Welcome to the Section for Families. We have many useful tools that could be used in any life situation. You can browse this table by page, or by using the search field located on the top-right corner of the table. Looking for more? Visit our shop or the tools pages!
| Thumbnail | Series | Name | Description | Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Tips & Strategies | ASD and Strategies for Toilet Training | Explore a toilet training infographic for strategies and suggestions on toilet training | About Autism, Informational Resources, Home, School, Medical |
 | Tips & Strategies | ASD: Tips for Traveling | Explore tips that would make the travel for your child with ASD easier and more pleasurable | About Autism, Sensory, Informational Resources, Home |
 | Kids Corner | Making S'mores | Celebrate the National S'mores day with out activity schedule. | Activity Templates, School, Home |
 | Kids Corner | National Watermelon Day - Coloring Pages | Coloring pages to celebrate National Watermelon Day | Activity Templates, School, Home |
 | About ASD | 10 Bus Rider Tips (set of 30) | The handout includes 10 bus ride tips for bus drivers on how to support individuals with ASD. This set will be laminated for repeated use and/or posting on a bus. It will be one that includes 30 handouts. | About Autism, Informational Resources, School, Evidence-Based Strategies, Personnel Training |
 | About ASD | 10 Do's for Supporting Individuals with ASD | The two-sided handout provides recommendations on how to interact with individuals with ASD, including consideration of common strengths and challenges and suggestions on how to best support individuals with ASD. This download is a 2-page PDF. | About Autism, Informational Resources, School, Home, Provider, Community, Personnel Training |
 | About ASD | ASD & DSM-5 Overview | These two-sided handouts review the names and basic characteristics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), how it is diagnosed, and relevant changes in diagnoses and treatment with DSM-5. This download is a 2-page PDF. | About Autism, Informational Resources, Evidence-Based Strategies, School, Home, Provider, Community, Personnel Training |
 | About ASD | Autism Puzzle | The two-sided handout includes information about ASD suitable for students in second grade and up, as well as a coloring puzzle highlighting facts about ASD inside each puzzle based on the facts about ASD (i.e. strengths are colored blue). This download is a 2-page PDF. | About Autism, Informational Resources, School, Home, Peer, Provider, Community |
 | School and Home | Back to School To-Do List | This is a to-do list with steps for parents and students to prepare for a new school year. Written with a parent in mind, it separates out ways a parent can prepare, and how to help their child prepare. Includes a social narrative about going to school that includes pictures and descriptions of the type of things that happen during a school day. This download is a 2-page PDF. | About Autism, School, Informational Resources, School, Home |
 | Kids Corner | Beach Pudding | This is a great activity for groups and single individuals. This is a 2-page document that includes instructions for the facilitator and a check-off schedule example for use by individuals with ASD or related disorders. This download is a PDF. | Food, Activity Templates, School, Home |
 | About ASD | Book List for Peers: What is Autism? Series for Young Learners | This information sheet provides lists and descriptions of books about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) suited to ages 4-9, ages 9-12, and ages 12+. These books can help youth who have been diagnosed with ASD better understand and navigate some of the successes and challenges in their lives. This download is a 1-page PDF. | About Autism, Informational Resources, Evidence-Based Strategies, School, Home, Provider, Community, Personnel Training |
 | Life with ASD | Conversation Helpers | Sometimes, we may see people that we don't regularly see throughout the year. Having to talk to unfamiliar people can be very tough for individuals with ASD. Practicing conversations and having some visuals to support through the conversation can help ease some of the anxiety. Here you can find some scripts for typical conversations that may occur. Practice these ahead of meeting or talking to new or unfamiliar people to help foster some good conversations! This is a document meant to help individuals with ASD work on their conversation skills. Includes examples of common small-talk with text and pictures. This download is a 4-page PDF. | Social Skills, Activity Templates, Indivdiuals with ASD, School, Home, Provider |
 | Kids Corner | Cornhole (Bean Bag Toss) Game | Use this template to help individuals with ASD or related disorders play a game of cornhole (otherwise known as bean bag toss). The template includes cards for a tear-off mini-schedule that explains how to play the game. This download is a PDF. | Games, Activity Templates, School, Home |
 | Activity Tips | Fall Activity Tips: Halloween | While Halloween may offer many exciting opportunities for children overall, social interactions, unusual or even scary outfits, and the sharing of treats may present some stressful or challenging situations to individuals with an autism spectrum disorder or related developmental disabilities. This information sheet contains tips that may help avoid anxiety and help the individual enjoy this festive event. This download is a 3-page PDF that contains a Social Narrative and tips for parents in advance of the holiday. | About Autism, Evidence-Based Strategies, Fall, Holidays, Informational Resources, School, Home, Community |
 | Summer Activity Ideas | Going to the Library | Going to a library can be a rewarding experience due to multiple opportunities to engage in reading, play activities, and participate in book club groups. However, individuals with an ASD may need additional training to become an active user of these resources. This download is a 2-page PDF that contains: sample social narrative about visiting the library, sample visual schedule for visiting the library, suggestions for visual supports to bring along to aid with voice volume, transition between activities and more... | About Autism, Evidence-Based Strategies, Summer, Informational Resources, School, Home, Community |
 | Tips & Strategies | Hair-cutting | Haircuts, while necessary, can be stressful events for you and your child. The unfamiliar sounds, sights, smells, and sensations of a hair-cutting experience can be overwhelming to any child, and especially those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This download is a 3-page PDF. | About Autism, Sensory, Informational Resources, Members Only, Home, Provider |
 | Activity Tips | Holiday Tips for Families of Individuals with ASD | The holiday season can put a lot of stress on all of us. However it is no less stressful for individuals with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), because holidays bring in a break into the daily routine that needs to be taken into consideration. This information sheet gives a 4-part suggestion for working through potentially stressful holiday situations. This download is a 1-page PDF. | About Autism, Evidence-Based Strategies, Holidays, Sensory, Winter, Informational Resources, School, Home, Community |
 | School and Home | Home-School Collaboration Form - Extended | Use this extended form as a template for daily communication between parent/caregiver and teacher. Includes checklists for behaviors, positive developments, comments and more. This download is a 2-page PDF. | School, Forms, Members Only, Home, Personnel Training |
 | School and Home | Home-School Collaboration: Parent Preference Form | Use the form to identify parents' preferences about the type of information they would like to receive from their child's teacher and how often they would like to receive it. This download is a 1-page PDF. | School, Forms, Home, Personnel Training, School, Home |
 | Kids Corner | How to Play Connect 4 | Use this template to help individuals with ASD or related disorders play a game of Connect 4. This template provides multiple levels of support based on need-level. This includes mini-schedules featuring check-off, numbered list, and pull-off with pictures. This download is a 3-page PDF. | Games, Activity Templates, School, Home |
 | Kids Corner | How to Play Uno | Use this template to help individuals with ASD or related disorders play a game of Uno. This template provides multiple levels of support based on need-level. This includes mini-schedules featuring check-off, numbered list, pull-off with pictures, and more. This download is a 9-page PDF. | Games, Activity Templates, School, Home |
 | About ASD | I Have Autism Brochure | The brochure is written in a child-friendly language and includes an explanation of strengths and ways to overcome and/or cope with challenges. This download is a 2-page PDF. | About Autism, Informational Resources, Peer, School, Home, Provider |
 | Kids Corner | Juice Box Robot | This is a craft you can eat after assembling. Fun as a way to teach following instructions during snack time. This is a great activity for groups and single individuals. This is a 3-page document that includes instructions for the facilitator and mini-schedule examples for use by individuals with ASD or related disorders. This download is a PDF. | Food, Activity Templates, School, Home |
 | Life with ASD | Learn Your Locker Combination | Using a lock isn't the easiest! It can be very confusing with the different directions and the amount of times you're required to turn the knob. One way some students have found it helpful to learn how to use their lock is by breaking it down into steps. These steps are then written down on a small piece of paper and kept in a wallet, binder, folder, etc. This is a document meant to help individuals with ASD break down a way to memorize their locker combination and how to open it. Includes a template based on a traditional number padlock with spaces to enter in an individuals locker combination. This download is a 2-page PDF. | Functional Skills, Activity Templates, Members Only, Individuals with ASD, School, Home, Provider |
 | Life with ASD | Make a Grilled Cheese Sandwich | A grilled cheese sandwich can be a tasty snack or even a meal. You can use a variety of cheese on any sort of bread. Choose the sorts that you like! Grilled cheese sandwiches are often served with soup. This is an activity template designed to guide individuals with ASD as they cook a grilled cheese sandwich. A checklist mini-schedule with text and images is included. This download is a 2-page PDF. | Food, Activity Templates, Individuals with ASD, School, Home, Provider |
 | Life with ASD | Make a Parfait | A great snack or breakfast is a strawberry parfait! Parfaits are delicious, healthy, and helpful as an on-the-go snack when we have a busy lifestyle. Here you will find schedules for making a parfait using strawberry yogurt, vanilla yogurt, strawberries, and cheerios. Enjoy! This is an activity template designed to guide individuals with ASD as they make a parfait snack. Includes checklist, pull-off, and numbered mini-schedules with text and pictures. This download is a 4-page PDF. | Food, Activity Templates, Individuals with ASD, School, Home, Provider |
 | Life with ASD | Make a Smoothie | When spring and summer are here and the weather is warm, cool snacks or drinks always are good! Making a smoothie is an easy and fun way to cool off and easy to make at home. There are lots of places you can go to buy a smoothie, but these are more expensive than what you would spend to just make them. This is an activity template designed to guide individuals with ASD as they make a smoothie treat using a blender. A check-list mini-schedule with text and images is included. This download is a 2-page PDF. | Food, Activity Templates, Members Only, Individuals with ASD, School, Home, Provider |
 | Life with ASD | Make an English Muffin Pizza | An English muffin pizza can be a tasty snack or even a meal. You can use a variety of cheese and replace pepperoni with ham. Choose the sorts that you like! This is an activity template designed to guide individuals with ASD as they cook an english muffin pizza in a microwave. A checklist mini-schedule with text and images is included. This download is a 2-page PDF. | Food, Activity Templates, Members Only, Individuals with ASD, School, Home, Provider |
 | Life with ASD | Make Scrambled Eggs | Scrambled eggs can be a filling breakfast and quick and easy dinner. You can make them with just eggs and milk, or you can add other things, like cheese, vegetables, or bacon. This is an activity template designed to guide individuals with ASD as they make scrambled eggs in a frying pan. A check-list mini-schedule with text and images is included. This download is a 2-page PDF. | Food, Activity Templates, Individuals with ASD, School, Home, Provider |
 | Life with ASD | Make Toast | Toasts can be a great breakfast, lunch, or snack. Serve them with butter, jam, cheese, or other product of your choice. This is an activity template designed to guide individuals with ASD as they make toast using an upright toaster. A mini-schedule with text and images is included. This download is a 2-page PDF. | Food, Activity Templates, Members Only, Individuals with ASD, School, Home, Provider |
 | Life with ASD | Make Waffles | Waffles can be a great sweet or savory breakfast, lunch, or snack. Serve it with Maple syrup, butter, confectionery sugar, or meat of your choice. This is an activity template designed to guide individuals with ASD as they cook waffles in a waffle iron. A checklist mini-schedule with text and images is included. This download is a 2-page PDF. | Food, Activity Templates, Members Only, Individuals with ASD, School, Home, Provider |
 | Kids Corner | Marble Painting | This is a great activity for groups and single individuals. This is a 5-page document that includes instructions for the facilitator and multiple levels of check-off/tear-off mini-schedule examples for use by individuals with ASD or related disorders. This download is a PDF. | Art, Craft, Activity Templates, School, Home |
 | About ASD | Misconceptions & Facts about ASD | The handout debunks myths about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and provides evidence-based information. This download is a 1-page PDF. | About Autism, Informational Resources, Evidence-Based Strategies, School, Home, Provider, Community, Personnel Training |
 | Life with ASD | Ordering a Pizza Using a Script | It's easy to forget what to say when talking on the phone to someone. To make it easier, you can fill out a script ahead of time to help prepare what you need to say. Then, when you call, all you have to do is follow your script! Most pizza places will ask the same thing, but it may be in a different order or worded differently. You can say, "one moment please," if you need time to find your response. Also, if you live with someone, you can ask them for help! This is an activity template designed to guide individuals with ASD as they place a pizza delivery order over the phone by allowing them to fill in the blanks in a pre-written script. This download is a 3-page PDF. | Food, Activity Templates, Individuals with ASD, School, Home, Provider |
 | Life with ASD | Organize Your Day | Staying organized is difficult for many students. Papers get lost, books go missing, and you forget to do homework or forget to get a paper signed by your parents all because you aren't organized. It's also hard to carry everything you need in your backpack because it can get so heavy. This means you have to go to your locker multiple times throughout the day to get your new books and put the books you've already used back into your locker. All of this can become confusing. Luckily, there are systems you can use to get organized and to remember what materials you need for each class. This is a document meant to help individuals with ASD work on time management skills throughout the day. Includes directions and a template to write down a schedule. This download is a 3-page PDF. | Functional Skills, Activity Templates, Individuals with ASD, School, Home, Provider |
 | Life with ASD | Organizing Your Wallet | Most people start carrying a wallet in middle school or high school. What you put inside your wallet is important and it may even change as you get older. Not every person will have the same items in their wallet, but there a few things that are a must. Here are some items that everyone should carry in their wallet: This is a document meant to help individuals with ASD determine what to keep in their wallet and in what order, so they can easily find important items. Includes instructions and a diagram with suggestions for ID card placement. This download is a 2-page PDF. | Functional Skills, Activity Templates, Members Only, Individuals with ASD, School, Home, Provider |
 | Kids Corner | Paper Puppy Puppet | This is a great activity for groups and single individuals. This is a 5-page document that includes instructions for the facilitator and a check-off mini-schedule example for use by individuals with ASD or related disorders. This download is a PDF. | Art, Craft, Activity Templates, School, Home |
 | Kids Corner | Pineapple Strawberry Tropical Whip Drink | This is a great activity for groups and single individuals. This is a 9-page document that includes instructions for the facilitator and multiple support-levels of mini schedules (check-off, tear-off) for use by individuals with ASD or related disorders. This download is a PDF. Bonus: p.8-9 provide ideas for additional supports that would work well during the activity. | Food, Activity Templates, School, Home |
 | Kids Corner | Rainbow Toast | This is a snack-time activity for groups and single individuals. This is a 6-page document that includes instructions for the facilitator and 5 levels of mini-schedule instructions for use by individuals with ASD or related disorders. Rainbow toast is made by painting bread with food dye mixed with milk before putting it in a toaster. This download is a PDF. | Food, Activity Templates, School, Home |
 | School and Home | Reinforcer Checklist - Child | This information sheet explains general guidelines for proactive strategies, answering the questions: "Why do we set the environment up proactively?" "What proactive components are necessary?" "When and where can we teach these skills?" "How do we use proactive strategies?" This download is a 2-page PDF. | School, Forms, Personnel Training |
 | About ASD | Sensory Experiences | This handout provides the description of sensory sensitivities experienced by individuals with ASD and strategies to overcome the challenges. This information sheet This download is a 2-page PDF. Also Available in Spanish | About Autism, Informational Resources, Evidence-Based Strategies, School, Home, Provider, Community, Personnel Training |
 | Strategy in Practice | Social Narrative: Getting a Shot is OK! | This social narrative can be used to teach individuals with an autism spectrum disorder and related disabilities about getting a shot, and how it is okay. Includes instructions for customizing the social narrative and a full-page narrative describing the process of getting a shot in a medical setting. This download is a 2-page PDF. | Evidence-Based Strategies, Medical Visit, Visual Supports, Informational Resources, Home, Provider |
 | Strategy in Practice | Social Narrative: Getting an IV is OK | This social narrative can be used to teach individuals with an autism spectrum disorder and related disabilities about getting an IV, and how it is okay. Includes instructions for customizing the social narrative and a full-page narrative describing the process of getting an IV put in at a medical setting. This download is a 2-page PDF. | Evidence-Based Strategies, Medical Visit, Visual Supports, Informational Resources, Home, Provider |
 | Strategy in Practice | Social Narrative: Going to Visit the Doctor | Use this social narrative to teach individuals with an autism spectrum disorder and related disabilities about visiting a doctor. Includes instructions for customizing the social narrative and a full-page narrative describing the process of going to visit the doctor. This download is a 2-page PDF. | Evidence-Based Strategies, Medical Visit, Visual Supports, Informational Resources, Home, Provider |
 | School and Home | Specialist Communication Form | The two-sided handout includes basic information about ASD suitable for students in fourth grade and up, as well as a figure with captions describing the ways people with ASD may act differently than others. This download is a 2-page PDF. | School, Forms, Personnel Training |
 | Summer Activity Ideas | Sports and Games | Sports activities and games can be incredibly challenging for individuals with an ASD. Many obstacles may arise from the fast pace of the activities, the change in tempo and in types of activities, sensory overload, physical challenges from the equipment used, and group involvement (e.g., playing in large groups or small, keeping up with rules, gross and fine motor requirements, and required socialization). However, structuring activities and using visual supports may help the individual participate in the activities successfully and eventually independently. The considerations in this information sheet need to be individualized based on the needs for a particular student. This download is a 5-page PDF. | About Autism, Evidence-Based Strategies, Summer, Informational Resources, School, Home, Community |
 | Starter Kit | Traveling: Flying on an Airplane | Staff will work more effectively, if they "own" areas they are interested in. Use this form to assess their preference and utilize it in your schedule development. This download is a 1-page PDF. | About Autism, Evidence-Based Strategies, Travel, Setting-Based Resource Toolkits\, Starter Packs & Guides |
 | About ASD | What is Autism? Brochure | The brochure is written in a child-friendly language and includes tips for playing with children with ASD, their strengths and challenges, and other basic information about ASD. This is a downloadable PDF. | About Autism, Informational Resources, Evidence-Based Strategies, School, Home, Provider, Community, Personnel Training |
 | Life with ASD | What to Do For Lunch | If you work during the day and your hours overlap lunch time (typically around 11:00am 1:00pm), you will most likely have a lunch break. Different work environments have different options for lunch, so it's important to figure out what will work best at your job. On your first day of work, the best option would be to pack and bring your lunch in a lunchbox. You can then see what your co-workers do for their lunch when you're there or you can just ask one of them. This is a guiding document to help individuals with ASD as they plan their lunchtime. Includes considerations and checklists for choosing options. This download is a 1-page PDF. | Food, Activity Templates, Individuals with ASD, School, Home, Provider |
 | School and Home | When Can You Meet? Form | Consider using the "When Can You Meet?" cards as a communion tool. When an issue or area of needed focus arises, fill out this card with the name of the teacher to contact, the name of the student it concerns, the area of focus for the meeting and the name of the meeting initiator. This download is a 1-page PDF. Contains a pre-made appointment scheduling card with times and discussion points to fill out. | School, Forms, Personnel Training |
 | Life with ASD | Wiping Tables and Chairs | Helping out with chores around the house is helpful in learning responsibility, using time management, and earning rewards. This is a guiding document to help individuals with ASD as they work through cleaning tables and chairs. Includes cards with text and images for use with a pull-off mini-schedule. This download is a 3-page PDF. | Chores, Job Success, Activity Templates, Individuals with ASD, School, Home, Provider |