We would like to share a new resilience-enhancing activity book designed to help children and families cope with the psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Helping Children and Families Cope with the COVID-19 Pandemic” is a highly interactive guide designed for adults to work on together with children. It was developed by Annette La Greca, PhD, Professor of Psychology at the University of Miami, in conjunction with Scott Sevin, President of 7-Dippity, Inc. Dr. La Greca is a child clinical psychologist with expertise in guiding children through stressful events, and this book is structured around communication, strategies, and coping skills. You will find step-by-step instructions to tackle your children’s tough questions, engage in educational activities, and find time for your own self-care. While this booklet is targeted toward children from 6 to 12 years old, the activities and information may be adapted to any age or developmental level. Fun Fact: Dr. La Greca was Dr. Stone’s mentor during her graduate training at UM!

To see the full guide, please follow this link!

 

 

 

The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families has published a resource guide for parents and families as they face increased demands during the COVID-19 pandemic. This guide focuses on five protective factors to support strong families: parental resilience, knowledge of child development, social connection, concrete supports, and social/emotional development. The guide explains how to help children of different ages understand big changes in their lives, while also addressing ways for parents and caregivers to look after themselves. Filled with fun ideas to connect with your children and helpful tools to learn more about strategies for children with disabilities, this guide is a crucial reference for parents and caregivers of children of any age or ability level. Please follow this link to see the full guide!

 

The READi Lab has received a new grant from NIMH to expand their work with early intervention providers and families with toddlers suspected of having autism. The grant is titled, “Improving the Part C Early Intervention Service Delivery System for Children with ASD: A Randomized Clinical Trial.” (We hope to come up with a more catchy title before the next post.) Through this grant, we will conduct a large multi-site clinical trial that spans 4 states with structurally and demographically diverse Early Intervention systems: Washington, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Michigan. We will be studying: (1) the effectiveness of an evidence-based parent-mediated intervention, Reciprocal Imitation Training (RIT); (2) the mechanisms through which RIT improves children’s social communication; and (3) strategies for expanding its use through large-scale implementation efforts across service delivery systems.

This new book, “My Hero is You,” tells the story of a young girl grappling with changes in her life due to COVID-19. When her mother asks her to be a hero and keep people safe, she’s not sure where to start. But with the help of her friends, she learns how actions like washing your hands, covering your mouth, and staying home can save lives and keep her loved ones healthy. The book was a project of the United Nations Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), and was created by a group of experts on mental health in emergency situations. Its development was supported by parents, teachers, and children across 104 countries. “My Hero is You” is free and has been translated into over 40 languages. Please follow this link to read the book!

 

The journal “Pediatrics” recently published a manuscript co-authored by Dr. Lisa Ibanez, READi Lab Assistant Director, and Dr. Jill Locke, Assistant Professor of Speech and Hearing Sciences. The article is titled “Parent Perceptions About Communicating With Providers Regarding Early Autism Concerns,” and it describes the results of focus groups we conducted with parents as part of our HRSA-funded “Pathways Study.”

Challenges in parent-provider communication about ASD concerns can prevent young children from receiving early, specialized treatment. In this qualitative study, we asked parents of young children with ASD to describe their experiences talking to their health care providers about ASD concerns. Our goal was to identify barriers to communication and identify strategies for improving these conversations. Parents described many aspects of the process, including: the characteristics of their child that caused their concern, how they brought up their concerns to others and what responses they received, how they learned about autism, what they perceived as barriers to – and facilitators of – acting on their concerns, and what recommendations they had for providers. Our results suggested the need for increased use of shared decision-making strategies by providers, such as responding promptly to parental concerns, helping them weigh options, and monitoring the family’s progress as they navigate the service delivery system.

Locke, J.*, Ibanez, L. V.*, Posner, E., Frederick, L., Carpentier, P., & Stone, W. L. (2020). Parent perceptions about communicating with providers regarding early autism concerns. Pediatrics, 145(Supplement 1), S72-S80. *Contributed equally to the manuscript as co-first authors.

The Robert Debre hospital in Paris, France, has published a toolkit to help parents and caregivers during the COVID-19 crisis. This toolkit is full of resources related to autism, ADHD, intellectual disabilities, and general parenting techniques. Some examples include articles on how to keep a child motivated with a token economy, how to manage agitation in children with ADHD, and how to effectively home-school children with disabilities. Each article is broken into manageable steps that will leave you feeling more educated and prepared in the face of this challenging situation. Please follow this link to find the toolkit!

 

Many families are coping with difficulties related to COVID-19, and now there’s a picture book to help! Trinka and Sam Fighting the Big Virus tells the story of two young friends whose lives are changing because of the virus. As their schools move online, parks close down, and they can’t see each other face-to-face, Trinka and Sam find new ways to learn, play, and connect with the help of their families. This book comes with a companion booklet and a parent guide to help parents address some questions their children may have while reading the story. Please follow this link to gain access to the free picture book, companion booklet, and parent guide!

 

Seattle Pacific University is conducting a study of the lived experiences of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families during COVID-19. The RISE study (Response of Individuals to Stressful Experiences) is seeking participants to fill out one 20–35 minute survey, with the potential to complete an additional four follow-up surveys. Anyone with a child with a disability, or anyone with a disability themselves is welcome to participate. After your participation, you will be entered in a raffle to win a $25 Amazon gift card! Please follow this link to access the survey and learn more!

 

 

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center has a new online education series for caregivers of young children with autism. Every Thursday from 1:00-1:30pm CST, participants have the chance to learn from professionals about strategies for adjusting to the “shelter-in-place” guidelines. These 30-minute webinars address topics such as how to implement a daily schedule, how to plan activities, and how to continue to work on your child’s goals. Once registered, you may join as many or few of the sessions as you’d like! All sessions are recorded and uploaded to their site for future reference. To learn more, see past sessions, or register, please follow this link . Fun Fact: The Vanderbilt TRIAD program was founded in 1998 by Dr. Wendy Stone, who served as its director until 2010, when she moved to UW. The Families First program was initiated under her watch!

 

Sesame Street has announced an exciting new event- a chance to have virtual playdate with Elmo! In a special 30-minute show, Elmo and his celebrity guests will play games, sing songs, and talk about adapting to this challenging time. Supported through Sesame Street’s Caring for Each Other initiative, this show aims to give children and caregivers an opportunity to come together for a fun-filled, playful learning experience. Tune in on Tuesday, April 14^th, at 7 PM ET/PT to HBO, TNT, TBS, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, truTV, or PBS KIDS to join this playdate! Please follow this link for more information and updates.

 

Many children are at home right now, and we want to share some family-friendly ideas to keep you busy and entertained! The first resource is a newsletter from The Seattle Times, called The Weekly Wonder. This week, they share five fun ways to encourage your children’s curiosity, including paper airplane construction, lessons from astronauts, and inspiration for your own chain-reaction project. Please follow this link to see the newsletter!

Another resource lists simple activities for children and adolescents. These activities are sorted into categories so that you can find something that fits your needs, whether you’re looking to involve screen time, avoid screen time, use limited supplies, or find peace and quiet. Some examples include crafting a photo collage, performing a science experiment, and hosting a treasure hunt. Please follow this link for more ideas!

In light of current circumstances, we are compiling more resources to help you and your family stay healthy and happy! The first is a collection of tips from the University of North Carolina’s TEACCH Autism Program that include visuals to help your child settled into their new daily routine and strategies for relaxation during an unpredictable time. Click here to be directed to the website.

Another exciting opportunity comes from the Monterey Aquarium! Even though we can’t visit our furry friends at the zoo or aquarium, you can watch them from the comfort of your home via live web cams. The Monterey Aquarium has 10 live web cams that you can explore every day with options such watching the African penguins waddle or the sea otters frolic in their enclosures. Click here to be directed to the animal live cams.

Finally, providers with the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts published a guide for co-parenting during the Coronavirus crisis that includes free and low-cost resources on stress management, exercise for families, and learning. Click here for the toolkit, which includes links at the end for additional resources.

In light of current limitations in service delivery for children with ASD and their families, the READi Lab is offering free access to a web-based parenting tutorial. This tutorial was developed by READi Lab director Wendy Stone and others to provide strategies for engaging children with ASD in everyday routines:  Bedtime, Snack time, Bath time, and Family play time. Research led by READi Lab assistant director Lisa Ibanez has shown this program to be effective in improving parents’ skills and children’s behaviors. Click here to see Powerpoint slides that provide an overview of the tutorial. Click here for an access code for the tutorial.

 

 

Sesame Street has released a toolkit with visual content to help caregivers offer comfort during the current pandemic. With the help of your favorite Sesame Street characters, you can get tips for talking with children about COVID-19, helping them adapt to changes, and creating new routines. These materials also provide online games, printable coloring pages, and fun videos, so your children can continue to learn while school’s out. encourage your kids to learn during this unusual time! You can even get a “virtual hug” from Elmo! Follow this link to learn more!

We have gathered some resources for families that may be helpful as we all rearrange our lives in response to the coronavirus. The first is a guide from the New York Assembly Committee on Autism Spectrum Disorders that outlines some general health practices and preparation measures related to changes to your everyday schedules.

The second is a list of online educational resources, compiled by ParentMap, that offer free access to activities for children who are missing school. Are you looking for printable worksheets for grades K-12? Online video classes with accompanying quizzes? These resources are for all ages, abilities, and subjects. .

As part of Spectrum’s Autism 101 series, the article “Repetitive behaviors and ‘stimming’ in autism, explained” serves as a helpful guide to some of the most pressing questions about this topic.  The author, Sarah DeWeerdt, outlines some common questions, including “What are repetitive behaviors?”, “How does ‘stimming’ relate to repetitive behaviors?” and “Can repetitive behaviors be harmful?” She answers these questions by referencing clear examples, professional input, and scientific findings. If you are interested in learning more about repetitive behaviors, follow this link to read the full article!

The CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early” program helps parents and caregivers track their young child’s development and feel confident in knowing when it’s time to talk to a doctor about missed milestones. Parents can download the new “Milestone Tracker” app on their phones to track social and emotional, communication, cognitive, and physical development milestones for their children between 2 months and 5 years of age. At every age, the app provides illustrated checklists for developmental progress, tips and activities to promote development, and signs that it may be time to talk to a doctor about delays. If you’re concerned about delays, this page  has tips for talking to your child’s doctor about developmental screening, asking for a referral to a psychologist, and taking steps towards getting an evaluation. Printable flyers are available in Spanish and English here! Navigating the world of developmental delays can be overwhelming, and we’re so thankful for the CDC for creating such a clear, comprehensive guide! Follow this link to learn more!

The Seattle Theater Group is hosting a sensory-friendly performance of Disney’s Frozen at The Paramount Theatre this Saturday, February 22^nd! The theatre will make adjustments to their usual protocol in order to be as welcoming as possible to families with children with sensory challenges. These special accommodations include leaving the house lights on during the show, keeping the sound at a lower level, and providing free sensory toys to all guests. Guests are free to get out of their seats and make noise during the show as needed, and electronics are welcome. If the show ever becomes too overwhelming, the theatre will have areas available for quiet breaks! To help prepare for the visit, families may read the Frozen Social Story, which includes pictures and descriptions of the areas and events inside the theatre. To prepare for the show itself, families may read the Scene Breakdown, which describes intense themes, noises, and lighting effects in each scene. To read more about this event, to see the Social Story or Scene Breakdown, or to buy tickets, follow this link!

The Zoomazium is a spectacular nature-themed indoor play space at the Woodland Park Zoo, and every Friday, it becomes even more special! Every week, the Zoomazium hosts “Sensory Friendly Fridays.” In order to make the space as welcoming as possible, the loud climbing area within the play-zone is closed off to create a quieter, more comfortable environment. Exciting sensory activities are also provided so that there’s something fun for everyone, at any ability level. To help families plan ahead for their visit, the zoo has a “Zoomazium Sensory Social Story.” This social story includes photos and descriptions of all the features in the Zoomazium, so families and children can feel ready for every step of their visit. Visit their website to learn more and to see upcoming events!

Spectrum News, a website dedicated to autism-related news and science, has compiled a series of reader-friendly articles addressing some of the biggest questions in the field. The ‘Autism 101’ series includes articles on numerous topics, such as genetics, diagnosis, and early intervention. The most recent article, published last month, explains repetitive behaviors and ‘stimming’ with clear definitions, examples, and quotes from researchers.  These helpful resources are easy to read and understand, yet grounded in current scientific research. Updated regularly, this series is a perfect starting point for those curious about the science behind some of the most important topics in the autism community! To learn something new, click here!