S.T.A.G.E.S. of Learning Center
March 2016 Newsletter
Spring Forward on March 13
Parents attending CPI training
Youth Mental Health First Aid
Who: This training is open to all community members, 18 years and older
Date & Time: March 3, 2016
8:30am - 5:00pm
Location: BP Energy Center
1014 Energy Court, Birch Room
Anchorage, AK 99508
Cost: FREE
Description: Youth Mental Health First Aid USA is an eight-hour public education program, intended for adults, which introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and teaches individuals how to help an adolescent in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge. Mental Health First Aid uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to assess a mental health crisis; select interventions and provide initial help; and connect young people to professional, peer, social, and self-help care.
Register: Those who wish to attend must register through the The Alaska Training Cooperative Learning Management System: Click Here to Register
Contact: For more information, contact Wendi at 907-264-6224 or wendis@alaskachd.org.
ANCHORAGE ROCKS FOR AUTISM
Tickets for the show on April 2nd: http://www.flavorus.com/event/Anchorage-Rocks-For-Autism-All-Ages/317946
Info about the show on April 16th: https://www.facebook.com/events/810969152345970/
Anchorage Walks for Autism
Registration is open for Anchorage Walks for Autism! This event takes place on Saturday, April 23rd from 2:00-4:00PM at The Dome (6501 Changepoint Drive, Anchorage, AK 99518). Tickets and t-shirts are available at the link below:
Anchorage Walks for Autism is an annual event coordinated by the AARC. The goal of the Walk is to help establish a sense of community spirit among parents, educators, professionals, and people living with autism. This untimed walk does not have a specifed length: you can walk 1 lap, or sprint 20! The event is meant to be fun for all ages and abilities.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Dealing with Bullies
A number of strategies have been employed to decrease bullying. How effective are these approaches? Often they fall short and the result is that bullying actually increases and our children are further victimized. Since traditional strategies are largely ineffective for children with ASD, let's think outside the box and consider other options:
- Determining whether the victim is really a target of bullying or if the child may be misinterpreting the actions of others.
- Developing a strategy of avoidance.
- Teaching children coping and relaxation strategies can be effective; anxiety and stress can make a bad situation even worse.
- Enlisting a peer tutor. These peers are beneficial in two ways. First, they can be extremely valuable in helping teach much-needed social skills in a truly authentic way. Perhaps more importantly, they offer protection! We've found this to be very successful.
- Evaluating situations involving children with ASD being bullied. When evaluating, it is important to look at our own behavior as adults to determine if we are inadvertently contributing to the problem.
- Attempting to reduce the distinction between children with ASD and their peers is also worth considering.
- Helping children with ASD learn to develop meaningful friendships may be the most important strategy of all! It is the very reason why we wrote the book Crafting Connections.
By Autism Partnership: Ron Leaf, PhD, John McEachin, PhD and Mitchell Taubman, PhD.
(difflearn.com)
DECODING ABA
This month's definition is from Behaviorspeak: a Glossary of Terms in Applied Behavior Analysis.
VISUAL PROMPT: A cue that is meant to be seen and that has behavior-altering effects. This may take the form, for example, of a culturally accepted symbol such as a "stop sign," or may take the form of something designed for an individual teaching program (e.g. holding up a red piece of construction paper while simultaneously asking a student to "touch red"). This can also be a model or discriminative stimulus.
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Private Respite Care
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S.T.A.G.E.S. of Learning Center
Email: stagesak@gmail.com
Website: stagesak.com
Location: 16941 N. Eagle River Loop Rd., Eagle River, AK 99577
Phone: (907)726-5330
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stagesak
Twitter: @behaviormatters