AARC Tip of the Month | December 2018 | View as Webpage
Resources for Dealing with the 11/30 Earthquake

Last week’s earthquake left many in our state shaken up. It has been particularly difficult for some of our residents with autism who thrive on routine and predictability. The earthquake, and continuing aftershocks, are far from predictable. If you or your child are processing the post-tectonic stress, here are some resources for further support:
We developed a visual support that parents or teachers can download and print to prepare children for future aftershocks/earthquakes.

Here is a simple social story to explain the emotions your child may have felt during the earthquake in a simple manner. This may be a helpful resource after an aftershock.
Aetna is offering telephonic counseling, regardless of whether you are an Aetna subscriber. Read more here.

The National Association of School Psychologists has released information for helping children after a natural disaster , including a printable version and a companion infographic for a quick, one-page resource.

The Foraker Group has compiled a list of great resources for the earthquake recovery process, including emotional support, food service and child care, utilities and transportation and safety tips!

If you need to apply for state assistance for damages and losses, please see the Ready.Gov Flyer here.

Sometimes, preparing for the next possible situation can help set a child’s mind at ease. Last year, the AARC published a Tip of the Month on Emergency Preparedness. Check it out for some great tips on preparing your children for emergencies!

AARC is closed for the holidays from 12/10/18 - 1/1/19. We will reopen with regular hours on 1/2/19.

Have a wonderful holiday season!
Resources of the Month:
The resources of the month are available in the Special Education Service Agency (SESA) Library. Search for items on the   SESA website , or contact the librarian, Anne Freitag, at   [email protected]   or 907-334-1301 

Click here for a full list of the SESA Library's safety resources.
Click here for additional materials on mindfulness and meditation.

Electronic books may be accessed from anywhere in the state. If you've used our ebooks before,   go to the login  page here.  If you haven't, please contact Anne so she can set up a username and password for you.   Learn more about ebooks here .
Get Ready! Alaska’s emergency preparedness toolkit for people with disabilities
State of Alaska, Department of Health and Social Services.
Description: This booklet has checklists and forms to help plan for the types of emergencies that may happen in your area. You can download a copy here, then complete the forms that are most appropriate for you: http://dhss.alaska.gov/dph/wcfh/Documents/disability/GetReadyWebaccessible.pdf
Children Using Basic Safety
By: Helen Morris, Oscar Alexie, Corlis Taylor
Illustrated by: Linda Jones, Bet Conmy
Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corp, 1985
Description: A children's book with illustrations, showing and discussing many everyday safety issues.
Disaster Kits: 2011
SAMHSA Emergency Mental Health & Traumatic Stress Services
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S.
Dept. of Health and Human Services, 2011
Description: "Arms disaster recovery workers with a toolkit on mental health awareness. Includes materials for responding effectively to the general public during and after a disaster and in dealing with workplace stress. Also includes materials for the general public."
Coping in Young Children: Early intervention practices to enhance adaptive behavior and resilience
By: Shirley Zeitlin and G. Gordon Williamson
Brookes, 1994
Description: Early intervention professionals will turn to this informative book for a deeper understanding of how young children cope or adjust to the stresses of daily living. Based on the premise that effective coping facilitates effective learning, this essential guide explains how to integrate a child's developmental skills with daily functional living. Step by step, this comprehensive guide shows how to assess coping behaviors, develop coping-oriented IFSPs through collaborative decision making implement individualized intervention strategies, and support parent-selected activities that enhance coping abilities. Also included are detailed case examples, sample forms, and well-organized charts—all designed to help support the efforts of those serving young children.
Developing Resilience in Young People with Autism Using Social Stories
By: Dr Siobhan Timmins
Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2017
Description: "Social Stories™ are acknowledged as a very successful way of teaching concepts and social understanding to children with autism spectrum disorders, but considerable skill is needed to write the most effective story. This clear and engaging book introduces ways of thinking about the issues your child finds difficult, and includes 32 stories created by Dr Siobhan Timmins for her son during his early years, with helpful explanations of how she did it, and what the underlying thinking was behind each set of stories. She explains how the stories build upon each other to help the child to understand further, more complex topics, and how to see the connections so that you can best help your child. From basic skills such as learning to listen, wait and share, to common fears, this book takes the mystery out of creating effective Social Stories™ and amply demonstrates how to put together a cohesive set of stories which your child can understand and relate to."
Trauma Through a Child's Eyes: Awakening the ordinary miracle of healing
By: Peter A. Levine and Maggie Kline
North Atlantic Books, 2006
Description: Description: 12 DVDs (6 each for secondary and elementary levels) in ASL and PSE. These DVDs will enable interpreters to practice translating students' sign language into spoken English, or the teacher’s spoken language into sign language for the student. The DVD is an authentic resource that will complement the professional development plans for interpreters of all skill levels. 
What Helps Kids Bounce Back (DVD): How to use our knowledge of resiliency in the treatment of complex trauma
Presenter:Kristen Mortenson
Anchorage Community Mental Health Services
Northstar Behavioral Health, 2013.
Description: The presenter discusses resiliency in children who have experienced complex trauma.
Alaska Autism Resource Center | 866-301-7372 | [email protected] | www.AlaskaARC.org