MAAP Services is very excited about their 2006 conference - which will also be in
Indy - when they will have a full day of Tony Attwood!
Spred the word about that one - it is unusally to get Tony outside of one of
the very large cities.
I just attended the 2005 MAAP Services/IRCA Conference in Indy and it was fantastic with ideas that would really benefit individuals beyond those on the spectrum. I am looking forward to sharing how to create a Communication Dictionary at the PLAYNET meeting in December. A Communication Dictionary is useful for writing down and sharing with everyonewho comes in contact witih the child what they usually do/how they use ther behavior to communicate, or say one thing and really mean another, and how the child expects others to respond. The following is part of Barbara Doyle's explanation of the need for a Communication Dictionary:
"When and individual with ASD experiences staff or family changes (such as a favorite staff leaving the workplace, a change in classroom or school) the individual often becomes very upset by these changes, losing skills and exhibiting more problematic behaviors. Part of the reason for this could be that the individual has lost an 'interpreter', a close family member or staff who understood the unique way the individual communicated and was able to provide consistent responses. The individual with ASD has to begin again, 'training' new people to understand and respond to previously understood messages. How frustrating that must be! The Communication Dictionary is one way to avoid this loss of staff/family information and reduce frustration for the individual."
Barbara Doyle also had some very useful infromation about Behavior Management which I also feel applies beyond those on the spectrum. I will provide co pies of what she calls a "Behavior Prioritization Grid" which emphasizes that the most critical behaviors to target are thsoe that are actually dangerous or a threat to the existence or well being of self or others. Stigmatizing behavior is that which is viewed as unpleasant and/or socially inappropriate. Unconventional behavior is perceived as odd, unusual, and not typical. Finally conventional behavior is that which is considered typical, acceptable, and appropriate. She offers suggestions on how to avoid making a merely unconventiona behavior escalate to a stigmatizing or dangerous behavior, and quick repair strategies for meltdowns.
Her book "Autism Spectrum Disorders from A to Z Assessment, Diagnosis...& More" has the ISBN # 0-9768222-0-2 If you ask your local library for a book they do not have and provide the ISBN number they may order it in their next book purchase. Other suggested reading includes "Taking Care of Myself A Hygiene, Puberty and Personal Curriculum for Young people with Autism" by Mary Wrobel ISBN # 1-885477-94-5, "Asperger Syndrome and Sensory Issues practical Solutions for Making Sense of the World" ISBN# 0-9672514-7-8, and "Perfect Targets Aspergers Syndrome and Bullying" by Rebekah Heinrichs ISBN# 1-9311282-18-8
Below is the contact infromation for MAAP
MAAP Services for Autism & Asperger Syndrome
P.O. Box 524
Crown Point, IN 46308
219-662-1311
www.maapservices.org