Tic Toc Autism Clock: A Guide to Your 24/7 Parent Plan

Autism does not sleep. When night falls, families everywhere tuck their children into bed for what will typically be a good night's sleep, but the care required by the child with special needs continues around the clock. Like Grandfather's pocket watch, if not wound consistently, the ticking will stop. Without proper early intervention there is a very real danger of watching a child fade from this world into a world he has created in his own mind. There is a push toward early diagnosis and education because it is universally understood that early intervention is vital for optimal gain. The younger a child is, the better chance of increased efficacy and possible re-growth of neural pathways. Teachers and therapists often provide some services during the day, but the family is the 24/7 team. Every agency, school, and therapist will have goals and a plan for the child, and so should the parent! Tic Toc Autism Clock explains how autism may affect each of the child's senses, and provides ideas for working through those sensitivity issues. The authors provide techniques parents can implement to teach the child through play, reading, language activities, social activities, and cooking. The reader will learn how to weave sensory interventions, communication strategies, behavioral techniques and social skills into one cohesive 24/7 Parent Plan(c). The 24/7 Parent Plan(c) is designed to guide the parents in incorporating a child's therapies and classroom learning into their everyday family life. Part I of this book provides the foundation to understand autism and how it may be affecting the child. This knowledge is the building block for a child's home program. In the early pages the reader is introduced to the idea of creating a 24/7 Parent Plan(c) to guide a child through life. Here, the reader will find templates and examples for an individualized family program. Although the reader may eventually design his own forms and templates, having this pattern to follow will help families along that path. The authors discuss the various strategies and techniques available to parents- in essence creating each family's own personal toolbox. The tools presented by the authors include the family's goals, the equipment they may find useful, predictability, scheduling, and coping strategies. Part II introduces the reader to a variety of interventions that may be tailored to meet a child's communication, behavioral, social and sensory needs. The authors share strategies and techniques to assist the caregivers in teaching the child through play, reading, language activities, social activities and cooking. This section provides a glossary style, comprehensive listing of helpful strategies and tools to fully understand autism and implement whichever lessons apply to your child. Each of 26 alphabetically arranged lessons addresses various aspects of communication, behavior, sensory needs and social skills. Elizabeth shares Parent to Parent Tips and Dr. Barboa includes Professional Tips for each lesson. Whether a child is "lost in another world" or merely has a toe pointed in that direction, time is of the essence. Each moment is precious, so family time must be used wisely. In Tic Toc Autism Clock, the authors give the reader the tools and the hope needed to make every minute count. Armed with a 24/7 Parent Plan(c), families can move forward on the incredible journey they have befo

About the Author :
Dr. Barboa holds degrees in speech pathology, communication sciences and disorders, audiology, psychology, and early childhood education. She is an experienced speech-language pathologist, with a background as a special education director, director of an autism center, and university professor. She has worked as an educator in America and Europe and has presented numerous programs to professionals across the country. Dr. Barboa has authored several books including "Stars in Her Eyes: Navigating the Maze of Childhood Autism," and "Steps: Forming a Disability Ministry." She has written a children's books about autism, "Albert is My Friend: Helping Children Understand Autism." Dr. Barboa currently resides in Battlefield, Missouri with her husband, Mike.