Free, cheap and not so free things that have helped with Edward's Education - Autism help support

Just thinking about the cheapest and most effective things that worked for us for Edward (and Victoria seems to be doing well from them too.)

Cheaper or free things have done

- educational songs and actions (over and over and over even when you think they walked out, aren't interested, or not looking - why?  Because you know those horrible advert jingles that get stuck in your head, even when you walked out, not interested and weren't looking and you still remember)
  " brain regions associated with these functions typically overlap, enabling investigation of neural organization supporting speech and song in autism. " http://m.brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/135/3/961

- educational videos that most asd kids enjoy
http://suzannejeffares.blogspot.co.nz/2014/08/i-have-made-8-playlists-for-our.html?m=1

- Subtitles on TV

- Subtitles on Netflix ( especially Children's education videos)

- Watched these awesome videos on potential: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLt1mf23I6t9Qsrk1700mmVbikPhFivp-w

- Read the book "The Spark" by Kristine Barnett

- making video stories and showing them to Edward

- going into public with Edward (a video I made of walking through the mall helped make this an easier task) https://youtu.be/IHBBSVc7OME (lucky to have an excellent crèche at our local mall)

*****Not so cheap things*****

- putting up mirrors at Edward height, since he couldn't look at our faces to learn how to make sounds, he did better interrogating his own face. (Near the tv for the songs, in his bedroom for a safe environment to look, in the bathroom to help with changing, toileting and teeth brushing)

- Getting an excellent carer/Babysitter with an ECE (early Learning child care - qualified to teach in preschool) qualification **** worth it though****

- your baby can read videos https://yourbabycanlearn.com

- the transporters video (helps with emotion recognition)
http://www.thetransporters.com/

- baby bumblebee kids videos
https://babybumblebee.com/cart.php?m=product_list&c=15&v=&shopByPrice=&stream=&sortBy=PriceLoHi

- resources for Edward's interests (most expensive)
  Paper
  Magnetic drawing boards
  Magnetic alphabet
  Magnetic Whiteboards
  Blackboards
  Chalk
  Paint
  Spinning egg chair
  Washable felts
  Crayons
  Playdoh
  Trampoline (songs and actions and jumping)
  Posters
  Toys
  Visits to the observatory
  Trips on the train
  Rebounder (in front of the tv, lounge area)
  Reading to Edward
  Swings
  Books, books and more books
  Old Encyclopaedia books
 
- iPad (a multi amazing resource in itself - second most expensive item)

- Rapid Prompting Method (Excellent for nonverbal kids) Helped Edward with comprehension of verbal communication, he understood us more and faster and was able to communicate better. (People who know Edward were impressed and asked what we were doing). -. https://youtu.be/XKmzO41lpRw
A young lady who can talk about RPM from experience
- https://youtu.be/8xDuIlRrtb8https://youtu.be/8xDuIlRrtb8
How? - https://youtu.be/x5zwn_13ad4

- probiotics L.Reuteri 17938 (in NZ only available in Blackmore's Bio digestive balance) and (in USA biogaia's Gastrus)

If I think of anything else I will add it.

Dear parent with a young nonverbal asd child

Dear parent with a young nonverbal asd child, this is what worked for us -

Edward would say the odd word (
https://youtu.be/2ThfZtS2XUY ) , now at 5 years he is very very near fluent.  He was diagnosed moderate at 23 months old.  A few months later I started reading "the spark". (
https://www.amazon.com/Spark-Mothers-Nurturing-Genius-Autism/dp/0812983564 )
 It taught me some things and other things it reinforced I was on the right track.

1) Movement
2) Song
3) Encourage strengths

1) movement - I don't know why but Edward found it easier to concentrate on my voice and make eye contact while moving.  The swing was one of the best ways.  I would sing to him things like the alphabet and sign the letters at the same time.  Jumping on the trampoline with Edward and singing at the same time.
My theory on this is movement calms the visual cortex (that is why I encouraged stimming) and allows the mind time to process non visual information.  Many a neuro typical person will go for a walk or stare into the distance etc to think more clearly (our ASD kids aren't too different)
https://youtu.be/KR3fAPbV-CM
(Swinging and singing)

https://youtu.be/3TMK_WgXkbU (please excuse my terrible singing)

2) Song - song is extremely important. For some reason our children find song easier, many an autistic parent will tell you their child sang before they talked.  The reinforcing of song in the brain helps the speech part of the brain.  Ref - oxford study ......http://m.brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2012/01/26/brain.awr335 )

3) Any "obsession" my son had I encouraged fully.  Enjoyed letters so I bought ipad, paper, blackboard, white board, foam letter mat, chalk, white board markers, felts, crayons, laptop, videos on learning to read, subtitles on the tv, magnetic drawing board, window markers, baby bumblebee videos (
https://babybumblebee.com/Children-With-Autism/
). and your baby can read videos.  I let him play with these on the trampoline, swing, jumping on his posters..... If he spun around I would too and make songs about spinning, jumping, flapping.
 * Pays to get washable markers

This is me trying to explain Edward to his kindy teachers
https://youtu.be/5k2VA_MZwNE


Also we have done a bit of the rapid Prompting method which I believe helped Edward comprehend language better
https://youtu.be/aDnhpyjq3C0

And we are presently finding Edward's speech increase and anxiety and stress decline with a probiotic called L.Reuteri 17938 (also known as Protectis) - https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/06/160616140723.htm

He has come so very far, and I am super proud of him.  He is still noticeably different, but he is thriving.  <3 p="">https://youtu.be/1N7FVbD-Nk0

A lot of stuff I know, I hope some of it helps your journey go a little easier.

One thing that that Oxford study says and I agree.  More and more children are ending up talking now, they believe one of the biggest things is parents are more likely to continue trying and holding out hope.  I took Edward's lead, if there were videos/ songs he was keen on anything, anything where he was comfortable looking at people talking and making sounds.

As Edward's speech gets clearer especially on the videos you all see of him enjoying talking about numbers or planets, spelling or states and capitals it probably makes you wonder why I say Edward is partially verbal....especially to those patient parents just wanting to hear just one word and any word will do.
Some could even call this regression.... sorry I have not witnessed regression.   I love this video because it shows Edward just having fun and enjoying listening to his voice.  I consider it voice exercises. :-)

Edward has come so far in speech and language.... Just that little bit more and he will be fluent.  I am still crossing fingers that it comes before he starts school next year.
He tries so very hard.  For those having trouble understanding asd especially the lack of language and at the same time seems verbal, I can only liken it to learning a new languages by learning only by single words and phrases only and the whole thing starts making a ton more sense.
I know that merci means thank you in French right?  And I know that " Como tale vous" means how are you? in English.  But I don't know how the French put sentences together vous I think may mean you .....and one day I may be able to speak French fluently..... But not right now.
What people find difficult is that even though Edward is amazing at decoding individual characters and words in languages he is finding real difficulty in learning to construct his own sentences....he is learning each sentence in context instead.

Professor Edward on States and Capitals

PECS - Picture exchange Communication System

About PECS and how they helped Edward to communicate -
Our SLT made us this great folder, she made all the PECS with just photos initially but when she realized Edward could read and loved words, she took it away and came back with the words underneath. Edward loved looking at the pictures because of the words. He picked up the basics of PECS in 3 visits.
I found some great clips on you tube that are very similar to what our SLT did with Edward.
This is very much like what our first lesson was like -
https://youtu.be/eNbucDWEfpg
At the start we really needed the hand over hand that the person behind Edward gave. Can you ask hubby pretty please to be the receiver of the card? I feel this first step is extremely important, what you are effectively doing is teaching your son's brain is that if he wants or needs something he has to give you the word so you know. That is why I love this type of pec system compared to the sheet idea which does not teach the child they have to give to receive.