Dyslexia is a learning disorder characterized by difficulty in reading. Children and adults with dyslexia have normal intelligence but experience challenges with spelling, reading and writing words. There are also positive traits with dyslexia. See the infographic below:
Monthly Archives: January 2018
Smithsonian Exhibit Puts Focus On Accessible Design
Publisher: Disability Scoop
Written by: Shaun Heasley
From clothing to utensils and computers, a new exhibit is showcasing the varied and increasing ways that today’s world is adapting to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities.
The display at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum dubbed “Access+Ability” includes over 70 works that highlight how design is making a broad range of experiences more inclusive.
Divided into three sections — moving, connecting and living — the exhibit features the latest in cane technology, clothing with magnets and other accessibility modifications, eye-controlled speech-generating devices and more innovations.
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Free Lesson Plans That Teach Money Skills
Money skills teaches more than identifying coins and bills. Teaching children with disabilities also helps to strengthen fine motor skills, task initiation, and sequencing skills.
The following websites provide activities and lesson plans which are free to download on a variety of activities:
Education World- A money math match activity where students will learn that different combinations of coins can represent the same amount of money.
Money Instructor– Free lesson plans on basic money skills including counting money, money math, vocabulary, coloring, handwriting, tracing activities and money games.
Practical Money Skills– A website designed to teach money skills including special needs children and adults. Includes lesson plans on making decisions, shopping, banking services and understanding credit. The website includes a teacher’s guide, student activities and PowerPoint presentations.
The Teachers Corner– A generated money worksheet. The worksheets allow you to choose from different currencies.
United States Currency Education Program– Offers a wide range of free education and training resources including money coloring sheets and printable play money
United States Mint-Produces circulating coinage in the United States. This webpage includes lessons for grades K-12 with lessons on each of the coins which are free to download.
Autism and Sensory Overload
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Published by: Verywell
Author: Lisa Jo Rudy
Even more challenging, it can be difficult for people with autism to “just ignore” sensory information as it comes in.So, unlike people with typical sensory systems, people on the spectrum may not be able to, for example, notice a car alarm going off and then decide not to listen to it. Some of the environmental challenges that can negatively impact people with autism include Click here to read the rest of the story
Strategies In Training Autistic Employees
Researchers estimate around 50,000 young people with autism turns 18 every year. Is your organization ready to train these new employees?
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What is Autistic Spectrum Disorder?
Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurological disorder that includes a wide range (spectrum) of skills, symptoms and levels of support. Although no two people are alike, characteristics may include ongoing challenges with social skills that include difficulty and interacting with others. For those on the higher end of the spectrum, characteristics may include:
- · A normal to high intelligence and good verbal skills
- · Trouble understanding what someone else is thinking or feeling
- · Difficulty understanding non-verbal cues
- · May suffer from anxiety or depression
- · Strong long-term memory
- · May have executive functioning difficulties
- · Being highly creative
- · A high sense of justice and fairness
It is important to note that autistic employees vary in the workplace. Younger employees may have received a diagnose very early their childhood while those in their 30’s to 50’s were more than likely diagnosed as adults. Many in fact may not realize they are autistic due to lack of information during their formative years. This rings true especially for women who did not fit the typical stereotype of autism.
Challenges Training Autistic Employees
The use of idioms, sarcasm, irony, metaphors and figure of speech may be difficult since most are literal thinkers.
Due to sensory sensitivities, harsh lighting and certain smells may be intolerable.
May feel anxiety working with groups during an activity, which includes role-playing and case studies.
Discomfort with noise
Coping with the unpredictable
Strategies In Training Autistic Employees
- · Structured breaks- give notice in advance
- · Give visual instructions. Verbal instructions are difficult to remember
- · Do not assume that the employee is not listening or paying attention
- · When explaining, use explicit and concrete language
Accommodations
A diagnosis of autism also qualifies under the American Disability Act (ADA). While some may not want to disclose their diagnosis, It’s always a good idea to make sure each person is comfortable in the training. The following are some suggestions:
- · Provide advance notice of topics to be discussed if possible
- · Allow employees to use items to hold such as hand-help squeeze balls
- · Allow use of a noise-cancellation headset
Tips to Remember
Some autistic employees have a history of being bullied, which for many have carried over into the workplace. Set rules in the beginning of the training that all participants should be respected.
