A Message to Parents

Dear Parents, I am finally back after a long silence for almost two years. It is very hard to disengage myself from thinking and writing about...

Posts Tagged ‘visual aids’

Comprehension Check

Comprehension Check

By Nadia Shanab | autism, general advice, parenting, tips

There is a way to go into the mind of kids with poor verbal skills and check their understanding of  language. This activity engages several senses along with the thinking process. The kids usually like it because it appears to them as a game. I like doing this activity especially in the afternoon when the

Consistency

By Nadia Shanab | autism, general advice, parenting

Consistency plays a key role in any success. Applying rules consistently takes determination and effort, but it pays off in the long term. It helps the child form and build her own learning schemes in a structured way. Consistency doesn’t leave room for confusion. It is an excellent way to model conformity and discipline. If a

Discipline/Compliance

Discipline/Compliance

By Nadia Shanab | autism, general advice, parenting

People tend to perceive noncompliance as stubbornness or misbehavior. Autistic kids do not always perceive our directions the way neurotypical kids do. Why? Because of their sensory integration issues or their condition in general. They see, hear, smell, feel and process (think) differently. When the child doesn’t comply or conform, she/he is trying to communicate

Tips for Educators, Aides or Instructional Assistants

Tips for Educators, Aides or Instructional Assistants

By Nadia Shanab | autism, general advice, parenting

Here are 31 tips for teachers, aides and instructional assistants to work more effectively with autistic children. General tips Think SAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY! This is the number one priority when working with children, especially special education kids. Greet the student by saying her/his name first when she/he comes in. “Johnny! Good morning!” instead of just

The Importance of a Daily Schedule

By Nadia Shanab | autism, general advice, parenting

We all need some organization and planning to be efficient, productive and relaxed throughout the day. Autistic children, in particular, need a daily schedule in order to picture in their mind how the day will go for them. Their notion of time is different, what appears for “normal” people to be slow might appear to

How are you doing today?

How are you doing today?

By Nadia Shanab | autism, parenting, tips

Here is a practical tip for both educators and parents, which can be used both at school and at home everyday. This tip will help autistic kids with poor verbal skills develop their communication abilities. This practice, if done on regular basis, can jump-start their communication. I have seen this work in several cases. It works