Kioko Center

When children act out, it’s easy to chalk this down to ‘misbehaving’. However, this is not always the case. For example, among children with autism and related conditions, challenging behavior is often their way of responding to feeling anxious, stressed, or overwhelmed. As such, whenever your child begins to act out, remember that this is not intentional on their behalf. They’re simply trying to find a way to regulate their emotions or express their discomfort relating to what is happening to those around them — not to get a reaction out of you. What are some of the challenging behaviors associated with autism? When caring for a child with autism, you may notice that they begin to exhibit challenging behaviors whenever they feel overwhelmed. This could include stimming and actions typically associated with a meltdown. Stimming refers to “self-stimulating”, repetitive behaviors that help autistic children “manage excess energy and self-soothe.” Mostly, this involves gestures such as ar...

  Children with autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit disorder, andother developmental delays often have professionals of all different backgrounds providing strategies for their success. While occupational, physical, and speech therapy , special education, and applied behavior analysts have different focuses, these professionals often use the same foundations to help kids learn and grow. Read on for the most common behavior strategies that the whole team uses: Use Positive Reinforcement Teachers and parents use positive reinforcement with both neurotypical children and kids with disabilities for a valid reason. Their developing brains make stronger connections with positive reinforcement than negative. Try to catch them at their best, whether by saying hello to a friend, listening to your message, or trying something new without getting frustrated. Recognize and praise their behavior. Therapists and educators are as specific as possible with praise and positive attention bas...

  Special and general educators carry many roles, including observing child development from many different perspectives. A teacher may refer a student for a speech evaluation, cognitive testing, or a behavior assessment. While these performance areas seem distinct, teachers are often uncertain if they should refer a child for physical or occupational therapy since there is sometimes overlap between the two professions. Overview Both occupational and physical therapists are licensed professionals who graduated from an accredited program ( occupational therapy is an entry-level master’s or doctorate, and physical therapy is a doctoral-level degree). In a school setting, occupational and physical therapy are added to a qualifying child’s plan to support their educational outcomes. For example, suppose a child has an abnormal gait pattern but can still navigate their classroom environment safely and efficiently. In that case, they may not qualify for school-based physical therapy....

In the past year, many special certification programs for occupational therapists have moved to an online platform. You can get access to excellent professional development without having to travel, miss work, or give up your weekend to participate in an engaging workshop! The following programs are offering the chance to get a specialty certification from the comfort of your own home. Astronaut Training Hone your sensory expertise by participating in an Astronaut Training workshop. The Astronaut Protocol involves the integration of the vestibular, auditory, and visual systems. The webinars are live and occur over the course of two consecutive days. Content includes an overview of pathways and functions of the related sensory systems, clinical observations, assessments, demonstrations, labs, and treatment planning. The registration price includes the protocol handbook and certification to immediately begin utilizing the program. DIRFloortime DIRFloortime i...

Finding out your kid needs speech therapy hits different than you expect. It's not just about pronunciation. It's about connection. About them being understood. You probably spent weeks, maybe months, telling yourself they'd catch up. That every kid develops at their own pace, right? And then someone - a pediatrician, a teacher, maybe your gut - says it's time to get help. Now you're here. Trying to figure out what speech therapy even means for a kid on the spectrum. Wondering if this is going to help or just be another appointment on an already packed calendar. What Speech Therapy for Autism Actually Addresses Communication challenges with autism spectrum disorder range everywhere. Some kids are completely nonverbal. Others talk fluently but miss social cues. Many fall somewhere in between. Speech Therapy Treatment for Children on the spectrum isn't one-size-fits-all. It might involve alternative communication methods like picture systems. It might focus on so...

Speech Therapy Services   for autism isn't one-size-fits-all. Every child communicates differently. The goal is functional communication that lets your child connect with the world. Some children don't speak at all. Others speak but struggle with conversation flow. Then there are kids who echo words back without really knowing what they mean. How Speech Therapy Works for Autistic Children Speech therapy treatment for children begins with a thorough assessment. Professionals look at where your child is now, what they're already good at, and what specific challenges they face. Therapy tackles multiple areas at once. There's the verbal speech part, obviously. But also gestures, facial expressions, and social communication pieces like knowing when it's your turn to talk. Communication devices help some kids immensely. You've got picture boards, typing systems, apps that generate speech. These aren't giving up on spoken language. They're bridges. Tools that...