Providing Sameness and Routine While Living in Unfamiliar Surroundings
Judy Endow's Strategies for Providing Sameness and Routine Many children with special needs thrive in an environment with a high degree of predictability, sameness and routine. In the aftermath of a natural disaster life is anything but what our kids need to succeed. Often entire families, neighborhoods or communities are in the flux of confusion, chaos and change and will be for quite some time to come. Putting sameness and routine back into your child’s life as quickly as possible will be helpful. How can you do that when you have no idea what life will hold for you and your
Quick Tips to Create a Visual Schedule
Judy Endow on the Importance of Continuing a Visual Schedule After a Natural Disaster Many children with special needs use a visual schedule to organize their day. A visual schedule shows which activities and the order in which the activities will happen. A visual schedule can map out a big chunk of time such as an entire morning, afternoon or even a whole day. A first/then visual schedule shows what will happen just now (first) and what will happen next (then). (Endow, 2011) If your child uses a visual schedule it is important that you continue using a visual schedule through the
Autism and the Importance of Stabilization
As an autism consultant I am often asked how I sort out what to do when I see an autistic client who is struggling in school or in life. As an autistic person I know first hand if stabilization needs are not met, regardless of the supports in place an autistic person will struggle. Stabilization consists of three areas that interplay – internal and external regulation in the context of a positive relationship. Internal Regulation ~ Sensory Diet Internal regulation has many components, but for stabilization I look at the sensory system. When a person has an autism neurology
