Welcome to “On the Horizon”
Issue 59: Building a Foundation
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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Create a Solid Foundation
 A Note from Nicole: Fun in Chicago; New Way of Conceptualizing Idea of the Week: Ladybug Rocks
Feature Article: Building a Foundation
The Horizons Team Recommends: Extreme Makeover: Autism Education Edition; Summer CAMPS
Upcoming Events: CORE Approach Parent Teleseminar; Sibshop
Hi Everyone!
My family and I spent a fun couple of days in Chicago this past weekend. I was there to meet with a research colleague from the Tavistock Institute in London, and decided to take the family along. The kids had a great time swimming at the hotel, and we enjoyed some sightseeing, eating, and shopping. My research meeting was very productive, and I’m excited about the opportunity to connect my dissertation work to some other ongoing projects on parent-child interaction and autism. The colleague I met with was in town for the annual International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR) conference, so I was able to get some updates on that front as well. There are some very exciting shifts happening in terms of how we define and treat autism spectrum disorders! I’ll share more in the near future.
We’ve been getting great feedback and questions regarding the workshop we announced last week! If you haven’t checked out the details yet for the Extreme Makeover: Autism Education Edition Workshop we are holding in July, make sure you check it out here.
Erin’s feature article this week explores the importance of building developmental foundations for our children, particularly children with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. For some of you this is a new way of conceptualizing your child’s development, while for others it is a good reminder.
Enjoy your week!
Looking to the horizon,
Ladybug Rocks
Find a smooth round rock that you wash and dry. Use acrylic paint to paint ¾ of the rock the color you want the ladybug to be (it may need more than 1 coat). Paint the head black – then take a black sharpie marker and draw a line down the middle of the back of the ladybug. Dip the end of a paintbrush into black paint and give the ladybug spots. When your paint is dry you may want to spray it with an acrylic sealer. Attach wiggle eyes on the head with craft glue. This makes a great paper weight, patio decoration, or decorative object for mom or dad’s desk.
Building a Foundation
By: Erin Roon, MA CCC-SLP
Now that spring has arrived here in Michigan, many construction projects are once again underway. Land is being cleared, holes are being dug, and foundations are being laid. Each time I see a foundation being poured for a new home, school or business, it makes me think of the foundations we must lay in our own lives in order to be successful.
Children begin right after birth developing the foundations that they will need to be successful in life. Babies quickly learn, “When I cry, my caregiver comes to comfort me; when I drop something, someone picks it up; and when I make noises, someone responds.” These back and forth exchanges lay the foundation for long-lasting relationships. Foundations continue to be laid throughout the time children are growing and developing in a variety of areas.
For some children, solid foundations are not laid in the early years. Reasons for this may be due to internal dysregulation (ex. reflux or sensory difficulties), some type of trauma, or an environmental influence (e.g. living conditions). Whatever the reason, trying to build upon a less than solid foundation is very difficult. Children who are missing solid foundations will need a chance to go back and build those foundations. That is where the concept of remediation is critical.
Many of the children I see in my job are missing foundational pieces needed for developing long-lasting relationships and a quality of life. For this reason, their parents have sought out a remediation program. What we tell parents is that building a solid foundation for their child first begins with them.
Extreme Makeover: Autism Education Edition Workshop
July 29-31, 2009
Grand Rapids, MI
Put together the soaring increase in students diagnosed with autism and related impairments, a group of dedicated educators seeking solutions to the challenges they face daily, a team of been-in-the-trenches experts, three days of amazing content and hands-on experience, and what do you get?
An amazing 3-day workshop that will transform how you understand and educate students with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
Click here for more information!
Summer
CAMPS 2009
Your child is going to LOVE the exciting adventures we have planned for
this summer! Each week we will explore a different theme together,
complete with lots of opportunities for movement, music, problem
solving, working together, and indoor and outdoor fun. Our camps are
designed to offer a fun, safe, and therapeutic environment for children
with developmental disabilities to engage with peers, try new things,
and retain skills over the summer months. A low staff to child ratio
ensures that everyone is supported. Principles of the Relationship
Development Intervention (RDI)® Program are integrated throughout all
activities, which provides opportunities for campers to improve
communication, increase competence, enhance regulation, and build
relationships.
For more details on our Summer Programs, click here 
Please join us!
- CORE Approach Parent Teleseminar: Planning for Special Needs with Steve Johnson as our Guest Speaker (Horizons Families Only)
Thursday, May 21, 2009, 11:00AM to 12:00PM EST
- Horizons Parent Chat: Objective Support with Michelle & Courtney
(Horizons Families Only)
Monday, June 1, 2009, 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM EST
- Extreme Makeover: Autism Education Edition
July 29-31, 2009
- Sibshop – Horizons Sibling Network
Open to everyone!
Saturday, July 18, 2009, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM EST
- Summer CAMPS – Zooming into Summer
Open to everyone!
July 6-8
- Summer CAMPS – Hawaiian Luau
Open to everyone!
July 13-16
- Summer CAMPS – Lions, Tigers, & Bears–Oh My!
Open to everyone!
July 20-23
- Summer CAMPS – All About Me
Open to everyone!
July 27-30
- Summer CAMPS – It’s A Bug’s Life
Open to everyone!
August 3-6
- Summer CAMPS – Wild, Wild West
Open to everyone!
August 10-13
- Summer CAMPS – Under The Sea
Open to everyone!
August 17-20
- Summer Program – Collaborate and Create!
Open to everyone!
Session 1: July 7-July 23
- Summer Program – Collaborate and Create!
Open to everyone!
Session 2: July 27-July 30
- Summer Program – Collaborate and Create!
Open to everyone!
Session 3: August 4-August 20
See our Event Calendar for more details…
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