Welcome to my “Make a Difference” Blog.

ODD AND PDASubscribe to this podcast via your favourite app Join my newsletter for more awesome information about ASDHave you heard of ODD (Oppositional Defiance Disorder) & PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance)? I am seeing more and more children with a dual diagnosis of ASD and ODD & PDA. It is generally agreed PDA is part of the Autism Spectrum Conditions whereas ODD can occur on its own. Phil Christie, a child psychologist, said “It is inevitably the case that when conditions are defined by lists of behavioural features there will be interconnections and overlaps. This results in certain aspects of ODD and PDA presenting in a similar ways”What you might see with either ODD or PDA Refuses to do what is asked Always answers with “No” Talks back Deliberately ignores instructions Won’t participate in activities Makes own rules Angers very easily Stuck in negative thought patterns Has strong likes and dislikes but often can’t tell you why Withdrawing into fantasy world Giving...

Christmas Catalogue 2019 Subscribe to this podcast via your favourite app Join my newsletter for more awesome information about ASDWhat you will find in the 2019 Christmas / End of Year Celebrations Catalogue 🎁 14 Tips for Christmas / Holiday Season 🎁 Beautiful Picture Books to Educate the Whole Family this Christmas 🎁Holiday Reading Ideas 🎁6 Key Strategies for Creating a Calming Area at School and Home 🎁12 Essential Tips for Concerts and End of Year Celebrates 🎁 Beautiful Books to Help Regulate Emotions 🎁Great Stocking Fillers 🎁How to Use Timers in the Holiday Period   Click on the link below to download the new Christmas Catalogue....

12 Essential Tips: Concerts and End of Year Celebrations Subscribe to this podcast via your favourite app Join my newsletter for more awesome information about ASDSignup for to our free and EXCLUSIVE to subscribers only e-newsletter and as a bonus after confirming your email address you will recieve:A free 36 minute video with more great information from Sue!Name: Email:...

Transition Time Savers for Teachers  Subscribe to this podcast via your favourite app Join my newsletter for more awesome information about ASDWhen I worked as an outreach teacher supporting students in mainstream schools. I created some easy to use cheat sheets for the staff and the students I supported. The more information we share the more we can prepare! But I found sometimes there was too much information, and much of it was not actually read or used. THE MOST popular and useful documents (according to Teachers & Assistants) were these 2 documents. I have updated them and made in easy to use word documents so you can edit.1) Programming for students with ASD. Profile for Individual Student - this can be used for ADHD, ODD, SPD, PDA, Trauma etc. It includes: Academic, Behavioural, Communication, Social Skills & General Download Individual Student Profile Here  Student-Transition-Document-2020-Sue-Larkey2) 10 Things About Me is a document for students to introduce...

Tips for Transitioning in 2020 Subscribe to this podcast via your favourite app Join my newsletter for more awesome information about ASDIs the child you know getting ready for a change in 2020? This can be big or small changes: transition includes change in teacher, change in room, change in students in the class not just starting preschool, school, high school and beyond. The nature of autism is such that transition can be extremely stressful, no matter what age or how BIG or SMALL the change maybe. Changing Teacher is like…. Moving to a Foreign Country   For the child with an Autism  moving to a new teacher, classroom or campus is like moving to foreign country. There is a different language (eg one teacher says ‘pack away’, new teacher says ‘clean up’). Teachers and other students have different facial expressions and body language to interpret, new rules, new schedules, new smells, different pencils just to mention a few changes. This new ‘foreign country’ causes the...

Catalogue Subscribe to this podcast via your favourite app Join my newsletter for more awesome information about ASDI love catalogues. I have spent years sourcing and reading books to include into my catalogue. When I could not find a book I wrote one! I believe this catalogue contains all essential books and resources to support people with autism. I have recently upgraded the catalogue into a new flip book format. It is easy to flick through on any device, just click on the link or image below. In the catalogue there are hyperlinks which will take you straight to my website! I hope you enjoy my new catalogue. I like to think of the catalogue as being in my office! I have included why and how to use different books and with which ages you should use the books with. We can send the books on approval to your organisation or NDIS funding, just fill out the invoice form. The video below is me explaining the Top 10 Books For A Professional Library & Why you should be using them. I...

Free Webinars Sue Larkey (All Ages and Early Learning) and Tony Attwood free webinars are currently available. All Webinars provide proven strategies for teachers, parents and professionals working with children from Pre-School, Primary, High School and even Adults. Like Sue’s and Tony’s Live Workshops the examples given cater for all these different circumstances. Both Sue’s Teaching Strategies & Behaviour Support webinars and Dr Tony Attwood’s webinars compliment each other with very little overlap. For a Full and Comprehensive understanding of ASD we recommend both. The NEW Early Years webinar is all new content and is aimed at children under 6 years of age in an Early Childhood Setting. Whereas Sue’s Teaching Strategies & Behaviour Support webinar is aimed at all ages, stages and settings. Sue Larkey - How to Increase Engagement & Participation in Students on the Autism Spectrum (Without the Stress or Crazy Overwhelm) In this Webinar you will learn - Key Strategies to Increase...

Sleeping Subscribe to this podcast via your favourite app Join my newsletter for more awesome information about ASD For all children, a good night's sleep is necessary in order to learn effectively the next day. Research has found that two thirds of children with autism have sleep problems, fragmented sleep and early awakenings. I recently did a poll on my Facebook page here most parents identified the issue for them was going to sleep. I have put some strategies together to help with bedtime...

Nighttime Toileting/Bedwetting Subscribe to this podcast via your favourite app Join my newsletter for more awesome information about ASD Nocturnal enuresis is involuntary urination while asleep. This can be very challenging for kids with autism, and their families and carers. Most kids aren’t able to stay dry through the night until they’re 5 or older because their bladders are too small, they lack muscle control, or they sleep too soundly to sense when their bladders are full. The best thing for you and your family to do would be to try to tackle nighttime toileting. However, I am aware that some of you have tried everything available and had no luck. I have put some bedding strategies below to try and make it slightly more manageable. Over the years I have found that nighttime toileting and sleep issues are often interconnected, so I have put some strategies for sleep below. PLEASE remember that a combination of strategies is often the best way forward! I recently received this...

Learning Through Play It is through play that young children learn about and make sense of the world. They experiment with being a Mum or Dad as they act out what they have observed in daily life, e.g. feeding the baby and going to the shops. As these children play they develop their cognitive and motor skills, increase their communication and social ability and above all have fun. Play for young children with autism is frequently centered on repetitive actions, e.g. spinning car wheelsrather than pushing the car, lining blocks up rather than building towers. They don’t seem to know how to do what comes instinctively to other children. A young child with autism needs to be taught how to play step by step. Be dramatic as you play with your child in order to attract and maintain their attention. Add to the richness of the play by making noises, e.g. ball going down (wheee) doll crying (waa), car horn (beep, beep). Start with simple cause and effect toys that give lots of feedback...

Using Special Interests to Motivate and Engage Students Subscribe to this podcast via your favourite app Join my newsletter for more awesome information about ASD Special interests, fixations and self-stimulation are often a very important part of life for someone with autism. They are usually their only form of relaxation and down time. Special interests and fixations often give the child something they can control and is predictable to them, bringing order to their world. Special interests can include drawing, Lego, Minecraft, Music, YouTube and so much more. Self-stimulation can be more sensory based like rocking, hand flapping, twirling, vocal stimming and more. If you are unsure what their special interest or self-stimulation is, watch what the child is doing when they are left alone. These can often be quite bizarre – over the years I have seen collecting bottle tops, filtering tan bark, fans, lights, light bulbs and vacuum cleaners.It is very important that we have in place...