Celesta had a birthday. She turned 5 on Saturday. Monday morning on the way to Preschool she announced how excited she was that now she was going to be in Kindergarten.

She proudly declared that you go to Kindergarten when you are 5. Therefore, she thought her birthday would mark a change in classroom.

There was a lot of logic in her thinking.
Unfortunately, that isn't how it works. You and I know
it doesn't happen like that. But she didn't understand what
everyone else knew.

Here's the bad news and the good news
No one thought to explain the situation to her because no one knew what was going on in her mind. She didn't understand something that everyone else seemed to know. Luckily, she was able to talk about her expectations. That gave Mom a clue so she could give her daughter the right information.

So here's what we need to think about
What information do we ASSUME our students know? This is
an issue that can apply to ALL students. But those on the
Autism Spectrum will be likely to experience more difficulty
that others. Challenges in thinking, reasoning, observation,
imitation, comprehension or related skills affect their ability to understand the assumed.

Then I received a letter
Linda:
I attended your seminar last week. I found it very helpful. Last night my son (almost 6) had his first Little League game (our city has a league specifically for challenged kids) and it didn't take me long to realize that I had not done a good job in preparing him . . .

Hmmm . . . I bet every parent and teacher has had at least a few of those moments.

So here is what she did
I went home and went to work on a social story complete with pictures we had just taken at the game. I remembered you saying it didn't have to be complicated -- just try one.

This morning at the breakfast table I showed him the story "Austin Plays Baseball" and he was thrilled. We talked about every aspect including how to recognize his team members and coaches by the color of their shirt.

He can't wait to try again on Saturday. The whole thing took less than an hour and will hopefully make the experience better for everyone.

Thanks for conducting such a practical seminar. You took something that had seemed daunting in the past and turned it into a reality for our family.
Patty . . . Austin's Mom

What a simple solution
I know there will be a positive result for Austin. Why? Because Mom said he was "thrilled" with the book. It made sense to him.

The world is a complex place
I wonder . . . how many behavior problems and social skill challenges have a root in misunderstanding? How many times during the day or week do our students encounter difficulties because they don't know what everyone else knows?

Do you know who may experience the greatest challenges?
Students with Asperger's. Because they talk a lot and seem to know a lot, people ASSUME they understand. See . . . there's that word ASSUME again.

The solutions can be simple
Maybe Celesta will understand her move to Kindergarten from a verbal explanation. Perhaps a calendar will be a better way to help her understand the passage of time.

Austin learned a lot from a little picture book to explain
his baseball experience.

A picture card, a written explanation, a photo or a story book. There are lots of possibilities.

But the most important thing . . .
RECOGNIZING that there is something that the student needs
to understand better.

Copyright © 2007 Linda Hodgdon

Have YOU attended Visual Strategies on TOUR? Plans are
being finalized for fall and winter dates. Can you join me in one
of these cities?

Check these locations:

• Schaumburg (Chicago), IL
• King of Prussia (Philadelphia), PA
• Dallas, TX
• Richmond, VA
• Kansas City, MO
• Santa Ana, CA
• Murfreesboro (Nashville), TN

Are you a techie?

Or are you one of those people who tell me you aren't very comfortable with the digital world?

So, here's my question. . . .

Did you ever read an e-Book?

E-Books are a fabulous way to get more great information . . . FAST. When you make a selection,
the best part is that you get to download your book right away.
No waiting for the mailman to deliver anything.

E-Books can be long or short. Most important, they are convenient.

This is especially good news for international readers. You can get
e-Books without worrying about shipping costs or customs charges.

Are you planning for your staff
in-service training for next year? Do you ever get complaints about boring programs filled
with useless information?

Visual Strategies Workshops are packed with lots of practical "how-to" information that participants can take back to
use the next day.

Here is what one program planner said
"In my 25 years+ of educational experience
(14 as an admin), I have never seen a group of
educators so attentive!" - Administrator

Give your educators effective tools to make a difference
with their students.

Needed: SLP with lots of experience submitting paperwork for ASHA CEU Provider Status. Must be available in the month of June 2007. Contact Mary Jo Kurily at seminars@quirkroberts.com

We only have 47 left!

People LOVE them, but unfortunately
they are going to be discontinued.


The Communication Easel has been VERY popular, especially for those working with students who are a bit "rough" with materials. They are washable, chewable, and practically indestructible. They can survive throwing, sitting, spilling and dropping. What more could you want?

Order now and get 2 extra packages of pages FREE as a bonus.

No doubt you're an
in-the-trenches parent
or professional, working
with kids on the autism spectrum every day. That's why you find so much value in the great suggestions on visual strategies found in every issue of this newsletter.




Wouldn't you love more of the same? About behavior,
social skills, sensory issues, toilet training, diet, teaching
strategies, communication, play, adolescence, curriculum,
home schooling, special education law, research, alternative therapies, model programs ...

Find all this - and more! - in the Autism Asperger's Digest - the only magazine on autism/AS focused entirely on helping you be more effective with the individuals you love or with whom you work.

Six idea-packed issues per year, all written in clear,
easy-to-understand language.

"If I knew about this magazine five years ago,
        my child's future would have been so much better."
                                   -Lyn, Parent

Experience for yourself why thousands of people around the world read the Autism Asperger's Digest.

Linda Hodgdon, M.Ed., CCC-SLP is a Speech- Language Pathologist and a Consultant for Autism Spectrum Disorders. She is the author of the bestseller, Visual Strategies for Improving Communication, one of the most recommended books in the field of autism.

Internationally recognized as a powerful and informative speaker and consultant, Linda has presented her insightful and dynamic workshops to audiences of educators and parents worldwide.

This E-newsletter is sent to people in more than 74 countries around the world! Do you know someone who would like to receive a copy? See below. . .