An Early Start for Your Child with Autism: Using Everyday Activities to Help Kids Connect, Communicate, and Learn
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• Large crayons
• Markers
• Dot markers
• Stamps
• Play dough (Play-Doh or other brands) and accessories
• Stickers
• Child-safe scissors
• Toy telephone
• Unbreakable mirrors of all sizes
• Dress-up clothes
• Wooden spoons; old magazines; baskets; cardboard boxes and tubes; other similar safe, unbreakable items the child “finds” around the house (such as pots and pans)
• CD or MP3 player
• CDs or MP3s of popular songs
• Large wooden beads for stringing
Other Fun Items to Encourage Engagement and Communication
• Bubbles
• Balloons
• Play food
AGE-APPROPRIATE BOOKS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN
Books are a great way to share enjoyment and time with children. Books are also an important teaching material that can be used in your everyday life as well as in your child’s early intervention program. Following are suggested children’s books, many of which are available at your local library. This list is by no means exhaustive. We encourage you and your child to continue to discover great new books!
Great Books for Young Children with ASD
Quiet Loud, by Leslie Patricelli
Big Little, by Leslie Patricelli
Happy Baby Words, by Roger Priddy
My First Word Board Book, by DK Publishing Staff
My First Colors Board Book, by DK Publishing Staff
Animal Books
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin (Eric Carle, illustrator)
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin (Eric Carle, illustrator)
Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin (Eric Carle, illustrator)
Carl’s Afternoon in the Park, by Alexandra Day
Good Dog, Carl (Classic Board Books Series), by Alexandra Day
Moo, Baa, La La La! by Sandra Boynton
Touch and Feel: Farm, by DK Publishing Staff
Baby Einstein: Baby MacDonald on the Farm, by Julie Aigner-Clark (Nadeem Zaidi, illustrator)
My First Farm Board Book, by DK Publishing Staff
My First Animal Board Book, by DK Publishing Staff
The Very Busy Spider, by Eric Carle
Counting Books
1, 2, 3 to the Zoo, by Eric Carle
Fish Eyes: A Book You Can Count On, by Lois Ehlert
Books about People, Faces, and Body Parts
Oh, Baby!: A Touch-and-Feel Book, by Elizabeth Hathon
Baby Faces, by DK Publishing Staff, Funfax
Where Is Baby’s Belly Button? by Karen Katz
Baby Einstein: Mama and Me, by Julie Aigner-Clark (Nadeem Zaidi, illustrator)
My First Body Board Book, by DK Publishing Staff
Toes, Ears, and Nose! by Marion Dane Bauer (Karen Katz, illustrator)
Books about Actions
Baby Einstein: Mirror Me! by Julie Aigner-Clark (Nadeem Zaidi, illustrator)
Fuzzy Fuzzy Fuzzy!: A Touch, Skritch, and Tickle Book, by Sandra Boynton
That’s Not My Teddy . . . : Its Paws Are Too Woolly, by Fiona Watt (Rachel Wells, illustrator)
That’s Not My Puppy . . . : Its Coat Is Too Hairy, by Fiona Watt (Rachel Wells, illustrator)
That’s Not My Dinosaur . . . : Its Body Is Too Squashy, by Fiona Watt (Rachel Wells, illustrator)
Snap! Button! Zip! by Abigail Tabby (Christopher Moroney, illustrator)
Resources
ASSOCIATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND INDEPENDENT WEBSITES
Autism-Specific
United States
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
www.aap.org/healthtopics/autism.cfm
The AAP is a nonprofit organization of pediatricians. This section of its website offers numerous parent resources about ASD, including checklists for early warning signs by age and informational brochures and booklets about typical developmental milestones, understanding ASD, and related medical information. It also includes “Sound Advice for Autism,” a collection of interviews with pediatricians, researchers, and parents to answer diagnostic, treatment, and general care questions about ASD. At www.aap.org/pressroom/aappr-autism-issuekit.htm, you can click on “Media Kits,” which links to an “Autism Issue Kit” of recent research articles on ASD. Other links to additional scientifically supported ASD websites are provided.
Association of University Centers on Disabilities
www.aucd.org/directory/directory.cfm?program=UCEDD
The University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDDs) are part of the Association of University Centers on Disabilities. The UCEDDs work with people with disabilities, families, government agencies, and community providers in projects that provide training, technical assistance, service, research, and information sharing, with a focus on building the capacity of communities to sustain all their citizens. The UCEDD section of the Association’s website has a national directory for all 67 UCEDDs, listing technical assistance resources.
Autism-PDD.net
www.autism-pdd.net
This is an information and resource site for parents that provides an online support community forum and message board, as well as a place to post personal stories, photos, and local events. It also provides basic information about symptoms, diagnostic criteria, and treatment options. At www.autism-pdd.net/resources-by-state.html, you can search for ASD resources in your state, including legal, educational, and financial planning and assistance.
Autism Service Dogs of America
http://autismservicedogsofamerica.com
This nonprofit, community-based organization raises and trains service dogs specifically for children with ASD. The website includes information about what an Autism Service Dog can do for a child with ASD, how the dogs are trained, and how to submit an application.
Autism Society
www.autism-society.org
The Autism Society is the leading grassroots ASD organization in the United States. It is dedicated to increasing public awareness about the day-to-day issues faced by people on the autism spectrum; advocating for appropriate services for individuals; and providing the latest information on treatment, education, research, and advocacy. The website features links to nationwide ASD-related services and supports by location.
Autism Speaks
www.autismspeaks.org
Autism Speaks is the nation’s largest ASD science and advocacy organization. It is dedicated to funding research into causes, prevention, treatments, and a cure; increasing awareness of ASD; and advocating for the needs of individuals with ASD and their families. Its website is one of the most comprehensive sites for families, providing links to the other major online resources. A resource link (www.autismspeaks.org/community/fsdb/search.php) offers specific services by geographic location to families of children with ASD. Click on your state for a list of diagnostic, intervention, educational, and community support resources. The 100 Day Kit (www.autismspeaks.org/community/family-services/tool-kits/100-day-kit) helps families navigate the first 100 days after diagnosis, providing critical information about autism and its effects on development, tips for assembling services for your child, various intervention approaches, a glossary of key terms, and week-by-week plans to help you stay organized. The Autism Speaks Official Blog (www.autismspeaks.org/blog), updated daily, provides up-to-date information on autism news, research, advocacy efforts, and family resources.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/index.html
The CDC is a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This section of its website provides information about the prevalence of ASD, in addition to screening, treatment, and research resources.
Educating Children with Autism
www.nap.edu/openbook
.php?isbn=0309072697
Here is the National Academy Press book Educating Children with Autism (2001), prepared by the National Research Council’s Committee on Educational Interventions for Persons with Autism. Chapters on diagnosis and prevalence, family roles and planning, educational services, comprehensive and domain-specific treatment approaches, public policy and legal issues, and scientific recommendations can be downloaded for free via the links in the right-hand column.
Everyday Health
www.everydayhealth.com/info/v1ss/autism-basics.aspx
Everyday Health is a leading provider of online consumer health solutions and medical news that complies with the Health on the Net Foundation (HON) code standard for trustworthy health information to consumers. This section of the website shares basic information about ASD, caregiving information, treatment, and management of symptoms.
Families for Early Autism Treatment (FEAT)
www.feat.org
FEAT is a nonprofit organization of parents, family members, and treatment professionals, designed to help families with children who have ASD. It offers a network of support where families can discuss issues surrounding autism and treatment options. This website refers specifically to the FEAT in northern California, but it provides links to other FEAT programs around the United States, most of which have a directory of local resources.
First Signs
www.firstsigns.org
First Signs is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to educating parents and professionals about the early warning signs of ASD and related disorders. The website offers information to help you identify possible developmental concerns, a resource directory for services by state, and the free “ASD Video Glossary,” which contains over a hundred video clips to help you see the subtle differences between typical and delayed development in young children and to spot the early red flags for ASD.
Global Autism Collaboration (GAC)
www.autism.org
The GAC is a nonprofit organization created in response to a global need for networking and communication about ASD. The website gives information on the “Parents as Partners” research initiative. The GAC also offers free informational videos on ASD symptoms, community resources (e.g., going to dentist’s office or getting a haircut), and other forms of support.
Healthy Children
www.healthychildren.org
This website, powered by the AAP (see above), has information on developmental milestones, immunizations, health issues, safety, and family life.
Healing Thresholds: Connecting Community and Science to Heal Autism
http://autism.healingthresholds.com
Healing thresholds is an organization dedicated to healing the lives of families touched by ASD. The website includes information to help families deal with their child’s new diagnosis, as well as therapy fact sheets about the different treatment options and the science behind each approach’s effectiveness. The list of therapy options on this website is comprehensive (from diet to speech–language therapy to behavioral interventions) and includes the percentage of parents that chose each option. The site also provides daily updates of ASD therapy research and coverage in the news. A global directory of ASD-related therapists and services by geographic location is available.
Interactive Autism Network (IAN)
www.ianproject.org
The IAN is a nationwide online project connecting researchers with individuals and families affected by ASD to recruit more information about causes, diagnosis, family background, home environment, child behavior, and services received. Families can complete online questionnaires.
International Society for Autism Research (INSAR)
www.autism-insar.org
INSAR sponsors the annual International Meeting for Autism Research and the scientific journal Autism Research (issues of the journal are available on the website). The site includes links to upcoming events, foundations, professional organizations, scientific organizations and resources, and parent-led and community ASD organizations.
Mayo Clinic Health Information
www.mayoclinic.com/health/autism/DS00348
The Mayo Clinic is the first and largest integrated, not-for-profit group practice, with physical locations in Arizona, Minnesota, and Florida. Its website is compliant with the Health on the Net Foundation (HON) code standard for trustworthy health information to consumers, and received the 2010 Time Magazine Top 50 Websites award. This section of the site offers health information specific to ASD, such as risk factors, treatment and drug information, and coping and support resources. It also provides information to assist parents in communicating with their child’s pediatrician about possible ASD symptoms (e.g., it describes what to expect during the visit and what questions and information about their child’s development to discuss). The 21 research articles that were referenced to create these web pages are listed for review.
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY)
http://nichcy.org
NICHCY is a division of the Office of Special Education Programs of the U.S. Department of Education. Its website provides information on specific disabilities; early intervention services for infants and toddlers; special education and related services for children in school; research on effective educational practices; resources and connections in every state; parenting materials; disability organizations and professional associations; education rights and what the law requires; and transition to adult life. Of particular interest to parents of children with ASD are links to information about how to write an individualized family service plan or IFSP (for children from birth to 3 years) and an individualized education program or IEP (for children from 3 to 22 years of age). In addition, this website provides links to numerous additional resources; a toll-free number that connects you to an information specialist; and resources in Spanish.
Organization for Autism Research (OAR)
www.researchautism.org
OAR is an online source for applied research to answer questions that parents, families, individuals with ASD, teachers, and caregivers confront daily. The website includes downloadable volumes in Spanish and English on research and assessment for parents.
Pathfinders for Autism
www.pathfindersforautism.org
Pathfinders for Autism is a parent-sponsored nonprofit organization that guides parents to resources in Maryland, where it is based. However, it also offers a free copy of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, an ASD screening tool, which can be completed by parents and shared with pediatricians to discuss possible symptoms. In addition, it provides a toll-free number for families to call to speak with a trained staff member, an email link to ask questions, and a sign-up to receive informational emails.
Schafer Autism Report
www.sarnet.org
The Schafer Autism Report is a nonprofit online newsletter produced entirely by volunteers to promote awareness and education toward finding the best treatments, preventions, and cures for the range of ASD. You can read the most recent issue free of charge and then subscribe to future issues.
University of California–Davis MIND Institute
www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/mindinstitute/resources
The University of California–Davis MIND Institute (MIND stands for Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders), a collaborative international research center, is committed to the awareness, understanding, prevention, care, and cure of neurodevelopmental disorders. This section of its website offers a comprehensive guide to medical and behavioral treatment approaches, disability information, state and federal resources, available print materials, and support group information. At www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/mindinstitute/videos/video_autism.html, the MIND Institute’s Distinguished Lecture Series videos on autism (featuring internationally renowned researchers) can be accessed. Each video is approximately 1 hour long.
Zero to Three
www.zerotothree.org/about-us/areas-of-expertise/free-pa
rent-brochures-and-guides
Zero to Three is a national nonprofit organization that informs, trains, and supports professionals, policy makers, and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers. This section of its website includes many parenting resources, including developmental milestones and ways to support your child’s development from birth to age 3 during everyday moments.
Canada
Autism Society Canada (ASC)
www.autismsocietycanada.ca
ASC is a national, incorporated, nonprofit charitable organization started by a group of parents committed to advocacy, public education, information and referral, and support for its regional societies.
Autism Speaks Canada
www.autismspeaks.ca
See U.S. Autism Speaks listing for details.
United Kingdom
National Autistic Society
www.autism.org.uk
Ireland
Irish Autism Action
www.autismireland.ie
Australia/New Zealand
Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect)
www.autismspectrum.org.au
Child Care
Center for Inclusive Child Care
www.inclusivechildcare.org
The Center for Inclusive Child Care is a nonprofit organization that strives to create, promote, and support pathways to successful inclusive care for all children. Its website is a comprehensive resource network for inclusive early childhood programs, school-age programs, and providers. It also includes an online consultation service for child care providers to support retaining children with special needs or challenging behaviors in community child care programs.
Child Care Aware
http://childcareaware.org
Child Care Aware, a program of the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, is partly funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The website provides articles titled “Learning about Inclusive Child Care” and “Is This the Right Place for My Child?”, which help parents select high-quality child care. Videos about high-quality child care can also be viewed from the website, and the online publication “Choosing High-Quality Childcare for a Child with Special Needs” can be accessed.