April is Autism Awareness Month
April 2023
April is Autism Awareness Month!
Did you know?
- Every 20 minutes someone is diagnosed with Autism
- Individuals with Autism, speaking and non-speaking, may use a variety of different and unique ways to communicate
- People with Autism have very special gifts and talents
Here are some ways you can celebrate this special month with the CISD Parent Resource Center and your family.
Tips for Being a Friend to a Student with Autism
(Borrowed from The Autism Society of Akron)
Understanding autism starts at a young age, and there is no greater place than the classroom to start. Understanding autism and how to interact with people with autism comes from being exposed to them, and being taught how to treat and talk to someone with autism. Children naturally want to be helpful. Give them that opportunity by encouraging them to be a buddy to someone with autism. It is up to teachers and parents to teach children about differences, acceptance, and understanding.
Here are some ideas on how to get started.
• People are born with autism and while they look just like you and me, autism changes the way their brain works.
• Some people with autism talk and others do not. Just because they cannot talk doesn’t mean they don’t have anything to say.
• Nobody knows what causes autism, but we do know that a person with autism will always have autism.
• Kids with autism are the same as other kids in a lot of ways. They like birthdays, swimming, and having friends.
• Being kind and compassionate is one of the best things you can do to help someone with autism.
Here are a few ways to be a friend:
o Playing games they like to play.
o Talking to them like you would any other kid.
o Giving them a high five when you’re having fun!
o Sitting next to them in the lunchroom.
o Visiting them at their house.
o Inviting them to your house.
o Show them what to do so they can imitate you.
o Being a buddy to them on the playground.
o Walking with them to the next class.
o Supporting them with kindness and understanding.
Contact the PRC for an appointment to create your own visual in-home supports!
10 Easy-to-Implement Behavior Strategies for Children
- Teach time management
- Set realistic expectations
- Reinforce positive behaviors
- Give choices for non-preferred activities
- Use visuals and social stories
- Teach coping skills and calming strategies
- Practice transitions
- Be consistent each day
- Consider sensory needs
- Teach self-monitoring and emotion regulation
Tickets are free but space is limited so RSVP as soon as possible!
Use the QR Code on flyer for your free tickets and event details!
Inspiration Ranch
Inspiration Ranch exists to strengthen children, youth, and adults striving to overcome their physical, emotional, and social disabilities with therapeutic riding and equine-assisted therapy and activities. Each week over 80 special needs children and youth ride in our therapeutic riding program to physically and emotionally strengthen their core muscles, improve their walking, and elevate their ability to communicate. Through our Mental Health Program, we reach people that have suffered severe emotional trauma. It’s here, on our 40-acre ranch, that we help them learn new boundaries, skills and overcome obstacles.
While it’s evident that these programs are vastly different from one another, the common thread is the highly trained and skilled horse coupled with the compassionate staff. We invite clients into an arena with horses to facilitate the therapeutic process. As a result, our clients can gain strength and insight into their nonverbal communication and behavior patterns. A non-judgmental and keenly trained horse can instinctively analyze and react to our body language and other nonverbal cues. They possess the remarkable gift to assess a situation quickly and encourage interaction – no matter the hurdle to overcome.
Every day, the team at Inspiration Ranch strives to break down stigmas, barriers and celebrates the inclusion of individuals that strive to reach new goals. We provide exceptional equine-assisted therapy and activities in a loving Christian environment.
What is assistive technology?
Assistive technology (AT) is any item, piece of equipment, software program, or product system that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of persons with disabilities.
- AT can be low-tech: communication boards made of cardboard or fuzzy felt.
- AT can be high-tech: special-purpose computers.
- AT can be hardware: prosthetics, mounting systems, and positioning devices.
- AT can be computer hardware: special switches, keyboards, and pointing devices.
- AT can be computer software: screen readers and communication programs.
- AT can be inclusive or specialized learning materials and curriculum aids.
- AT can be specialized curricular software.
- AT can be much more—electronic devices, wheelchairs, walkers, braces, educational software, power lifts, pencil holders, eye-gaze and head trackers, and much more.
Assistive technology helps people who have difficulty speaking, typing, writing, remembering, pointing, seeing, hearing, learning, walking, and many other things. Different disabilities require different assistive technologies.
Conroe ISD Special Education Parent Advisory Committee
Join us in making a difference!
An opportunity for families to have proactive productive involvement by inviting their input.
The Special Education Parent Advisory Council meets at least four times a year to work on communication and activities that encourage continuous improvement that benefits the students receiving services in Conroe ISD.
April 14, 2023
12 PM to 1 PM
ZOOM LINK:
https://conroeisd.zoom.us/j/83313854232?pwd=eWtHNDIyR204NFVzaGkrckJ5bFJNUT09
Parent Training: Dysgraphia
Parent Training: Transition - Employment Skills/Job Searching
Parent Training: Autism Awareness
Parent Training: Montgomery County Women's Center
Montgomery County Women's Center (Spanish)
Parent Training: Deaf & Hard of Hearing w/ Sara Covert & Lora Ouren
Parent Training: Transition: Community-Based Adult Transition Services
Parent Training: Dyslexia w/ Dr. Sharon Henry
Parent Training: On Campus 18+/TRAILS w/ Sheila Gonzales
Parent Training: Medicaid Waiver Program/SSI w/ Dr. Pennington & Anna Lambert
Parent Training: Transition w/ Felicia Caraway
Transition Vocational Rehabilitation Services for Students w/ Disabilities
Staying Calm When I'm Angry by Everyday Speech
ASL
Social Stories
Parent Resource Center Liaison
Prof Sp Ed/Parent Liaison
Special Education
M-F from 9 AM to 3 PM.
Email: parentresourcecenter@conroeisd.net
Website: www.conroeisd.net
Location: 701 North 3rd Street, Conroe, TX, USA
Phone: 936-709-8209
The Conroe Independent School District (District) as an equal opportunity educational provider and employer does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, or disability in educational programs or activities that it operates or in employment matters. The District is required by Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as Board policy not to discriminate in such a manner.
For information about Title IX rights or Section 504/ADA rights, contact the Title IX Coordinator or the Section 504/ADA coordinator at 3205 W. Davis, Conroe, TX 77304; (936) 709-7752.
The resources shared in this newsletter are for informational purposes only and do not constitute approval by the Parent Resource Center, Conroe ISD.