Expert: Rob Tedesco of HandHold Adaptive, Maker of iPrompts
iPrompts is a 2012 finalist for Favorite Special-Needs App. Co-founder Rob Tedesco gives his expert recommendation to another of HandHold's apps, StoryMaker. "To toot our own horn a little bit, StoryMaker for Social Stories was a Top 10 Special Needs App at Friendship Circle." [Note: Friendship Circle was a 2012 Reader's Choice Award winner for Favorite Regional Resource.]More »
Expert: Beth Binns of Woodbine House
Woodbine House is the publisher of Reader's Choice winner Down Syndrome Parenting 101 (2012) and finalists Gravity Pulls You In (2011) and Speaking of Apraxia (2013). Special Marketing Manager Beth Binns gives her expert recommendation to four new Woodbine House titles:
- Talking Is Hard for Me!: Encouraging Communication in Children with Speech-Language Difficulties, written by Linda M. Reinert, M.S., CCC-SLP, and illustrated by Emily S. Lynch. "This book empowers parents and caregivers to help kids ages 3-7 communicate better throughout their day. Its boldly illustrated children’s story empathizes with kids’ struggles, and its accessible speech-language therapy strategies can help parents, daycare providers, and early-childhood teachers pinpoint problems, improve communication, and ease frustration."
- Moving Out: A Family Guide to Residential Planning for Adults with Disabilitiesby Dafna Krouk-Gordon and Barbara D. Jackins. "Experts in special-needs planning and independent living guide families on how to find the right residential situation for their adult child with an intellectual disability. From residential models to DIY vs. hiring an agency, and from costs and funding to legal ownership, this authoritative guide helps make educated decisions about this milestone in a family’s life."
- Body Talk: Teaching Students with Disabilities about Body Language by Pat Crissey. "Nonverbal communication represents the lion’s share of all communication, and understanding it and putting it into practice is especially challenging for children with autism and other developmental disabilities. This book, from a special educator, provides tried-and-true strategies for teaching essential nonverbal communication -- facial expressions, gestures, posture, body orientation, eye gaze, personal space, and touching — and can be used in the classroom and at home."
- Essential First Steps for Parents of Children with Autism: Helping the Littlest Learners by Lara Delmolino, Ph.D., BCBA-D, and Sandra L. Harris, Ph.D. "When autism is diagnosed or suspected in very young children, overwhelmed parents wonder where to turn and how to begin helping their child. Drs. Delmolino and Harris, experienced clinicians and ABA therapists, eliminate the confusion and guesswork by outlining the pivotal steps parents can take now to optimize learning and functioning for children ages 5 and younger."
Expert: Marissa Curnutte, Publicist for 'Let's Here It for Almigal'
Let's Here It for Almigal was a 2013 finalist for Favorite Special-Needs Children's Book. Publicist Marissa Curnutte gives her expert recommendation to the new book How to Be Human by Florida Frenz. "Florida is a teenage author. She has autism and wanted to share her story to help others, and she did so in a very unique way."More »
Expert: Tim Villegas of @think_inclusive
@think_inclusive was the 2013 winner for Favorite Special-Needs Twitter Feed, and is also an Expert's Choice honoree recommended by Marny Helfrich. Tim Villegas, who tweets as @think_inclusive and blogs at Think Inclusive (an Expert's Choice honoree recommended by Tzvi Schechtman), gives his expert recommendation to three resources:
- Favorite Blog: Ollibean
- Favorite Twitter Feed: @thinkingautism
- Favorite Book: Equity and Full Participation for Individuals with Severe Disabilities by Martin Agran, Fredda Brown, Carolyn Hughes, Carol Quirk and Diane Ryndak