Behavior Analysis Center for Autism - BACA

BACA provides ABA therapy to help children with autism.

Autism

Brain Plasticity & Early Intervention: “Neurons that fire together, wire together”

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The following is based on a conversation Ronit Molko, Ph.D., BCBA-D and Dr. Evian Gordon, Chairman and CEO of Brain Resource.

The development of the brain is a fascinating and essential aspect of child development. The science behind the brain provides parents and practitioners valuable insight as to why early intervention is important for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.

At birth, a child’s brain is a work in progress. It develops as they experience the world through seeing, hearing, tasting, touching, and smelling the environment. The natural, simple, loving encounters with adults that occur throughout the day, such as a caregiver singing, smiling, talking, and rocking their baby, are essential to this process. All of these encounters with the outside world affect the child’s emotional development and shape how their brain becomes wired and how it will work.

The experiences of babies have long-lasting effects on their ability to learn and regulate their emotions. When there is an absence of appropriate teaching and learning opportunities in the baby’s environment, the brain’s development can be affected and there are more likely to be sustained negative effects. Conversely, if we can provide ample learning opportunities, we can facilitate brain development. Let’s understand how and why.

Learning is about connection. A baby is born with more than 85 billion neurons in its brain, the major nerve cell of the brain. Neurons transmit information between each other through chemical and electrical signals via synapses thereby forming neural networks, a series of interconnected neurons. This is what is meant by “the wiring of the brain” and “neurons that fire together, wire together”. Neurons and synapses grow exponentially in the first years of life, even before a baby can walk and talk. Between birth and about 3 years of age, the number of synapses in the brain increases from about 2,500 to 15,000 per neuron.

As an infant experiences something or learns something for the first time, a strong neural connection is made. If this experience is repeated, the connection is reactivated and becomes strengthened. If the experience is not repeated, connections are removed. In this way, the brain “prunes” what is not necessary and consolidates the connections that are necessary. During infancy and the first years of childhood, there is significant loss of neural pathways as the brain starts to prune away what it doesn’t believe it will need to function. By the time your child reaches adulthood, the number of synaptic connections is reduced by half. Therefore, the earlier in a child’s development that we create that first, correct learning experience, the stronger those behaviors and skills are secured in the brain.

Children with developmental delays often experience the wiring of neurons together in a manner that is “unhelpful”, causing them to struggle with communication, social skills and other activities. These “unhelpful” connections need to be changed, which adds to the challenge and takes time. Technically, learning cannot be undone in the brain, but amazingly, with stimulation, the brain has the ability to re-process new pathways and build circuits that are helpful and functional. The brain has a remarkable capacity for change and adaptation, but timing is crucial. The earlier we create the correct connections in a child’s brain, the stronger those behaviors and skills are secured in the brain.

Intervention is best during early childhood when there are 50 percent more connections between neurons than exist in the adult brain. When a child reaches adolescence, another period of pruning begins where the brain starts to cut back on these important brain connections, and neurons that have not been used much. For children with all types of learning difficulties and developmental disorders, this understanding of the brain’s plasticity is particularly relevant, because it emphasizes why the correct type and intensity of early intervention is so critical. If we correctly understand a child’s skill deficits and design a program that appropriately stimulates the neurons in the targeted weakened areas of the brain, we can exercise and strengthen those areas of the brain to develop language, social skills etc.

While there is much evidence to support that early intervention is the preferred course of action because it capitalizes on this rapid early brain development, this wisdom often leaves parents or caretakers of teenage children with ASD feeling discouraged and concerned. Many children don’t have the opportunity to start therapy when they’re younger, and many others aren’t diagnosed until they’re teenagers. It may be easier and faster for children to learn new skills when they are younger, however, neuroscience tells us that the brain is still capable of learning during adolescent years, and this time period should not be forsaken.

So how do you train your child’s brain? In order to change the brain’s wiring and make new neural connections, a new skill needs to be practiced many times. Dr. Gordon recommends starting with one, simple task and practicing it at least 10 times per day. Measure how long it takes for your child’s behavior to change. This will help you determine your child’s rate of learning.

An example of a simple task is teaching your child to follow a simple instruction using a preferred item such as asking him to eat his favorite food. You can then move onto a more complex activity such as requesting eye contact by saying “Look at me” and then something more complex such as “touch the car” when playing with a toy car, for example. There are many opportunities throughout the day during normal daily parenting activities (bathing, feeding, diapering, reading, etc.) during which you can support your child’s development and train their brain to respond to people and their environment.

One common question is, “What is possible with the brain after childhood?” For many years, science has told us that brain plasticity is at its peak during childhood. However, experts now believe that under the correct circumstances, practicing a new skill can change hundreds of millions, if not billions, of connections between nerve cells in the brain even into adulthood. It is never too late to start. The most important thing to remember is that learning is what changes the brain and learning takes practice. Every opportunity to teach your child is an opportunity to shape their brain and change their future.

For more information, visit Developmental Milestones from the Child Mind Institute http://www.childmind.org/en/developmental-milestones/ 

Learn more about the work and resources of Dr. Evian Gordon at
https://www.mybrainsolutions.com/index.html 

Harvard’s “Serve & Return” concept of parent engagement
http://developingchild.harvard.edu/key_concepts/serve_and_return/

Neurodiversity: What It Means, Why It Matters

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BY RONIT MOLKO, PH.D., BCBA-D
STRATEGIC ADVISOR, LEARN BEHAVIORAL

If there is one enduring hallmark of the American experience, it’s the immense diversity found within our expansive borders. Most of the time, we perceive diversity via differences in skin color, language, clothing, places of worship, or even the foods people eat when gathered around the table with their families. There is, however, one major aspect of diversity that is often overlooked—one that comes as no surprise, considering it cannot be detected solely through visual means. I am, of course, referring to neurodiversity.

Coined in the late 1990s by sociologist Judy Singer—who is on the autism spectrum—neurodiversity is a viewpoint that characterizes brain differences among individuals as normal, rather than as a disability. This viewpoint reduces stigmas around learning and thinking differences, while calling attention to the ability of neurodivergent communities to benefit from multiple perspectives and make greater contributions to society. Central to the movement is a rejection of the idea that these unique individuals need to be cured or fixed. Instead, it’s held that people possessing different types of brains need to be embraced and provided support systems that allow them to participate and contribute as members of the community to the best of their ability.

Grounded in Science

Unsurprisingly, the foundations of this not so new movement are grounded firmly in science and empirical study. By leveraging MRI results from hundreds of individuals, researchers have been able to compare the brains of people diagnosed with learning differences to their counterparts. So far, studies have shown that the brains of neurodivergent individuals are, in fact, unique. For example, the part of the brain that maintains language processing works differently for people diagnosed with dyslexia. Additionally, the prefrontal cortex, which manages executive functioning and attention, develops much slower in children diagnosed with ADHD. In other words, these individuals are not necessarily operating with a learning deficit but rather possess brains that are literally wired differently.

A Neurodiverse Population

Whether a group of kids recently diagnosed with autism or adults still grappling with ADHD or dyslexia, the American neurodiverse population is quite substantial. According to a 2021 report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, one in every 44 children in the United States is diagnosed with some sort of autism spectrum disorder, and an estimated 5.4 million adults—or roughly 2.2 percent of the entire population—fall somewhere along the spectrum. Many people on the spectrum have contributed (or still do) to their communities every day, such as Albert Einstein, Anthony Hopkins, Henry Cavendish, Greta Thunberg, Jerry Seinfeld, and Elon Musk. They have been among the world’s highest achievers, impacting the arts, sciences, technological innovation, and activism.

In much the same way as the neurotypical population, the neurodivergent population is broad, diverse, and multidimensional. It’s crucial, then, for the public not only to embrace their different brethren but also to actively promote opportunities for them both in society and in the workplace at all abilities and levels.

Fortunately for society writ-large, corporate America is starting to take notice. A recent article published in the Harvard Business Review named neurodiversity as a bona fide “competitive advantage,” noting the unique and, often, incomparable output provided by atypical members of their workforce. Numerous companies, including Hewlett-Packard, Enterprise, Microsoft, SAP, and Ford, have recently begun to reform their HR practices in an effort to expand neurodiversity in their ranks by identifying, hiring, and empowering these unique individuals. The results, so far, have been outstanding, with managers noting legitimate “productivity gains, quality improvements, boosts in innovative capabilities, and broad increases in employee engagement.”

Diversity of all kinds, including neurodiversity, strengthens our daily institutions. Just as we are seeing a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in employment and other areas of life and commerce, we must also remember that recognizing and celebrating differences, promoting justice and fairness, and ensuring true support and inclusion applies not only to people with observable differences but also to our neurodiverse populations. Not all cognitive differences are visible, and it’s crucial to keep in mind that there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to true diversity.

In another blog post, Dr. Molko explains the history and evolution of applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy. Read the story.

The September 26th Project: Safety Preparedness for Families with Autism

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Kelly McKinnon-Bermingham who has been working in the field of autism for 27 years, and is a published author joins us to discuss the work of the September 26th Project which she co-chaired.

The September 26th was created to honor the lives of a family that was tragically lost in a home fire. By providing safety awareness and preparedness resources for families the mission of this initiative is to review their safety plans every year on September 26th and use their checklists to be prepared. Kelly also commented on the importance of caregivers to support safety preparedness and awareness. As she said, “If a child can’t get out of the house in the event of a fire, were the other goals addressed important?”  

For More Information: 

Visit their website: https://www.september26.org/ 

Download the Fire safety check-list 

Download the Natural disaster checklist 

Download the Wondering prevention checklist  

Download American Red Cross Emergency apps here  

All Autism Talk (allautismtalk.com) is sponsored by LEARN Behavioral (learnbehavioral.com). 

How Parents and Caregivers of Kids with Autism Cope with Stress

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by Katherine Johnson, M.S., BCBA
Senior Director of Partnerships, LEARN Behavioral

Parenting can be stressful, and research shows that parents of autistic children consistently score higher on stress indicators than other groups of parents. While stress can be good for us—in manageable doses, it can energize and motivate—prolonged bouts of stress can lead to health problems. In fact, parents of autistic children report that they experience more depression, anxiety, and stress-related health problems than other parents. Parental stress has also been associated with marital distress, less effective parenting, and dropping out of treatment.

Why is this? Although no causal relationships have been definitively shown to exist between parental stress and kids with autism, several factors likely play a role. Some families cite pressure to get treatment early on, amplified by stories of “recovery.” A lack of sleep, financial burdens magnified by the need to pay for treatments, a greater necessity for parental vigilance and advocacy, and the presence of challenging behavior can also contribute to more parental stress.

If parents of kids with autism do, as research indicates, experience higher stress, what, then, does the research say can help parents and caregivers cope? Here are three research-backed suggestions:

1. Effective treatment for children

It stands to reason that effective treatment can mitigate some of the parental stress experienced by families with autistic children, particularly those whose children struggle with communication and challenging behavior. As numerous studies suggest, the effects of challenging behavior (aggression, defiance) on the family system are a major factor in parenting stress.

What, then, triggers or leads to challenging behavior? Often, challenging behavior is precipitated by communication difficulties or unexpressed/untreated pain—and, as you likely know, autistic children have more health problems than typical children. Intervention that supports your child’s communication, assists them in accessing medical services, and arms you with behavior management tools can lower distress in both child and parents. Likewise, reducing challenging behavior can also help you avoid the social stigma and feelings of exclusion and isolation that many parents report.

2. Coping strategies

Some research suggests that how parents direct their focus has an impact: those who concentrate on getting help, solving problems, and finding meaning in their experiences have better outcomes than those who avoid their emotions and stressors. It’s also clear that social supports can ease parent stress; this may be in the form of emotional support (family, friends, other ASD families), informational support (schools, professionals), or online communities. Other coping strategies found to be important in reducing stress include:

Optimism – Your family can cultivate optimism by shifting thoughts about why things are happening to what we can do to change them. For example, say a favorite service provider is leaving. A pessimistic parent might think they are partially to blame for the provider leaving (perhaps: she doesn’t care about us enough to stay), while a parent shifting to optimistic thinking may chalk up the loss of a provider to simply bad luck, and something that everyone experiences from time to time. The pessimistic parent may feel helpless in the face of changing providers, while a parent shifting to optimistic thinking will focus on what they can do to help the next provider be successful.

Emotional acceptance – Some parents report acceptance as a coping strategy that tempers stress. Continuously comparing an autistic child and their development to that of a non-autistic child can perpetuate anxiety. Accepting that an autistic child has unique needs, such as additional educational services and a parenting approach that is quite different from the approach used with siblings, can help ease some parental distress.

Cognitive reframing – Cognitive reframing is a coping strategy that can help families who have a child with differences adjust. For instance, parents might reframe their situation to see difficult events, rather than a difficult child, and view those difficulties as manageable—i.e., as problems that have a solution.

3. Mindfulness

A growing number of studies reveal that mindfulness programs can help reduce the additional stress experienced by parents of autistic children. Generally, programs consist of meditation, focusing on physical sensations, and letting go of thoughts. Some also include a discussion of stressors or light stretching. Parents participating in mindfulness programs report decreases in stress and depression, improvements in sleep and health, and increased self-compassion and feelings of well-being. In a study that paired mindfulness practice with training in positive behavior supports, the mothers experienced stress relief, while simultaneously learning strategies that significantly reduced their children’s aggressive and disruptive behaviors.

Raising a child with communication and behavior challenges is incredibly stressful, but it doesn’t have to sentence you to a life defined by stress. Do your best to recognize when the pressures of your life are creating a chronic stress situation, and take steps toward relieving the strain. This will not only improve your own health and happiness but also benefit your autistic child and the entire family system.

To read one mom’s account of the stress of parenting, see “To All the Other Parents of Children with Special Needs: I Feel You.” To dive into the research on coping strategies for parents and caregivers of kids with autism, see these studies:

Bazzano, A., Wolfe, C., Zylowska, L., Wang, S., Schuster, E., Barrett, C., & Lehrer, D. (2015). Mindfulness based stress reduction (MBSR) for parents and caregivers of individuals with developmental disabilities: A community-based approach. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 24(2), 298–308. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-013-9836-9

Da Paz, N. S., Siegel, B., Coccia, M. A., & Epel, E. S. (2018). Acceptance or Despair? Maternal Adjustment to Having a Child Diagnosed with Autism. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 48(6), 1971–1981. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3450-4

Ekas, N.V., Lickenbrock, D.M. & Whitman, T.L. Optimism, Social Support, and Well-Being in Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 40, 1274–1284 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-010-0986-y

Fox, L., Dunlap, G., & Powell, D. (2002). Young children with challenging behavior: Issues and consideration for behavior support. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 4, 208–217.

Lucyshyn, J. M., Dunlap, G., & Albin, R. W. (Eds.). (2002). Families and positive behavior support. Baltimore, MD: Brookes.

Siah, P. C., and Tan, S. H. (2016). Relationships between sense of coherence, coping strategies and quality of life of parents of children with autism in Malaysia: a case study among chinese parents. Disabil. CBR Inclus. Dev. 27, 78–91.

Singh, N. N., Lancioni, G. E., Karazsia, B. T., Myers, R. E., Hwang, Y. S., & Anālayo, B. (2019). Effects of Mindfulness-Based Positive Behavior Support (MBPBS) Training Are Equally Beneficial for Mothers and Their Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder or With Intellectual Disabilities. Frontiers in psychology, 10, 385. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00385

Walsh, C. E., Mulder, E., Tudor, M. E. (2013). Predictors of parent stress in a sample of children with ASD: Pain, problem behavior, and parental coping. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 7, 256-264.

Immediate Needs

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Anne Arundel County  

DBAA—18 year old male needs an instructor Monday through Friday 9:00am-5:00pm in Pasadena.

GDAA—13 year old male needs an instructor Monday through Friday 4:00pm-8:00pm and Saturday 10:00am-3:00pm in

Baltimore City

ECBC–12 year old male needs an instructor Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 3:00pm-7:00pm, Thursday and Friday 6:00pm-9:00pm and a flexible four hour Saturday shift and a flexible four hour Sunday afternoon shift in 21209. 

Baltimore County

BMBA—13 year old male needs an instructor Saturday and Sunday 1:00pm-4:00pm in Towson

BWBA—15 year old male needs an instructor for a flexible Sunday shift in Randallstown

CMBA—19 year old male needs an instructor Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 3:00pm-7:00pm and Saturday and Sunday 11:00am-3:00pm in Perry Hall.

JPSBA—13 year old male needs an instructor Monday through Friday 4:00-7:00 in Reisterstown.

JWBA—21 year old male needs an instructor Monday through Friday 9:00am-3:00pm in White Marsh

KGBA—15 year old male needs an instructor Monday through Friday 12:00pm-5:00pm and Saturday 12:00pm-4:00pm in Phoenix

MMBA—13 year old male needs an instructor Monday through Friday 5:00pm-8:00pm in Hunt Valley/Towson

MZBA—16 year old male needs a instructor Monday and Wednesday 4:00pm-9:00pm in Parkville.

SEBA–14 year old male needs an instructor Tuesday and Thursday 4:00pm-6:30pm and Sunday 4:00-7:00 in Reisterstown.

TWBA—12 year old male needs an instructor Monday, Wednesday and Friday either 9:00am-2:00pm or 2:00pm-6:00pm in Towson

XBBA—12 year old male needs an instructor Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 3:00pm-6:00pm and Saturday 1:00pm-4:00pm in Randallstown.

Carroll County 

CGCC—14 year old male needs an instructor Monday, Wednesday and Friday 4:00pm-7:00pm and Saturday and Sunday 12:00pm-4:00pm in Manchester

RGCC—17 year old male needs an instructor every other Saturday and Sunday 12:00pm-3:00pm in Hampstead

Cecil County 

JMCE—12 year old male needs an instructor Monday through Friday 3:30pm-6:00pm and Saturday 10:00am-2:00pm in Rising Sun

MOCE—18 year old male needs an instructor for a flexible every other weekend shift in Northeast

Harford County 

CFHA—19 year old male needs an instructor for a flexible 3-5 hour shift between the hours of 9:00am-2:00pm any three days per week Monday through Friday in Bel Air.

CLHA—18 year old male needs an instructor Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 9:00am-2:00pm and Friday 7:00am-10:00am in Bel Air.

GFHA—12 year old male needs an instructor Thursday and Friday 9:00am-12:00pm and Saturday and Sunday 4:00pm-8:00pm in Bel Air

HMHA—18 year old male needs an instructor Monday through Thursday 7:30am-5:30pm in Bel Air

IBHA—18 year old male needs an instructor Monday, Wednesday and Friday 12:00pm-3:00pm in Abingdon.

Howard County 

CBHO—18 year old male needs an instructor Monday through Friday 8:00am-6:00pm in Columbia

GOHO 19 year old male needs an instructor Monday through Friday 10:00am-6:00pm in Columbia

KPHO—17 year old male needs an instructor Monday through Thursday 2:00pm-5:00pm in Columbia

MHHO—16 year old male needs an instructor Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 8:00am-1:00pm in Sykesville

MTHO—20 year old male needs an instructor Monday, Thursday and Friday 12:30-4:30pm in Columbia **this schedule may change weekly with shift times including 8:30am-12:30pm and/or 4:30pm-8:30pm

SHHO—19 year old male needs an instructor Monday through Friday anytime between 9:00am-8:00pm in Marriottsville

TKHO—13 year old male needs an instructor Saturday or Sunday 10:00am-2:00pm in Clarksville

ZGHO—18 year old female needs an instructor Monday, Tuesday and Friday 8:15am-3:15pm and a possible flexible Wednesday shift in West Ellicott City.

Talbot County 

BKTC—16 year old male needs an instructor Monday through Friday 3:00pm-6:00pm in Easton

It’s Lacrosse Season at The Trellis School

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Something wonderful is happening at The Trellis School. Adaptive Physical Education Teacher, Ian Mitchell has created a 6 week long lacrosse program for the children at Trellis.

On Saturday mornings, Mitchell and a group of volunteers work together to orchestrate a fun lacrosse session for some of the students from Trellis. Mitchell himself has worked at Trellis for almost 3 years. On top of his position of Adaptive Physical Education Teacher, he is also the Program Manager for the Therapeutic Integration Program at the Sparks location. The volunteers for the lacrosse program consist of other Trellis employees, Mitchell’s son, and a few of his son’s lacrosse teammates. Although this first session, which concludes on June 3rd, is only open to Trellis School students and related services clients, Mitchell hopes to open future programs to more families.
A typical session consists of modified games that help the children reinforce the skills that are already taught. “The best way to describe our sessions is ‘Organized Chaos!’” commented Mitchell. “Our sessions are very fast-paced, and we change things quickly so [the kids] don’t lose interest.” The activities start as soon as the kids enter the gym at Trellis. Immediately, Mitchell and the volunteers direct the kids to start an activity as a warm-up. This activity is usually a previously learned skill that they perform on their own. Next, Mitchell reviews what they did in past sessions, and the children practice these skills through various fun games. After the review, Mitchell guides the kids through new skills, which are first demonstrated to them by the instructors. When the demonstration is over, the children try these new skills with a little help from Mitchell and the other volunteers. The session comes to a close with a fun group game that gets everyone involved.
The equipment used for the program is modified to fit the children of Trellis. Instead of the usual lacrosse ball and stick, Mitchell’s group uses a soft ball and small lacrosse stick. The smaller stick is easier for the kids to use, and the soft ball alleviates fear of injury. Because of the soft ball and gentle nature of the activities, the children do not wear helmets or other equipment.
Mitchell says he was inspired by his love of lacrosse to create this program. He said he felt a desire to share his passion for this sport with the kids that he teaches. Physical activity for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder is particularly important because problems such as obesity and inactivity occur at higher rates in those with ASD. On top of the physical health benefits that come with exercise for children with ASD, research has also shown that physical activity has led to behavioral improvements. In their article “Promoting Physical Activity for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Barriers, Benefits, and Strategies for Success,” Menear and Neumeier say, “Further research with exercise interventions supports the claim that exercise decreases disruptive behaviors in the short term for children with ASD.” Caitlin Sprouse, Occupational Therapist and Director of Related Services for Trellis Services commented, “Movement input from participating in sports gives great sensory input to all kids who love to move! Practicing lacrosse skills gives kids the opportunity to work on lots of motor planning as well.”
For Mitchell, however, the best part of the program is “seeing the kids smile!” As for future plans, Mitchell hopes to see his program grow and to see more kids involved. He also would like to eventually do other programs with other sports as well, particularly soccer. Ian Mitchell is always looking for qualified volunteers to help with this program. Those interested can contact Ian Mitchell at info@trellisservices.com.

Movement Education combined with a Social Outing = Ultimate Fun

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Trellis School seeks to provide our students with social interactions, community outings, and new experiences with their peers in out-of-school settings.  We look for educational opportunities to teach our learners how to interact in meaningful and appropriate ways with their peers within the community.

In an effort to increase our participation with different schools and organizations, we reached out to some elementary schools asking to have some of our older learners participate in social activities at their school.  Education Director Reyes Vera has a working relationship with Padonia International Elementary School, and he arranged a visit to the school that coincided with the travelling Whittle equipment came to their school for physical education classes.

Gerstung Movement Education equipment, also known as Whittle equipment, is made in Baltimore, MD and has been a part of Movement Education since the early 60’s. The equipment is used to allow children to refine motor skills and build confidence in creative ways through full body engagement, balance, coordination, and problem solving.  Baltimore County Public Schools has a few sets of Whittle equipment that rotate through the school system for a month in physical education classes.  Students are challenged to use their imagination in creative ways to traverse the climbing walls, curved bridges, rope walls, ladders and balance beams. The climbing rope is often themed as a way to cross an “alligator-filled” body of water, and students are encouraged to use new ways to climb, move, and explore safely.  Tall climbing walls become mountains to overcome and balance beams become ways to escape from fairy tale creatures.  When the Whittle Equipment comes to physical education class it’s as if the ultimate playground has come indoors to be conquered.

We want to thank Padonia International Elementary School for inviting us to participate in a few of their gym classes to experience the movement education and chance to exercise our imaginations while practicing social skills through play.  We are grateful to have such a good relationship with the elementary schools in our community.  Padonia gave our students a unique experience and we look forward to future events with the amazing students and teachers at Padonia.  A special thank you to the principal, Melissa DiDonatto, physical education teacher, Gary DeGroat, the 4th grade teachers and students!

ClassPhotoWhittleCombinedClassWhittle

Springtime and Sensory Play

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It’s that time of year again. Where old becomes new and the air becomes just a bit warmer. Even when it’s gloomy outside, there are plenty of sensory activities you can do at home. So here are three Spring time sensory activities to kill the boredom on these rainy Spring days. We all know the importance of sensory play, the opportunity for children to explore their world through the five senses.

Sight & Taste: Rainbow Cereal Sort

Cereal Sort

Photo courtesy of b-inspiremama.com

Find the calm after the storm with the easy and equally tasty activity. Rainbow Cereal Sort is the perfect activity for learning colors. Follow the helpful hints to add even for fun to the activity.

                What you’ll need:

  • Large muffin tin (one that makes six muffins)
  • Small to medium bowl
  • One box of fruit loops (Go for the store brand to save money, or go gluten free by using the Wegmans brand)
  • Construction paper in red, yellow, green, blue, orange, and purple

Helpful hints: Make this a fine motor activity by using thong or a clothes pin to transfer cereal pieces. Talk about taste texture by adding milk or water and watching/feeling the cereal as it changes from crunchy to soggy.

 

Touch, Smell, & Sight: Earth Day Sensory Bag

SensoryBag

Photo courtesy of handsonaswegrow.com

Pay homage to Earth Day with this sensory filled creation. Earth Day Sensory Bags.

What you’ll need:

  • 1 gallon size food storage bag
  • Tape
  • Small flowers and small leaves
  • Clear hair gel

 

How to: Gather materials. Add clear hair gel to bag (fill to about 1/3). Gently add in flowers and leaves, about ten total. Zipper bag and tape top closed. Have fun moving objects around in the bag.

Helpful hint: Tape to a bright window or door for added visual input.  OR, add a line down the center of the bag and sort leaves from flowers. OR, separate parts of a flower and slide pieces around the bag to rebuild the flower. Use the assembly as an opportunity to talk about smells and textures.

Touch & Sound: Easter Egg Shakers

Eggs

Photo property of www.rockabebabymusic.com

Looking for something to do with the dozens of leftover plastic Easter eggs? Try making egg shakers to intrigue your child’s sense of sound.

What you’ll need:

  • 8 plastic Easter eggs
  • ½ cup of uncooked rice
  • ½ cup of beans (any kind)
  • ½ cup of raisins
  • ½ cup of cereal (Your child’s favorite will do)

How to: Gather materials. Allow your child to explore the different textures and tastes of the materials. Fill 2 eggs of each food product and close them. Take turns shaking the eggs, guessing their contents and matching them with the egg of the same sound.

Helpful hint: Tape plastic spoons to either side of the eggs to turn them into maracas.

This blog was written by Kirby Allen, Trellis Instructor

Three Questions

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Anne McHugh recently joined Trellis as the ABA Program Director. We sat down to ask her three questions to learn more about her vision. Read her bio on our Leadership Page and read below for the answers to our questions.

Q. What attracted you to Trellis?
Trellis Services is client-centered. I have always been impressed with their dedication to each individual child and meeting his/her needs in every way possible.

Q. What’s your vision for your role as ABA Program Director?
My vision is to bring Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services to every child who can benefit. I look forward to growing the clinic, social skills and in-home programs so that Trellis can continue their excellent quality of care on a larger scale.

Q. What are 5 things you want parents to know about Trellis?
1. Trellis can provide ABA services to children in practically every aspect of their lives: home, school, clinic (for children under school age), and community.
2. Our ABA treatment plans are designed using only evidence-based procedures for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
3. When a child receives ABA services through Trellis, the child is always learning and getting closer to reaching his/her potential.
4. ABA services through Trellis not only teaches new skills but makes them usable in real life.
5. Trellis staff members are some of the most talented and dedicated individuals you will find in this field.

A New Perspective

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Reyes Vera joined Trellis earlier this Winter as the Education Director of the Trellis School. We recently sat down to ask him three questions to get to know him a little better. Read his bio on our Leadership Page and read below for the answers to our questions.

Q. What attracted you to Trellis?

Trellis has always been known for having high quality educational and clinical programs. As a BCBA and special educator, being part of a school that utilizes the principles of ABA and Verbal Behavior was very appealing to me. I am very excited to be a member of the Trellis team.

Q. What’s your vision for your role as Education Director?

Trellis is a well-established program. I want to contribute to the program to build on what is already in place. I see myself promoting professional growth within Trellis and providing families support to further the generalization of skills from school to home and community.

Q. What are 5 things you want parents to know about Trellis?

  1. The students are always engaged! The Trellis team is amazing at creating instructional opportunities throughout the school day.
  2. The Trellis team sets high realistic expectations for their students.
  3.  The Trellis team is passionate about their work with the students.
  4.  The Trellis team is dedicated to professional growth. We have multiple staff enrolling in programs to gain their BCBA certification.
  5.  The instructors, teachers, related services, administration, and families all work together to achieve a common goal…student success!