Posted by Dana Hollenbeck on August 5, 2010

ASA intern, Dana Hollenbeck, has continued her search through the city to find interesting and tasty options for those on a gluten free diet. She reported on Mellow Mushroom in an earlier post and here are more of her findings...

Searching for gluten free items in restaurants can be somewhat of a challenge.  There are givens that you should avoid such as sandwiches, pasta, and cookies.  That is until now.  I have already told you about the gluten free pizza dough offered at Mellow Mushroom, but now I give you sandwiches, pasta and cookies!

Jason’s Deli has carried gluten free items on their menus in the past but is now offering gluten free bread!  Udi’s Gluten Free bread is a popular item among those who are gluten free and is exactly what Jason’s Deli now offers.  They take extreme care in making sure that there is no cross contamination.  It does take a little longer to get your food, but that is because of the care they are taking.  After talking to the manager at one of the locations in Birmingham, I was let in on a little secret; they are hoping to start carrying gluten free ice cream cones as well!

Another hot gluten-free spot is Nothing but Noodles. They do not have a specific gluten free menu, but are hoping to have some made very soon.  The manager at Nothing but Noodles has been the most helpful manager I have dealt with in my search for gluten restaurant items.  He is always happy to help and makes sure that your food is prepared properly.

And for dessert, you ask? Well, look no further than your neighborhood Starbucks. Dr. Lucy’s cookies are gluten free, allergy friendly and vegan.  They are now available in Starbucks locations nationwide, as well as in organic stores across the country.  These cookies are a nice treat to satisfy any sweettooth!

Please feel free to contact the ASA at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with any questions or suggestions about Gluten Free options.

Posted by Jessica Charlton on July 22, 2010

As mentioned in a previous post, ASA is truly a grassroots organization, and empowering community leaders is a cornerstone to accomplishing its mission. This weekend, Networking Group Leaders from around the state will come together to share ideas and to gain new information about education and advocacy at the state and local levels.

Thank you to the many Networking Group Leaders who have committed their time and energy to strengthening communities and providing support to families and individuals affected by autism spectrum disorders. We appreciate you all and look forward to seeing you this weekend! Contact Anna Bloom ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) for more information!

Intern Dana Hollenbeck prepares for the Networking Group Leaders Workshop

Posted by Bama Hager, PhD on July 8, 2010

A countdown calendar to first school day is often a great help.  Any calendar with blank squares for days can be used to count down 10 more days until school, 9 more days until school, 8 more days, etc.  Older students often benefit from organized and planned supplies for each class.  So notebooks, books and folders might be color coded or coded with a picture so that the student can effectively and efficiently find materials for class and home.  

These are some of the steps that I take to prepare for the imminent school year.  No two students with ASD are exactly alike.  So, some of the information may be helpful and some may not.  There is further information on this topic at the ASA website at www.autism-alabama.org.

Helpful websites and resources:

Social Story example:
http://wwww.examiner.com

Coloring pages for students who prefer pictures:
http://www.associatedcontent.com

The Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program publishes an annual book for parents of children with developmental disabilities.  The manual is a resource regarding special education in Alabama.  The book Special Education in Alabama A Right Not a Favor can be ordered free of charge by any parent by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or calling 1-800-826-1675

Posted by Bama Hager, PhD on July 7, 2010

For students with Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, PDD-NOS and ADHD, a picture schedule or social story or both is a great preparation for school.  Even if you think that your child may not need a visual or written aid to prepare for school, I think the aids can be very comforting and helpful.  A social story is a story that you or you and your child write about returning to school.  It includes the specifics of your child’s transition experience.  So, it may start something like this; I will be going to City Elementary School and will be in Mrs. Smith’s class.  There will be some boys and girls that I know in my class.  There will be some boys and girls that I will not know in my class.  We will start the day doing 'example activity.'  I will go to the lunchroom to eat lunch or I will go to the resource room to eat lunch.  Whatever specifics you can find out from your child’s teacher about the day can be used in the story.  

For younger students or students who prefer pictures, a picture schedule is often helpful.  A parent might take a picture of the school, entrance, classroom, lunchroom, gym, playground, etc. to use in discussing the first day of school.  Schools are usually fully staffed and open in the days immediately prior to the start of the semester.  This might be an opportunity for parents to enter the school and with permission from the administration, take photos for a picture schedule.  A photo of the teacher would be great if available.  Previous yearbooks are often helpful in this regard.  I usually take my son to the school in the days leading up to the start of school to walk through the building and ideally see the classroom.

In following articles, I will include websites that are nice introductions to visual aids like social stories and picture schedules for returning to school.

Posted by Bama Hager, PhD on July 6, 2010

Many schools do not place students into classes until mid August.  As soon as I am informed about the teacher, I make an appointment with her/him during those busy days before school starts.  In the meeting, I try to foster a team approach to teaching my child.  I commit to helping with the transition and with school work during the year.  I will communicate with the teacher about issues at home or any problems at home that may have an effect on school functioning.  We discuss the schedule and try to make plans of action for problems like confusion with the new routine, tantrums should one occur and frustration with mastering tasks.   We also discuss peer relations and ways that the teacher might foster positive peer relations.  I use a buddy system for my son so that each day, a typical peer will interact with him at lunch, recess, etc.  This approach can be used in subtle ways by teachers so that it can be effective with students with Asperger’s Syndrome without singling them out or making the identified student uncomfortable.  

When I share my hopes and expectations with the general education teacher, I try to convey that I do not expect all of the teachers' efforts to be perfect responses to my child.  Teaching any child is a series of trials and errors and teaching a child with ASD is no exception.  I am usually asking the teacher to be flexible in interactions with my child.  I always set up a time to communicate by email or phone after the first day of school so that we can discuss the successes and challenges of the first day.  I also negotiate a safe place or “positive time out” or “rest” place for my son to go if he gets overwhelmed with classroom activities.  Someone will be assigned to show the safe place/rest place to my son on the first day of school.  This spot might be a carpet square or beanbag in the classroom or outside the classroom.   It can be a quiet reading area in the library or in a hallway or special education area.  It is a place for a student to go when he/she is overwhelmed, over stimulated or uncomfortable.  

Communication with the special education teacher is a great idea to discuss tactics for dealing with opposition, tantrums, difficulty with peers, difficulties with task completion or time management.  It is possible that the more that is addressed proactively before school starts, the less solutions that may have to be generated reactively.

Posted by Bama Hager, PhD on July 1, 2010

I Have Finally Learned to Be Proactive Instead of Reactive

Most parents remember the anxiety involved in sending a child to the first day of Kindergarten.  If your children are preschool or younger, you have undoubtedly thought about your oldest child’s first day of school.  It is an exciting time full of hope and promise.  At the same time, the experience can foster intense fear and dread.  Will my child find the bathroom?  Will he know how to get his juice pouch straw inserted?  Will she get lost going to the playground?  What if he meets a bully?  Did I get the right supplies, clothes, nap mat, etc.?  What if she refuses an activity or tantrums?   The beginning of every school year evokes similar thoughts and feelings in hundreds of families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder including autism, Asperger’s Syndrome and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS).

The beginning of the school year is challenging for many students.  It is a difficult time of learning new routines and patterns.  The beginning of the semester is unpredictable because it is new to everyone.  These challenges are often heightened for students who may have transition issues, frustration tolerance issues or communication issues.  The Autism Society of Alabama (ASA) is available to answer questions, provide information or refer a professional to parents of children with ASD.  The Autism Society of Alabama can be found at www.autism-alabama.org or 1-877-4AUTISM.  The websites and resources mentioned in this article are also cited on the ASA website.  

There are several great resources and checklists on the web regarding transitioning to school for students with ASD.  Many parents of children diagnosed as having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may also find the checklists and resources helpful.  ADHD shares some core diagnostic features with ASD.  

I am the parent of a 10 year old son with autism.  I am also a clinical child psychologist by training.  The beginning of the school year is time of excitement and almost paralyzing fear for me.  No two years are the same, but in the following posts, I will identify a few transitional steps into the school year that have been helpful and are important to me in proactively approaching the new school year.