Podcast

Cindy Croft and Priscilla Weigel welcome special guests Martha Moriarty and Mary Beth Kelley from the Learning Disabilities Association of Minnesota. This podcast series begins with an overview of services that this organization provides to children and adults of all ages in Minnesota.

In this podcast, Priscilla Weigel and Cindy Croft will discuss children who can present challenges to us by their engagement. Some children are eager to participate in activities and others may need social prompting and encouragement in order to join in the fun. Children show creativity in many ways that can differ from our ideas; we need to read their cues to see when they need some help and when we need to follow their lead!

In this podcast, we will continue the last conversation by looking at 4-5 year olds. It is easy at times to see a child’s behavior outside of the context of their age and stage. When we look again at what we are hoping to teach children in a larger sense, we can begin to appreciate some of those challenging behaviors as their way at reaching important milestones!

In our continued discussion with Pat Pulice, M.A., L.P., Vice President of Integrated Health Care at Fraser in Minneapolis, MN, we will look at different settings a child might be in who has an autism diagnosis and how to build a beneficial environment for children we serve. What kinds of supports are present in the therapeutic setting which help a child as they develop skills and when does an inclusive setting with typical developing peers offer other benefits to the child? Early educators can examine their environment for structure, routines, stimulation, and visual supports. Again, each child is an individual and their needs will vary but we will discuss some general strategies for inclusion.

In the first of this series of podcasts, Cindy and Priscilla interview Pat Pulice, M.A., L.P., Vice President of Integrated Health Care at Fraser in Minneapolis, MN, on what the major characteristics of autism can look like in a young child, how early we might identify a child, and what the identification process includes for young children who may have development red flags for autism. As with all children, the important attitude is seeing who the whole child is and what can support their special needs as they grow and develop.

In the final session in this series, Priscilla Weigel and Cindy Croft will offer insights into some of the responses that may come from a family when they are told there are red flags in their child’s development. As parents grapple with developmental information, they will need ongoing support and understanding from the early educator and program staff. We can be an important partner in a journey that is just beginning.