Welcome to “On the Horizon”

Issue 90:  A Brief Description of the CORE Approach Program

On the Horizon is an award winning weekly ezine for parents of children with developmental disabilities who want simple, effective strategies to reduce stress, support their child’s development, and improve quality of life for the whole family.

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Important Information

A Note from Nicole: Vacation; Thank you!

Idea of the Week:  Indoor Snowball Fight

Feature Article: A Brief Description of the CORE Approach Program

The Horizons Team Recommends: Schooling Minds®; Learning as we Grow

Upcoming Events: CORE Approach Parent Teleseminar; Sibshop

Hi Everyone!

I am back in Michigan after spending a wonderful week in Florida with my family.  We greatly enjoyed the warm temperatures, sunshine, and time together.  My children have the next two weeks off from school for Christmas vacation, which is a good thing as we all ease back into regular life at home!

As we prepare to celebrate the holidays and the new year ahead, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for being a part of the extended Horizons family over this past year.  It is a privilege to be able to communicate with you each week and to work directly with so many of you.  May the final days of 2009 be a time of peace and joy as you reflect on the many blessings in your own life.  I wish you all a very happy holiday and look forward to seeing you in 2010!

Wishing you much hope and happiness in the New Year ahead!

Looking to the horizon,

Indoor Snowball Fight

Take paper that you would be using to put into recycling and wad it up into balls that look like snowballs.  Make enough so it looks like you have a good pile of snowballs.  If you have enough people to divide into teams you can play that way otherwise just play against one other person.  Divide a room in half and when you decide to start begin throwing snowballs onto the other persons half of the room.  When the time is up count how many snowballs you have on your side of the room – the object is to have the least amount of snowballs on your side – not to hit the other people with the snowballs.  You can have another round, just make sure you divide the snowballs up before starting again so you each have the same amount to start with.

A Brief Description of the CORE Approach Program

By: Nicole Beurkens, M.Ed.

I often get questions from parents interested in knowing how my colleagues and I approach the treatment of autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions.  I thought it would be helpful to start answering those inquiries in this format, as some of you may have similar questions.  Here I will address:

What is the Relationship Development Intervention (RDI)® Program?

When beginning to understand CORE Approach it is helpful to set aside any previous information you have about treatment programs.  My rationale for this suggestion stems from the fact that it is difficult to fit a new concept into something we have already established in our minds.  CORE Approach is a unique and different model, and I encourage you to explore the information outside the boundaries of what you currently conceptualize as “treatment.”

The CORE Approach Program is based on a large body of research from the fields of human development, neurology, and neurodevelopmental disorders (including autism).  Dr. Steven Gutstein and Dr. Rachelle Sheely, the founders of CORE Approach, have spent years studying and organizing the research literature in those areas to develop a comprehensive, research-based approach to neurodevelopmental disabilities that is based on what we know about how humans develop.  By incorporating an understanding of how the brain functions, the typical sequence of development from birth through the lifespan, and the neurological and developmental problems that occur in autism and other related disabilities, they have been able to design an approach that addresses the core deficits of these disorders in ways that promote more typical pathways of development.  Because it is based on the most current research in these areas, the CORE Approach model evolves over time as research sheds new light on our understanding of these issues.  This is critical, because it means that CORE Approach as a treatment approach remains on the cutting edge of what we know about these disorders.

Continued…

Within this one site you will find EVERYTHING you’re looking for related to:

• Neurodevelopmental disorders—including Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, PDD-NOS, ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, Nonverbal Learning Disability, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Learning Disabilities, Developmental Delays, Mental Impairment, Speech and Language Delays, Feeding Disorders, Sensory Processing Disorders, Epilepsy, Cerebral Palsy, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Tourette Syndrome, and many others
• Child development
• Educational strategies and treatment options
• Balancing the needs of all your students

Schooling Minds™ is the go-to place for professionals like you!

Learning as
we Grow

You’ve Been
Asking For It – The Resource for Applying Principles of Remediation in
School Settings is Finally Here!

This long-awaited book is written for parents and
professionals who want to be more effective in their work with students
who have neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism.

You will learn how to:

• Identify the core features of neurodevelopmental disorders
  that create communication, learning, and relationship challenges for
  your students
• Shift from a mindset of working around deficits
  (compensation) to correcting the root issues that create obstacles for
  your students (remediation)
• Modify your communication to promote your students’
  communication and thinking abilities
• Identify the unique strengths and obstacles of each student
  in order to determine appropriate placement and programming
• Achieve meaningful outcomes for students that allow them to
  reach their greatest potential

Please join us!

• CORE Approach Parent Teleseminar: Q&A with Michelle and Courtney
  Topic: Siblings
  (Horizons Families Only)
  Monday, January 4, 2009 from 1:30-2:30 PM EST
• CORE Approach Parent Teleseminar: Topic: Biomedical Information
  Dr. Wycoff as the guest speaker
  (Horizons Families Only)
  Thursday, January 21, 2009 from 11:00-12:00 PM EST
• Horizons Family Fun Event: Bounce Party – bouncing, climbing, sliding, fun, and more!
  (Horizons Families Only)
  Saturday, January 30, 2010 from 10:30am-12:00pm $5.00/per child
• Sibshop- Horizons Sibling Network
  Open to everyone!
  Saturday, Feburary 20, 2010, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM EST
• Workshop – Evaluating for Autism: The
  Nuts and Bolts of Quality School-Based Autism Spectrum Disorder
  Evaluations
  
• Workshop – Autism in the Classroom: Simple &
  Effective Strategies to Learn Today and Use Tomorrow
  Friday, March 12, 2009
• Workshop – Dayof Change: A
  Groundbreaking Workshop for Parents of Children with Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  Saturday, March 13, 2009
• Extreme Makeover: Autism Education Edition
  August 4-6, 2010