It’s been a while! Life can do that to you… During this series on autism I got a few requests for ideas for nonverbal teen and adult riders with autism. I think this is a good topic to address. However I don’t have a ton of experience in this area, so I’ve done some research … Continue reading
Tagged with ASD …
Riders with Autism Part 6 – Behavior Management and Meltdowns
This is the topic that started my whole research into Autism! I had a rider meltdown, and had no clue what to do… therefore I am so happy to share with you what I’ve learned because it helped me immensely. What do you do when riders have behavior issues or meltdowns? Please leave a comment! … Continue reading
Riders with Autism Part 4 – Teaching Techniques
Now that you’ve got some resources for your lesson plan, here are some resources for teaching techniques on interacting with riders and dealing with specific behaviors. Again, most of this info is from Susan McDowell’s seminar “TOOLS from the AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS SURVIVAL KIT,” and Claudine Pelletier-Milet’s book Riding on the Autism Spectrum. Riders with Autism Part 4 … Continue reading
Riders with Autism Part 3 – Lesson Planning & Activities
Time to talk about the actual lesson! All of these are ideas – you don’t have to do them, they’re just possibilities for what might work with your rider. All these ideas are compiled from the resources listed at the end of the post. In formal essays you should give credit for ideas and quotes, but I … Continue reading
Q&A: Refusal to Mount
I got an interesting question from a reader I’d like to open up to everyone… Refusal to Mount Hello, Do you have any articles or references related to getting a highly anxious ASD rider to mount the horse? We have a 15 year old who refuses to mount but stays close to the horse and … Continue reading
Teaching Tips: Social Stories
Social Stories What A “Social Story” is a story used to model appropriate social interaction by describing a situation with relevant social cues, other’s perspectives, and a suggested appropriate response. Why Helps teach students routines, expectations, and behavioral standards in an alternative format (story, visual, etc.) Can be personalized to individual behavioral intervention Particularly helpful/popular … Continue reading
Fun Video Friday: “Imagine What It’s Like to Have High Functioning Autism”
Trying to put yourself in the place of your students is valuable. I think lots of us have struggled with similar things, but maybe not to such an extreme, and finding those little places of contact help you relate to and understand what your students are going through. This is the first time I’ve accurately … Continue reading
GallopNYC ASD Transition Job Skills Study
A reader from GallopNYC recently send me this phenomenal resource for an ASD Transition Job Skills program they did at their barn! Once of the documents explains: “GallopNYC is developing an innovative educational program for young adults on the autism spectrum. The goal of this program is to apply the benefits of therapeutic horseback riding to the … Continue reading
ASD Behavioral Communication Article
All therapeutic riding teachers come in to teaching either stronger on the riding side or stronger on the disabilities side. If you are new to working with childen with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), it is important to understand that their behavior is always trying to communicate something. The better you know the child, the easier it … Continue reading
Communication Tools & Strategies
Want to know the basics of communicating with your riders? In particular, those with verbal and non verbal learning disabilities, sensory and ASD issues? Well there is a GREAT powerpoint presentation called “Communication Tools & Strategies” by Susan Lutz that was presented at the Region 5 2012 conference. You can find the info in 2 … Continue reading