in a regular ed classroom, and while he needs extra support to stay on task and grasp instruction etc. he is very able to learn and give “output”. Thank goodness for this angel who agreed that a classroom aide for at least the morning lesson would be best.
It is sad that a teacher with only 15 students in his class feels that he cannot give my child what he needs. I feel if that is the case then it is true that none of the children can be taught by this teacher.
I think that your practice of leading a child to being independent is so very important. Special ed or regular ed this is the goal of a solid education is for any child.

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