Autism Community Connection life skills resources

FaithFirst – (Catholic) You can click on Eucharist, Reconciliation and Confirmat= ion to get mass responses and Walkthrough of the Mass (introductory rites, litu= rgy of the word, liturgy of the Eucharist, communion rite and concluding rite) = all on sound files. There is also= a Tour of a Church.

Religious E= d and Culture – from Widgit Software – some free and others to buy downloadable material on baptism, Daniel in the Lion’s Den, Five Frie= nds, Jesus’ friends and helpers, wedding party, Easter pack, Noah, Diwali, Hannukah and St. Lucia

Request.org – ev= ery fine detail of every type of Christian religion including virtual tour of a typical church for that religion. They also go over basic beliefs.

Visual Glossary of Religious Symbols – symbols from around the world

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Community

Best Practi= ce of Inclusive Services – from NCPAD, including inclusion as a value, barriers to inclusion, overcoming barriers, inclusion process, community involvement and more. Includes video clips.

Community Vis= ual Supports – from PictureSET – a series of visuals for going = to camp, community groups and events, life skills in the community, the mall, recreation, travel in the community and work in the community.

Going on a Plane Tri= p – updated with the airport’s extra security guidelines

Independent Functioning – from Monroe County School District, FL - Lesson Pla= ns for grades 6-12 broken out step-by-step for wide variety of daily living, c= ommunity, and leisure activities for all ages…tied to state benchmarks for Stat= e of Florida. Include accessing the library, locating a car repair service, mailing an overnight letter, using public transportation, purchasing lunch from school cafeteria, having a par= ty, preparing a holiday meal and many more.

Language Graphi= cs Archive – from Educational Technology Services - includes some real nice graphics of adults waiting for the bus, watching a movie, going to work, leaving apartment, exercising, dancing etc. There are more t= hat can be purchased. This websit= e was designed for teachers of foreign language students.

Pocket Size Communication Board – from Speaking of Speech - common items used in the community

TV 411 – This is a tele= vision series for adults who want to strengthen their literacy skills. But they have these incredible lin= ks of learning practical life skills using still from the movie and clicking thru= the story. Some sample lessons in= clude Preparing to Get a Job, Filling Out a Job Application, Tips for Multiple Ch= oice Questions and more. This webs= ite could benefit those in middle school and up. TV411 is available in parts of Ill= inois.

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Health and Hygiene

6 Components of sexuality education for people with intellectual disabilities= – from Brookes Publishing Co. – goes over adult self care, anat= omy and physiology, empowerment, relationship skills, social skills and social/sexual rights and opportunities.&nb= sp; You can also purchase book titles on this subject from Brookes.=

Autismcc Responds about Nail Biting – Autism Community Connection’s Yahoo group discuss ways to stop nailbiting.

Brush= ing Teeth – from ABA Resources – a single sheet visual guide for brushing teeth

Communication Displays for the Bathroom – from AAC Intervention – shows h= ow to create the display

Deodorant Story= – This is a social story from TinSnips on using deodorant.=

Flossing Teeth – Autism Community Connection – visual guide for flos= sing your teeth

Good Groomin= g Book - example of girl’s Good Grooming Book made by an NSSEO teacher (incl= udes a prompt to check fingernails, hands, hair, etc)

Health Visual Supports – from PictureSET – a series of visuals on healthc= are, pain, sexuality and speech therapy language supports.

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Hiyah – Free Powerpoint social sto= ries for the computer including going to the dentist and going to the doctor

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Junction of Function – visual guides for shoe tying, etiquette 101 and more

Language Graphi= cs Archive – from Educational Technology Services - includes some real nice graphics of adults getting up, getting dressed, shaving, showering, eating, etc. There are more that can be purchased. This website was designed for teachers of foreign language students.

Menstruati= on Lesson Plan – from the Wesley Mission, a very detailed lesson plan using augmentative and alternative communication to explain the menstrual cycle, keeping track of your period, etc.

Menstruation Story – Page 1 – Page 2 – This social story from TinSnips talks about getting your peri= od and what to do when you have your period.

Morni= ng Routine – This is a simple one sheet weekly chart with visuals for getting dressed, brushing teeth, etc.

Pers= onal and Social Visual Supports – from Symbolword – includes vis= ual stories on brushing your teeth, washing clothes, anti-social behavior, heal= thy living and making tea

Rea= dy-Made Kit Activities – from the Eau Claire Area School District in WI – These are color, single sheets of common words and pictures associa= ted with Bedtime, Blank Board, Brushing Teeth, Bubbles, Dressing/Undressing, Ha= ir Cut, Meal Time, Naptime, Please Wait, Riding in a Car, Routine Choices, Sch= ool Bus, Setting the Table, Toileting, Washing Hands Sentence Strip and Washing=

Self He= lp Picture Cards – from do2Learn – picture cards for toileting, dressing and undressing, clothes, body parts and personal care. Options for size and words or no w= ords.

Sexu= ality Lesson Plan – from the Wesley Mission, a very detailed lesson plan using augmentative and alternative communication to explain sexuality to men and women.

A Teacher’s Guide to Including Students with Disabilities in General Physical Education – From Brookes Publishing, a 19 page pdf full = of ways to accommodate children with special needs in physical education. Print a copy and send to your school’s phys ed teacher. If you like this, p= urchase the full book.

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Home

Compu= ter Visual Supports – from SymbolWorld – Includes visual stories for how to log on and off a computer, parts of a computer, types of mouse, mouse actions, sitting at a computer, how to use a digital camera, how to u= se a scanner, plugging in a computer, how to use an iPod, storing files and much more.

DLTK – This website lets you c= reate your own calendars, chore charts, memory cards, money cards and more (over = 1000 cards) in over 100 different themes.

Home Visual S= upports – from PictureSET – a series of visuals for bed time, morning t= ime, house chores, leisure time, meal time, personal care and pet care.

Housekeeping card= s – from Use Visual Strategies – click on Housekeeping for some f= ree housekeeping cards

Junction of Function – visual guides for washing a table, washing dishes, wor= king a lock, how to fold a napkin and set a table and more.

Mealtime Placemat – shows you how to make this placemat - includes picture symbols for many eating tasks and conversational items

Using a Combination Lock

What Should I Wear? – Autism Community Connection – neat visual guide for what clothes to wear depending on the temperature outside

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Medical

If your ASD family member will have a hospital stay, a good suggestion is to c= all the hospital and ask if you can go on a tour of the areas he/she will be in (waiting area, waking up from anesthesia, hospital room, etc.).<= /span>

= Blood Draw – Autism Community Connection created this visual social sto= ry for children who need to get blood drawn at a hospital or doctor’s office. Includes actual photo= s of the procedure.

Blood Draw Video – Showing the steps of a blood draw. Position of camera is great becaus= e it looks like your own arm.

Cooper = Books - Books available for purchase include Cooper Gets a Cast, Cooper has an X-= ray, Cooper has Diabetes, Cooper has a CT Scan.= Pictures with terms young children can understand.

EE= G Test – Autism Community Connection created this visual social story for children who must take the 24-hour EEG test for seizures. Includes actual photos of the proc= edure.

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EKG Test – All= the steps to getting an EKG (called ECG in the UK). This is part of a training video f= rom the University of Glasgow on preparing a patient for the EKG but you can us= e it to show someone the steps involved.

Hiyah – Free Powerpoint social sto= ries for the computer including going to the dentist and going to the doctor

Hospital Virtual V= isit - Virtual visit thru Edward Hospital in Naperville IL. Includes Pediatric Exam Room, ER, = Xray and other areas of the hospital.

Needle Put into Arm – This You Tube video shows finding a vein and getti= ng a needle inserted into your arm.

= Sterilization Lesson Plan – from Wesley Mission, a very detailed lesson plan us= ing augmentative and alternative communication to explain the sterilization procedure. It is recommended = to use the Menstruation Lesson Plan in the health and hygiene section first.<= /o:p>

Your Surgery – uses easy to understand information for common and specific surgical procedures. Includes photos, diagrams and anim= ation to help people understand.

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Menus

ABA Resources – in = their free downloads section you will find many picture symbols of many name brand foods items and restaurants

Burger King picture menu – Burger King has a picture menu for patrons with special needs. You can ask fo= r it at any Burger King. It is a c= olor brochure with photos and check off boxes.&= nbsp; You can also circle the condiments you want. The brochure includes breakfast me= nu options too.

Lunch Menus – Autism Community Connection - includes sa= mple menu of Sodexho hot lunches and icons of typical lunch items for school hot lunches.

Starbucks – from PictureSET - pictures of Starbuck’s beverages=

Trainland – Scroll = down to the bottom half of this page for PECs picture pages on a ton of food products to make your own menu.

Wendy’= ;s – from PictureSET - pictures of Wendy’s food products

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Recipes

Ants on a Lo= g – celery snack

Bry Picture Recip= es – from Bry Backmanor – includes applesauce crunch, rice krispie treats, deviled eggs, spaghetti, breakfast recipes, cakes and more.

Easy Pizza = Snack

Eau Claire Picture Recipes – from Eau Claire Area School District, WI – includes PB&J, strawberry smoothie, blueberry muffins, burrito, cheeseburger, French toast, grilled cheese, pancakes, setting the table and folding a napkin and more.

Jefferson Picture Recipe= s – from Jefferson Parish – includes PB&J, ice cream float, f= ruit salad, reindeer cookies, fruit smoothies, ice cream sandwich, baked apples = and more.

Literat= ure-based Cooking – from AAC Intervention – Different recipe books th= at support picture recipes, good resource for home and school

Micr= owave Fudge – Boardmaker recipe

Root Beer Fl= oat

Sweet Tortilla Pinwheels

Symb= olworld Picture Recipes – includes macaroni and cheese, pancakes and sand= wich

VideoJug—Life Explained on Film – This website includes over 800 video recipes.=

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Recreation

Adult Tricycle with Pneumatic Tires – designed for riders ages 10 and up. Similar design to a regul= ar tricycle.

Adult Trike from Walmart – in the Walmart search, enter Schwinn Adult Trike

Autism and Considerations in Recreation and Physical Activity Settings – from NCPAD, includes sensory, behavioral, societal, cognition and communication considerations, inclusion, exercise guidelines, physical activity schedules= and references along with video clips.

Au= tism and Museum: A Perfect Match – from About.com’s autism chann= el, an article that also includes DuPage Children’s Museum and Brookfield Zoo.

Buddy Bike – When your child i= s too big for the bike seat and too small to ride alone, the buddy bike is the on= ly tandem bike with a lower front seat what a child can safely ride in front without controlling the bike.

Learning to ride bike - One parent has suggested taking the pedals off the bike and letting your child scoot along using his feet in order to learn to glide and have balance. A slight downhi= ll grade is useful. This method = worked for his two children.

Factory Tours in Illinois – Celebrating American Imagination and Industry, tours a= ll over Illinois

Lose the Training Wheels Program – Easter Seals runs this program every year or click on locating a camp to find the program at your location. This is a special program for chil= dren with disabilities.

Museums in Illinois

Pedal Magic – Video that clai= ms to skip training wheels and teach bike riding instantly.

Recreatio= n Visual Supports – from PictureSET – a series of visuals for bowlin= g, horseback, going to the movies and swimming.

Recreational Programs for People with Disabilities – from NCPAD, tons of instructional programs to crea= te successful inclusive recreational programs for people with disabilities including video clips.

Rules for Riding a Bike

Steps to Riding a Bike – from a father who has a child with autism=

Tips for Teaching= a Kid to Bicycle

Safety

Bike and Pedestrian Safety – lesson plans from the State of Illinois

Electrical and Traffic S= afety

Emergency Situations – from the Beattie Center for Children with Autism - Calling 9-1-1, a stranger in my house, when someone is choking and more

Fire Drill Boardmaker Pics – from PictureSET – visuals associated with fire drills and earthquakes

Firework Safety – from Symbolworld – a visual story

Safety = Picture Cards – from do2Learn – picture cards for fire safety, stre= et safety and safety signs. Opti= ons for size and words or no words.

Stop, Drop and Ro= ll – visual social story from Slater Software

Street Crossing – from do2Learn – Safety lessons, street safety so= ng and links to other sites.

Survival Signs Products= – from PCI Education – Enter Survival Signs in the advance sear= ch to see various products for purchase including Survival Signs Bingo, Indoor/Outdoor Survival Signs Game, Magnetic Survival Signs boards, activity cards and curriculum book.

Traffic Safety Jeopardy – instructions for creating this game<= /span>

Walking Safety<= /a> – visual social story from Slater Software

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Self-Determination=

T= he 411 on Disability Disclosure – from the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability, this workbook for youth with disabilities will te= ach them about disability disclosure and help make the decision whether to disc= lose their disability in regards to education, employment and their social lives= .

Equip for Equality – Il= linois self-advocacy organization for people with disabilities. They offer training, assistance and legal and public policy advocacy.

Independence Bound – T= wo books written by Jacquelyn Marquette, Independence Bound: A Mother and her Autistic Son’s Journey to Adulthood and Becoming Remarkably Able: Wal= king the Path to Independence and Beyond.

I= t’s My Choice – from the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities, this 90 page planning guide will help you throu= gh the transition process, planning for employment, housing and self evaluatio= n.

Workbook for Your Personal Passport – for people with developmental disabilities and their friends and family who want to learn more about person-centered planning. The person thinks a= bout his life goals, what is important and what kind of support is needed. This can then be shared with careg= ivers, service providers, etc. =

Shopping

Grocery Pecs – You need to b= uy these but this product is a ready-made collection of over 2000 grocery pictures.

Grocery Sto= re Check off List – from PictureSET - Clip art pictures of common items at= the grocery store that you can check off.

Grocery Sto= re social story – from PictureSET - Powerpoint social story to rehea= rse what will happen on a grocery shopping trip.

Making a Pu= rchase – from PictureSET – a visual script for making a purchase.=

Trainland Grocery List= – Over 70 pictures of food products found at a grocery store.

Virtual Shopping – fr= om e-ledesma - Some games to practice purchasing

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Life Skills Miscellaneous

Lesson Plan Starters – From the National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center, these are the nine “best evidence” studies in which students or adults were taught a new functional life skill. These include: 1. “One more = than” technique for purchasing items, 2. savings account, bill paying and money o= rder skills, 3. housekeeping and janitorial skills, 4. meal planning and nutriti= on, 5. purchasing skills (stores with aisles), 6. cleaning appliances and doing laundry, 7. grocery aisle signs and locating items, 8. bowling and pinball,= 9. orienting to the environment to reduce stereotypic behaviors.

Rel= ationships Lesson Plan – from Wesley Mission, a very detailed lesson plan us= ing augmentative and alternative communication to explain friendships and relationships.

Task of the Month – Tasks Galore highlights an educational work task each month. Get ideas to use at home and at sc= hool.

Vacation Planning Project &#= 8211; from e-ledesma – In this scenario you have $5000 in your bank account= and you’re ready to go on vacation. Now you need to plan your budget.

VideoJug—Life Explained on Film – This website from England includes how to videos. For younger children = there are videos on how to play duck, duck, goose, tie your shoes and how to tric= k or treat. For older children the= re are videos on how to introduce yourself, make a PB&J sandwich or how to tha= nk someone for a gift. For teens= and adults there are videos on how to bounce back from a bad first impression, = how to remember people’s names and how to give a “man hug.” There are also printed instructions available for each topic and over 800 video recipes. Warning: Due to cultural differenc= es there may be some terms that do not make sense. There are also videos not appropri= ate for children so do not let them explore the site on their own.

You Tube – Enter your life skill= here and you are bound to find video footage here (ie. wash car, go shopping). At You Tube you can put in any kin= d of search to find video footage on that topic. A great way to show appropriate behaviors but always preview first.

Young Adults= Visual Supports – from PictureSET - a series of visuals on community, health, home, leisure activities, post-secondary education, sample communication systems, seasons and holidays, travel and work.