Each of these fact sheets contain links to organizations closely focused on a specific disability
Communication
The most rewarding experiences for a parent and a child are to be able to share thoughts, feelings and desires with each other. Successful communication is a two-way street. It’s an active partnership that involves using more than words to send and receive messages.
In this section, we’ve focused on giving you the information and tools you’ll need to become a more effective communicator. We’ve also developed some tools and strategies that will help your child to become more successful and consistent when communicating with you.
Helping your Child Understand
As a parent, you’ll want to do everything you can to help your child understand you and to make the most of daily learning opportunities. For one child this might mean changing the way communication happens by slowing down or simplifying speech. For another child, adding gestures, pictures or signs may be just the right approach.
We’ve built a visual engine that will let you make everything from daily schedules to help your child plan and predict his day to dressing sequences to help him become more independent.
We’ve also pulled together some great workshops and tools you can use every day. Learning can be lots of fun when you use music, play, and storytime to help your child’s understanding of language to grow
- Using visuals
- Creating and using an activity calendar
- Communication posters
- Using signs and gestures
- Talking Matters
Visuals Engine
Create visual supports with our templates and images, or customize them with your own images.
Helping your child to communicate
There is nothing more fundamental than being able to let someone know what you need and want. Some children need extra practice to learn new ways of communicating. At times, picture systems (PECS) or visual supports can really help with this.
In this section, you’ll find resources to help you learn more about the ways children communicate and find some tools for helping your child to move to the next step
- Understanding how and why your child communicates
- Picture exchange communication system (PECS)
- Everyday opportunities to develop communication skills
Giving Instructions
Play video
Kate Massey of K.I.D.S (Kids Included in Day Care and Early Childhood Services) shares some very practical strategies for helping your child to understand and follow through with requests.
Context Stories
Here are two simple stories about communication. They’re a good place to start. Michael’s story deals with breaking through the frustration of underdeveloped communication skills, and Hamzah’s story introduces the power of visual communication
Emotions
Understanding and responding to the emotions of others are very important social skills for us to have. These skills help us to develop relationships with other people but they do not come so easily to some children. Without being able to correctly identify and understand the emotions of others, a child is more likely to respond inappropriately.
We’ve created some games and activities to clearly teach emotions. Try some of these with your child to introduce and practice recognizing emotions
Articles
- Identify skills to teach
- Asking a friend to play
- Making a choice
- Child’s communication binder
- How to use the Checklist of Communicative Functions and Means
- Definitions of speech and language terms
- Communicating for Fun Calendars
- My Visit to Toronto Public Library: A Social Story for Everyone
Promoting Communication for Symbolic Communicators
This practical resource booklet has been written by Dolly Bhargava, Specialist Behavior Support Practitioner and Speech Pathologist from Behaviour Help for parents. The booklet discusses a range of visual systems that can be used at home to develop your child’s communication skills. Along with the booklet is a video which demonstrates the use of the strategies discussed in the booklet with children with communication difficulties.
Promoting Communication for Pre-Intentional and Intentional Communicators
This practical resource booklet has been written by Dolly Bhargava, Specialist Behavior Support Practitioner and Speech Pathologist from Behaviour Help for parents. The booklet discusses a range of communication strategies that can be used at home to develop your child’s communication skills. Along with the booklet is a video which demonstrates the use of the strategies discussed in the booklet with children with communication difficulties.
Behaviour
At times you may become concerned about your child’s behaviour especially if it is disruptive or puts his safety at risk. You may be wondering ‘why does he do that?’ Keep in mind that behaviours occur for a reason and it can take some time to understand why the behaviour is occurring and how to deal with it.
We’ve provided you with many tools and resources to help get started, to gather information, develop a plan for change, and to try new teaching methods. Most behaviour problems can be analyzed by you and others working with your child but, some behaviour problems require professional intervention.
Understanding and Changing Behaviour 1: Why does he do that?
Play video
Start by addressing one behaviour at a time – the behaviour that you are most concerned about. Then you can begin gathering information, such as what happens right before the behaviour or things in the environment that may be a contributing factor. Doing this will help you to understand what purpose the behaviour serves for your child. This information is important as it will help you to plan for change.
Understanding and Changing Behaviour 2: Planning for change
Play video
As you continue to observe your child you begin to develop a clearer understanding of what the purpose of the behaviour might be and you’re ready to make some changes. We’ve included information to help you encourage positive behaviour, create rules/social stories and provide positive reinforcement.
Changing your child’s behaviour takes time and patience. At times you may feel unsure or frustrated if you do not see the behaviour changing quickly. Remember that sometimes a child’s behaviour will get worse before it gets better. This is usually because you are introducing a new rule or expectation and your child has been used to doing it differently. Wait and see how he responds.
Giving Instructions
Play video
Kate Massey of K.I.D.S (Kids Included in Day Care and Early Childhood Services) shares some very practical strategies for helping your child to understand and follow through with requests.
Attention and Ignoring
Play video
A workshop designed to take a look at using positive attention and ignoring at the right moments to help your child learn new skills and practice behaviour that will strengthen their relationship with you and others.
Prompting and Fading
Play video
A workshop on teaching prompts and how to fade them when your child is ready
Playing to Learn
Play video
A workshop about using simple “play” to help develop and expand motor, language and social skills.
Context Stories
Here are two simple stories about behaviour problems you’ll likely recognize, and the sequence of of steps we took on our way to understanding the reasons underlying Wayne’s and Asha’s behaviour, and what we did to change it.
Teaching methods
Every child is an individual and you know your child better than anyone else. You have the the information needed to decide the schedule, teaching methods and reinforcements that will work best for your child and family.
Although this process can seem overwhelming at times it is also a great time to engage your child in new learning and social situations
Remember to be creative, you have many ideas which you can try to help your child change his behaviour. In this section you will find resources on reinforcement, giving instructions, and general strategies for dealing with problem behaviour.
Articles
- Facts about behaviour
- ABC assessment card
- Creating rules that work
- Creating personal stories
- Preparing for transitions
- Encouraging positive behaviour
- Reinforcement
- Giving Instructions
- Token economy systems
- General strategies for dealing with problem behaviour
- Task analysis
- Creating a Behaviour support plan
- Identify skills to teach
- Requesting a sensory break
- Following instructions
- Building social skills
- Getting someones attention
- Taking turns
- Listening to others
- Sharing
- Joining in play
- Personal space
- Anxiety for young children
- Using visuals
- Modifying your expectations
- Chaining and Shaping Behaviour – Mastering and Motivating the Child to Learn the Steps
- Prompting and fading
- Attention and ignoring
- Creating personal stories
- Functional assessment interview
- Task analysis
- Brushing teeth sequence
- Putting pants on sequence
- Tying show laces sequence
- Toilet training sequence
- Washing hands sequence
- Understanding Self-Regulation in Young Children
- Tips for Dealing with Challenging Behaviour
- Tips for Promoting Play Skills
Adapt and accommodate
Accessibility in your environment is as fundamental as fresh air and a welcoming smile at the door.
Here’s how to do everything – from creating comfortable spaces, to simple modifications you can make to everyday toys. Sometimes, it’s the smallest things that make the biggest difference.
Creating a Calming Environment
Positive adult-child relationships along with intentional planning of the physical environment contribute to a child’s sense of security. Creating a safe, nurturing space that has predictable routines and takes into consideration the children’s sensory needs can increase a child’s resilience and self-esteem.
Context stories
Here are two simple stories about adapting and accommodating. They’re a good place to start. An important part of the solution to Abdi’s mealtime behaviour is a simple adaptation to his environment at the table. In Chung Lee’s story, we use the environment to support success.
Articles
- Classroom layout tips
- Creating a positive environment
- What is Specialized equipment
- Identifying skills to teach
- Mealtime accommodations
- Request a food item
- Children with food preferences
- Special diets
- What are tube feedings
- Getting dressed
- Putting on a jacket
- Steps towards toileting independence
- How to use an Elimination record
- Vision assessment
- Programming for a child with a visual impairment
- Types of hearing tests for children
- Programming for a child with a hearing impairment
- Circle time
- Nap time considerations
- Toy shop
ConnectABILITY Redesign
A short presentation describing the changes we have made to the web site. (2 min.)
Developmental Disabilities and Aging: Issues and Perspectives of the DS Service Providers
Palliative Pain and Symptom Management
Presented by Tracey Human, RN, Palliative Pain Symptom Management Consultation Service for Toronto
Considerations for intellectual and physical disability communities of practice – palliative care, hospice, collaborative care planning.
The Compelling Data on Aging in Residential Services
Changing Assumptions, Guidelines & Tools
Presenter: Angie Gonzales, Health Care Facilitator, Toronto Network of Specialized Care
Improve your understanding of health concerns and aging differences in developmental disabilities, and best practices related to community-based dementia care for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Play – Flash version
Play – HTML5 version (Tablets)