Enhancing Lives
        Individuals - Families - Communities
        Confidence - Competence - Capacity
Let's Talk Autism
Let's Get Moving!
Physical activity is important for all of us, with links to improved overall physical and mental wellbeing. Research has shown that exercise is important for individuals with ASD as well, and can actually help decrease some negative behaviors and increase positive behaviors. For example, research has demonstrated that exercise can lead to decreased challenging behavior, including aggression and self-stimulatory behavior for children with ASD (Cannella-Malone, Tullis, & Kazee, 2011). Exercise can increase positive behaviors, such as improved academic responding (Oriel, George, Peckus,& Semon, 2011) and attention to task.  
Tip of the Week
Finding ways to include physical activity in your day does not have to be complicated. The most important thing is to get started. Start by finding a few times each day that you can build movement/physical activity into your child’s day. Start with something he/she will enjoy so you and your child are more likely to stick with your new routine.  What you do can be as simple as taking a walk to enjoy nature, riding a scooter, or playing ball.  For younger children you can even set up a simple obstacle course inside or in the backyard.  

Exercise and physical activity can also be an important way to help your child cope with the extra time we are all spending at home and the disruption to our daily routines. Check out the additional resources below to find ways to include physical activity in you and your child’s day.

  • The AFIRM module on exercise provides resources and support for setting up an exercise program, along with data sheets, and additional research articles on effectiveness of exercise. Griffin, W., & AFIRM Team. (2015). Exercise. Chapel Hill, NC: National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorder, FPG Child Development Center, University of North Carolina. http://afirm.fpg.unc.edu/exercise
   



What Works Webinar Series


J oin us this month for our What Works Webinar Series . Each webinar is one hour, followed by 30 minutes for questions and answers. Webinars take place each Thursday from 12:00pm – 1:30pm.
 
For details and to register visit our website at https://okautism.org/Training-Events
Additional Resources
The Oklahoma Science Museum is broadcasting live on Facebook at 10 a.m. Monday-Friday with animal meet and greets, gardening tips, Storytime Science and Early Explorers, “Will it Float” challenges, and more, plus adding activities and experiments you can do with things around the house to keep the STEAM learning rolling, and Tom Arnold, the director of the Kirkpatrick Planetarium, is taking you to outer space each week with the view from his telescope! Learn more about these opportunities at: https://www.sciencemuseumok.org

The OKC Zoo is offering “OKC Zoo @ Two” It allows viewers to take a safari from the comfort of home with caretaker chats, wellness exams, behind-the-scenes animal encounters and unexpected adventures through the Zoo online daily at 2 p.m. CT. Here is a link to the series https://www.okczoo.org/okc-zoo-at-two and you can watch the red pandas https://www.okczoo.org/redpandacam

The Metro Library is offering a variety of on-line options and resources for families : https://www.metrolibrary.org


Please reach out to us if you need help connecting with a resource or if you need technical assistance managing a situation related to your family member with ASD. 
We are continuing to add information and resources to our COVID-19 section of our website. 
 
All OAN staff are working remotely due to restrictions in place at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center due to COVID-19.  

The best way to reach us is by email at okautism@ouhsc.edu

You can also check out additional resources and ideas for Autism Awareness Month on our website at https://okautism.org/Information-Referral/Autism-Awareness


  Stay safe and healthy!
The Oklahoma Autism Network Team
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