by Seana Smith on April 28, 2012

in Video Modelling

I was in touch with the blogger Silly Mummy recently.  Like me she has a son with autism spectrum disorder and used to work in TV.

Silly Mummy was an outside broadcast producer/director, something I never did. I did some single camera directing and editing of short items, but mainly lots of producing.

Anyway, when my son was just three I heard about video modelling. I knew he loved TV and had seen him copy some actions the Teletubbies did.

So I got myself a Mac computer as Apple’s editing software seemed the simplest and taught myself how to make little videos for him.

In you’re a parent who is interested in trying video modelling, here is some information to get you started:

The Video Modelling Extract from Australian Autism Handbook

To download, click here:   VM extract from AAH

A document I used to give out at talks

Download here: VM 2-page info

Document on Using VM as part of Early Intervention Program

Using VM in EI programs (This is written for families doing ABA but it’s applicable to any EI, I think.)

Autism video modeling
Gratuitous picture of my son aged 3, Thomas obsessed. A very ASD photo.

Some Posts from Australian Autism Handbook Blog

http://autism.janecurrypublishing.com.au/category/video-modelling

Search on Youtube ‘autism video modeling’

Click here. There are a zillion videos to look at and learn from.

So that’s just a wee collection of initial ideas and places to look for information.

I hope you might find it useful.

Have you ever made any video models for your child?

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First the good news, then some not-so-good news, then some more good news to finish.

The autism world has changed a great deal since the first edition of the Australian Autism Handbook was published in May 2008.  Locally, we’ve had greater awareness and some long-overdue federal funding through the Helping Children with Autism package, overseas we’ve seen increased commitment to research, in particular genetic and environmental research into the causes of autism, and, of course, ever-rising prevalence—with latest figures from the US suggesting that 1 in 88 children now has an autism spectrum disorder. Next year we will have revised diagnostic criteria, when the new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM5) is published.

Thus we have decided that a second edition is well and truly due.  We anticipate that the new edition of the Australian Autism Handbook will be something like a bride: with something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.

Old:  Me, technical information that remains current, and some of the wonderful personal stories and quotes that still resonate.

New:  My co-author, Kathryn Wicks, additional chapters on teen issues and Asperger’s syndrome, and updated information on early intervention, the DSM5 diagnostic criteria, causes and treatments.

Borrowed: The insights of many of our wonderful contributors, some of whom have already agreed to update their thoughts and experiences for the new book.

Blue:  The book’s cover, I hope! I still adore it after all these years.

The next edition is planned for April/May 2013, and will fittingly coincide with the publication of the DSM5, and the new—and controversial—diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder

To the sad news:  Seana Smith has decided she is unable to continue as co-author of the Australian Autism Handbook and is passing the baton to Kathryn Wicks.   Her reasons are mainly personal:  four children ranging from sixteen to five years in age, all with disparate needs, and a husband who works overseas half the year.  However, Seana will continue her association with the Australian Autism Handbook as a parent contributor. As her Tom is now sixteen years old, I’m betting she’ll have some interesting stories to share!

I am so grateful to Seana for the opportunity to co-author this important book and for her friendship over the years.  We will strive to maintain the warm and caring tone that was a signature of the first edition, as a tribute to her.

Now to introduce my new co-author, Kathryn:

Kathryn Wick is the mother of two boys, 11 and 6, the younger of who has high-functioning autism. Watching Darcy grow from a two-year-old who didn’t say “mum” and who didn’t want to cuddle and read,  to a five-year-old who got an “A” for reading on his kindergarten report, has made her an unashamed advocate of intensive early intervention.

Kathryn comes to us with great writing credentials, having been a Sydney Morning Herald journalist for 25 years. She is currently the deputy sports editor and has contributed many oped pieces on autism and early intervention.  She also comes with excellent autism credentials, being a trained ABA therapist.

Kathryn first read the Australian Autism Handbook when her son, Darcy, was diagnosed and already has some great ideas for the second edition. It seems we’ve come full circle!

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