Children with Special Needs

A Holistic Approach in the Classroom

From "The Best of YAI" Newsletter

Topic: Children with Special Needs
Format: Newsletter
Population: ASD
Age Group: School Age, Early Childhood
Levels of Disability: All

The New York League for Early Learning (NYL) after working with hundreds of children, has discovered that there was no one best way to work every child. This article describes educational strategies and the benefits the NYL students have enjoyed from each.

ADHD and the Role of Controls

Topic: Challenging Behaviors, Children with Special Needs, Staff Training
Format: PowerPoint/Presentation
Population: All
Age Group: Early Childhood, School Age
Levels of Disability: All

This training provides a user-friendly view of ADHD as a breakdown in the brain's four "executive" functions. Humorous examples demonstrate how the executive functions operate in the general population and in atypical individuals. A worksheet for small group activity teaches attendees how to apply the lessons in this workshop to supporting the brains of the children they work with.

All About My Friends & Me

A KidPix Lesson Plan

Topic: Children with Special Needs
Format: Lesson Plan
Population: All
Age Group: Early Childhood, School Age
Levels of Disability: All

Students will explore the tools and creative capabilities of KidPix while connecting with the theme of "all about me." In addition they will be engaging in a developmentally appropriate art experience.

Been There, Done That, Didn't Work!

Topic: Challenging Behaviors, Children with Special Needs
Format: PowerPoint/Presentation
Population: All
Age Group: Adolescent, Childhood, Early Childhood, School Age, Young Adult
Levels of Disability: All

Is your staff challenged by difficult behaviors? Been There, Done That, Didn't Work, says it all! This PowerPoint, while empathizing with teachers, presents best practices for encouraging the growth and development of children through positive classroom experiences.

Behavioral Analysis: Evaluating the Options

A Conversation with Mark Sundberg

Topic: Children with Special Needs
Format: Video, Q&A
Population: ASD
Age Group: Early Childhood, School Age, Adolescent
Levels of Disability: All

We speak with Mark about his work with Behavioral Analysis, including the scientific basis of the approach, and how this applies in real-world situations for a child with autism.

Helping Consumers Cope with Hypersensitivity to the Environment

From "The Best of YAI" Newsletter

Topic: Children with Special Needs, Challenging Behaviors, Teaching Techniques
Format: Newsletter
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

A chime that brings a smile to one person can be an overwhelming noise to a person with hypersensitivity to the environment, a condition known as Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). The good news is that children and adults with SPD can be helped through Sensory Integration therapy. This YAI Newsletter will give you effective strategies for use in the therapy room that can also be applied to the program team.

Increasing Parental Involvement

from "The Best of YAI"

Topic: Children with Special Needs, Working with Families
Format: Newsletter
Population: All
Age Group: School Age
Levels of Disability: All

Suzanne and Margaret give tips on creative ways for making caregivers feel comfortable, safe, and connected to the school community.

Outside Adults Are Invaluable Assets

From "The Best of YAI" Newsletter

Topic: Children with Special Needs, Staff Training, Working with Families
Format: Newsletter
Population: All
Age Group: Early Childhood, School Age
Levels of Disability: All

Engaged, involved families can be an invaluable asset in an educational environment. To encourage parent participation, the YAI/NYL Roosevelt School has a unique open door policy. Download this article to learn how one school is using creative thinking, flexibility and humor to help a diverse group work smoothly together.

Packing It In: Preparing Your Child for a Vacation from Parent Advocate, Jeff Stimpson

Expert Tips & Challenges

Topic: Leisure and Crafts, Children with Special Needs, Challenging Behaviors
Format: Tips and Challenges
Population: All
Age Group: School Age, Adolescent
Levels of Disability: All

Jeff is a father of a young son with special needs. He shares with us the challenges he faces as he prepares his son Alex for camp and family vacations, and offers some hints on how to make the process more manageable.

Parent Advocate Jeff Stimpson on The Big Pick Up

Expert Tips & Challenges

Topic: Children with Special Needs, Working with Families
Format: Tips and Challenges
Population: ASD
Age Group: School Age
Levels of Disability: All

Parent Jeff Stimpson shares his experiences managing the big and the little clean ups with a child with autism.

Professional Challenges with Autism

A Conversation with Dr. Marlene J. Cohen

Topic: Children with Special Needs
Format: Video, Q&A
Population: ASD
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

We speak with Dr. Cohen about the many challenges facing professionals when working with individuals with Autism, and her tips and advice on the latest work in the field.

The Basics of American Sign Language (ASL) Modified for Little Hands

Topic: Teaching Techniques, Children with Special Needs
Format: Manual
Population: Hearing Impaired
Age Group: Early Childhood, School Age
Levels of Disability: All

A comprehensive workshop on Basic American Sign Language that has been modified for use with small children who may have intact hearing but have communication difficulties.

The Hudson River

A Living Classroom

Topic: Children with Special Needs, Community Inclusion
Format: Lesson Plan, Manual
Population: All
Age Group: School Age, Adolescent, Young Adult
Levels of Disability: Mild (high functioning), Moderate

This manual will expose teachers to the extraordinary educational resource that the Hudson River is and introduce them to the many wonderful educational sites along the Hudson that they can visit with their students.

The Orthopedically Impaired Child

Topic: Children with Special Needs
Format: Manual
Population: All
Age Group: School Age
Levels of Disability: All

This comprehensive, transdisciplinary resource provides information to sensitize staff and demystify the needs of the orthopedically impaired/ medically fragile child. Developed by an interdisciplinary team of teachers, teaching assistants, therapists, social workers and administrators, the curriculum summaries their recommendations for best practices, handling administrative issues and team coordination. The curriculum includes guidelines for creating a "Health Care Plan" incorporating developmental and functional assessment, educational and therapeutic interventions, family knowledge and case management.

The YAI Autism Center and discussion of challenges and new developments in Autism Spectrum Disorders

A Conversation with Charles Cartwright, M.D.

Topic: Working with Families, Children with Special Needs
Format: Video, Q&A
Population: ASD
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

Charles Cartwright, M.D., the Director of the Autism Center at the YAI Network shares with us some recent attitudes, developments and research surrounding ASD as well as some advice for parents and service providers.

Vince Carbone: How can parents of autistic children facilitate their child's development?

Expert Q&A

Topic: Working with Families, Children with Special Needs
Format: Video
Population: Family Members, ASD
Age Group: School Age
Levels of Disability: All

We asked Dr. Vincent Carbone about the types of activities that parents of children with autism can use to facilitate their child\'s development.

Working with children and families in the field of intellectual disabilities

A conversation with Steven P. Wells Ph.D., LCSW

Topic: Children with Special Needs, Staff Training
Format: Q&A, Video
Population: All
Age Group: Early Childhood, School Age, Adolescent
Levels of Disability: All

At the 2009 YAI International conference, we sat down with Professor Steven Wells to find out what his presentation was going to highlight and what advice he had to share with staff working with children with disabilities and their families. Steven P. Wells has been involved with family and children services since 1976 as a child welfare worker, family mediator, foster parent trainer, group counselor, and university professor.

Working with Children with ADHD -Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Topic: Children with Special Needs
Format: Manual
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

This comprehensive and user friendly manual provides clinical and educational information for the entire team. It examines the nature of ADHD and self control as well as the Teaching by Profile model for developing an individualized support plan. The manual contains helpful resources for understanding sensory processing issues and delivery of some sensory interventions. Included are many practical ideas for choosing effective language, managing problematic behaviors, implementing relaxation exercises and developing a "Let is All Out" center.