Sue Larkey Podcast - Autism (ASD), ADHD, ODD and PDA education

Subscribe to this podcast via your favourite app Join my newsletter for more awesome information about ASD Friendship, play and social interaction are all two-way – and we need to support both the child with ASD and their peers to make social skills programmes work. Using social scripts to teach children with ASD, ADHD, ODD and PDA how to engage socially can be a great strategy to improve understanding of events and situations. Social scripts describe a social situation, skill or concept. The goal of a social script is to promote true social understanding. suelarkey.com.au/promoting-social-understanding-social-scripts

Download this podcast Subscribe to this podcast via your favourite app Join my newsletter for more awesome information about ASD I've had a lot of questions in regards to eye contact and understandably so since eye contact is an important part of communication and socialisation. It demonstrates an awareness of and interest in the other people. However, for children with ASD it doesn't come naturally and has even been reported as 'painful' by people with ASD to look at people's eyes. In many cases when children are not looking at people's eyes /faces, people assume the child is not paying attention or listening. However, we must be cautious not to assume that not looking means not listening, in fact many children report listening best with their eyes closed or when they look away. Teaching eye contact is very difficult, as in society when we communicate we actually use an 'eye gaze' rather than eye contact (staring into eyes). I've had students who have been taught eye contact rather than eye gaze, they then tend to stare deep into your eyes, which people generally find very uncomfortable too. I prefer to teach Eye gaze through looking at people's faces rather than directly at the eyes. Some children are best if you choose a specific part of the face, like ears, eyebrows, mouth or nose. It is an important skill to teach students to look in the direction of the speaker and at their face if possible. For more information on this subject please checkout the comprehensive blog post about it at suelarkey.com.au/eye-contact-vs-eye-gaze

Download this podcast Subscribe to this podcast via your favourite app Join my newsletter for more awesome information about ASD I have had many parents and educators requesting resources and tips for teens and young adults. I agree it is hard to find information and resources for how to guide and support this age group. I am thrilled to find a resource whose aim is "to increase the odds that your child grows into an adult with a rewarding, meaningful life" (xiii). Dr Temple Grandin and Dr Debra Moore. Sue share her top 10 tips to increasing success for teens and adults. Find a mentor. Be your kid's couch or find one for them. Adults (parents and mentors) must take the lead or it will not just happen (this is everything from learning independent living skills to a career). Help to set realistic goals and provide support to figure out how to achieve those goals. Start small – slowly introduce new ideas and experiences. Give them clear start dates and deadlines to complete each step. Start early and build up skills that will endure. Just do it. Magic can happen when you introduce them to new things. Stretch them out of their comfort zones Stay strong – don't let your child's fears and setbacks detract from continuing to plan and take action. Read the extensive blog post about these tips and the Temple Grandin Movie here: suelarkey.com.au/teen-years-and-beyond