Autism ADHD Family Support with 1Thrive Systems
Ilidia Nicholas,
Autism & ADHD Support with 1Thrive
1Thrive can be a great tool to support the family of an autistic/ADHD individual.
My name is Siraya Gloudemans and I run the blog and social media pages Stay at Home ZooKeeper. I am a licensed teacher in early childhood, elementary, and adaptive education. I taught for 5 years before staying home with my children. My first September not going back to teaching, my 2 year old son was diagnosed with regressive autism. He is currently non-speaking. He has since been diagnosed with ADHD as well. As I research more about neurodivergence it is highly likely I have been living and adapting my life to my personal ADHD as well.
I take the adaptations I have made for myself and my son and combine it with my education and training in special needs education and share the ways in which the 1Thrive systems can help an individual with Autism/ADHD/Special Needs as well as their families.
While not all of these systems are actively in place in our home as they are not a current fit, I still work to provide many ideas in which they could help someone should they have that need.
Color code with the markers by person:
-Extra curriculars/Therapy
-Lunch choices
-Dress up days
-Due dates
-Appointments
The boards are magnetic so you can easily create magnets or use clips to make charts, schedules, etc and manipulate them.
Color-Code
Color code by class for keeping homework straight (folder and marker coordinate).
Make It Fun
Colorful markers can also make the boards interactive and fun. They can meet the interests of the individual to help them make a connection to the boards.
Stay Organized
A file folder can help keep them organized. They can be color coded by class. A file for each class, all the work they need to do goes in the folder, work on it, and then it goes in the backpack.
Drop-Zone
Hooks for hanging important things they may need: Pictures for visual schedules/boards, AAC device, Headphones, Chewlery, school bags, therapy bags, class bags.
Break It Down
Calendars can break down what is coming up in the week and help you prepare for it. Countdowns, cross days off until, or just have a visual of what we have to do this month/week. Some things such as “scary” appointments can help them prepare for and do the social stories and other preparations as the event nears.
Visual Aid
Cork board and/or magnetic clips can hang important schedules and information. Pictures schedules work great for pre-reading as well as an example of what the task looks like done correctly. If/Then, First/then, Weather/Wear boards.
Color code with the markers by person.
- Extra curriculars/Therapy
- Lunch Choices
- Dress up days
- Due Dates
- Appointments
Big month calendar helps keep the whole family on the same page. See the big events coming up, count down to them, and prepare for them.
The blank space makes a great area to share inspirational messages, seasonal decorations, prepare for upcoming events/holidays, or just be a fun motivator keeping them interested.
File Folder keeps the pile paperwork organized (can color code to match person/marker). Medical paperwork, IEP binder, homework, birthday lists, extra visuals/pictures, insurance forms "fill this out before your appointment", lunch menus, dress up weeks, field trip forms.
- Take the whole file out to go to an appointment.
- Collect all their important paperwork and take the weekly relevant ones out.
