You're invited to Kelly's autism Bible Study (free eBook, too!)

Kelly Langston is a remarkable mom who also happens to have an amazing son with autism. She has just launched an online Bible study growing out of her book Autism's Hidden Blessings and YOU are invited! Her publisher is also offering Autism's Hidden Blessings free of charge for just a few days here, so don't wait to pick it up.

I haven't read the whole book...but eagerly and tearfully devoured the first section. Kelly is a committed Christian whose message to other Christians is one of hope and promise. If you are in need of God's encouragement as you raise a child with special needs, this might be just the book for you.

Her message isn't limited just to families having kids on the autism spectrum. No, it meets Christian families who face disabilities of all kinds.

If you are interested, please check out Kelly's blog to learn more about the online Bible study. Enrollment for the study is only open until Friday, May 4th, so you'll want to sign up speedy-quick. Kelly will be offering a light weekly homework assignment and open it up for discussion in an online study area. I sure would love to meet some of you there!

If you don't have time for the study itself, hopefully you will still download and benefit from Kelly's book. If the rest of it hits as close to home as the beginning section, I can tell it's going to be hugely encouraging and strengthening in my faith.

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5-6-12

Kelly had to close this session of her Bible study on autism and other special needs, but there is great news if you missed the sign in time! You can ask to be added to a waiting list for a future session. Click here for the link to Kelly's waiting list. She'll let you know when that next session is scheduled.

I encourage you to sign up. This first session is so encouraging so far! There are 400 parents supporting and cheering each other on as we claim the biblical promises God has made us and our children.

Favorite FREE book: PVC Assistive Technology Supports

PVC pipe is an amazing building material. It's fairly inexpensive, easy to find and simple to work with. You can use it to make all kinds of equipment to help your child. It can be used to create adaptive writing aids, eye gaze frames, sand tables, switch stands...and so much more. The Assistive Technology Educational Network in Florida has compiled a wonderful book that tells you how. Not only that, they have made it available for free download online! Many, many thanks to the great folks at ATEN for their generosity!

If you have never worked with PVC pipe before, this book will make you an expert in no time. It explains differences in types of PVC pipe and when each is appropriate to use. It teaches you how to cut, glue and paint the pipe. Then--this is the especially terrific part--the book offers designs for making a whole host of adaptive equipment! Each design includes a parts list (with pipe lengths listed, so you can pre-cut all your pieces or have them cut at the hardware store), a list of equipment and supplies, and assembly directions with schematic drawings. It has plans for 22 projects, including easels and sensory equipment and toy bowling ball launchers and headswitch mounts. There are even suggestions for how to modify these projects to work with your individual requirements. I'm waiting for a funding approval for a computerized voice output device for my daughter, at which point I can make a desk mount to fit. Please join me with a project or two of your own!

Happy creating and a great weekend,

Rose-Marie

Update (10/27/14): It appears the links in the original post moved. Thanks so much to a reader for calling this to my attention! I have updated the link to another host and now you should be able to access it without any sign-in. R-MG

Resources for free communication software

If you have been making up symbol cards or boards from scratch using tables in your word processor, you may be feeling the need to speed up and simplify the process.  While commercial communication software is fabulous for this, it is a luxury not always available or affordable for all families. Today I'm sharing a link for a list of free programs you can use to create communication symbols for your child. Since you have been working on figuring the most appropriate style/size of symbol for your child (you have been, right?), you will be able to judge which on the list best fits your needs. You see? There is method in my madness at having you start from scratch in creating your symbols...it exposes you to the questions and frustrations that make you a better evaluator of the options out there!

This link for free programs comes from one of the greatest Web resources you will ever find...Kate Ahern's amazing blog, Teaching Learners with Multiple Special Needs. I need to tell you a little about the inspiring Kate Ahern. Kate works tirelessly to bring the best of the newest information out there to people working with kids with severe needs. Seriously, I don't know how she does it. She spends her days working directly with kids doing creative things and then comes home and collects all this fabulous information to pass along. She's incredible. Kate's dedication has lifted me up at times I've felt a bit discouraged in trying to meet my daughter's needs, because here is a person who lives and breathes the mission of helping kids just like mine. She reminds me that there really are some great folks out there. Please bookmark her award-winning site or sign up for RSS feeds; you don't want to miss anything. And sometime when you have endless hours to spend filling your head with more terrific information than it can possibly hold, go back through her early posts...her archives are gold. No, I take that back...they're platinum.

If you love Kate's helpful information as much as I do, please drop her a note. We all love a little encouragement.