Posts Tagged ‘apps’

Seven + Ways to Help a Picky Eater with Autism

Wednesday, May 29th, 2013
 
 

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images-1One parent shared an article by Autism Speaks, Seven Ways to Help a Picky Eater with Autism, and asked if the Brent Woodall Foundation had any other tips to add to this list.

We at the BWF are big proponents of schedules. Offering a visual schedule to show your child there is a beginning and end to the challenge of tasting new foods will help take the responsibility off of you, the parent, and put that responsibility onto the schedule. The schedule will show your child what is expected and what their hard work will earn in the end.

The shared article kind of touches on this, but another suggestion is to find reinforcers that are similar to the new food your child is trying out. For example, if you’re trying to teach your child to eat raspberries and you know your child just loves strawberries, offer a bowl of strawberries that have similar texture and sweetness as the reinforcer.

And while we agree that overloading unhealthy reinforcers such as candy can be harmful if given too much for too long, we understand that in the BEGINNING it is very important to make the reinforcer really GREAT. So for one raspberry, give a big bowl of strawberries. Eventually you can increase the expectation and lower the reinforcer.

 

Related posts:

Serious Schedulers

The Opposite Kids

 
 
 
 
 

Parent Resources: Grants and Upcoming Workshops

Tuesday, April 16th, 2013
 

Dear Parents,

We have recently come across a couple of grants and upcoming parent workshops you might be interested in. Here are the details!

Grants

AutismCares is a group of leading autism organizations who have come together to support individuals with Autism and their families during natural disasters and other catastrophic life events. The organization offers Financial Support Awards that provide financial relief up to $1,000 for individuals with ASD and their families to help cover costs associated with critical living expenses such as housing, utilities, car repair, funeral expenses, and other essential items on a case-by-case basis. Download an application form here. 

 

ACT Today is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission is to raise awareness and provide treatment services and support to families to help their children with Autism achieve their full potential. The organization provides financial assistance to help with the cost of ABA, Speech, and Occupational therapy. View open application periods here.

 

Free Parent Workshops by PEAS:

While we have not been to these workshops ourselves, here is a list of free parent workshops you might want to check out. PEAS is an organization dedicated to creating a network of support for families of children who experience life with a disability label. Its website can be found here.  Let us know what you learn!

 

PEAS Meetup: Classroom Accommodations and Modifications: What Parents Needs To Know
Read more. >>

Facilitators: Kelly Mastin and Cindi Paschall

Thursday, May 2, 2013 from 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

The Arc of Northeast Tarrant County (Arc House)

1806 Haltom Road, Haltom City, Texas 76117

 

PEAS Meetup: How Was School Today? When “fine” and “okay” are not enough!
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Presenter: Jeanine Pinner. Texas Parent-to-Parent

Thursday, May 9, 2013 from 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

The Arc of Northeast Tarrant County (Arc House)

1806 Haltom Road, Haltom City, Texas 76117

 

Learning Together Workshop Series Session: Making the Best Use of the iPad and Other Cutting-Edge Technolody Tools to Enhance Learning

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Presenter: Susan Fitzell, M. Ed, CSP

Saturday, May 11, 2013 from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

University Christian Church – Room 207

2720 S. University Drive

Ft. Worth, Texas 76109

 

PEAS Coffee Talk: Resources Every Parent Should Know About: Helping Our Children with Disabilities Live Safe and Enriched Lives

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Presenter: Jeanine Pinner, Texas Parent-to-Parent

Friday, May 10, 2013 from 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

The Arc of Northeast Tarrant County (Arc House)

1806 Haltom Road, Haltom City, Texas 76117

 

Best wishes,

The Brent Woodall Foundation

 
 

When we were scared, searching, and feeling quite hopeless…

Tuesday, April 9th, 2013
 
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Written by Kerri, a Woodallkid’s mom
 

The Brent Woodall Foundation came into our lives at a time when we were scared, searching, and feeling quite hopeless. Our 2 year old son at the time had just been diagnosed with autism and we were quickly discovering that the price to help our little boy was very much out of our reach. We were lost and heartbroken.

We were so fortunate to meet Tracy Pierce Bender and the Brent Woodall Foundation. What an amazing non-profit organization with a mission to help children with autism and their families. From all I have seen in the past 4 years, they go above and beyond to do exactly that. My son loves his therapists that he spends time with every day and he has learned and grown so much. We have learned to teach our child at home and communicate with him and owe all of this to the Brent Woodall Foundation.

When our son started there he was a very withdrawn little toddler who did not even make eye contact or acknowledge us. He has come a long way and I am so excited to see where he can go. The Brent Woodall Foundation designs and adapts his programs to work for him, because every child is different. If something does not work for him, they change it. They are easy to talk to and work with and they clearly care about my child. I drop off my little boy every day into loving, capable hands and pick him up with the feeling that my child is understood and respected. They are his “team” and like family. We celebrate his successes together. What more could I ask for?

Through parent training and other support, the Brent Woodall Foundation has also given us the skills and confidence to be better parents to our son, to teach him and learn from him. Thanks to Tracy Pierce Bender and the Brent Woodall Foundation we have found the qualified, loving, and dedicated therapy that our child so needs and which has brought us so much comfort and happiness. The thought brings me to tears regularly. I am beyond grateful to them and always will be.

Lighting Up the Web Blue: Apps on Sale for Autism Awareness

Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013
 

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In honor of Autism Awareness Month, several apps for kids are being offered at discounted prices or for FREE. Here are four sites featuring apps you should look into! Email Erin@woodallkids.org to give a shout out to your favorite apps- tell us why you like them! Also, look back at the Brent Woodall Foundation’s “Apps to Go!” blog post for information on other apps we like!

 

The I Teach Hub offers a comprehensive list of applications, organized into relevant categories, including Early Intervention and Curriculum, Social Skills, Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Daily Living, and Speech and Language Development.

light it up blue bwf 2013

The iMums website features several apps that are now FREE for Autism Awareness Month. It won’t hurt to try at least some of them!

 

Smart Apps for Kids features more discounted or free applications and has included the dates for these limited time offers!

 

Let us know what you find by emailing Erin@woodallkids.org!

 

Related blog post: Apps to Go!

 
 
 
 

A Comprehensive List of Apps to Go!

Monday, March 4th, 2013
 

So a lot of you have been asking about popular iPod, iPhone, and computer applications for kids with autism and developmental disabilities. Here are several educational apps suggested by our Woodallkids parents!

lock and keyBefore you get started, here is an awesome tip from a very special Woodallkid mom on how to lock your child out of specific apps. In devices that have iOS 6 software, there is an option called Guided Access. Go to your Settings app- General- Accessibility- Turn Guided Access ON- Set a Passcode. Then you can go into each app that you want to lock and turn the passcode on! Here’s a How To manual. 

 
 
 

Learning your ABCs:

 

Alpha Tots PocketAlpha Tots Pocket ($1.99) is one of our favorite apps that provides an interactive activity for every letter of the alphabet. Whether they are *H*ammering nails, *K*icking soccer balls, or *Z*apping spaceships, kids play, problem solve, and learn to this 2012 Parent’s Choice Award game. Here’s a sneak peak of the Alpha Tot activities for H and K.

 
 
 
 

Reading & Writing:

 
 

Word WagonDuck Duck Moose Kindergarten ($1.99) provides many great apps for all subject matters; however, we particularly like their Reading and Writing programs. Your child can follow different animal characters around and earn Sticker Awards and Stars for completing activities. Most of Duck Duck Moose’s programs offer levels for pre-school through grade 1. Check out a sneak peak of Duck Duck Moose’s Word Wagon and Reading.

iWriteWords ($2.99) is another great app for learning to write. Your child can help Mr. Crab gather numbers in sequence by dragging him with your finger and drawing the letter at the same time. Once all the letters in the word are drawn, a drawing appears. You can download the iWriteWords Lite for FREE to preview iWriteWords. According to iTunes, iWriteWords Lite has all of the same features as iWriteWords, but it is limited to only 3 letters and 3 words.

 

Also see:
Spell Write Read
Starfall Learn to Read

 
 

Math & Numbers:

 
 

Tally TotsTally Tots Pocket ($1.99) is another favorite of ours. It has a lot of awesome features, including: a sing-a-long number song; 20 activities for 20 numbers; audio and visual cues that help kids associate numbers with sounds; kid friendly navigation; frequent repetition that teaches young kids how to count; positive verbal reinforcement for completed tasks; and fun surprises for motivation. Click here for a quick look.

 

Monkey Math School Sunshine ($0.99) is hosted by a monkey, who leads your child through 8 interactive games that teach sequencing, patterning, counting, adding, and subtracting. Your child can collect prizes to fill their own aquarium. Here’s  a sneak peak!

 

Also see:
Park Math
Bugs and Numbers

 

Language:

Word SlaPpsWord SLapPs ($4.99) is one the more expensive apps on this list; however, it is a really awesome app because you can customize it for your own child. This app was developed and designed by a speech pathologist to teach your child nouns, actions, sight words, “where” questions, etc. You can use your own images and pair your own voice to words, as well as teach vocabulary from a second language! There is a LOT to this app and well worth the money. Take a look here!

 
 

Also see:
Baby Bumblebee Vocabulary

Enjoy! Let us know your favorite apps by commenting on this post! Or email erin@woodallkids.org.