Kolainu Magazine_March 2018

FROM OUR FOUNDER AND CEO
Dr. Joshua Weinstein, founder and
CEO shares a heartfelt message:
This year, Shema Kolainu-Hear Our
Voices, proudly announces our 20th
anniversary servicing the metropolitan
New York City area for those affected by
autism and related disorders, as well as
those who care for them. We have come
a long way to becoming a model school, and are honored to
have so many wonderful years filled with growth and gratitude.
From the very first day, Shema Kolainu has not only been a
school, but a center providing many different services to our
students and their families. One aspect of our dedicated care
is providing individualized support to our families and children.
We celebrate the nuances of each child’s personality and
work to foster unique abilities through various evidence-based
education strategies, interventions, and therapies. We work
with parents to develop a comprehensive approach through
our workshops, consistent communication, and open access
to resources.
Our children continue to amaze us every day, accomplishing
more and inspiring us all. These “small miracles” as we
call them, are major blessings. These achievements could
not be possible without the dedication and support of our
outstanding teaching staff. This issue highlights a selection of
success stories, our program events, and useful topics for our
community. Thank you for your continued support as we work
together to stand behind our blessed children as they make
new strides along their journey. We look forward to the next
twenty years of making a difference in the lives of our children.
Joshua Weinstein, Ph.D., MBA
TABLE OF CONTENTS
From our Founder and CEO....................................3
Shema Kolainu Autism Workshops on Verbal
Behavior and Leading Sensory Strategies.............5
A Discussion on Practical Solutions for
Eradicating Bullying ................................................7
A Therapeutic Approach to the Posture
and Gait issues in Individuals with ASD.................7
Upcoming Free Autism Workshops........................9
Shema Kolainu Welcomes Guests
from Tel Aviv, Israel.................................................11
Shema Kolainu Hosts
18th Year of its Annual Legislative Breakfast.......12-13
Ten Ways to Encourage Speech............................17
A Day In Our Classroom....................................18-19
Activity Highlights...................................................21
Shema Kolainu Partners with
Colgate Bright Smiles Bright Futures...................23
Generalization of Language
Outside of the School Setting................................25
Shema Kolainu - Hear Our Voices
4302 New Utrecht Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11219
T: 718.686.9600 F: 718.686.6161
info@skhov.org www.shemakolainu.org
Founder & CEO: Dr. Joshua Weinstein, Ph.D., MBA
Program Director: Suri Gruen
Eduactional Director: Gili Rechany, MA, SBL, BCBA
For advertising inquiries
contact Yael Lewitinn
Kolainu - Our Voice is published by Shema Kolainu - Hear Our Voices.
No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent of Shema Kolainu - Hear Our Voices.
Copyright 2018 © All rights reserved.
www.ShemaKolainu.org | Kolainu - Our Voice | March 2018 3

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EVENTS
Shema Kolainu
AUTISM
WORKSHOPS on
VERBAL
BEHAVIOR
and LEADING
SENSORY
STRATEGIES
S
uccessful workshops on "Verbal Behavior and
Assessment" and "Leading Sensory Strategies
to Support Children with Autism in the School
Setting," organized by Shema Kolainu and funded by
New York City Council Autism Initiative, were held on
November 28th and December 19th at Touro College
in New York City. The events attracted a wide range of
people, coming from different backgrounds, including
specialists, family members and caregivers, therapists,
students, educators, scholars, and the general public.
The workshop on "Verbal Behavior and Assessment,"
led by Ariela Fuchs, M.S.Ed at Shema Kolainu,
provided a comprehensive description of applied
behavior analysis in relation to verbal behavior. The
speech drew largely on ‘Verbal Behavior,’ a work by
B.F. Skinner, in which he analyzed language from a
behavioral perspective and the impact that language
has on a person’s environment. Ms. Fuchs supported
her talk with numerous examples taken from Skinner’s
work and her personal experience as an ABA Therapist.
The workshop on "Leading Sensory Strategies,"
led by Alexa Moses, MS, OTR/L at Shema Kolainu,
highlighted the latest innovative sensory strategies.
Some of the major issues outlined in the presentation,
included Sensory Processing Disorder, Self-
Stimulatory Behaviors and Interventions, Snoezelen
Room Use and Function, Easing Transitions During
the Day, The Role of ABA and the ABA/Occupational
Therapy Collaboration, and Backpack Education
for School/Home. Additionally, the audience was
engaged in the preparation of slime, a jelly-like toy
aimed at providing different sensational experiences
for children.
The workshops achieved their primary goals of
providing parents, caregivers and professionals
with practical guidelines of teaching autistic children
language and other vital skills essential for their
future, as well as addressing their various sensory
challenges.
As a nonprofit, specializing in quality treatment,
education, professional training and mentoring, Shema
Kolainu-Hear Our Voices offers a broad spectrum of
evidence-based education and therapeutic programs
in a warm and nurturing environment. The school
reaches out to children and their families in all five
boroughs of NYC and helps students develop the
necessary skills to reach their greatest potential.
www.ShemaKolainu.org | Kolainu - Our Voice | March 2018 5

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EVENTS
A DISCUSSION ON
PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS FOR
ERADICATING
BULLYING
For Individuals with Autism
and Other Special Needs
By Dr. Stephen Shore
Shema Kolainu - Hear Our Voices, held its first
workshop of 2018 at Touro College in New York
City. The workshop was presented by Dr. Stephen
Shore, an education professor from Adelphi University.
He spoke with guests about how to prevent bullying
from happening in schools, what an adult can do
if they witness bullying, and what lasting effects bullying
can have on children, especially ones with autism.
Dr. Shore’s presentation began with a simple activity.
Guests crumpled a piece of paper and then unfolded
it, while Shore asked if the paper can be returned to its
original form with no wrinkles. He discussed how this
was related to bullying and how kids feel after a student
bullies them. The damage can leave the child severely
scarred and may even have an everlasting effect.
Dr. Shore briefly talked about what it was like growing
up with Autism, while guests shared their experiences
with bullying. One of the guests, a man in his early
20's, who has Autism, shared what his personal struggles
were during his childhood. “I was the one who got
in trouble for something I didn’t do. My teacher blamed
things on me”, he explained. “I threatened to bring in
a camera to record her nonsense and send it to the
principal. That really changed her attitude towards me”.
Another activity Dr. Shore conducted was a sensory
overload activity. In groups of five, each person played
a specific role. Person number one had autism, while
others did different things to distract them, including
patting them on the head, putting an index card on their
neck, reading a paragraph loudly close to their face,
while another person read a different paragraph in a
normal voice. Many guests realized how overpowering
everything was around them and it changed their perspective
on how autistic people might live on a daily
basis.
Dr. Shore is the author of Understanding Autism for
Dummies and his most recent book College for Students
with Disabilities.
We extend our thanks to the New York City Council
Autism Initiative for providing the necessary funds for
these programs
A THERAPEUTIC
APPROACH TO THE
POSTURE
AND GAIT
ISSUES
In Individuals with ASD
By Dalia Zwick, PT, PhD
On Tuesday, February 27th, Shema Kolainu -
Hear Our Voices hosted a free autism workshop
at Touro College. Acclaimed Physical Therapist,
Dalia Zwick, PhD, presented a therapeutic approach
to the posture and gait issues in individuals with ASD,
Autism Spectrum Disorder. The room was filled with
Physical Therapists, parents of autistic children, Special
Education teachers, Early Intervention Specialists
and other healthcare professionals.
This workshop focused on proper body alignment and
physical positioning for children with Autism but was
also very informative on general posture imbalances
and the importance of correcting them.
Her unique specialty was derived from her yoga practice
as well as taking on an interest in sketching and
animation to better understand correct body posturing
whether it’s sitting, standing, walking, or even sleeping.
People are often disconnected with how they feel in
their bodies and this especially true for those on the
spectrum. For these individuals, there can be a lot of
sensory issues that play into uncomfortable body positioning
and even toe walking which can lead to more
serious issues
The group participated in a few exercises to experience
imbalanced strain, realignment and proper body positioning.
Dr. Zwick developed using parallel bars in her
practice to help individuals feel how to stand correctly
and comfortably aligned. Another interesting point she
made was that children on the spectrum don’t ever
get a chance to relax if their body isn’t supported and
comfortable. Relaxation is extremely important for our
overall health and particularly necessary in order for
children to be alert and engaged in their learning environment.
The free workshop series is a great opportunity to gain
knowledge from some of the best resources in the field
of Autism. These Autism workshops are made possible
by the NYC Council Autism Initiative and are held
throughout the year. The next event will take place on
March 27th featuring Sara Goldstein on AAC – Augmentative
and Alternative Communication.
To sign up for a free workshop,
please visit shemakolainu.org or contact info@skhov.org.
www.ShemaKolainu.org | Kolainu - Our Voice | March 2018 7

팅ᰠ턅
䨀 匀 䔀 一
䨀 䔀 圀 䤀 匀 䠀 匀 倀 䔀 䌀 䤀 䄀 䰀 䔀 䐀 唀 䌀 䄀 吀 䤀 伀 一 一 䔀 吀 圀 伀 刀 䬀
䨀 伀 䤀 一 唀 匀 ⸀

EVENTS
SHEMA KOLAINU UPCOMING FREE
AUTISM WORKSHOPS
AAC - Augmentative and Alternative
Communication
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
Sarah Goldstein, M.S. Ed., CCC-SLP, TSSLD
Teaching Yoga and Other Physical
Activities to Children with Autism and
Developmental Delays
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
Dr. Gruber, MEd, PhD, BCBA-D, Lic. BA
Opening Doors for Employment:
Observations on Promoting Success for
Individuals on the Autism Spectrum
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Dr. Stephen Shore
Autism Feeding Disorder Treatments
Thursday, June 28, 2018
Dina Ezagui, M.S., CCC-SLP, TSSLD
We extend our thanks to
The New York City Council Autism Initiative
for providing the necessary funds for this program.
All workshops will take place at
Touro College
33 W 23rd St., New York, NY
Room 314
9:30am - 12:00pm
www.ShemaKolainu.org | Kolainu - Our Voice | March 2018 9

Shema Kolainu Welcomes
GUESTS FROM TEL AVIV, ISRAEL
EVENTS
Dr. Weinstein led the meeting and offered valuable
insights. Among the topics discussed were Home and
Center based programs, training programs extended to
parents and caregivers, and Applied Behavior Analysis
(ABA), the underlying educational approach practiced
at Shema Kolainu. ABA entails the comprehensive
application of behavioral principles to enhance the
development, abilities, and self direction skills of children
and adults.
Mrs. Shirley Rimon Bracha and Dr. Joshua Weinstein
Shema Kolainu - Hear Our Voices, was pleased to
welcome Mrs. Shirley Rimon Bracha, Chief of the
Department of Education in Tel Aviv, Israel, along
with her colleagues and Ms. Sivan Aloni, Assistant to the
Consul General of Israel to meet our children, observe,
and learn about our programs and the methods practiced
and implemented daily in the lives of ASD students and
their families.
During their visit, our guests were particularly impressed
with SKHOV's Daily Living Skills Center, where our
children are trained to lead independent lives to their
full potential. The tour also entailed our fully equipped
classrooms, including the Multi-sensory room, which
offers a therapeutic approach to teaching the children
visual tracking and cause-and-effect associations.
The delegates were greeted by Dr. Joshua Weinstein,
SKHOV Founder and CEO, Mr. Ezra Friedlander, CEO
of The Friedlander Group, Mrs. Suri Gruen, our Program
Director and Mrs. Gili Rechany, our Educational Director.
Chief and Members of the Tel Aviv Board of Education, Dr. Joshua Weinstein, Ezra
Friedlander, and SKHOV staff
In appreciation, Mrs. Rimon Bracha and colleagues
presented Dr. Weinstein with a gift from Israel and, in
turn, were given an individual piece of SKHOV students'
framed artwork, commemorating the milestones of their
many accomplishments.
From center counterclockwise: Dr. Joshua Weinstein, Mr. Ezra Friedlander, Mrs.
Shirley Rimon Bracha, Mrs. Liza Ben-Hamo, Mrs. Lea Zida, Mrs. Ruthy Enzel,
Mrs. Gili Rechany, and Mrs. Suri Gruen
As the meeting concluded, Dr. Weinstein reflected on
the many blessings and miracles that have contributed to
Shema Kolainu's success and our students' achievements.
www.ShemaKolainu.org | Kolainu - Our Voice | March 2018 11

SHEMA KOLAINU -
HEAR OUR VOICES
HOSTS
18TH
ANNUAL
LEGISLATIVE
BREAKFAST
12
“Dr. Joshua Weinstein
reflected on the many
blessings and miracles that
have contributed to Shema
Kolainu’s success and its
students’ achievements.”
Shema Kolainu, “Hear Our Voices”, celebrated the 18th
Year of its Annual Legislative Breakfast with a new venue
and location: The Princeton Club in New York, New
York. Dr. Joshua Weinstein, Shema Kolainu, “Hear Our
Voices” Founder and CEO, welcomed and thanked esteemed
guests and honorees for their support of Shema
Kolainu and its international research constituency,
ICareForAutism. The Legislative Breakfast played host
and stage to New York City’s most notable legislative
supporters and political representatives for Autism Advocacy:
Dr.Kathleen Cashin, PH.D, Member of the
Board of Regents, Kalman Yeger, the esteemed Master
of Ceremonies for the last seven years, and Letitia
James, the Public Advocate for the City of New York
and the second highest ranking elected official in the
City.
The 18th Annual Legislative Breakfast celebrated the
2017 Honorees and their accomplishments and contributions
to the Special Needs Community: Saima
Wazed Hossain, Chairperson for the Bangladesh
National Advisory Committee for Autism and Neurodevelopmental
Disorders; Jennie Berger, Community
Liaison for the Office of New York City Council Speaker
Melissa Mark-Viverito; and New York City Councilmembers
Brad Lander and Mark Levine. The hon-
www.ShemaKolainu.org | Kolainu - Our Voice | March 2018

orees were bestowed with awards, individual pieces of
students’ framed artwork, which serve as commemorative
milestones of the Shema Kolainu students’ accomplishments.
The four honorees next delivered inspiring
addresses pledging and reaffirming their support and
commitment to Shema Kolainu and the Special Needs
Community.
The first honoree, Saima Wazed Hossain, Chairperson
for the Bangladesh National Advisory Committee for
Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, was the
recipient of the International Champion Award whose
made valuable contributions to the Autism Community.
The award was accepted on her behalf by His Excellency
Masud Bin Momen, the Bangladeshi Ambassador to
the U.N. Saima’s advocacy and commitment to autism
rights has resulted in Bangladesh revolutionizing their
approach to advocating for autism rights and has become
a role model for the international community.
The second set of honorees, Brad Lander and Mark
Levine, New York City Council members, were the recipients
of the City Leadership Award. Their commitment
to the Autism Initiative, funded by the New York
City Council, greatly enhances Shema Kolainu’s ability
to provide parent training workshops for families with
autistic children. Their ongoing advocacy has allowed
us to fund our parent training and workshops for caregivers,
advocates, parents, and families.
The final honoree, Jennie Berger, Community Liaison
for the Office of New York City Council Speaker Melissa
Mark-Viverito, was the recipient of the Hakoras
Hatov Award. Jennie’s has tirelessly championed the
autism initiative and has also been an advocate for
children and families with autism. Jennie’s efforts have
furthered Shema Kolainu’s mission and preserved the
existence of its educational programs across the city.
As the 2017 Legislative breakfast came to a close,
Dr. Joshua Weinstein reflected on the many blessings
and miracles that have contributed to Shema Kolainu’s
success and its students’ achievements. Dr. Weinstein
also thanked the school’s many community supporters
and commented on how 2018 will be a monumental
year for Shema Kolainu with the onset of its 20th anniversary
and the commencement of the school’s $2.1
million grant awarded expansion project for the 3rd
floor to the existing building.
www.ShemaKolainu.org | Kolainu - Our Voice | March 2018 13

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HOME CARE AT A GLANCE
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What is Home Health Care?
The ability to remain in their own homes
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sense of control in the face of physical
limitations, which often strips them of
that very sense of independence.
Research shows that levels of happiness
and personal satisfaction in the geriatric
population are directly correlated to
one’s sense of self-autonomy. However,
parents are frequently urged by their
own children with great intention, to
move out of the comfort of their own
home. Not taking consideration of their
parents’ safety, personal care,
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What is CDPAP?
CDPAP is a New York State Medicaid
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JOIN US AS WE CELBRATE OUR 15 TH YEAR!
NEW YORK CITY
15TH ANNUAL
MAY 1–4, 2018
Wyndham New Yorker Hotel
Over 100 Speakers
More than 80
Conference Sessions
Half-Day Workshops
40 Exhibitors &
Over 1,000
Attendees Expected
To register go to:
www.YoungChildExpo.com
or call 212-787-9700, ext. 333
REGISTER BEFORE APRIL 6, 2018
Early Bird & Group Discounts Available
GREAT SPEAKERS. GREAT LEARNING.
HELPING YOUNG CHILDREN LEARN & GROW.
TOPICS
ABA
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Autism Essentials
Behavior Management
Developmental Discipline
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Educational Policy
Music and Learning
Play
Social Skills Development
Speech Language Issues
. . . and many more
The Young Child Expo & Conference will provide
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Great training for all early childhood professionals:
• Teachers • Special Ed Teachers • Psychologists • SW
• Speech • OT • PT • ABA • Pediatricians • Child Care
Professionals • Program Directors/Principals/Administrators
Presented by

TIPS FOR CAREGIVERS
10 WAYS TO
ENCOURAGE SPEECH
Every child may not speak at the same pace, but every
child is also very different. Even the slightest improvement
in their communication can help reduce frustration
in their everyday routine. Below are 10 ways for
parents to help encourage language for their child.
PLAYING
Creating a time, even 15 minutes a day, to sit down
with your child with minimum distractions and engaging
them can be fundamental for their speech development.
Play allows time to practice skills learned in
school or elsewhere. Let your child take the lead, as
play builds confidence without pressure to talk.
say. For example, if your child already says “bear,” you
can say “big bear” or “brown bear.”
PAUSING
Often it will take children longer to process your question
or understand what is being spoken about. Give
your child a chance to respond.
PRAISING
Try to include specific comments about what the child
is doing exactly, so that they are earning praise. They
learn best from your interest in things, especially your
interest in the things that they do and say.
READING
Make a habit of reading to your child or
letting your child read to you every
day. Select books that are easyto-follow,
with familiar stories for
young children. Talk about what
you're seeing in the pictures.
Asking your child what sounds
the animals in the pictures make
gets him/her to practice speech
skills, as well.
“The basic building of
good communication is the
feeling that every
human being is unique and
of value.”
REPEATING
It is important to repeat what your child
says, clearly and correctly, so that he/
she can hear how it should sound,
and reinforce the language that
goes with the action. If the child
repeats the words incorrectly,
just gently repeat the words in
the correct way, so that he/she
understands the difference.
LISTENING
Children are motivated when they feel that
you place value in what they say. Set aside some
quiet “listening time” during discussion or play time
alongside the child.
SLOWING DOWN
Family members can reduce their conversational rate
of speech to a slow, soothing style. Try to use simple
words and an easy tone of voice.
MODELING
Modeling useful words can help children jumpstart their
vocabulary-building. Expanding on what was said is
another useful tool (i.e. "Want cookie?" "I have cookie."
"I have a chocolate cookie." "Do you want more cookie?”).
Add more words to what your child can already
USING YOUR ENVIRONMENT
Having some things that are out of your
child’s reach can be very helpful in building
language. To do this, you will need something that
you know your child will want, such as a favorite toy or
food. They will need to ask you for help when getting it
if it is in a place that they cannot reach. You can teach
them to ask you for attention and to say, “help me,” or
label the item that they cannot reach.
BEING PATIENT
Remember that every child learns at and individual
pace, and that development takes time and patience.
You cannot expect things to suddenly change overnight.
By Jennifer Lian, MA CCC-SLP
www.ShemaKolainu.org | Kolainu - Our Voice | March 2018 17

SUCCESS STORIES
A DAY IN OUR CLASSROOM
W
hat does an average day in our classroom
look like? With six energetic boys, there’s
no such thing. Our day includes a variety of
activities designed to facilitate learning and interaction.
The children’s excitement about being in school is
evident on their smiling faces.
MORNING CIRCLE
The children sing “Good Morning” and discuss the day
of the week and the weather. But a closer look reveals
that more is actually going on. When asked what the
weather outside is like, Ronnie says it’s raining. This
is a major step for him, as he is learning to answer
18
questions! Aryeh told the class that a storm is coming.
That is significant progress, as well, as he learns to
socialize with his peers.
WORK TIME
The children are working on different skills geared
toward meeting their specific needs. Today, Daniel is
learning to tell time on an analog clock. He’s so excited
as he reads the hour hand and can tell everyone when
it’s ten o’clock. Jacob is learning to do simple addition.
You can see the pride on his face when he shows his
completed math sheet to his teacher.
www.ShemaKolainu.org | Kolainu - Our Voice | March 2018

SCIENCE CENTER TIME
Filled with anticipation, our children eagerly try to
guess what we’ll be learning as they sit down around
the table. Aryeh asks, “Is it going to be sink and float
today?” He’s using the vocabulary words the class
had learned. The children listen quietly to the lesson
about “melting” and “freezing,” which also introduces
a big word such as “temperature.” We discuss what
happens to water when the temperature falls. The
students are puzzled when we give them an ice cube
with a little toy frozen inside.
We ask them how we get the toy out? Jacob suggests
using a toy hammer. Daniel is curious to see what
happens if we throw the cube onto the table. Aryeh
tries to roll the ice cube to loosen the toy, and Ronnie
comments that it’s “all wet.” These are more steps
towards our students goal. The children are interacting
and learning from each other, making predictions,
and using new words.
Ultimately, we discover
that warm water will melt
the ice cube and release
the toy. The children
excitedly run to the sink to
give it a try.
Every day, our children are
learning social, academic,
and daily living skills, and
we as educators celebrate
their every success.
GYM TIME
Now is a great time to release pent-up energy. As we
turn off the lights, Eliyahu runs to line up at the door,
a step for him in learning to follow the daily routine.
The children walk down the hallway nicely and quietly
as previously practiced. In the gym, Mordechai runs to
choose a song for Zumba (another step for him – he’s
learning to read!), and the children follow the motions
together — another step! Our class has learned to
imitate the motions and follow along in action songs.
“Let’s play Hide and Seek,” Daniel calls out. This
recently-learned game requires cooperation and turntaking
skills. Daniel counts in the front of the room,
while the other kids run to hide. When it’s time for cooldown,
Mordechai reads the list of relaxing songs and
chooses the one he wants to hear.
This is an “ordinary” day at
Shema Kolainu, but what is
going on is "extraordinary".
SUCCESS STORIES
LUNCHTIME
This is another opportunity to practice learned skills.
The children wash their hands before eating and
bring their own placemats and lunch to the table.
Today, Daniel is learning to eat his chicken cutlets
independently and his friends are cheering him on.
Eliyahu requests a drink using his communication
device, and Ronnie says he is “all done lunch.”
Mordechai remains seated at the table for the entire
time. Another step for each of them!
LIBRARY TIME
The children have been looking forward to this visit all
week. Each child holds a teacher’s hand as we walk
to the Brooklyn Children’s Library. Faces light up at
the sight of the familiar-looking building. Ronnie says,
“We’re going to the library.” That’s five words in one
sentence! Once inside, we
proceed to the children’s
section and sit on the
continues.
floor. The teacher begins
to read a book while the
class listens quietly. This
is another step for our
students, who are learning
to attend to stories of
progressively longer
duration. It’s amazing to
see the avid interest on
their faces as the story
Afterwards, the children browse through the aisles for
books that interest them. Aryeh is looking for a book on
insects and Jacob wants a book on zombies. Ronnie
finds a book on whales and sits down to read. When it’s
time to leave, the children eagerly clutch their library
books and head to the check-out booth, patiently
waiting their turn to scan their books. Mordechai thanks
the librarian while making eye contact, and Eliyahu
walks down the stairs so nicely. Another step for our
children!
This is an “ordinary” day at Shema Kolainu, but what is
going on is extraordinary. Every day, our children are
learning social, academic, and daily living skills, and
we as educators celebrate their every success.
www.ShemaKolainu.org | Kolainu - Our Voice | March 2018 19

Shema Kolainu
ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS
Children at Shema Kolainu participated in a variety of fun and skills-based activities that
demonstrated their many talents, including challah- and cookie-baking, and arts and crafts.
The SKHOV staff enjoyed sampling their tasty treats and displaying their creative artwork in
our classrooms and offices.
www.ShemaKolainu.org | Kolainu - Our Voice | March 2018 21

Extended Home Care is specially licensed to serve cognitively and
neurologically impaired individuals across the age spectrum in all five
boroughs. We offer in-home support to meet your family member’s
health, developmental and safety needs by providing:
Skilled Nursing
Home Health Aides
Physical Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Speech Therapy
Social Work
Contact: Lana Matsko, RN, VP of BD
360 West 31 st Street, Suite 304, New York, NY 10001
Phone: 212-356-4200

TIPS TO CAREGIVERS
Shema Kolainu Partners with
Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures ®
major focus for children with special needs is
A activities of daily living including hygiene and
grooming, such as brushing your teeth and hair.
There are also a lot of sensory issues that come
into play where these children can be hyper or
hypo-sensitive to these activities and their needs
need to be addressed with special attention. A lot
of parents reach out to our staff asking for help
with their children’s oral health habits. Shema
Kolainu with the direction of Alexa Moses, one
of our Occupational Therapists, is partnering
with Colgate ® to
introduce a dental
care and oral health
program to all of the
children at Shema
Kolainu.
The classroom is
a great place to
teach dental care
and oral health to
kids using exciting
games and
activities.
These activities are geared towards helping
children get excited about taking great
care of their teeth and gums while encouraging
healthy habits
Shema Kolainu is excited to launch this new program
through the OT department aimed at promoting
independence in tooth brushing. Keeping up with one’s
oral health is a very important component of healthy
daily living. For many children on the Autism Spectrum,
oral health habits and getting good oral care can be
challenging. Shema Kolainu decided to tackle this issue
head on, and applied to participate in the Colgate Bright
Smiles, Bright Futures ®. This program is designed to
help all children learn healthy habits that bring a bright
smile and a bright future with a simple dental hygiene
curriculum.
Colgate prides itself as being a company that feels a
civic responsibility to support the health, education,
and welfare of the community. As one of the selected
programs, Shema Kolainu received a kit containing
easy to use in-class materials and enough tooth
brushes and tooth pastes for all students to work on
this very important grooming skill.
To launch our program, we created visual schedules
and designed a task analysis to examine where
underlying issues may occur. Each classroom received
a number of printable materials, and lessons were
broken down from the simple mechanics of tooth
brushing to targeting sensory issues
surrounding it. Our students also
learned about overall hygiene through
a series of fun activities (i.e. mazes,
word searches, coloring and cutting
activities, and creating tooth boxes
and other crafts). Fears surrounding
dentists’ visits were dispelled through
social stories and videos educating
our students about what to expect
when they visit the dentist. We also
sang a collection of catchy songs to
make brushing teeth an enjoyable
experience. At the conclusion of the
program, each student will receive a
well-earned certificate acknowledging
their success as a “Tooth Defender.” We can’t wait to
see the bright smiles of the students at Shema Kolainu!
The Tooth Defender Pledge reads:
“I’ll give good oral health a try
And dazzle the world with my brilliant smile.
So here’s the secret I now know:
Healthy teeth helps keep me healthy…
From tooth to toe!”
Alexa Moses, MS, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Shema Kolainu-Hear Our Voices
4302 New Utrecht Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11219
(718) 686-9600 x1140
amoses@skhov.org
Special thanks to Colgate ® for sending extra
brushing kits to our entire school.
www.ShemaKolainu.org | Kolainu - Our Voice | March 2018 23

GENERALIZATION
OF LANGUAGE
OUTSIDE OF THE
SCHOOL SETTING
By Sara Goldstein, M.S. Ed CCC-SLP
As much as we would like a child’s speech and
language to develop overnight, it unfortunately
does not. As a speech-language pathologist
who has experience working with children who are
nonverbal or who have language delays, I have heard
many parents express that they want their child to develop
a communication system as soon as they can!
Other parents say that they don’t see the wonderful
words they are using at school, at home or when they
are playing with siblings or friends on the playground.
There are many tips to assist parents in ‘pulling out’ the
language that children use in their school environment,
at home.
Generalization is when a certain skill is exhibited in
various settings with various people. When a teacher
reports that the child generalizes skills in different
settings, they are expressing that the child has shown
that they have the skill in different places besides the
classroom, such as the speech room, the gym, or even
in a different classroom from their own. Generalization
with other individuals is when the skill is represented
with different people, such as the classroom teacher,
speech-language pathologist, physical education
teacher, or even family members! Some skills are more
difficult to generalize then others, whether it may be
regarding different places, or with different people.
Communication is both verbal and nonverbal. Believe it
or not, if your child is pointing to desired items, they are
requesting for it using nonverbal language! Nonverbal
language may also be represented by hugs, waving,
or even smiling! For children who are at the beginning
of their language and speech development process, it
is important to encourage them to use their voice! If
they are babbling (goo goo gaga) do it back! As funny
as this sounds, your child may do it back, and before
you know it you will be having a ‘conversation.’ There
are many ways to elicit language and communication,
and here are some ways that your child’s communication
can be generalized with you as well as out of their
school environment!
1. Repeat what your child is doing during play- Play
is a great way to elicit language! When your child is
playing, say, “choo-choo” as you play with the train, or
“vroom vroom” when playing with a car. If your child
produces “ahh” when moving a train around, do it back!
The child may think that it is funny you are making the
same noises they are!
2. Deception- Although many people think deception
is a negative thing, it is one of the best ways to elicit
spontaneous language and communication! By leaving
a desired item or item needed to complete the task out
of the environment, it encourages children to ask or
reach for an item! For example, if your child is eating
and a spoon is not accessible, it provides an opportunity
to ask for the item! Another way to use deception is
when a piece from a game is left out or even a puzzle
piece from a puzzle. The child is more willing to ask for
the item, as they need it to participate!
3. Reading books!- Books are an awesome way to increase
vocabulary, as well as to provide a topic of discussion.
By reading books that include topics that the
child is interested in, the child is more likely to engage.
This encourages an increase in vocabulary! Books
that include sounds or manipulatives are even better
to use, as it makes it more fun for the child, as well as
more opportunities to request for items!
www.ShemaKolainu.org | Kolainu - Our Voice | March 2018 25

care.
love.
where your care is our concern
leading you to a better health
trust.
our family caring for yours
1825-65 th street brooklyn ny 11204
718.584.6900
info@bluelinehc.com

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