Testimonials
"I am special education teacher who teaches a range of children including children with autism. I have just started using this website as a social skills center in my resource room. It has been great being able to refer to the videos in some of the real life situations we encounter throughout the day. My kids (not just autistic) also really enjoy watching them! The parents I have shared the site have also had appreciated all the site has to offer.
- Stephanie Ann, Special Education Teacher
Our mission is to help you help your child develop the skills they need to communicate and socialize with others and to perform daily activities independently. We do this by providing engaging videos for children that model appropriate behaviors and skills.
Studies have shown that using videos to model appropriate behaviors is an effective way to help children with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities learn the skills they need to communicate and socialize with others and to perform daily activities independently.
The videos are delivered to your home via the internet at no cost to you.
Simply, click on “Skill Building Center” and search for a skill (handling anger) or an activity (going out to eat) and click play.
- Make Skill Building Buddies part of your child’s learning day.
- Establish a time everyday for you and your child to watch a Skill Building Buddies video.
- Share Skill Building Buddies with your child’s teachers and therapists to coordinate lessons.
- Watch the program several times. Repeated viewing can assist in skill acquisition.
- Practice social skills in a structured setting including practicing what to say and how to respond.
- Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders are highly interested and attentive to videos.
- Research has demonstrated that video modeling is an effective and efficient intervention technique that can lead to generalization of the skills presented.
- Many children with ASD are visual thinkers. They can process visual information more effectively than auditory information.
- Watching the same video over and over again is enjoyable for many children with ASD. The repetition helps children to acquire a new skill.
- Children can learn skills in a controlled environment. This can help reduce stress and anxiety.
- Children can imitate language and behaviors presented in the video.
- Children are shown appropriate social and behavioral responses in a consistent manner.
- Children can learn perspective-taking skills.
- Children can see social behaviors in different settings and help them to prepare for those settings.
- Repeated viewing can help children see, hear and learn the finer points of social interaction.
“Spectrum Talk” is a talk show that addresses all aspects of autism spectrum disorders and other special education issues and concerns. The program is hosted by Cyndi Simms, a former news anchor and mother of a child with Asperger’s Syndrome.
Parents and professionals will find “Spectrum Talk” helpful and informative. The program will feature guest who will provide information on education, finances, legal issues, treatments, interventions, stress management, coping strategies and much, much more.
If you have a topic you’d like to see discussed on Spectrum Talk, please contact Cyndi Simms. (have this go to an email or form they can email to Cyndi)
Producer and host Cynthia Simms is a graduate of Emerson College in Boston. She is married and a mother of learn all she can about autism spectrum disorders in order to raise a son with Asperger’s Syndrome. “Aware” is her dream come true – a chance to continue working in television while learning from experts how to be a better mom to a child with special needs.
Search “Spectrum Talk” Program Archives