It can be difficult to find autism-friendly activities in the winter. We’ve put together a host of outdoor and indoor activities, such as nature walks and sensory boxes, to keep your children entertained during this winter season.

Winter Activities for Your Autistic Child

Autism-Friendly Outdoor Activities

Winter in the Midwest is often unpredictable, cold, and filled with snow. For parents, finding fun winter activities for kids can be challenging, and autism-friendly activities add an extra layer of consideration. While the snow can be a fun and welcome activity for children, other times, the bitter cold can prevent them from playing outside. So, how do we keep children and autistic children busy during the cold winter months? 

Outdoor Activities

When the temperature is a lovely 35 degrees (which is quite warm in this area during the winter months), and there is a fresh blanket of snow, here are just a few activities to try with your autistic child. 

• Build a snowman: This can be a wonderful activity that your child can do independently or with you as a family. Consider building a replica of a favorite character or naming your snowman. Always explain that a snowman is only temporary and will melt when it gets warmer. 
• Sledding: Get your child active by finding a park (be sure to find a safe space) where your child can enjoy a trip sledding down a hill. A favorite pastime of most, this is sure to be something your child will enjoy. Consider getting a sled big enough for two people so your child can sled with the assistance of an adult. 
• Frozen water balloons: Fill balloons with different colors of water (just add food coloring) to make a fun and beautiful display in your yard. Fill the balloons with water and place them outside. Within a few hours, you should have a beautiful display of frozen water. 
• Make snow angels: This can be one of the best sensory activities in the winter for autistic children. 
• Take a drive: Go take a look at all the Christmas decorations in your neighborhood. 
• Go for a nature walk: Being outside in the winter can be one of the most calming activities for autistic children. It provides them with an open space to run, play, and explore without the stimulation of indoor environments. If the temperatures are agreeable, bundle up and head outside to a nearby park or trail. 
• Paint the snow: A fun and creative alternative to playing in the snow is to paint it. Simply fill some squirt bottles with water and food coloring (make sure you use a lot), then turn the snow into your canvas. 

Indoor Activities

When the weather turns bitterly cold, or there are several inches of snow on the ground, you may find your child’s school closed, and you’re faced with a house full of children. Here are a few ideas to keep your autistic child (and all of your children) occupied when they are stuck inside: 

• Pajama day: Consider letting your child have a lazy day in pajamas. Make them their favorite breakfast and let them watch a favorite movie or TV show. 
• Mall visit: If the kids (and you) are itching to leave the house, visit the mall. Make a game of walking around the mall to get some steps in and energy out. If you can, let your child pick out a new toy or item once you have done a certain number of trips around the mall. 
• Movie day: You can do this at a local theater or at home. If you want to get out of the house, take advantage of discounted matinee prices and take the kids to see a favorite movie. Pop some popcorn at home and bring that jumbo-size purse to provide some affordable snacks at the theater. However, you must be aware of screen time and not let it take over the whole day. 
• Indoor snowball fight: You can buy fake snowballs or create them using crunched newspaper. 
• Make pretend snow: Bring the snow inside by combining 2 ½ cups of pure baking soda with ½ cup of conditioner in a bowl and mix together. Show your child how to make snowballs and build a snowman together inside. Show them how to play with this new texture and encourage them to tell you what they think as they touch and shape the pretend snow. This is a great sensory activity for your child with autism. 
• Build an indoor fort: Gather your sheets, blankets, cushions, and pillows for a magical afternoon at home. You can even create a “fort kit” box for that purpose. Prepare your child’s favorite snacks, read a few books, and even encourage a nap — everything is more fun in a fort. 
• Winter sensory bins: Bring the enchantment of winter indoors. One of the best indoor games for autistic kids is to create sensory bins filled with items like faux snow, pinecones, baubles, and whatever else you see fit. Encourage your child to dip their hands and describe what they discover. 

It can be difficult to find sensory activities or group skills games for autistic kids when school or their ABA therapy center is closed. Be sure to do your best to keep a routine and follow through on skills and activities they are working on at home. ABA is meant to be consistent and can only be successful if parents practice many of the same ABA skills their child works on at their ABA center at home. 

Finding sensory games for autistic children is a key aspect in helping them to learn a number of skills through having fun. In this blog, we talk about the benefits of sensory games and look at some specially designed toys and activities. 

Children’s Games and Special Education Activities for Autism

Developmental Games & Activities for Autistic Kids

Sensory activities involve toys, games, and activities that stimulate the senses. Sensory play is important for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), who often struggle to process sensory information. Autistic children are often over or under sensitive to certain sounds, lights, or textures. Sensory activities are important to help regulate the sensory system. Engaging autistic children in sensory activities is beneficial for the development of several skills, including: 

• Language skills: Using speech-language activities and engaging in pretend play helps develop a child’s language skills by increasing their vocabulary as they discuss their experiences. 
• Fine motor skills: Manipulating small objects aids in hand-eye coordination and helps strengthen the muscles in a child’s hands and wrists, which, in turn, helps develop their fine motor skills. 
• Gross motor skills: Encouraging kids to practice their running, jumping, and throwing skills through pretend sensory play is an excellent way to develop their gross motor skills by strengthening their large muscles through fun body movements. 
• Social skills: Engaging in pretend play with peers doesn’t just build little imaginations. It also teaches important skills like sharing and taking turns. 
• Self-control: Sensory play helps develop a child’s ability to respond appropriately to sensory stimulation, which helps enhance their self-control and self-regulation. 

Experiment with activities that stimulate all five senses: touch, smell, taste, sight, and hearing. You can do at-home activities such as finger painting, making your own slime and playdough, creating a sensory station, and more. However, there are toys and other activities designed with autistic children in mind. 

Sensory-Friendly Activities and Games for Autistic Preschoolers 

The list below offers several sensory-friendly toys and specific online games and activities specifically developed for autistic children. 

Discovery Toys: A Link to Learning for Children with Autism 

Discovery Toys collaborated with the famous Princeton Child Development Institute to develop an Autism Support Project. This project has created toys to develop independent play with limited instruction, toys that promote sustained engagement, toys that build skills for cooperative play, toys that create opportunities for children to talk about their play experience, toys with obvious completion criteria, and more. 

Fun and Function

Fun and Function was founded by a mom who is also an occupational therapist. Its goal is to address the lack of high-quality toys, games, and therapy products for special needs children. Funandfunction.com provides outstanding products to enable children with special needs to reach their fullest potential. 

Infantino 

Infantino has smartly designed products for happy parenting. Packed with smarts, full of fun, and ready for the daily adventures of parenting, they’ve created a line of products to help you, and your little ones grow together. They’ve all been thoughtfully designed and smartly styled, from top to toe, to make this whole parenting thing less of a job and more of a joy. 

Make Beliefs Comix 

MakeBeliefsComix.com is an online site where parents and children can create their own comic strips and practice writing, reading, and storytelling. Parents and teachers of autistic children use the site to communicate more effectively with their children by creating comic strips to teach and convey information to them. 

Me and My World™ Social Skills Board Games and Curriculum

This set of six unique themed puzzle cut game boards (Dragon, Pirate, Space Alien, Castle, Zoo Adventure, and Sea Life) from Joshua Center are interchangeable with any of the Me and My World Game Card Decks. The Me and My World Curriculum includes over 50 lessons aligned with the American School Standards for Students. Each lesson addresses a specific objective, includes several activities, and recommends children’s stories to use. 

Pick and Draw

Pick and Draw is a fun, unique drawing game that teaches you how to make creative cartoon faces. It is simple and easy to use, providing endless hours of fun and learning. In five minutes or less, you will know how to play. 

PlayAbility Toys

A world of special toys for special kids, PlayAbility Toys is a great source of fun, unique toys that are developmentally appropriate for all young children, particularly children with special needs. The company specifically designs and markets toys with sensory features incorporating auditory, tactile, visual, and motor stimulation. 

Special Needs Toys

Special Needs Toys are providers of carefully selected fun products designed to help you or those in your care enjoy life and achieve more. The site and catalog stimulate your child’s imagination and reinforce encouraged behaviors. There is a lot that can be achieved — while having fun. 

Stages Learning

A UCLA-trained ABA therapist founded Stages Learning Materials in 1997 when autism diagnosis first began to rise. The top-selling autism education product, the Language Builder Picture Cards, was created to meet the specific learning needs of autistic children. The Language Builder Series has become a staple worldwide in home and school programs. Today, Stages offers a full range of real photo products for autism education. Stages products are found in preschools, daycare centers, early childhood classrooms, autism programs, speech-language programs, and homes around the world. They are excellent autism speech therapy activities. 

Step2

The Step2 Company, headquartered in Streetsboro, Ohio, is the largest American manufacturer of preschool and toddler toys and the world’s largest rotational plastics molder. Their mission is to be the leading innovator of children’s products that build imaginations and enrich the family’s celebration of childhood. 

Topobo for Children With Autism and ASD

Topobo is the world’s first construction toy with kinetic memory (the ability to record and play back physical motion). Research studies with autistic children show that, compared to passive blocks, Topobo leads to far more cooperative and parallel play, increased observational behavior, and reduced solitary play patterns. 

ZAC Browser: Zone for Autistic Children

ZAC was the first web browser developed for autistic children. They provide one of the best environments on the Internet for your autistic child. 

We take a look at some of the best fall activities in Michiana, for autistic children that the whole family can enjoy. 

Autism-Friendly Fall Activities in Michiana

Best Fall Activities to Do in Michiana with an Autistic Child 

It is finally starting to feel like fall, and we couldn’t be more excited. We love the colors of the changing leaves, the crisp air, ciders and donuts and, of course, the pumpkin patches and apple orchards. From u-pick pumpkin patches to hayrides, corn mazes, and the best apple cider, we have compiled a list of the best fun fall activities to do in Michiana with your autistic child. 

Choosing Autism-Friendly Activities

The Michiana area is known for it’s beautiful  fall colors and scenery, and the subsequent activities for families, but there are extra considerations for families with an autistic child. When choosing fun fall activities, be sure to consider the sensory load of your child, how well they handle crowds, and whether they want as little stimulation as possible or if they thrive amongst it. Prepare your child for the experience in advance and choose places you can easily leave if your child decides they are uncomfortable there. 

Fall Activities for Kids in Michiana

• These are some of the fall activities suggested in or around Downtown South Bend:  
• Thistleberry Farm – This fall activity in South Bend, IN offers a pumpkin patch, bounce houses, a corn maze, and a petting zoo. Children of all ages and skill sets can find something fun to do at Thistleberry Farms. 
• Knollbrook Farms – Located in Goshen, IN, Knollbrook Farms has a corn maze, giant slide, petting zoo, train rides, pumpkin slingshot, and more! This is a real working dairy farm that you can tour as well. 
• Kercher’s Sunrise Orchard—Also located in Goshen, Kercher’s offers activities for apple and pumpkin pickers. Visit the farm for apple and pumpkin picking, hayrides, a corn maze, and more. The farm is open for various U-picks all year round. 
• Ashley’s Pumpkin Farm – Located on the north side of South Bend near the Michigan line, this small pumpkin patch offers affordable pumpkins, a corn maze, and a petting zoo. 
• A-Mazing Acres – Located in Southern Michigan with 90+ A-Mazing acres, you’ll find a corn maze, pumpkin patch, and close to 100 attractions. The farm opens each year in the Fall for a traditional harvest season… and more. It’s a real working farm located just 8 miles east of Edwardsburg in Cass County. Family entertainment at its best. 
• Lehman’s Apple Orchard – Located in Niles, Michigan, this u-pick orchard has offered apple picking for nearly a hundred years! In the Fall, they offer apple, pear, and blackberry picking. 
• Potawatomi Zoo – Each year, the Potawatomi Zoo hosts Zoo Boo, a three-day event where children can see their favorite animals and trick or treat around the zoo. For this year’s dates, visit their website. 
• Fall Foliage Tour – One of the best things about fall has to be the change of colors. Bright oranges and reds dot the landscape as trees prepare to shed their leaves before winter. And there are plenty of places to snap photos. Notre Dame’s campus, Potato Creek State Park, St. Patrick’s Park, and Spicer Lake Nature Preserve are favorites in our Guide to Fall Foliage. 
• Find a Fall Hike – Name a more satisfying sound than the crunch of leaves under your hiking boots. We’ll wait. In the meantime, there are plenty of great hiking options from which to choose around here. Potato Creek State Park is an outdoor playground. St. Patrick’s County Park and Bendix Woods are among the most popular.  
• South Bend Farmers Market – Fall isn’t called harvest time for nothing. Stroll the aisles at the South Bend Farmers Market and see for yourself. Local farmers bring all sorts of produce, specific to the season, to the market — fresh apples, sweet corn, pumpkins, gourds, and more. Don’t forget the handmade crafts, delicious sweets, and local coffee. Odds are you’ll smell it before you see it. 
• Spooky Season Scares – Halloween isn’t complete without a scare or two. Fear Itself at Legend Park in Mishawaka is one of the largest scream parks in the country. With five terrifying attractions, you will jump right out of your shoes. Many locals consider the Niles Scream Park a must-visit for some frightful entertainment. It’s spread across 44 acres with multiple attractions, including a “Hooded” experience not for the faint of heart. 

Tips for Celebrating Halloween with a Child on the Autism Spectrum

We look at tips on how parents and caregivers can safely celebrate Halloween with an autistic child. From costumes to candy, here’s what to do. 

Halloween is an exciting time for children all over the country, but the excitement can also be overstimulating for some autistic children. It’s important to have alternatives to trick-or-treating with your child in case it is too overstimulating for them. Here are some Halloween safety tips and suggestions for celebrating with your child. 

1. Choose the Right Costume

Selecting Halloween costumes for an autistic child can be tricky if it’s not done with the utmost consideration. Let your child pick out a costume that works for them. If they love soft things, try a fuzzy costume onesie; if they love dinosaurs, let them be a T-Rex. Whatever gets your child excited, channel that into a costume! Let your child practice wearing the costume at home to allow them to get used to it. 

Helpful Resource: For more insights into sensory-friendly costumes, check out the Autism Society’s guide to Halloween costumes.

2. Prepare for What to Expect

Make sure your child knows what to expect. Talk about trick-or-treating and exactly what your child should expect. Tell them several times in advance. Consider creating a visual schedule or countdown to the big day. Create a visual to show or read books about trick-or-treating to familiarise them with the process. If your child is overwhelmed with change, gradually introduce activities and Halloween decorations. 

Useful Tool: Visual schedules can be an effective way to communicate upcoming events. For more on creating visual supports, visit Autism Speaks.

3. Practice the Routine

One of the best safety tips for Halloween with a child on the spectrum is simply having a couple of practice rounds. Help your child practice for the big day by wearing their costume and going through the day’s routine. Enlist the help of a neighbor or friend and have your child practice trick-or-treating in a familiar environment. Use role play to practice receiving and giving treats. 

Expert Tip: Find role-playing strategies and more tips from the Autism Parenting Magazine.

4. Explore Trick-or-Treat Alternatives

If your child does not enjoy trick-or-treating, or if you are choosing to stay home for personal reasons, consider other alternatives. Take them to other Halloween-related activities in the community or consider a “not-so-scary” night in with their favorite movie and treat. 

Event Ideas: Check local community boards or websites like Eventbrite for family-friendly Halloween activities.

5. Focus on Enjoyment

There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to Halloween activities for an autistic child. It looks different for every child on the autism spectrum, and you know your child best. Use your best judgment, and if you only stop at a few houses, that’s still a big win! Keep trick-or-treating short if needed. Consider letting siblings (who might want to stay out longer) go trick-or-treating with a family member or friend. Whatever you choose and however you do it, remember to be flexible, do what is best for your child and family, and have fun!  

Tips for Passing Out Candy at Home

Although awareness around autism spectrum disorder is growing, there may still be some households who do not have experience with children on the autism spectrum. As an ABA Therapy provider, we encourage families to promote understanding and kindness in their communities. Here are some tips for supporting children with autism while passing out candy:

• For Nonverbal Children: Some children may not say trick-or-treat, please, or thank you: They may be nonverbal or have delayed speech.
• For Children Taking Multiple Pieces: This behavior might be linked to fine motor skills challenges.
• For Kids with Allergies: Some children may look disappointed due to food allergies. Always have non-food treats available.
• For Sensory Sensitivities: Be mindful of flashing lights or loud noises, as some children may be prone to seizures or sensory overload.
• For Non-Costumed Trick-or-Treaters: A lack of costume may indicate sensory processing issues.
• For Older-Looking Children: Some may be developmentally delayed, so patience and kindness are essential.

Please be patient, accepting, and kind. Make non-food items and candy alternatives for trick-or-treating available for children with allergies. 

Tips for Making Halloween Allergy/Food Sensitivity Friendly

Many children face food allergies or oral motor challenges, making traditional candy an unsuitable option. The Teal Pumpkin Project, initiated by the Food Allergy & Research Education organization, aims to create an inclusive Halloween experience. Displaying a teal pumpkin or sign indicates that you offer non-food treats, making trick-or-treating accessible for all children.

Learn More: Discover the Teal Pumpkin Project at Food Allergy Research & Education.

Non-Food Treat Ideas:

• Glow bracelets
• Fidget items
• Stickers
• Mini notebooks
• Action figures or princess figurines

By incorporating these tips and resources, you can create a Halloween that is enjoyable and accommodating for your child on the autism spectrum, fostering inclusivity and understanding within your community. Happy Halloween!

Many parents aren’t aware that the SSA offers an SSI program designed to alleviate some of the financial pressures families face when caring for children with disabilities. These benefits can help to cover the costs associated with your child’s care, therapies, and other necessary interventions.

Autism and Disability Benefits: Qualifying for SSI

Receiving a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) for your child extends beyond emotional challenges for parents and caregivers. It often necessitates significant changes to a family’s daily living and routines. Certain therapies and treatment options are available to support autistic children and their families; even so, one parent or primary caregiver is usually required to commit themselves to full-time care, planning and coordinating services, driving, and all of the paperwork that goes with getting access to care.  

The need for round-the-clock care can lead to financial distress in any family, particularly those accustomed to the stability of a dual-income household. The transition to a single income, coupled with the hefty costs associated with treatments and therapies for autism, places an immense financial strain on parents. The pressure to provide both financially and emotionally can be overwhelming, highlighting the importance of accessible financial support systems. 

Many parents aren’t aware that the Social Security Administration (SSA) offers a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program designed to alleviate some of the financial pressures families face when caring for children with disabilities. Qualifying for SSI benefits for ASD can open the door to monthly financial assistance, helping to cover the costs associated with your child’s care, therapies, and other necessary interventions.  

Join us as we take a look at the requirements for SSI benefits for autistic children, and other key information. Find out everything you need to know to get started, from financial eligibility to starting a claim. 

What is the SSA Benefits Program?

The SSA offers monthly disability benefits to parents of children with disabilities. Does ASD qualify for SSI? Certainly! However, although most autistic children have no difficulty qualifying for these benefits, there are strict criteria, which we cover in more detail below. 

How to qualify for the SSI Benefits Program

The question here is: “Can I get SSI for my autistic child?” And the answer is yes. Autism qualifies as a disability that can be eligible for benefits, given that specific criteria are met. The SSA’s Blue Book outlines the necessary conditions children with ASD must meet to qualify for benefits. 

To be eligible for SSI benefits, autistic children must have: 

• Deficits in social interaction 
• Deficits in verbal and nonverbal communication 
• Significantly restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities 

Parents must provide medical documentation to prove that their child has all three of the above deficits. 

Additionally, you need medical documentation of an extreme limitation in 1–2 of these areas: 

• Understanding, remembering, or using information (ability to learn, remember, and use information, follow instructions, solve problems, and use reason to make decisions) 
• Interacting with others (ability to engage in interactive play, cooperate with others, maintain friendships, handle conflicts, initiate or sustain conversation, and understand social cues) 
• Focusing on activities (ability to engage in activities at a consistent pace, avoid distractions, and complete tasks in a timely manner) 
• Adapting or managing oneself (ability to regulate emotions, control behavior, protect oneself from harm, and maintain personal hygiene) 

Financial requirements to qualify for benefits

Financial limitations are the primary reason autistic children are denied SSI benefits. Parents with an autistic child under the age of 18 are expected to meet relevant financial requirements to access monthly benefits. 

Additionally, the SSA has an income cap that cannot be exceeded if a child is to qualify for SSI benefits. This cap increases with every adult who earns a wage, as well as the number of children in the household. 

To prove that they qualify, parents must provide documentation such as a W-2 form or a federal tax return for each adult who earns a wage in the household. 

How much does a child with autism get from SSI? 

Each case is evaluated individually, which means that the disability received each month varies greatly from family to family. To calculate the precise amount a child is entitled to, the SSA assesses the parents’ income, applying a specific formula to decide on any necessary deductions. 

How to apply for autism benefits

One of our most important tips for parents is to initiate the process for SSI benefits as soon as possible. The timeline for processing claims can take several months, making it crucial to schedule a meeting at your local SSA office promptly. 

To prepare for your appointment, we recommend reading through the SSA’s Child Disability Starter Kit, which provides detailed information on the specific documents required. 

Get the best therapy and treatment for your child

Lighthouse Autism Center offers high-quality therapy in a tranquil, play-based environment. Our innovative therapy model, Lighthouse Fusion ABA Therapy, assists children in making greater progress at a faster pace. 

Contact us to discover more helpful autism resources and speak to our experts about a tailored treatment plan. 

Board Certified Behavior Analysts play an important role in supporting Autistic children and their families as they learn to navigate the world.

What is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst?

In the complex world of behavioral science and Autism, the role of a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) definitely stands as a beacon of expertise and positive transformation. In this article, you will get to demystify the definition of a BCBA and shed light on the comprehensive skill set and ethical considerations that need to be adhered to. 

Defining the Role of a Board Certified Behavior Analyst

When it comes to Autism, and more specifically, ABA therapy, you often hear many acronyms for various individuals, procedures, and protocols. Today, we are talking about BCBA’s, or, Board Certified Behavior Analysts. If your child receives ABA therapy, you should have worked with a BCBA, or if you are in the field of behavioral health services, you may have encountered BCBAs.   

What makes someone a BCBA?

A Board Certified Behavior Analyst is an individual who has received their master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis or equivalent program, has clinically supervised experience working in the field of behavior analysis, and has passed the BCBA certification exam. They are highly trained individuals who are considered experts in the field of behavior analysis. BCBA’s are also required to participate in ongoing continuing education training throughout their careers. Most states now require that all BCBA’s are licensed by the state to practice.  

What Do Board Certified Behavior Analysts Do?

During your research on Autism, you may have come across and wondered, what does a BCBA do exactly? If your child attends an ABA center or receives ABA therapy, their program has been written and is overseen by a BCBA. They are able to assess children who already have an Autism diagnosis and determine what programs will help your child learn new skills, refine previously learned skills, and navigate problem behaviors. These plans are individualized and unique to each learner and family. 

BCBA’s at Lighthouse Autism Center

At Lighthouse Autism Center, our Board Certified Behavior Analysts are full-time, virtual and center-based individuals who are highly involved in the day-to-day activities of our centers. They have small caseloads, so they are able to spend time each week with every single child they oversee programming for, ensure ongoing training of 1:1 therapists, as well as consistently review and update programs to ensure children are achieving the best possible outcomes. 

BCBA’s at Lighthouse Autism Center are invested in the success of each child and want to help them achieve the best quality of life. They are hands-on and encourage parents to be heavily involved in goal-setting for their children. They also work with parents to give them the tools to follow through with therapy at home and increase their preparedness to help their children if they are experiencing problem behavior. They will also review a child’s progress every few weeks with parents and caregivers to keep them informed and provide an opportunity to discuss any new programs a parent might want to see for their child. 

Your BCBA will work with your child’s Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) as well as a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) in Lighthouse Autism Center’s unique co-treat sessions, called Lighthouse Fusion ABA Therapy. This is an innovative approach to Autism therapy that fuses the best practices of ABA and speech therapy into a one-of-a-kind clinical model that delivers better outcomes for children with Autism. Lighthouse Fusion is designed by a team of dually certified clinicians, some of only a handful in the world. 

Now that you know what BCBA stands for, you can learn more about Board Certified Behavior Analysts by visiting the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. 

Autism and Disability Camps and Summer Programs

Below is a compiled list of camps and summer programs all over Indiana that cater to children with autism, as well as children and adults with other disabilities. Click on the links below to visit the website of a camp in your area.

Camp Red Cedar

Close to Leo, Camp Red Cedar is  place that features everything camp has to offer – games, horseback riding, swimming, canoeing, arts and crafts, nature hikes and singing around the campfire. In addition to summer camps, enjoy year-around therapeutic and conventional horseback riding or rent our facilities.  Of course, the entire camp is completely accessible and autism friendly. Discover a whole new world of possibilities within Camp Red Cedar’s 57 acres of meadows, woods, lake and trails.

Camp Millhouse

Inspiring self-discovery in individuals with special needs through a safe, traditional camp experience. Camp Millhouse envisions a world where individuals with special needs are encouraged to realize their full potential and value to make a difference in their communities. 

Noble of Indiana

At our Summer Day Camps, we can tap into the specific interests of each camper by targeting their individual skills and interests. Because we welcome youth with and without disabilities, our inclusive environment encourages everyone to learn, grow and have fun.

Life Compass Camp

Life Compass Camp is 5 day, day camp that offers youth with special needs the chance to experience a more traditional summer camp setting that caters to their individual needs and uses games and activities to teach important life skills.

Jameson Camp

Jameson Camp began in 1928 when the leaders at Marion County Tuberculosis Association came together with the community to meet the need for a summer program that bridged a gap in health and nutrition for children. Since then, Jameson Camp has offered numerous camps especially for children impacted by physical and mental health diagnoses. Today, Jameson Camp is proud to offer a space where any child can feel welcome, safe, and accepted while they discover their strengths, build friendships, and experience nature on over 130 acres of forest, meadow, and streams.

Anderson Woods Camp

Nestled along its namesake, the Anderson River in rural Southern Indiana, Anderson Woods was founded in 1978, and is a private, not-for-profit corporation chartered to provide summer camp experiences, as well as other services, for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Bradford Woods

Bradford Woods is Indiana University’s Outdoor Center. We provide experiential and therapeutic outdoor programs to people of all backgrounds and abilities on our 2,500-acre campus, located between Bloomington and Indianapolis.

Our vision is to be global leaders in delivering inclusive and experiential outdoor programming.

Embracing Abilities Summer Camp

Our annual Summer Camp will consist of fun daily field trips in and around our communities for exploration, vocational skills, physical activities, life skills, creative experiences and more. A monthly calendar will be provided with daily field trips for information, planning and any cost associated.

Autism Community Connection

My Summer Journey is a summer program for teens on the autism spectrum, ages 13-19. Our fun-filled days help keep kids in a routine that can make the transition back to school much easier. The focus of the program is to make new friends along with working on life and social skills.

Camp Crosley YMCA

For over 100 years Camp Crosley YMCA, located in North Webster, Indiana, has been making people feel like they belong through programs like Summer Camp (boys and girls ages 6-15), Group Retreats, School Groups, and Family Events. Located on the shores of Lake Tippecanoe in Northern Indiana, we serve the communities of Muncie, Chicago, Carmel, Fishers, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Valparaiso, and more. Our caring staff want to invite you to experience all that we have to offer.

Grant’s House

In line with optimizing the quality of life for individuals with disabilities or special needs, Youth Services fosters a safe space to promote learning, growth, and acceptance among peers while encouraging compassion and friendship.

The Top 9 Signs Your Infant May Have Autism

We take a look at the most common autism symptoms in babies and toddlers, and the importance of getting children diagnosed as early as possible.

The signs and symptoms of autism are unique to every individual, and they vary in intensity from person to person. It’s a difficult disorder to pick up when children are young, but an early diagnosis can significantly impact a child’s quality of life and shape their development. Having an awareness of autism symptoms in babies and toddlers is critical.

Common Autism Characteristics

Although it’s specific to each individual, there are some more common autism characteristics that indicate a child could be autistic. 

1.) Lack of smiling

Working With Autism Spectrum Disorder

DUBLIN—Some employers increasingly are viewing autism as an asset and not a deficiency in the workplace.

A Germany-based software company has been actively seeking people with autism for jobs, not because of charitable outreach but because it believes features of autism may make some individuals better at certain jobs than those without autism.

It’s a worthy initiative, according to disability experts, since 85% of adults with autism are estimated to be unemployed.

Piloted in Germany, India and Ireland, the program is also launching in four North

SAP aims to have up to 1% of its workforce—about 650 people—be employees with autism by 2020, according to Jose Velasco, head of the autism initiative at SAP in the U.S.

People with autism spectrum disorder—characterized by social deficits and repetitive behavior—tend to pay great attention to detail, which may make them well suited as software testers or debuggers, according to Mr. Velasco, who has two children with the condition.

In addition, these people bring a different perspective to the workplace, which may help with efficiency and creativity as well, he said.

“They have a very structured nature” and like nonambiguous, precise outcomes, Mr. Velasco said. “We’re looking at those strengths and looking at where those traits would be of value to the organization.”

Autistic employees at SAP take on roles such as identifying software problems, and assigning customer-service queries to members of the team for troubleshooting.

SAP is also considering other positions, such as writing manuals to give clients very precise instructions on how to install software.

Individuals with autism might excel at going step by step, without skipping details that others may miss, said Mr. Velasco. The business procurement process, such as getting invoices or managing the supply chain, is another area in which an individual with autism might shine, he said.

SAP isn’t the only company to have such a program. In the U.S., mortgage lenderFreddie Mac FMCC -1.12% has offered career-track internships since 2012, including in IT, finance and research.

The lender hired its first full-time employee from the program in January, according to a Freddie Mac spokeswoman. In IT, the company has found that interns often perform well in testing and data-modeling jobs that require great attention to detail and focus as well as a way of seeing things that might not have been anticipated by the developers.

“Harnessing the unique skills of people on the autism spectrum has the potential to strengthen our business and make us more competitive,” according to the lender’s policy.

To be sure, as with any group, people with autism have a range of interests and abilities. SAP is working with a Danish autism-focused training and consultancy firm, Specialisterne, which carefully screens and interviews the candidates to find the appropriate matches before sending them to SAP to evaluate.

Patrick Brophy, 29 years old, has a bachelor’s degree in computer science in software systems and a master’s in multimedia systems, which includes website development and editing. Mr. Brophy says he has Asperger’s, a term commonly used to describe a milder form of autism spectrum disorder.

He had been looking for full-tine work for a few years but said that in the handful of interviews he went to, he would sometimes stutter or misinterpret questions, which he felt reflected poorly on him in the interviews.

When he arrived at SAP for the screening day, however, he had the technical qualifications and he appeared to have skills to work in a corporate setting, according to Peter Brabazon, Specialisterne program manager. Mr. Brophy was hired by the quality assurance department in July, where he identifies glitches in software prior to it being issued to clients.

“Four weeks before joining, I was steadily more and more nervous,” said Mr. Brophy, who worried about his adjustment to a new environment. “Within a month, [the work] was second nature. I had found myself.”

Mr. Brophy said there have been challenges with his job, particularly when he has to revamp how he does a certain task.

From a social standpoint, he found it easy to integrate into his team, said both Mr. Brophy and David Sweeney, a colleague assigned to be his mentor.

About 1% of the population in the U.S.—or some three million people—is thought to have an autism-spectrum disorder. The latest figures issued Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that one in 68 children have been identified with an autism-spectrum disorder.

Their lifetime employment rate is extremely low even though many want to work, said disability experts. Among young adults between 21 and 25 years old, only half have ever held a paid job outside the home, according to a study published last year in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Though many people with autism go on to higher education and are qualified for employment, they may have trouble getting in the door of a workplace because of difficulties with networking or interviews, according to Wendy Harbour, executive director of the Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education, at Syracuse University.

There are a number of companies and outreach efforts that aim to hire people with autism, seeking to tailor work to their abilities.

But SAP and employers like Freddie Mac said their effort is specifically a business decision to take advantage of what they see as unique skill sets.

SAP said that individuals being considered to work there usually have had at least some higher education.

In Dublin, the candidates arrive at the company’s software design center, dubbed the “AppHaus,” which features open spaces, movable desks and whimsical furniture. They are asked to work in pairs on a task building a motorized robot. Candidates are given the instruction manual and brief instructions.

Assessors from Specialisterne look to see if the candidates listen to instructions and pick up on cues, and how they react to challenges such as how the colors of the pieces to the robot look different from the instruction manual. “I want to see how they work together and their technical skills,” said Debbie Merrigan, one of the assessors for Specialisterne.

She wants them to be meticulous, she says. If they aren’t it doesn’t mean they aren’t employable, but they may not be a good fit for working at SAP. Sometimes candidates get overwhelmed and simply leave.

After Specialisterne identifies a candidate as being a good fit, SAP then conducts further interviews, as they would with any other applicant, says Kristen Doran, a program manager in human resources at SAP Dublin. At this facility, 15 candidates were screened and interviewed in order to hire the three who are currently placed as contractors. Mr. Brophy works in the quality assurance department while the other two individuals are in the troubleshooting division.

The candidates are paid market rate and if they succeed on the job, they will be hired as full-time employees after a year, said Liam Ryan, managing director of SAP Labs Ireland.

Difficulties with social interaction and inflexibility can sometimes pose significant problems for individuals with autism, and SAP has a mentoring system and in some cases has made changes to the work schedule to accommodate these new employees. The company also conducts a month of employee-adaptation training to increase employees’ comfort level at working with the team as well as another month or more of job training.

“It’s hard to go into a corporate space if you prefer order to disorder,” says Thorkil Sonne, founder of Specialisterne. “Our biggest effort is to work with them…to define and strengthen their comfort zone,” said Mr. Sonne, who has a son with autism.

Taking Your Child With Autism to the Dentist

For any child, and even adults, a trip to the dentist can often be filled with anxiety, fear, and discomfort. For a child with autism especially, these feelings can be even further heightened by sensitivities to noise, smell, and touch. In order to make this experience better for both the child and family, Lighthouse Autism Center has compiled a list of ABA therapy tips to make taking your child with autism to the dentist just a little bit easier.

Below is a list of tips that are commonly used during ABA therapy that may help your child with autism during their next trip to the dentist:

Tip 1 – Prepare Your Child for the Visit

Be sure to talk about the visit for days or even weeks before it is going to happen. Show your child pictures of the dentist office and explain to them what kind of things will take place there (ie: “you will sit in a chair, a nice man or woman will ask you top open your mouth so they can look and touch your teeth. They want to make sure that your teeth are nice and healthy!”).

Tip 2 – Consider Visiting the Dentist Before Your Visit

If your dentist office will allow it, consider making one, two or however many visits it may take to get your child comfortable with the atmosphere. Show them the lobby, waiting area, and if available, even the room or seat they may use for the teeth cleaning. The more your child is exposed to the space, the more comfortable they will become.

Tip 3 – While You’re at the Dentist

Bring along a favorite toy, activity or treat so as your child is attempting and engaging in new experiences you can provide them with that item.

Tip 4 – Be Flexible

A trip to the dentist can be challenging for anyone. If your child begins to experience difficulty at the visit, or is visibly frustrated, scared or uncomfortable, understand that your child simply may not be ready or able to complete the visit that day, and that’s ok. You as a parent or caregiver know your child best!

Tip 5 – Consider Requesting A Therapist to Attend the Visit

For those children who receive aba therapy, some centers, like Lighthouse Autism Center, will send a therapist to help your family and child during the dental visit. They can serve as a helpful resource for you and your child by applying aba therapy techniques.

To learn more tips for parents of children with autism, visit: https://lighthouseautismcenter.com/parents-of-children-with-autism/tips/