On November 19th, 2021, Diane Gray, Supervisor of Instruction at Alpha School in Jackson, New Jersey, and Amy Brandon, Supervisor of Instruction at Harbor School located in Eatontown, New Jersey, 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 […]
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The importance of Life SkillsLife skills are essential for everyone, but helping children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) learn these skills is especially crucial as it can help prepare them for the day-to-day challenges of participating in their community and workplace, and feeling independent at home. Life skills also serve the important function of preparing […]
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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. The list below gives you an overview of the topics you should start thinking about and planning for. Be sure to fully […]
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At all RKS Associates Schools, we strive to keep our families informed about the necessary and recommended transition goals at various age points. This is to ensure the best possible transition into adulthood for your child. The summary below is our quick list for you to use as a checklist. As part of our ongoing […]
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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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Music therapy is a well-established, evidence-based professional health discipline that uses music to achieve non-musical, therapeutic treatment goals. Formal music therapy was first used in 1945 to help military service members in Army hospitals with occupational therapy, education, recreation, and physical reconditioning.1 Recognized as a related service for children with special needs, music therapy may […]
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As authors and publishers are starting to recognize the importance of representation, more children’s books now feature characters with disabilities, providing role models who represent their struggles and triumphs. The books in this list include representation of a variety of disabilities, showing all children that a disability is only a part of a person’s story, […]
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Children with autism and other special needs frequently engage in challenging behaviors, such as aggression, self-injurious behavior (SIB), and property destruction. These behaviors can range from skin-picking and slapping to head-banging, self-biting, punching, and kicking. Challenging behaviors negatively affect the whole family, and parents are struggling to properly care for loved ones who engage in […]
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Although at the present time, COVID-19 has disrupted the level of regular community activities schools are able to implement, this article is to highlight the importance of community involvement for the special needs student population. Community activities and recreation can be particularly important for the mental and physical health of children with autism. These activities […]
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