Manley Park Primary School

General information

This page was developed by Bill Nason, MS, LLP to discuss tools that help children on the spectrum feel safe, accepted and competent. Although each child is different, with their unique strengths and challenges, their are some common strategies that can strengthen the social, emotion, and cognitive security for most children on the spectrum. Come learn, share, and support.

This discussion page will present a tool box of strategies for helping the child feel safe, accepted and competent. I will present the presentations in a series of power points represented in photo albums. If you are joining the page mid way through you can easily get at each power point from the photos section. When you go to the photo section, you will see only the lastest six albums. There will be more hidden. Just click on the "see all photo" link to see the earlier ones. .Please take time to review the power point and comments and comment yourself. Over time the tool box will consist of:

Helping Your Child Feel “safe”

Satisfy Physical Needs Page
Tool 1 Meet nutritional needs
Tool 2 Treat medical/psychiatric needs
Tool 3 Reducing sensory overload
Tool 4 Calming meltdowns
Tool 5 Sensory diet
Tool 6 Physical activity

Reduce Confusion
Tool 7 Structured Daily Routines
Tool 8 Visual strategies
Tool 9 Slow it down, break it down
Tool 10 Clarify, verify, preview and review
Tool 11 Clear Boundaries & expectations

Respect Comfort Zones
Tool 12 Define and respect comfort zones

Helping Your Child Feel “Accepted”

Communicating Love and Acceptance
Tool #13 Understanding, acceptance
Tool #14 I love you rituals

Teaching Emotional Relating
Tool #15 Emotion sharing
Tool #16 Reciprocal interaction
Tool #17 Celebrating
Tool #18 Soothing

Teaching Nonverbal Communication
Tool #19 Facial referencing and nonverbal
Language
Declarative Language
Tool #20 Increasing acceptance with
declarative language

Acceptance at School
Tool #21 Advocate and collaboration
Tool#22 Peer mentoring

Helping Your Child Feel “Competent”

Learning Through Others Page
Tool #23 Don’t do for, do with
Tool #24 Apprentice Learning
Tool #25 We-Do Activities

Effective Training Tools
Tool #26 Basic Principles
Tool #27 Framing
Tool #28 Guided Participation
Tool #29 Stretching & Fading
Tool #30 Instilling Motivation

Teaching Apprentice Skills
Tool #31 Social Referencing
Tool #32 Co-regulation
Tool #33 Coordinating Roles
Teaching Emotional Regulation
Tool #34 Emotional Regulation
Tool #35 Stretching Comfort Zones
Tool #36 Tackling Fears

Increase Flexible Thinking Skills
Tool #37 Flexible Thinking
Tool #38 Dynamic Thinking
Tool #39 Problem Solving
Tool #40 Memory Books

Competence Over The Years
Tool #41 Building on Strengths
Tool #42 Start Early, Think Ahead
Tool #43 Transition Planning
Tool #44 Self Empowerment
Tool #45 Adult Supports

Author of Page:

Bill Nason, MS, LLP
Liimited License Psychologist
Behavior Specialist

Bio

Bill Nason is a mental health professional with a masters degree in clinical psychology and more than 30 years of experience in treating individuals with developmental disabilities. Specializing in autism spectrum disorder and individuals with severe, multiple behavior challenges. First 12 years providing services in a large residential facility, over 25 years consulting in community based residential programs and over 20 years consulting with family's with children with special needs. Also spent 15 years coaching soccer and basketball for children with autism and consulting with local autism support groups. Author of the "Autism Discussion Page" books.

Rules governing the page

The Autism Discussion Page is devoted to providing a tool box of strategies for helping children on the spectrum feel “safe, accepted, and competent.” It is focused on parenting, teaching, and therapeutic strategies meant to improve the lives of children on the spectrum. This is not a forum for debating social, political, or civil rights issues. However people can post links to other pages if they wish to advertise advocacy pages. I too have my views on these issues, but they are not the focus of this page.

Everyone is welcome to visit and like the page that is respectful of others and avoids abusive language. People are not allowed to attack the posts or comments made on the posts, or engage in heated debates. Not that these debates are not important issues, but not the purpose of this page. Everyone is welcome to share information, comments, and suggestions and experiences as long as they are not attacking another member or their comments. People can disagree with the information of a post, and provide alternative views, as long as it is not attacking the comments of others.

If you feel a post is hurtful, or any comments are offensive, please message me privately by clicking on the message button. This way we can chat about it without directly offending anyone else. It is important that people feel safe to comment without feeling attacked. If I feel that a comment is offensive or attacking another member I reserve the right to delete it. Since I am not on this page continuously, if a post has generated an ongoing heated argument I reserve the right to delete the entire post. If your comment is deleted, it does not mean you are blocked from the page, only that I feel that the comment is offensive to someone else on the page. It does not mean I disagree with your stance, only which I feel it is being presented in an offensive way. Again you are free to message me privately so we can discuss any issue you may be having.

Occasionally, members may feel that someone may be insulting me personally and feel the need to protect me by arguing against the person. Please do not do this, because it is feeding the fury and makes you also breaking the rules. It takes two (or more) to fuel an argument, and only leads to more anger. So, please refrain from commenting back to any comments that seem offensive to you or me. There is often strong pain behind offensive comments. That does not excuse them, but explains why they occur. If an argument begins I may deleted the comments of both sides as to be respectful to all. Please do not get angry about this, it is to keep the discussions directed to the tool box of strategies that are presented on this page.

This page has been a wonderful resource and support for many parents, children, teachers, professionals, and people on the spectrum. Please let’s keep it that way; a safe haven to sharing experiences.

Disclaimer: This page and posts are meant to provide knowledge of general strategies for supporting children with autism spectrum disorders. They are not meant to give individualized recommendations or treatment advice to the members. These strategies need to be assessed and modified to match the specific needs of your child. Any use of these strategies should be implemented under the implementation of a professional who has comprehensively evaluated your child.