• Advocacy Videos

    I wanted to share two videos that have come across social media lately that show what it is like to live with Asperger’s syndrome, and what it is like to have a brother with Autism.  The first video was made by people with Asperger’s syndrome and it won the Animation Award at the Scottish Mental Health Film Festival in 2008:

    The second video shows the special bond between siblings is not broken by a diagnosis of Autism:

    I thought both of these videos were really well done.  Enjoy!

  • Rec Rockers in the News!

    A few weeks ago the adapted rock band class that I have the pleasure of leading got to feel like real rock stars for the night as a local reporter came to do a story on the class!  The guys were pretty excited, especially as the reporter is also a fantastic photographer and was clicking away!  The article is not online yet but here is the story and the photos, all thanks to our favourite reporter Boaz Joseph:

    In Peace Arch News Thursday Feb. 1, 2013

    Semiahmoo House Rec Rockers jam once a week, building confidence and friendships
    Marching to the beat of one rockin’ drum

    No one can say rock is dead –not after meeting the Rec Rockers. Guitarist Andrew Kison is one of this band of dedicated musicians who gather every Monday night for a unique jam session at Semiahmoo House.The Rush fan finds it easier each week as he accompanies the band’s old-school rock rhythms and modern favourites on his new axe.  Sometimes he’ll show off fresh riffs, working high up on the fretboard.
    “The more you work on them the better you get,” says the 21-year-old.
    Alistair, a 23-year-old from South Surrey, borrowed a Semiahmoo House bass when he started playing just over a year ago. Then he went out and bought
    his own. “I really like it a lot, I find it a blast,” he says. “I’ve learned Three
    Little Birds (Bob Marley), I’ve Gotta Feeling (Black Eyed Peas) and What Makes You Beautiful (boy band One Direction).”
    Music therapist Katherine Graff has been guiding the Rec Rockers for the last four of their five years. “The more we do it, the more they get better at listening to each other and following non-verbal cues, which are really important social and communication goals for people with autism,” Graff says. Tonight, there are nine musicians packed into the Semiahmoo House rehearsal room. There are four guitarists (most brought their own), and people on bass, drums, keyboards, an omnichord (an electronic
    harp), and a lead singer in 28-year-old Adele-fan Brenna
    Finch. The musicians, assisted by support workers Stella Lee, Braden
    Deans and Krystyl Downing from Semiahmoo House Society,
    all have some form of autism, acquired brain injury, or Down
    Syndrome. After a quick rhythm warm-up session – a tapping/clapping circle
    around a table – the Rec Rockers are off, giving each of the night’s songs three or four full runs. The objective – apart from rockin’ – is for these adults with
    developmental disabilities to reach physical, psychological and emotional goals through a musical activity that’s engaging and rewarding. (Semiahmoo House Society, a non-profit organization located in South Surrey, exists to provide the support to people with disabilities and their families. There is also a satellite office in Newton).

    Lead singer Finch, exuding an impressive amount of confidence in an interview during a break, says the Rec Rockers help her continue the path of getting out of her shell. Looking like a rocker with his long hair, Isaac Vondy, 17, practises on his guitar at home “every day, non-stop.” While his taste is harder edged, leaning towards Metallica and Pantera, he’s happy to play more mainstream material with the Rec Rockers.
    “It’s really cool. They think they’re rocking out, but they’re actually practising teamwork,” says Graff. “People with developmental disabilities such as autism often march to the beat of their own drum, but by playing music together, it brings them out of their shell and allows them to follow a common external stimuli and engage in an enjoyable social activity with others, which can be rare and difficult for them.”
    • • •
    The Rec Rockers jam each Monday from 6-8 p.m. at Semiahmoo House, 15306 24 Ave. Registration for a new season takes place each fall. The Rec Rockers will perform on May 29 in Semiahmoo House Society Recreation and Services’
    sixth-annual Extravaganza at the Surrey Arts Centre, 13750 88 Ave. Performances will include The Rec Hot Peppers’ salsa dancing, the musical theatre play Into the Woods, and the Semi Famous Players’ theatre
    performance of Jimmy Down the Well.
    The show starts at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $21.
    For more information, visit Falis or call 604-536-1242.

  • I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie

    I have many, many versions of I know an Old Lady… it’s become almost an obsession to find new versions!  I could (and probably will) do a whole blog just on those.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    You can find all the items she “swallows” here:

    http://lilcountrykindergarten.blogspot.ca/2011/11/i-know-old-lady-who-swallowed-pie.html

    I just printed the “spinner” page and they were the perfect size to go with my full size Old Lady head that I got from:

    http://lh5.ggpht.com/-odpfs3AmsVo/TsHIlJ93E6I/AAAAAAAAAOs/eQ8lbkg-6cQ/s1600-h/grandma_head_colored%25255B9%25255D.jpg

    I put Velcro in the lady’s mouth and on a line below, switching out the objects for each special occasion! For spring she has a lovely hat to cover her bun!

    These activities really meet a lot of the goals I have for clients: to expand vocabulary, sequencing and following directions.

     

    I KNOW AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A PIE

    C

    I know an old lady who swallowed a pie,

    G
    A Thanksgiving pie, which was really too dry,

    C
    Perhaps she’ll die

    C

    I know an old lady who swallowed some cider,

    G
    that rumbled and mumbled and grumbled inside her,

    C
    She swallowed the cider to moisten the pie,

    G
    The Thanksgiving pie, which was really too dry

    C
    Perhaps she’ll die

     

    I know an old lady who swallowed a roll
    Just swallowed it whole – the entire roll!
    She swallowed the roll to go with the cider
    that rumbled and mumbled and grumbled inside her,
    She swallowed the cider to moisten the pie,
    The Thanksgiving pie, which was really too dry
    Perhaps she’ll die

     

    I know an old lady who swallowed a squash
    Oh my gosh, a fat yellow squash
    she swallowed the squash to go with the roll
    She swallowed the roll to go with the cider
    that rumbled and mumbled and grumbled inside her,
    She swallowed the cider to moisten the pie,
    The Thanksgiving pie, which was really too dry
    Perhaps she’ll die

     

    I know an old lady who swallowed a salad
    She was looking quite pallid from eating that salad!
    She swallowed the salad to go with the squash
    she swallowed the squash to go with the roll
    She swallowed the roll to go with the cider
    that rumbled and mumbled and grumbled inside her,
    She swallowed the cider to moisten the pie,
    The Thanksgiving pie, which was really too dry
    Perhaps she’ll die

     

    I know an old lady who swallowed a turkey
    her future looked murky after that turkey!
    she swallowed the turkey to go with the salad
    She swallowed the salad to go with the squash
    she swallowed the squash to go with the roll
    She swallowed the roll to go with the cider
    that rumbled and mumbled and grumbled inside her,
    She swallowed the cider to moisten the pie,
    The Thanksgiving pie, which was really too dry
    Perhaps she’ll die

     

    I know an old lady who swallowed a pot
    I kid you not – she swallowed a pot
    she swallowed the pot to go with the turkey
    she swallowed the turkey to go with the salad
    She swallowed the salad to go with the squash
    she swallowed the squash to go with the roll
    She swallowed the roll to go with the cider
    that rumbled and mumbled and grumbled inside her,
    She swallowed the cider to moisten the pie,
    The Thanksgiving pie, which was really too dry
    Perhaps she’ll die

     

    I know an old lady who swallowed a cake
    for goodness sake, a ten-layer cake
    she swallowed the cake to go with the pot
    she swallowed the pot to go with the turkey
    she swallowed the turkey to go with the salad
    She swallowed the salad to go with the squash
    she swallowed the squash to go with the roll
    She swallowed the roll to go with the cider
    that rumbled and mumbled and grumbled inside her,
    She swallowed the cider to moisten the pie,
    The Thanksgiving pie, which was really too dry
    Perhaps she’ll die!

     

    I know an old lady who swallowed some bread…
    I’m full she said.”

  • Five Fat Turkeys

    This is my version of Five Fat Turkeys which I adapted slightly to be a counting song from 5 -1.  Warning:  this song WILL get stuck in your head!

    C            G              C

    Five fat turkeys are we.

    C                      G            C
    We spent all night in a tree.

    C                                    G                        C                  G
    When the cook came around, only one could be found

    C                   G               C
    And that’s why we’re here you see!

     

    Four fat turkeys are we… etc

    Three fat turkeys are we….

    Two fat turkeys are we….

     

    One fat turkey, that’s me!

    I hid all night in a tree

    When the cook came around, I couldn’t be found

    And that’s why you won’t eat me!

     

    Music from:

    http://www.gmajormusictheory.org/Freebies/Holidays/Thanksgiving.html

    I also teach the melody by rote to some of my piano students.

    You can find a cute visual book to accompany the song (Free via Google Docs) from:

    http://firstgradealacarte.blogspot.ca/2011/11/5-fat-turkeys.html

  • If You’re Thankful and You Know It

    Well, it’s finally here!  My favourite month.  Thanksgiving (for us Canadians at least), my birthday (!) and then Halloween.  I have about two hours worth of Halloween songs that I love to do with my clients, but this year I needed to beef up my Thanksgiving songs!  It took me a while to search all of these up so I hope that these posts will save you some time.  I decided it would be easier to split each song up into one post so be sure to check out all posts under Holidays – Thanksgiving!

     

    If You’re Thankful and You Know It (to the tune of Happy and You Know It)


    C                                          G
    If you’re thankful and you know it, clap your hands.

    C
    If you’re thankful and you know it, clap your hands.

    F                                C
    If you’re thankful and you know it, then your face will surely show it.

    G                                C
    If you’re thankful and you know it, clap your hands.

    This song is pretty self-explanatory… you can do stomp your feet, shout hooray, say thank you, and/or eat some turkey (gobble gobble).  I also ask each client one item that they are thankful for and insert it.  I said I was thankful for the music so we sang “If you are thankful for the music clap your hands!”.  TWO of my clients in one session both said they were thankful for me. Ah shucks!!