May 2020 Newsletter

New Blog: ABA Terms and Meanings When entering into the world of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for the first time, many parents and caregivers are introduced to countless terms and meanings that may be brand new to them. Without any prior knowledge in this field, it can be very overwhelming to gain an understanding of ABA and can seem like a totally different language. A new blog by BCBA Victoria Oliver goes over common terms used on a daily basis in ABA therapy along with examples of what some of these terms mean. Click here to read our ABA Terms and Meanings blog post.

Success Story  When Riley graduated from Cornerstone, his language and independence with self-help skills had flourished! Riley was able to hold conversations independently with his peers, including making eye contact, acknowledging a peer’s response, answering questions and asking follow-up questions. When asked before his graduation what his friends liked about Riley, they said he was nice and funny. “We are so proud of Riley and all he has accomplished while at Cornerstone. We know he will go on to do great things!” said Arielle Lofgren, Riley’s BCBA. Read Riley’s full success story here! 

 

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Thank you to all of our staff and families for helping to make this transition back to therapy a smooth one. We appreciate all of you and are so happy to be back together again!

Supporting Individuals with Autism through Uncertain Times  The UNC FPG Autism Team has created a resource with 7 support strategies designed to meet the unique needs of individuals with autism during uncertain times. These strategies are intended to be a toolkit of ideas that may be helpful. Caregivers may choose to take one idea at a time and find a way to make it work for their child and their family. Specific adaptations and additions may be necessary to best meet the varied needs of individual children, so parents can ask their child’s BCBA to help them decide if, how, and when a particular strategy might be appropriate.   Click here to access this resource.

GoNoodle  GoNoodle gets kids up and moving to fun, engaging content and games. Every dance party, yoga session, mindfulness activity, and game session is an opportunity for kids to wake up their bodies, engage their minds, and be their best. All content and games are curated and developed by GoNoodle’s team of child development experts.  www.gonoodle.com

FUSE Zoom meetings  FUSE (Families United for Support and Encouragement) will be hosting free virtual support meetings for parents and kids. Meetings include Friday night get-togethers for parents, Saturday get-togethers for kids, and trainings such as “Caregiver Self Care” with Laura Baker of Healthy 365. Laura will be discussing self care for caregivers and mental health needs during this time, with open discussion and time for questions. Visit www.fuseinc.org/get-involved for more information, including Zoom meeting details.

Food Assistance Availability Map  FSSA in partnership with the state’s food banks, the Indy Hunger Network and Feeding Indiana Hungry has developed a statewide, interactive map that will help Hoosiers seeking food assistance find what they need. It shows three types of organizations in an area: food pantries where you can pick up groceries; meal sites with packed meals ready to take home and eat; and school sites for children under 18, with food that may be delivered or picked up depending on the site. To access the Food Assistance Availability Map, visit www.in.gov/fssa/dfr/5768.htm.

Be Well Indiana  Information and resources compiled by the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction designed to help Hoosiers stay connected and maintain their well-being. Includes resources for kids and teens, assistance programs, and wellness ideas. bewellindiana.com

 

 

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