special needs Archives - Pea of Sweetness

Learning Conversational Skills with Color My Conversation {Northern Speech Services Review}

April 13, 2017 by Emilee Evans

Being a homeschool mom with special needs children I often try to weave therapy into our homeschool. I stay aware of their sensory needs and try to work on other areas like fine and gross motor skills and speech. I am definitely not a Speech-Language Pathologist, though, so I feel like although what I’m doing helps it’s not complete. I was definitely intrigued by Color My Conversation from Northern Speech Services which was created by a Speech-Language Pathologist, Rosslyn Delmonico, MA, RSLP, CCC-SLP.

Color My Conversation specifically addresses developing social skills to have appropriate interactions with others. This includes things like: greetings, back and forth talk, asking effective questions, listening well, transitions in topics, reading social cues and more. It is ideal to use this program over a 14-16 week period though it notes it’s adaptable. It’s very interactive/multi-sensory.
Color My Conversation came neatly packaged and includes everything you need to start and complete the program. This includes:

12 Stepping Floor Graphics
50 Game Tokens
100 Picture/Emotion Cards
50 Dry Erasable Wall Display Cards
2 Dry Erase Pens
CMC Ball
Classroom Poster
Game Board
Cloth Ribbon
Instructional Manual & Music CD’s

Although I had seen the kit online prior to receiving it, I was still quite surprised by how so much stuff was neatly packaged in the box.

Although both of my boys have speech challenges, my youngest son’s challenge is primarily with dictation. My oldest son is on the Autism Spectrum and although he “graduated” speech therapy for delays and dictation, pragmatic speech has continued to be a challenge. Knowing Color My Conversation addresses this specifically I knew it would be perfect to start it with him.
Getting started was a bit of a challenge, though. Although the training videos are online the Manual (as well as printables) are on the CD. It is recommended to start with this Manual. Unfortunately, I no longer have a computer that has a disk drive, so I had to view this at a friend’s house. Once I had it open as a PDF, though, I was able to save it and email it to myself so I would still have it readily accessible without having to borrow a friend’s computer. I definitely do recommend starting with the Manual. It is very thorough!
Within the Manual it contains the various levels of Color My Conversation (Beginner through Expert) as well an Assessment Rubric and either a Student Questionnaire or Caregiver Interview. These documents are important for providing insights on how to best support your child, and they can be found in the Supplementary Section of the Manual. It’s definitely the best place to start. After reading the Manual, completing the Rubric and watching the Training Video Tutorials we were ready to begin!
The levels of Color My Conversation are:

Beginner Level – Ages 5-12. These first three lessons are presented with a kinesthetic element and takes about 5 weeks to complete.
Intermediate Level – Ages 5-12. Here children will learn more conversational features and be introduced to table work in addition to “walking the path.” It takes about 6-8 weeks to complete.
Advanced Level – Ages 8-12. The multi-activity Color My Conversation game is introduced where children will either actively play or observe and comment on those who are playing it. It takes about 3-5 weeks to complete.
Expert Level – Variable Ages. It’s intended for all ages because its purpose is to identify the conversation skills each child is capable of using and transferring those skills from practice into natural settings.

Here is a great general overview from Northern Speech Services:

We began with the Beginner level, of course. We do 2 sessions per week for about 30-40 minutes each as well as regular practice throughout the week. What this looks like for each child can be completely different depending on the child’s needs. Color My Conversation is very flexible and is meant to be used in the way that is best for each child. At first, I found it was a lot about getting to know the program and know what works best for B. This could even vary by day!
The Individual Lesson Training Videos are so helpful. With these videos I found this program to be easy to follow. I think they have helped B as well because nobody can explain it better than the creator! I think, in general, B is more open to instruction from others so this has been a valuable tool in this way as well! Then each level ends with a Wrap-Up.

Northern Speech Services Review

Overall, B has been doing well with this program. When I first introduced it he was hesitant. He has just a splash of the pre-teen attitude. Ha! I knew this would be so good for him, though, as his conversations are usually about the same topics and one-sided. He does not recognize social cues specifically that say “I’m bored” or “I’m not interested.” He often doesn’t try to engage the other person in conversation. Color My Conversation has been teaching him these skills in a way that he truly enjoys. He feels motivated to learn!
Although we just wrapped up the Beginner level, I already see a difference. He has really enjoyed doing the program, which makes a world of difference! We can’t wait to move on to the next level next week!

Connect with Northern Speech Services

2014 Holiday Gift Guide Sponsor Spotlight – Chewigem

December 6, 2014 by Emilee Evans

In September my daughter and I had the chance to review some beautiful stylish sensory chewelry from Chewigem. We both have Sensory Processing Disorder and tend to chew on things for oral input. I had never considered something like chewelry for myself, though I definitely considered it not only for our daughter but our sons as well!

Are you looking for a holiday gift for special needs family members or friends?
Chewigem offers a wide variety discreet chewelry that is great for mild to moderate chewers. They are made of FDA approved silicone and are lead, latex, BPA, PVC and phthalate free. The styles are fun yet discreet. I can wear my Raindrop Pendant with just about any outfit and nobody would ever know it’s a “special necklace.” Aurora chose a really cute cat design that definitely stands out a little more, but again, many people wouldn’t suspect it fulfills a need other than just being a cute necklace!

Chewgem not only offers necklaces but bangles as well. So if you know a boy or man with sensory needs who wouldn’t be too keen on the idea of wearing a “necklace,” the bangles would be a great option!

Who would benefit from Chewigem?

Perhaps you’re doing your Christmas shopping for a family member or friend with special needs, and you’re not quite sure who would be the ideal recipient for Chewigem chewelry. I mentioned Sensory Processing Disorder as that is what my daughter and I have. Many of us with SPD chew for sensory input, but not all of us do. It’s a pretty safe bet, though, that if they have SPD they will enjoy Chewigem. Our daughter also fidgets and likes to have things in her hand, and her Cat – Meowza necklace is great for that as well! It is important to check, though, if they are a mild to moderate chewer (if they are a chewer) versus a heavy chewer as they are not designed for heavy chewers.
People on the Autism Spectrum also often have sensory needs. Our oldest son is on the Autism spectrum, and he also chews on things. Again, you will need to know if they are a mild to moderate chewer.

Chewigem Bubba Bangles — Photo courtesy of ChewigemUSA.com

When in doubt – ask! As a special needs mom, I can’t tell you how many times I have added therapy products to our Christmas list. So many people are afraid to ask about it, though, and we don’t often receive them. They are SO helpful for families like ours, though. If you are shopping for a family member or friend with special needs or who have special needs children, don’t be afraid to ask if they may need something like Chewigem.
Chewigem make a great holiday gift! They are fun, stylish, and help fulfill a need! For our family, those are definitely the best type of gifts!

For More Information:

Visit the Chewigem Webiste
Connect with Chewigem on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest

Parenting Special Needs Children with a Chronic Disorder

October 19, 2014 by Emilee Evans

Today I am honored to share The Challenges and Blessings of Parenting Special Needs Children with a Chronic Disorder on Beautiful in His Time as part of the 31 Days of Supporting the Special Needs Family. I share how parenting special needs children when you have a chronic disorder can be challenging, but I also share how it can be a blessing as well! The 31 Days of Supporting the Special Needs Family is an amazing and beautiful series, and I hope you will not only check out my post today but also the whole series.

Be sure to read the story behind the series. This series is blessing to not only special needs families but their friends and families as well as it creates a bridge that sometimes we may feel isn’t there. If you have a special needs family and sometimes feel isolated or like you can’t connect, this is a great series for encouragement and sharing with others to help give them insight into what life looks like for special needs families.
If you know a special needs family but aren’t sure how to reach out or support them, this is a great series to help answer those questions and get a deeper look into the lives of families with many different special needs.
This series has been a blessing for me to read as well, and I pray it blesses you, too, as well as those with whom you share it! Check out the 31 Days of Supporting the Special Needs Family.

Light it Up Blue for Autism

April 12, 2014 by Emilee Evans

April is Autism Awareness month. World Autism Awareness Day is April 2nd. Many people put up blue lights or wear blue – all to join Autism Speaks to shine a light on Autism by raising awareness. It begins April 2nd and lasts all month long. Many are doing this in support of friends and family and many of us are living it every day and are grateful for this awareness! Check out World Autism Awareness Day on Facebook as well! 1 in 88 people are on the Autism Spectrum. Do you want to help? Visit my Light it Up Blue page to learn more and make a donation to Autism Speaks.
I wanted to share our personal journey with Autism as every story is different. Our oldest son who will be turning 8 at the end of the month has PDD-NOS, which stands for Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified. For those that are familiar with Autism Spectrum Disorders you are probably familiar with PDD-NOS. Those that aren’t have probably never heard of it, and you might not anymore as there is discussion that they are going to start grouping everything into “Autism Spectrum Disorder.”
To sum it up – Brayden is high functioning on the Autism Spectrum. Sometimes a “high functioning” diagnosis can be both a blessing (because it absolutely is a HUGE blessing) and a downfall (for insurance purposes). Brayden currently receives Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy, but even getting both of those is a push on our insurance because he is high functioning. He has never qualified for special services such as Applied Behavioral Analysis, which is covered under an insurance “extension” because he is high functioning (or mild by their definition), and it must be at least moderate to severe to qualify.

So, being an advocate for him has been frustrating at times! In that way, we have had to learn a lot about the Autism Spectrum and how to best help him. Because I homeschool I am blessed to be able to work with his special needs and be sure he is getting the help he needs?

So how do you know?

I often hear or get asked how do you know if your child is on the Autism Spectrum? I mean we also have two children with Sensory Processing Disorder as well – how are they different? Well, that’s for another blog, but my best answer to how do you know is this – go with your gut instinct. Whether it is an Autism Spectrum Disorder or something else – if you feel there is something “different” talk to your child’s healthcare provider about your concerns. If you feel they aren’t listening then push for answers!
Maybe it’s nothing, but maybe it is something. There may even be some incorrect diagnosis along the way or people ignoring you, but YOU know your child. I always encourage parents to ask for answers – demand answers.
Our journey with Autism actually started when Brayden was only 15 months old. He had maybe 3 words. It was definitely concerning, but to be honest, we just thought it was a speech delay at that time. He had some “different” behaviors particularly the drawn out screaming and fits which we associated with his frustration and not being able to talk. He was a happy baby. He didn’t really like to be held and liked to just kind of do his own thing.

As he entered the toddler years he went from being the happy baby to the always frustrated toddler. When he started speech therapy it was brought up that he might have PDD-NOS. When I looked it up and saw “Autism,” I have to admit my response was NO. That’s ridiculous! There is NO way! I did put the idea in the back of my mind and then moved on.
When Brayden turned 2 my husband left for Basic Training. Brayden was in an Early Intervention program at that time, and his behavior at home was escalating. I assumed it was due to having a new sister (she was 4 months old when Joey left for Basic) and daddy being gone (except he called him “mom” because that was one of the few words he had at the time). He did well in the early intervention program and did OK in our weekly early intervention play group except he just couldn’t seem to “play well” with the other kids.

Waiting for his bus to special ed preschool

Once my husband got back we had to pack up and move to his first duty station in the Washington DC area. Once getting there we hit a “reset” button for Brayden’s therapy, and that was really frustrating. At that time his behavior hit a major decline and not only did he seem mad and frustrated but he also started getting violent. It was scary! I actually feared for our daughter because of his violent tendencies. Knowing how he hurt me I was very afraid of how he could hurt her.
What was I doing wrong? Why did my happy baby become so angry and mean?? It was really disheartening! Everything I had been learning for his Early Intervention was no longer working. It was at this point that I just felt that nagging – something is “off.” This isn’t “normal,” and I don’t think it’s “bad parenting.” Many parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders have heard more than once, though, that it’s bad parenting!
We finally got him in for a speech evaluation, and he did qualify for therapy. I felt like speech therapy wasn’t enough, though. I felt like there is definitely something more going on here. They sent someone out to our house once a week, but it was already the end of the school year, which is what the therapy program followed as well. So, she would only get to visit 3 times. That’s all it took. Brayden had one of his MAJOR meltdowns.
He grabbed Aurora by the head (which I obviously intervened), started hitting the dog, started hitting me, and then he started throwing everything he could get his hands on – at me AND at her. When a child gets violent with an adult they have only seen a few times it raises a red flag that something more could be going on. So, although, I was MORTIFIED by this visit she was glad to see this behavior so she could recommend him for further evaluation.

I’ll cut out some of the middle here and say he was first diagnosed with ADHD and told he should be put on medication. We felt this was wrong and disagreed. After pushing for more appointments we were referred to a child psychiatrist. While I was talking to him Brayden started flipping over the chairs, shaking the weight scale, and then proceeded to dump out my purse and put a couple things in his mouth as he took out and lined up all of the pictures from my wallet. When asked if this was “normal” behavior I said yes.
He asked more about the putting things in his mouth at which point I told him he also bites and chews on almost everything wood and has left teeth marks all on his bed and our entertainment center. I was almost in tears at that point because it truly was embarrassing for me! It was then that I got my answer. He said this isn’t ADHD, although it is commonly misdiagnosed as such at a young age this is PDD-NOS. I thought back to when he was 15 months and wanted to smack myself in the face for blowing it off! Even though he explained Brayden is high-functioning I have to admit it was still a little disheartening to hear.

After my initial feeling of discouragement with an Autism Spectrum diagnosis I realized we had to move on together as a family and do the best that we can. We have to continually be an advocate for him, and this attitude has proven to be extremely helpful. Although Brayden has not qualified for certain therapies due to being high-functioning we have made sure he does get the therapy for which he does qualify and there has been major improvement! There will always be things that are “different,” but it’s who he is, and we accept it as such while helping him become the best he can be.
It’s been quite a journey. There are still good days and bad days, and we have a lot of the journey still ahead of us, but it gets easier as we go – as we learn to trust God and learn more about Autism and where Brayden is now and where he will be. We have nothing but hope for his future, and I continue to pray that as more awareness is raised for Autism many children with Autism Spectrum Disorders of various degrees have bright futures ahead. As more people learn about Autism and educate themselves and others the journey already becomes much more pleasant!
Are you on this journey as well? I would love to hear from you!