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Digital Aquarium – A Calming Autism Therapy to Aid Caregivers And Teachers

Undersea Calming DVDs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) – Dec 31, 2009 – Parents and teachers alike struggle daily to provide guidance to an ever-growing number of autistic children. They strive in teaching autistic children not only how to live in this world, but also how to survive on their own. A developmental disorder that affects the brain’s normal maturation of social and communication skills, Autism afflicts a person by prohibiting them to concentrate on even the simplest of tasks.
Observants of children with autistic spectrum disorders primarily notice difficulties with the autistic child’s use of verbal and/or non-verbal communication and with their ability to concentrate for an extended period of time. This hinders an autistic child’s ability to learn at what is considered a “normal” pace, for things such as sensitivity to light and loud noises can instantly detract their attention.
Autism intervention is integral in allowing those who need help take the next step towards improvement. Although not in all cases, it has been proven beneficial for autistic children to first receive autism therapy teaching specializing in communication and behavioral skills. Children with autism typically have many difficulties interacting with others, and can become unusually distressed for no apparent reason. By learning these primary abilities, autistic children are better equipped to transition to higher stages of learning.
Actually teaching autistic children and other special needs students can sometimes prove to be a very frustrating endeavor, requiring a great deal of patience and persistence. As many parents and teachers know, autism intervention for calming a child to the point of concentration is one of the most challenging aspects on a day-to-day basis. The autistic student’s lack of attention and inability to communicate effectively can make it difficult for any teacher to both manage a class and teach practical lessons at the same time. As an alternative to medication, many different therapeutic calming strategies have been tried and tested on people with autism within these sorts of classrooms.
There is some good news for those who are teaching children with autism. A simple yet innovative video to help with autistic distractions is making it easier than ever to calm and refocus rambunctious, distracted students.

David Cowan, a scuba diving instructor and videographer always loved the ocean and found it very relaxing. Diving was his hobby, and being immersed in the cool water while simultaneously surrounded by different underwater creatures helped him find peace and serenity in even his most stressful times. He knew that he wasn’t the only one who found peace in such a setting, and began filming his underwater dives; he wanted to make undersea videos that would act like a virtual dive for others.
When viewed by his family and friends, they were instantly calmed and gratified. His goal was achieved: his videos became a sort of digital aquarium. He discovered that the best use of this footage was for those who needed help with autism intervention. The distracted children became entranced by the peaceful fish swimming across the screen and the luscious sea ferns waving back and forth with the movement of the water. He discovered that his underwater footage was useful in autism therapy by acting as a transitioning strategy, and in many cases, a learning strategy.
Board Certified Behavioral Analysts have seen the digital aquarium videos motivate unmotivated and disconnected students and encourage vocalization and attention skills in nonverbal students.  They have even seen an increase in conversation and topic expansion in adolescents with high functioning autism and other PDD-related disorders. These digital underwater adventures help young, rambunctious children transition from a very active and heightened state to a calmer, more structured level in less than 5 minutes, allowing them to focus on organized activities.
For teachers and parents, “The Digital Aquarium” underwater footage has provided exactly what parents and teachers need: help with autism. The videos provide a portal for autistic children, allowing them to transition into a peaceful world where they can regain control of the symptoms they are frequently stricken with. Parents who play the videos for their children also recognize a similar calming effect in themselves, allowing them to better handle stressful situations in a calming matter.
These revolutionary films are available for caregivers and those teaching autistic children at
http://calmingstrategies.net  In case you have any doubts about the effectiveness of this behavioral management tool for autistic children, there is a 100% money back guarantee.

Visual Cues Make Life Easier for Autistic Children

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PRLog (Press Release) – Jan 13, 2010 – Visual cues play an important role in creating easier transitions for autistic children who find it difficult to move from one activity to another.  These cues range from simple instructive words to pictures, drawings, photos, flash cards, or videos.  Research shows that using a visual cue during transition time can decrease the child’s challenging behavior while increasing his/her ability to cope with the demands required by change.  (Schmit, Alper, Raschke, & Ryndak, 2000). For example, a study showed how the use of photos alerted one young autistic student whenever it was time for him to change classroom locations or activities by presenting him with a photo of his next location.  (Schmit et al, 2000).  This procedure allowed the child to actually see his next destination and provided him with the element of predictability, which is so important to individuals with autism.
Anyone suffering from stress knows how comforting it is to feel safe about the future.  Uncertainty often causes stress levels to accelerate into panic and anxiety in many people, but it is especially debilitating for autistic children.  This is why predictability is crucial in the transition stage.  Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) often have greater anxiety levels which can affect behavior during times of uncertainty and change.  In addition, students with ASD may not comprehend all of the verbal information that announces a transition.  Visual cues serve as reinforcements that clarify information, foster independence from adult prompting, and reassure the student that a familiar, safe experience lies ahead.  The use of visual cues also allows time for the student to prepare for transition, a technique that creates a soothing experience for the child and helps to shift his/her focus from the current activity to the next.  
Because children with ASD become easily distracted and anxious, calming techniques are essential in a classroom setting during all learning periods as well as transitions.  Dr. Judith Reaven of the University of Colorado at Denver Health Services Center confirms that children with ASD are at high risk for developing anxiety disorders and says that their anxiety symptoms “develop in much the same way anxiety develops in the general population.”  For this reason, many of the stress-reducing techniques used for the general population can also be applied in a classroom-learning environment for ASD students.  For instance, the popularity of relaxation tapes and videos has increased steadily over the years with people of all ages and lifestyles, including those with special needs.
Audio and visual CD’s and videos that present soothing images and music are now used as highly effective ASD calming tools that reduce anxiety both at home and in the classroom.  When enjoyed on a regular basis, they have the ability to re-train the physical body as well as the brain, acting as a positive reinforcement for calm behavior and emotions.  In the classroom, videos can be used as a background for lessons, or they can signal the approach of a transition.  One outstanding example of this type of video is Digital Aquarium, a series of serene underwater films depicting the beauty of exotic fish gliding gracefully across the screen amid verdant ocean flora.  Accompanied by tranquil music, these colorful videos appeal to the visual as well as the audio sense.  Board Certified Behavioral analysts report a positive effect upon anxious or unmotivated students with autism who have viewed Digital Aquarium’s relaxation videos.  Digital Aquarium is a safe, affordable therapeutic calming technique that complements ASD treatments and medication.  Parents and caregivers of children with autism also appreciate the soothing quality of these videos in their everyday personal lives.  For more information about autism and Digital Aquarium visit