Welcome to “On the Horizon”

Issue 101: Language Processing

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.

To
keep receiving On the Horizon,
please add the email address “nicolebeurkens@horizonsdrc.com” to your
safe address list.

Spring Fun!

A Note from Nicole: Springtime

Idea of the Week:  Live Owl Nest Box Cam

Feature Article: Language Processing

The Horizons Team Recommends: Learning as We Grow

Upcoming Events: 
RDI® Parent Teleseminar

Hi Everyone,

“Happy Spring” to all of you in the Northern Hemisphere!  Our weather here in Michigan was much more spring-like last week with sun and temps in the 50’s.  This weekend we had some snow, but thankfully the sun has come out again and melted it all away.  I am definitely ready for more sun and less cold weather gear, and so are the kids!  Of course, spring is the season of never quite knowing what to send the kids to school in – coats, sweatshirts, tennis shoes, rain boots, or something else?!?  They go through a few weeks of bundling up in the mornings and coming home with over-stuffed backpacks filled with all the gear they no longer need by afternoon.

This week make sure you check out the live owl cam under the “Idea of the Week”.  It’s a very cool opportunity to explore animal life with your child.  Fun for the whole family!  Erin’s feature article is a favorite about language processing.  Even if you’ve seen this article from her before, it’s worth another read.  Understanding your child’s processing needs and providing supports in this area are so critical for growth and development.

We’ve got some great new learning opportunities we’re cooking up for you.  Stay tuned for announcements in the weeks to come!

Looking to the horizon,

Live Owl Nest Box Cam

There is a great website that allows you to view a mother owl named Molly in real time as she prepares for her eggs to hatch.  Some of them have hatched already and it’s amazing to see the baby owls.  You can also catch real live action of the owl eating various items – not for the squeamish!  This is a great opportunity for your kids to learn about owls and witness the wonders of animal life.  I’ll warn you – it can get addicting to check in on these creatures each day!  Here is the link to watch: http://budurl.com/jr5y.

Language Processing

By: Erin Roon, MA, CCC-SLP

Over the course of the last month, I have been doing some renewed thinking on language processing. With this reflection, I have come to realize that I take processing for granted so often that I wonder just how much gets missed on a day to day basis. If we really stop and think about processing and the great deal of effort it takes, it is a wonder that we are able to have so many rapid fire exchanges.

Earlier this year, a few of us in the office tested out a processing exercise that one of my colleagues had created for some of the families with whom she works. She wanted to be sure it would work, so we were the guinea pigs. She gave one of the staff members the easy version, and I was stuck with the harder rendition of the task. Of course, the other person finished within minutes, while I took at least 15 minutes to finish mine. For me it was not a matter of if I would finish, but only when. The task took a tremendous amount of brain power, and I commented when finished that I was tired and my brain felt like it needed a rest.

Having that experience made me think about how important it is to remember that many children on the autism spectrum have language processing delays that must, in some way, make them feel just how I was feeling. The other thing I thought about was my determination and resilience to keep going, even though it was hard. How many of our children on the spectrum have this resilience when we first start remediation in the RDI process? Not many.

Continued…

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!

• Wrightslaw Conference & Resource Fair – Grand Rapids, March 27, 2010
• RDI®Parent Teleseminar: Topic: Parenting Special Needs Children
  (Horizons Families Only)
  Thursday, Apirl 8, 2010 from 11:00-12:00 PM EST
• Heart of a Spartan Health & Wellness Expo – Lansing
  May 1, 2010
• Walk Now for Autism Speaks – Chicago
  May 15, 2010
• AutismOne & Generation Rescue Conference – Chicago
  May 28-30, 2010
• Extreme Makeover: Autism Education
  Edition
  August 4-6, 2010