1. Vestal Family Training Mission Statement
Parents will be provided with opportunities to meet regularly with other parents and professionals in a group setting. The Vestal Family Training Program will provide parents with information about child development, and appropriate information regarding Autism Spectrum Disorders.

2. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!
Why are children with autism more likely to have meltdowns around the holiday season?
Their daily routine and schedules get disrupted
There may be opportunities for more social interactions
They may be over stimulated by sensory information

3. Help prepare your child...
Checklists/Schedules
Visual and verbal reminders
What to expect
5 Point Scale
Power Cards
Social Stories
Reward Charts

4. Activities that occur in preparation, during and after any holiday...
Clean the house
Get special decorations out
Take photos
Make special gifts
Shop for gifts for people
Buy a Christmas tree
Buy or make holiday cards
Take the decorations down
Store the decorations for next year
Special activities to celebrate the holiday
Return to school
****This is a short list. Try to keep in perspective how confusing all this can be from a child's point of view.****
Exchange gifts with different people
School vacation starts
Go to a party
Go to church
Go to a play or program
Plan a holiday dinner
Shop for food
Cook a special meal
Go to visit other people
People come to visit

5. Examples... Make a list of things to do Put a sticker on a “big” event
Use visual and verbal reminders
Picture cards
Post-it note
Explain to them what is next

6. More social interactions...
LIST of things to expect
Who – people
What – what will happen
When – day and times
Where – location
Social gatherings
They visit someone else's home
Bring a familiar toy or video from home
Take a tour of the house
Designate a quiet safe place

7. Ways to reduce stress... Social Stories
They help your child gain an understanding of events and expectations
Practice basic responses to probable questions and small talk
They can let child know that if they don't receive the gift they want; how to be thankful and kind to the gift-giver
Further social story information can be found at:
Write a holiday letter to family and friends
Use this as a way to communicate any special needs you would like others to be aware of

8. Example Social Story about Christmas
Go to:

9. Photo Albums Show highlights from past celebrations
Discuss each picture
Helps to make expectations more clear

10. Sensory Overload Food Touch Visual Possibly new and different foods
Suggestion – allow your child to eat before going to the party then snack once you arrive or bring your own food
Touch
Different people hugging your child that they may or may not feel comfortable with
Visual
SO many decorations, lights (flashing!), ornaments and almost everything is in a different place!

11. Cues
Develop cues together that child can use with you at an event to signal when something is wrong
Wink
Tap on shoulder
Special Word
Help card they can hand you
*These need to be practiced outside of a stressful situation first (several times)

12. Obsessing over a gift….
Give limits as to how many times your child can ask or mention the item.

13. Power Cards
Using Special Interests to Motivate Children and Youth with Asperger Syndrome and Autism
By: Elisa Gagnon

14. What is a Power Card Visual aide
Incorporates the child’s special interest
Uses child’s interest to solve a problem
Child can use the same strategy to solve a similar problem

15. Why is the Power Card Helpful?
Motivator
Non-threatening
Capitalizes on the, “relationship” between the child and the interest

16. When is the Power Card Helpful?
When you want to teach:
* Appropriate social interactions
* Routines
* Behavior expectations
* The meaning of language
* The hidden curriculum

17. How to Make a Power Card 1. Write a brief scenario
- Paragraph 1 - special interest attempts a
solution to a problem
- experiences success
- Paragraph 2 - encourage child to try new
behavior
- break down into 3 to 5
steps

18. How to Make a Power Card 2. Construct a Power Card
* Small picture of special interest
* List the 3 to 5 steps

19. How to Implement the Power Card
Introduce scenario
Give child Power Card

20. The Incredible 5-Point Scale
Written by
Kari Dunn and Mitzi Curtis

21. 5-Point Scales Helps child better understand social interactions
Help child control their emotional responses
Scales are visual
Reduce abstract ideas to simple numbers
Breaks down behavior into concrete parts, to help child better understand what you’re asking of his
Works with all ages

22. How To Teach The 5-Point Scale
Best introduced in a 1:1 teaching session
Writing a story to explain the scale
Ask your child what number they are at and then point to number where you want them to be
Get Scales laminated
Carry with you in the community, the car, or in your purse

23. Example 5 Point Scale Can be found at:
s.com/Autism+Information
ispaces.com/Autism+Information