According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication, and behavioral challenges. While people diagnosed “on the spectrum” may look like their neurotypical peers, and their intelligence can range from gifted to severely challenged, they communicate, behave, and learn in […]
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On November 19th, 2021, Diane Gray, Supervisor of Instruction at Alpha School, and Amy Brandon, Supervisor of Instruction at Harbor School, presented at this year’s 43rd annual ASAH Conference. Ms. Gray and Ms. Brandon presented a workshop on incorporating STEM into the special needs classroom. What is STEM? (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) – How RKS Schools […]
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Transition planning can seem overwhelming and the support at The Gateway School in Carteret, New Jersey helps to guide parents through this process.On Thursday, November 18, 2021 the Gateway School provided an online seminar helping the Gateway family understand the crucial parts of planning once their child transitions away from the school bus. Our presenters […]
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Functional skills instruction can help special needs children successfully navigate their personal and educational environments. These are the skills that if not done by an individual independently, others will have to do for him or her. Giving the child lots of opportunities to practice and increase their mastery of functional skills can increase a child’s […]
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Everyone has the right to communicate their wants, thoughts, feelings, and ideas. Non-verbal students have a range of methods of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to support their communication, from low-tech approaches like pictures, sign language, and gestures to high-tech approaches like speech-generating devices and iPad apps. While they certainly add to students’ existing ways […]
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Representation of neurodiverse characters on screen matters because it shows all kids that they are an integral part of our culture and not separate from it. Everyone deserves to see affirming visions of themselves in the culture around them. Atypical (2017-2021) is one example of a show streaming on Netflix right now that attempts to […]
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Planning for your kids’ future can be daunting, but parents of children with special needs must take a few extra steps to make sure their children will be taken care of in adulthood. If your child is or will be receiving government benefits, be sure that any money you bequeath in your will or any […]
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STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education involves active problem solving, collaboration, and communication in a fun way, often with hands-on materials. According to Nancy Tsupros, Director of STEM Services at CMU, “STEM is an interdisciplinary approach to learning where rigorous academic concepts are coupled with real-world lessons as students apply science, technology, engineering, and […]
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So many children with learning differences are incredibly intelligent. Yet because they learn differently, they may feel misunderstood, or even inferior. Showing a broad range of learning differences, the books on this list depict characters who share the struggles of special needs kids. Hopefully, reading these books will help all students know that they are […]
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In 1990, Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop coined the metaphor “windows, mirrors, and sliding doors” to describe the power of representation in children’s books. She wrote: “Books are sometimes windows, offering views of worlds that may be real or imagined, familiar or strange. These windows are also sliding glass doors, and readers have only to walk […]
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