For those people who wish to understand how the mind of a person with autism works Duje Tadin has published new research that teaches us something about the workings of the mind of a person with autism. Duje is a professor at the University of Rochester and he joins Senior Dad Stan Goldberg to discuss his new research and its implications for those with autism.

Duje Tadin- New Clues how an autistic thinks

Tammy Graham

When we are pregnant we visualize different teaching situations that we will explore with our future child. None of us could anticipate the unfamiliar territory that confronts a parent when their child is diagnosed with autism. For parent Tammy Graham the diagnosis of autism changed her lifestyle. From a full-time working parent she became a stay-at-home parent who utilized many different strategies to teach her daughter. Not long ago she was unsatisfied with her daughter's progress and started using the family's iPad to help teach her daughter. New doors opened. The teaching accelerated. Tammy Graham joins Senior Dad Stan Goldberg to share her journey into using technology to teach her child.

Tammy Graham- Autism and the iPad

For those people who are working with children who have autism the iPad has become a main tool. A nonthreatening device that is both light and reasonably inexpensive has changed the way therapists, teachers and parents have taught their autistic learners. This device is changing the way special education departments in school’s have been working with their students. These current actions definitely foreshadow the teaching methods of tomorrow. Dawn Ferrer is a speech therapist who is also an iPad developer. She uses the iPad in her practice and teaches her clients families how to use the iPad at home. She joins Senior Dad Stan Goldberg to discuss the iPad, it’s uses and shows us how it can be used in teaching. Dawn Ferrer, I have an app to you.

Dawn ferrer- Using the iPad to teach

Tom Gibson

Max Gibson goes to school in New York State. Max has hearing issues. His father Tom tried to get the school district to give Max the support he needed in order to learn. Things didn’t go as Tom Gibson had envisioned and soon he was embroiled in complicated meetings that delayed his son’s education. Tom Gibson wrote a book called” Lost in the system” where he describes some of the issues he encountered. He joins Senior Dad Stan Goldberg to discuss some of the issues that parents face when trying to get services for the children who are in special education. Tom Gibson: “ Not Lost Anymore”

Tom Gibson- Not lost anymore

“Home for the holidays?” Or, “let’s get this party started?” The holidays can be a stressful time for families under the best of circumstances. For your child with autism, they can be particularly difficult. Familiar routines are out the window and unfamiliar – and sometimes unfair – expectations arise at every turn. Listen in and hear how to empower your child with autism during this bustling time. Internationally known award-winning author and columnist Ellen Notbohm (Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew) and San Francisco special needs activist Katy Franklin join “Senior Dad” Stan Goldberg in the Autism Briefing Room, explaining how the holidays effect their children with autism and their friends and families. Hear tips what to do before and during holiday parties and strategies for graceful departure. What to do about gifts and gift lists, and how to handle the lure of those attractive TV commercials? Ellen and Katy share some of their experiences with their children and what works for them. Some of the lessons we learn apply to teaching and handling all children as well as helping us begin to understand the challenges of a family with a child with autism.

“Home for the holidays?” Or, “let’s get this party started?” The holidays can be a stressful time for families under the best of circumstances. For your child with autism, they can be particularly difficult. Familiar routines are out the window and unfamiliar – and sometimes unfair – expectations arise at every turn. Listen in and hear how to empower your child with autism during this bustling time. Internationally known award-winning author and columnist Ellen Notbohm (Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew) and San Francisco special needs activist Katy Franklin join “Senior Dad” Stan Goldberg in the Autism Briefing Room, explaining how the holidays effect their children with autism and their friends and families. Hear tips what to do before and during holiday parties and strategies for graceful departure. What to do about gifts and gift lists, and how to handle the lure of those attractive TV commercials? Ellen and Katy share some of their experiences with their children and what works for them. Some of the lessons we learn apply to teaching and handling all children as well as helping us begin to understand the challenges of a family with a child with autism.

Autism and the Holidays revisited

The last twenty years has shown an increasing awareness of autism. A variety of programs to treat and aid children with autism at different stages of social development have only begun to emerge over the last five years. One such program is beginning in Thorne Hill, a suburb of Toronto. Lital Rotman Gurneir is starting “Social Butterflies” an ABA-like program targeting children with Aspergers playing with typical children to learn social skills. She joins Senior Dad Stan Goldberg to explain the program and its goals just before the launch of Social Butterflies.

Social Butterflies to Soar

How do you stand back and let your grown child go out into the world? Does it tug at your heart? Now add to your emotions the fact that your child was born with autism and you have been very closely guiding his progress for 19 years. That’s what Ellen Notbohm is going through as she is watching her son Bryce graduate from high school. Bryce views himself as “a man, not a man with autism”. Ellen has written about Bryce in her three books and has been a frequent guest on the Autism Briefing Room, speaking about autism and her family’s journey. Ellen Notbohm letting go.

Letting go

Three years ago Autism Speaks awarded Dr. Pamela Wolfberg of California State University at San Francisco the 2008 Research Award for Clinical Research for a project using Wolfberg’s Integrated Play Groups™ (IPG) model. This research involved typical children playing with children with Autism at an after school program. Now that research project is completed, Mariel Goldberg, age 9 ¾, one of the expert players that participated in the project joins me to share some of the things she and the other participants learned. (Full disclosure, Mariel is also my youngest daughter.)

Not simply play

Lynn Koegel Co-Director of the Koegel Autism Institute of the University of California at Santa Barbara discusses the early results of new research on Autism.

Autism cure?

When faced with difficult conditions humans turn to humor. What better way to relieve tension than a nice solid laugh? Two parents have harnessed humor to teach school districts and parents how to work together to help extra needs children be successful in school. Their video spoof of an IEP meeting is a hoot (shutupabout.com). Pat Terrasi Konjoian and Gina Terrasi Gallagher join me via Skype video to share what they are doing and in the process relieve my tension with laughter. Using laughter to build bridges and open hearts “The Movement of the Imperfect”.

When faced with difficult conditions humans turn to humor. What better way to relieve tension than a nice solid laugh? Two parents have harnessed humor to teach school districts and parents how to work together to help extra needs children be successful in school. Their video spoof of an IEP meeting is a hoot (<a href="http://shutupabout.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">shutupabout.com</a>). Pat Terrasi Konjoian and Gina Terrasi Gallagher join me via Skype video to share what they are doing and in the process relieve my tension with laughter. Using laughter to build bridges and open hearts “The Movement of the Imperfect”.

When a family member is diagnosed with Autism the world stops. It is sometimes hard to function. This briefing room can be a first step in helping to understand that the world is not ending but needs to be approached differently. There is no one answer with Autism, every child is different, you are your child's best hope.

Good

Autism BR

Ellen Notbohm

Raising a child with autism is a constant learning and teaching process. Not only do the parents of a child with autism have to learn from their child, they also have to teach the community how to coexist with their child. Ellen Notbohm has been learning, teaching, and sharing with the autism community since her now 17-year old was identified at age three. Ellen has appeared on the Autism Briefing Room over the past three years and I have enjoyed the visits. In this show Ellen tells us about her new book “1001 Great Ideas for Teaching and Raising Children with Autism and Aspergers “ a revised and expanded 2nd edition and gives us a peak of what it was in like the olden days of autism treatment 13 years ago as compared to now.

Ellen Notbohm visits

For over 30 years the Hanen Center of Toronto Canada has been training audiologists to work with parents to improve their children’s language skills. In 2000 they started a program aimed at teaching parents of children with autism how to work with their children to improve their child’s language skills and social interactions. The program is called “More than words®” designed to work with younger learners. More than words was followed by a program designed for older children call “It takes two to talk®”. Elaine Weitzman has been with the Hanen Center for over 25 years and is currently their Executive Director. She joins me to share why the Hanen Center focuses on teaching parents to work with their own children rather than working with the children directly. Elaine Weitzman, more than words.

Hanen speaks ‘More than words®”

The state of special education. This report covers special education , due process, inclusion, parent communities, and trust. Colin Ong-Dean, researcher and author of Distinguishing Disability: Parents, Privilege, and Special Education, has investigated special education and due process. Two of our panelists have children in special education. Both have fought to get the services their children justly deserved. Katy Franklin has not engaged in litigation but she effectively points out her child’s legal rights. Robin Hansen has fought the system through due process hearings and eventually won the services her children needed. This report gives you real-life instances of the conditions within our schools and special education. Some of it will make you laugh, some of it will get you angry, and some of it will make you cry. But this is a day-to-day situation of over 5,000 families every day in San Francisco, and millions around the country.

The State of Special Education

Robin Hansen

The new chairperson of the Citizens Advisory Council for Special Education of the San Francisco Unified School District panders to none. Robin Hansen is an online columnist for the San Francisco Examiner and has revealed situations where the School District is not following the law. Robin joins me and we discuss what, if anything, is changing for special education in our schools and what progress schools are making towards giving civil rights to all students in the system. How typical kids are benefiting from special education funding, how money is going down the drain and what is really going on in Oz. Robin Hansen- Naming names and speaking out.

Robin Hansen- Naming names and speaking out

Sound is a very intriguing property. The quantity of words we hear from birth to age three determine our vocabulary, potentially for life. This was learned from Betty Hart and Todd Risley’s research published in 1995. New research has found a way to analyze children's speech patterns to determine if the child has Autism. The tool analyzes the social behavior of parents and children while they converse. Joining me to discuss the implications of this research and other related research is Steven F. Warren, Ph.D., a member of the team that developed the research. He is the Vice Chancellor for Research &amp; Graduate Studies and Professor of Applied Behavioral Sciences at the University of Kansas.

Sound and Autism

Debra Harris

As soon as Debra Harris heard the diagnosis confirming her son’s autism, she opened her cell phone and started calling. She has been getting and sharing information about autism ever since. She is the co-founder of the Elijah Foundation which focuses on education of parents of children with autism with usable strategies to work with their children.  Debra is able to explain to all parents, parents of typical children and parents with children with autism, the clash between parents and school districts in achieving an equitable and just education for all children. We discuss real, understandable issues that have surfaced recently and thoughts for the future. Clearly Debra Harris is in the forefront of the discussion about the restructuring of our educational system.

As soon as Debra Harris heard the diagnosis confirming her son’s autism, she opened her cell phone and started calling. She has been getting and sharing information about autism ever since. She is the co-founder of the Elijah Foundation which focuses on education of parents of children with autism with usable strategies to work with their children. Debra is able to explain to all parents, parents of typical children and parents with children with autism, the clash between parents and school districts in achieving an equitable and just education for all children. We discuss real, understandable issues that have surfaced recently and thoughts for the future. Clearly Debra Harris is in the forefront of the discussion about the restructuring of our educational system.

Debra Harris- Always Moving Forward

Pamela Wolfberg

As the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta Georgia places autism incidence in the United States at 1%, anecdotal evidence places the number much higher. As the general population begins to come to grips with the alarming growth in autism prevalence, different strategies are being tested to educate the public on how to work with children with autism and also how to help these children develop.  A year ago, Pamela Wolfberg of San Francisco State University was on the Autism Briefing Room and shared with us the news that Autism Speaks had awarded her the 2008 Research Award for Clinical Research for a project using Wolfberg’s Integrated Play Groups™ (IPG) model. That research started first at Fairmont School, San Francisco and later at Grattan School, San Francisco, where it is now in its second semester. Pamela connected up with me via Skype video to update me on the exciting progress of the program at Grattan School and around the world.

As the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta Georgia places autism incidence in the United States at 1%, anecdotal evidence places the number much higher. As the general population begins to come to grips with the alarming growth in autism prevalence, different strategies are being tested to educate the public on how to work with children with autism and also how to help these children develop. A year ago, Pamela Wolfberg of San Francisco State University was on the Autism Briefing Room and shared with us the news that Autism Speaks had awarded her the 2008 Research Award for Clinical Research for a project using Wolfberg’s Integrated Play Groups™ (IPG) model. That research started first at Fairmont School, San Francisco and later at Grattan School, San Francisco, where it is now in its second semester. Pamela connected up with me via Skype video to update me on the exciting progress of the program at Grattan School and around the world.

Pamela Wolfberg- Progress Report

The city council of Santa Monica withheld funds from their school district because the city council was uncomfortable with all the non-disclosure agreements that the school district was requiring to settle special education lawsuits. What are non-disclosure agreements (gag orders) and who do they help and who do they harm?Three experienced special education advocates join me in conversation: Ellie Goldberg, advocate, author and legislative chair of the Massachusetts PTA; Pat Howey, advocate and nationally known special needs presenter at WrightsLaw seminars; and Katy Franklin, advocate and a leading voice towards revising the San Francisco Unified School District’s educational practices towards children with extra needs. They explore the Santa Monica case and discuss actions by other school districts that not only harm the children the school districts are entrusted to teach, but cause all taxpayers to pay more to compensate for their school districts improper education strategies. All this, in light of current special education enrollment at 10–12 % and rising rapidly, due to epidemics of allergies and autism. As I listened to this show I developed a feeling of unease. I always thought that school district administrative personnel were working with the best interests of educating the child. I now question the validity of that feeling. I think all of us should explore if the administrators in our school districts have lost touch with that goal. This is a difficult issue to visit. We all want to trust. We all want to believe. To gag or not gag, that is the question.

The city council of Santa Monica withheld funds from their school district because the city council was uncomfortable with all the non-disclosure agreements that the school district was requiring to settle special education lawsuits. What are non-disclosure agreements (gag orders) and who do they help and who do they harm? Three experienced special education advocates join me in conversation: Ellie Goldberg, advocate, author and legislative chair of the Massachusetts PTA; Pat Howey, advocate and nationally known special needs presenter at WrightsLaw seminars; and Katy Franklin, advocate and a leading voice towards revising the San Francisco Unified School District’s educational practices towards children with extra needs. They explore the Santa Monica case and discuss actions by other school districts that not only harm the children the school districts are entrusted to teach, but cause all taxpayers to pay more to compensate for their school districts improper education strategies. All this, in light of current special education enrollment at 10–12 % and rising rapidly, due to epidemics of allergies and autism. As I listened to this show I developed a feeling of unease. I always thought that school district administrative personnel were working with the best interests of educating the child. I now question the validity of that feeling. I think all of us should explore if the administrators in our school districts have lost touch with that goal. This is a difficult issue to visit. We all want to trust. We all want to believe. To gag or not gag, that is the question.

To gag or not gag, that is the question

Katy Franklin

We first heard Katy Franklin’s story about her son Alex’s autism two years ago. We learned about his diagnosis and the issues that developed for him and the issues Katy encountered with “the system” while advocating for her son. Now we have a two year check-in. Alex has completed the third grade and Katy has encountered a few more hassles with the School District. We hear what this nationally known advocate for special needs children has experienced in “ The sun will shine brighter.”

Katy Franklin- The sun will shine brighter

Pat Howey

Pat Howey is a nationally known advocate for extra needs children. She has appeared on Senior Dad shows several times over the past three years. In this video check-in we catch up on our lives and discuss Response to Intervention (RTI) and is it being used improperly to delay treatment of extra needs students. Abuse or ignorance? That is the question.

Pat Howey- Checking in and RTI

Jed Baker

Tremendous resources are being spent on finding the cause and cure for autism. As necessary as this is, recent statistics released by the Center for Disease Control declaring that 1% of Americans have autism, clarifies the need to focus on day-to-day strategies for all of us to cope with the disease. Jed Baker is Director of the Social Skills Training Network, a private organization. He also performs a similar function for the Millburn, NJ public schools. He is the author of “No more meltdowns” a guide for working with children. Jed Baker “the practical practitioner”.

Jed Baker- Social Skills Training

What is adaptive technology?In every individualized-education-plan (IEP) meeting the question must be asked, “Can this child benefit from an adaptive technology?” What are these technologies and how can they be used to help students learn? Gayl Bowser is an expert in adaptive technology. She has been working in the field for over 20 years and was coordinator at the Oregon Technology Access program. Gayl joins me to discuss adaptive technology and make me aware of its uses and its limitations in today's modern world. Interestingly, over 70% of all IEP’s have goals that involve writing. Gayl heads Assistive Technology Collaborations, a consulting firm. Gayl Bowser, can technology help?

What is adaptive technology? In every individualized-education-plan (IEP) meeting the question must be asked, “Can this child benefit from an adaptive technology?” What are these technologies and how can they be used to help students learn? Gayl Bowser is an expert in adaptive technology. She has been working in the field for over 20 years and was coordinator at the Oregon Technology Access program. Gayl joins me to discuss adaptive technology and make me aware of its uses and its limitations in today's modern world. Interestingly, over 70% of all IEP’s have goals that involve writing. Gayl heads Assistive Technology Collaborations, a consulting firm. Gayl Bowser, can technology help?

Gayl Bowser- Can Technology Help?

The best podcast episodes about true crime. For any thrill seeking podcast listeners who just can't get enough of the captivating stories of murderers and criminals. This topic has all the best episodes from many different true crime podcasts.  Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best True Crime Podcasts

The best podcast episodes on non-current politics. Covering topics such as universal basic income, democracy, poverty & justice and more. For anyone interested in learning more about politics that affect that world, not just now, but in the longer term. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!