The Meaning of a Meltdown

Posted on June 29, 2019 by specialneedsresourcetrainingblog

Published by: Someone’s Mum Blog

To most parents, the words tantrum and meltdown are interchangeable – a way to describe a frustrated and uncontrollable child – the name for those moments when strangers stare and you wish you could shrink into yourself. Every parent knows them.

To the parents of autistic children, and parents of children with sensory processing issues, those words will always mean very different things.

It is hard to make others understand. The difference between those two words is central to my life. I wish I could explain; I wish I could show you…

But a child in meltdown is confidential. I cannot show my gorgeous boy in full meltdown mode because it is, should be, taboo. It lays him bare, at his most vulnerable. He is pure emotion, pure anguish. There are no photos, no record of our bleakest times but these words.

There are those who will witness such moments; they will see. But they will not KNOW. No one, not even his grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles – the hundreds of people who love him – they do not KNOW.

I can give you the definitions – Click here to read the rest of the story

CDKL5 and Teaching Strategies

Posted on June 25, 2019 by specialneedsresourcetrainingblog

CDKL5 is a neurodevelopmental disorder that includes signs of early-onset epilepsy. In fact 90% of children diagnosed with CDKL5 disorder are more likely to develop epilepsy. CDKL5 is derived from a gene and one of the most common causes of genetic epilepsy. Children diagnosed with CDKL5 also face many other developmental challenges as well.

Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

Click here to download PDF version

Facts

It is a neurodevelopment disease caused by the CDKL5 gene.

It impacts cognitive, motor, speech and visual function

It affects 1 in 40,000-60,000 children each year.

CDKL5 was previously called STK9

The disorder mainly affects females

The cause of CDKL5 deficiency disorder is unknown

Signs of CDKL5 deficiency includes epileptic seizures

Starting within hours of birth to 2 years of life, some children often go for 24 hours or more without sleeping.

Signs and Symptoms of CDKL5

Early onset of epilepsy
Impaired gross motor skills
Impaired fine motor skills
Global developmental delays and intellectual disabilities
Swallowing and feeding difficulties
Language and communication issues

Teaching Strategies

The following are teaching strategies that can used when teaching children with the CDKL5 disorder:

Provide frequent breaks
Use assistive technology
Provide extra time
Repeat directions
Use concrete items when possible
Break task into smaller steps
Teach in sequence
Use a multisensory approach
Use hand-on material

Children's Hospital.org
Genetic Home Reference
International Foundation for CDKL5 Research
Rare Diseases.org

DIY Sensory Activities for your Child With Autism

Posted on June 24, 2019 by specialneedsresourcetrainingblog

Dysfunctional sensory system is a common Symptom of Autism as well as other developmental disabilities. In this, sometimes one or more senses can either be hypo or hyper sensitive to stimulation and can lead to behaviors like rocking, spinning, and hand- flapping, irritability and hyperactivity.

There are three basic senses that are critical for our survival- tactile, vestibular, and proprioceptive. Sensory Integration techniques or therapies of these senses can facilitate attention and awareness, and reduce overall arousal.

In this article, each of these sensory systems will be covered. There also will be a Do-it-yourself (DIY) activity mentioned to overcome dysfunction and improve functioning of these sensory systems. Click here to read the rest of the story.

Sensory Eating is not Picky Eating

Posted on June 17, 2019 by specialneedsresourcetrainingblog

Published by: Speaking of Autism

I want you to imagine that you are a kid once again, maybe ten or eleven years old. You are sitting down in the evening with your family for dinner. The table is set, and your parents bring out what will be tonight’s entree: a cut of cold, raw chicken breast. It’s slimy pink mass slides onto the plate in front of you, and soon after your whole family is chowing down on the raw cuts of meat. You can’t stand to even watch anyone else eat the raw chicken, let alone fathom yourself choking it down. Yet, despite the very real disgust and aversion you feel towards the raw chicken breast, somehow it’s you who are strange for not wanting to eat it. Maybe you’re called “picky” or told that you simply need to and just learn to enjoy raw chicken like everyone else. Maybe you go hungry every night at dinner because the only thing being served are items as aversive as the cuts of raw chicken. Click here to read the rest of the story.