Personal Space Camp It’s not your typical summer camp and it’s not a camp where you learn about outer space. Personal Space Camp is a charming, funny book that teaches kids the concept of personal space and why it’s important. In the story, Louis considers himself a space expert because he knows all about planets,…
Read MoreSummer break is often a time for growth, as kids meet new people and try out different activities. The break in routine leaves time to explore and enjoy favorite places as well as unfamiliar spots. Wherever your summer vacation may lead, you can find ample opportunity to help your child practice speech and language skills…
Read MoreMuch of daily life is centered on communication which involves speech, language and hearing. For those who have delays or challenges in these areas, it can affect the ability to communication and connect and meet basic and essential goals: at school, work, and in relationships. Everyday tasks become frustrating and difficult to manage, and people…
Read MoreBook Works are book recommendations by Communication Works (CW) that support speech, language, social and emotional growth for children. The Autism Acceptance Book At CW, we love using books to introduce and discuss topics related to speech, language, and social communication. With April’s focus on autism awareness and acceptance, we’d like to share one of…
Read MoreJoin Us for our Annual Clinical Fellow (CF) Mixer! Are you a second year grad student? Are you getting ready for your CF? Come join us! You’ll get to talk to current Clinical Fellows and learn what questions to ask potential employers, what to expect during your CF, and what your supervisor should provide.…
Read MoreAlthough every person with autism is unique, social communication is one of the hallmark areas of challenge. Having a speech and language pathologist (SLP) on the team can be a huge benefit to help build skills and overcome obstacles. At Communication Works, social communication is one of our areas of expertise. Here are some favorite…
Read MoreBook Works are book recommendations by Communication Works (CW) that support speech, language, social and emotional growth for children. Learning to Be Present Mindfulness is getting lots of well-deserved attention lately, and it turns out to be an excellent strategy for teaching social and emotional skills Honestly, it’s great for learning any new skill because…
Read MoreBook Works are book recommendations by Communication Works (CW) that support speech, language, social and emotional growth for children. Taming a Puppy Mind Children’s books offer a terrific way to launch the discussion of what it means to be mindful. Books can give students a way to make connections to their own lives and become…
Read MoreBook Works are book recommendations by Communication Works (CW) that support speech, language, social and emotional growth for children. Teaching Mindfulness with a Monkey and a Panda Meditation expert Jon Kabat-Zinn defines mindfulness as “paying attention, on purpose, without judgement.” For many of the children we support at CW, mindfulness can be the missing piece…
Read MoreAt Communication Works, we love to embrace holidays and special events as teachable moments for speech, language, and social/emotional goals. With Valentine’s Day coming up, we wanted to share some creative ideas from our CW therapists: From Brianna: In my social groups, I do a lesson on compliments for Valentine’s Day. We talk about what…
Read MoreWhile making your list of New Year’s resolutions, remember to build in time for self-care. As educators, therapists, or parents—especially when supporting those with special needs—our day-to-day lives can be stressful and focused on meeting the needs of other people over ourselves. There’s a good reason for the statement, “Put on your own oxygen mask…
Read MoreI was recently at a party where the birthday girl couldn’t hide her disappointment when a certain gift was unwrapped. The boy who had given the gift was visibly shaken up, and I thought about how this drama could have played out so differently. Whether it’s a birthday, the winter holidays, or any other time…
Read MoreWe recently asked our therapists about their favorite resources for building speech, language, and social communication skills. Jennifer Wayman’s pick was Barrier Games, which can be easily used at home, in the classroom, and in therapy sessions to provide a fun and useful way to easily tailor goals and objectives to your child’s needs. Barrier Games…
Read MoreHands-on crafts activities offer great practice for following directions and sequencing (completing tasks in a specific order with a goal in mind). Here’s a seasonal activity with modifications for different skill levels to enjoy with your child. Here’s what you need: Paper Glue Leaves that have fallen to the ground Scissors Pen, pencil, crayons, or…
Read MoreHalloween is a thrilling event for many kids, but it can be overwhelming for those who face challenges with social communication and self-regulation. It can stir up anxiety, confusion, giddiness, and fear. There are many hidden social rules and norms associated with Halloween. Some kids understand hidden rules without explicit teaching and don’t need to…
Read MoreRecently we asked our therapists to recommend resources for building speech, language, and social communication skills. We wanted to share some of these activities that parents, teachers and other therapists may find fun and useful and that can be easily tailored for specific children’s needs. Therapist Kevin English recommended using Pixar short films (or any…
Read Moreby Jillian LeVos-Carlson, M.S., CCC-SLP I recently attended my company’s end-of-year party, where we were encouraged to reflect on the recent school year and think of the growth and challenges we’d experienced and what we’d learned and might want to store in our memory for the future. The first thing that came to mind was…
Read MoreProviding Tips and Tools to Support Great Communication and Connection Did you know that May is Better Hearing and Speech Month? We’re eager to raise awareness about the importance of speech, language, and hearing, the foundation of our ability to communicate and connect with others. Making oneself understood and understanding other people through words, gestures,…
Read MoreAt CW, we often teach the skill of “perspective taking,” or putting oneself into another person’s shoes/mindset. To build awareness and acceptance for autism, I decided to turn the tables. I asked some of our clients to describe for those who don’t have autism what it’s like and provide suggestions about how we can build…
Read MoreOur therapists often adapt commonly used games as tools for building speech, language, and social communication skills. We wanted to share some of these activities that teachers and caregivers may find fun and useful and that can be easily tailored for specific children’s needs. The first is Jenga, recommended by CW therapist Theresa Christiansen. Jenga…
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