Leveling the Spectrum

This week me and my mom have a conversation about starting the new school year. My mom works at a private school as a classroom aid for with autistic students and talks about the new student she has been assigned. She explains the student's behavioral challenges and how she is thinking of working with them and their family. The kids I work with have not started the school year yet but I share my ideas on how we can go into different situations with our clients with confidence and a calm energy that will show the students they can trust us.  Reminder: We are only two individuals having a conversation on these topics. Thank you for listening!

Contact us- [email protected]

Wordpress Website- https://levelingthespectrum.wordpress.com/

Syrena’s podcast “The Sesh”- https://open.spotify.com/show/60QnjzArn9p8V4NqOfVYi6?si=r1kkrfQeQoSj0iBbFfwX4A

Syrena’s Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/syrenamichele/?hl=en

Music credit- https://www.purple-planet.com

This week me and my mom have a conversation about group, specifically groups of students/kids we have worked with that have a large age range. We start off the conversation with me explaining how this topic became a conversation and my current placement. I explain what ages I am currently working with and the struggles I have had. My mom also shares her experience in a school setting working with autistic students. After we discuss the challenges that we face with groups we ponder on some ideas that can help next time we are in a similar situation. We focus on different ways of limiting distractions from social connection such as taking away phones at the beginning of classes or limiting time with technology. We also bring up the option of separating kids in group based on age or pair a younger student with an older student for certain activities. It can be easy to beat ourselves up after a group or session with someone that didn't go the way we wanted or we just found ourselves unsure of how to react in the moment. However,  the main point is that we are not going to have all the answers and that is okay. Reminder: We are only two individuals having a conversation on these topics. Thank you for listening!

Contact us- [email protected]

Wordpress Website- https://levelingthespectrum.wordpress.com/

Syrena’s podcast “The Sesh”- https://open.spotify.com/show/60QnjzArn9p8V4NqOfVYi6?si=r1kkrfQeQoSj0iBbFfwX4A

Syrena’s Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/syrenamichele/?hl=en

Music credit- https://www.purple-planet.com

Today me and my mom have a conversation about summer school/programing. We catch you up on our placements this summer and the challenges we have been facing with our kids. We also share some of the aspects of summer that we have been enjoying. My mom shares the cool media program the kids at her school have access to and the joy she feels when she sees their creative sides come to life. I share some of the group dynamics I have been struggling with and share some of the ways I have attempted to work with the kids. Reminder: We are only two individuals having a conversation on these topics. Thank you for listening!

Contact us- [email protected]

Wordpress Website- https://levelingthespectrum.wordpress.com/

Syrena’s podcast “The Sesh”- https://open.spotify.com/show/60QnjzArn9p8V4NqOfVYi6?si=r1kkrfQeQoSj0iBbFfwX4A

Syrena’s Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/syrenamichele/?hl=en

Music credit- https://www.purple-planet.com

This week me and my mom have a conversation about the prompting hierarchy. My mom shares examples of each prompt and when and how to use them. She also shares an example of a student she is working with and the challenges she is facing when working with their parents. My mom stresses the importance of parents learning about the prompting hierarchy so they are better equipped with the knowledge and tools they need to help their children work towards more independence. Reminder: We are only two individuals having a conversation on these topics. Thank you for listening!

Contact us- [email protected]

Wordpress Website- https://levelingthespectrum.wordpress.com/

Syrena’s podcast “The Sesh”- https://open.spotify.com/show/60QnjzArn9p8V4NqOfVYi6?si=r1kkrfQeQoSj0iBbFfwX4A

Syrena’s Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/syrenamichele/?hl=en

Music credit- https://www.purple-planet.com

Today me and my mom have a conversation about ADHD. We start it off with me reading the criteria from the DSM-5 that you have to meet in order to be clinically diagnosed with ADHD. My mom and I share our experiences working with children in a school setting, after school program, individually and in groups who have a diagnosis and who do not. Do we work with children who don't have a diagnosis in the same way as those who do or is it different? There are so many ways we can work with children and at the end of the day we have to tailor our approach to what will best fit the child in front of us. Reminder: We are only two individuals having a conversation on these topics. Thank you for listening!

Contact us- [email protected]

Wordpress Website- https://levelingthespectrum.wordpress.com/

Syrena’s podcast “The Sesh”- https://open.spotify.com/show/60QnjzArn9p8V4NqOfVYi6?si=r1kkrfQeQoSj0iBbFfwX4A

Syrena’s Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/syrenamichele/?hl=en

Music credit- https://www.purple-planet.com

Today my mom and I have a conversation about what our jobs have been like now that schools are wrapping up the year. We discuss teachers' stress and how we are noticing their emotions taking over situations, the possibility of retraumatizing kids, safety plans, school protocol when a child is a runner, and more. We did not have a specific topic we wanted to hit this week so we hope you enjoy our random conversation! Reminder: We are only two individuals having a conversation on these topics. Thank you for listening!

Contact us- [email protected]

Wordpress Website- https://levelingthespectrum.wordpress.com/

Syrena’s podcast “The Sesh”- https://open.spotify.com/show/60QnjzArn9p8V4NqOfVYi6?si=r1kkrfQeQoSj0iBbFfwX4A

Syrena’s Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/syrenamichele/?hl=en

Music credit- https://www.purple-planet.com 

Today me and my mom have a conversation about OCD. We start the conversation with the DSM5 criteria of OCD so we all have a general understanding of what we are talking about. Then, my mom shares her experiences with her kiddos who are on the spectrum and may exhibit OCD symptoms. We discuss some challenges that come with diagnosing young children with OCD and any other disorders. We also talk about some ways you can work with students who's daily function is impacted by such compulsions and obsessions. When working with kiddos and any other population we ask you to do your own research and utilize your observations to conclude what may be best for your child. We are only two individuals having a conversation on these topics. Thank you for listening!

Contact us- [email protected]

Wordpress Website- https://levelingthespectrum.wordpress.com/

Syrena’s podcast “The Sesh”- https://open.spotify.com/show/60QnjzArn9p8V4NqOfVYi6?si=r1kkrfQeQoSj0iBbFfwX4A

Syrena’s Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/syrenamichele/?hl=en

Music credit- https://www.purple-planet.com

Today my mom and I share our ideas on how to stay mentally strong for you, your child and your family. We start off the conversation by sharing my realization of how difficult it is for parents to have time for "self care". Self care sometimes is just caring for yourself. Trying to get parents to meditate when they have never meditated before or do other "self care" tasks outside of their normal routine can put more stress on them instead of relieving it.  Sometimes all you need to focus on are the basics and care for yourself, such as brushing your teeth every morning and night, fueling your body with nutritious food, dressing yourself, etc. The goal is to maintain a healthy mind and body so that you are able to wake up most mornings and feel ready to tackle your busy day. Thank you for listening!

Contact us- [email protected]

Wordpress Website- https://levelingthespectrum.wordpress.com/

Syrena’s podcast “The Sesh”- https://open.spotify.com/show/60QnjzArn9p8V4NqOfVYi6?si=r1kkrfQeQoSj0iBbFfwX4A

Syrena’s Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/syrenamichele/?hl=en

Music credit- https://www.purple-planet.com

Today my mom and I have a conversation about Middle school. Middle school brings a lot of new obstacles for both children and parents. We hope by having this conversation as a continuation of our "School Series" parents and aids of children on the spectrum can learn to balance their needs and the child's. Also, children begin to enter puberty which brings a new level of discomfort and push back. My mom shares some tips she has learned from her work as an aid that we hope can help you and your family. Listen and ask questions. Thank you for listening!

Contact us- [email protected]

Wordpress Website- https://levelingthespectrum.wordpress.com/

Syrena’s podcast “The Sesh”- https://open.spotify.com/show/60QnjzArn9p8V4NqOfVYi6?si=r1kkrfQeQoSj0iBbFfwX4A

Syrena’s Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/syrenamichele/?hl=en

Music credit- https://www.purple-planet.com