Mindfulness made Ezy
A mindfulness program for people with Developmental Disabilities.- !/2 off Special price
Enroll in CourseYou Will Learn
About mindfulness and mindful breathing.
How to become more aware of the stress you feel
How to become more aware of sights and sounds outside you body.
How to become aware of your emotions.
How to become more aware of your thoughts.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Most people with autism and other developmental disabilities now live in the community – with their families, in group homes, with foster care providers, in supported living situations, or on their own. Living in the community has many positive benefits but also many potential risks. People who have developmental disabilities (DD) experience as much, and frequently more, stress than people in the general population. While many of the stressors are similar to those in the general population (e.g., money, work, crime, violence), people who have autism and other developmental disabilities also experienced different worries than their non-disabled peers --for example, poor coping skills, being bullied, failing in life, and making and keeping friends.
Factors associated with stress for adolescents and adults with DD, such as social exclusion, limited support networks, discrimination, bullying, and loneliness negatively influence their mental health, putting them at risk for mental health difficulties such as depression, anxiety, and severe behavior problems. When faced with stressful situations, adolescents and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities commonly attempt to alter the stressful situation via avoidant, maladaptive coping strategies like suppressing, denying, or avoiding stressful events and thoughts, avoiding situations that stimulate difficult thoughts and feelings, and acting out and problem behaviors. While it is impossible to eliminate all the stressors that adults with autism and other developmental disabilities experience, it is possible to teach adolescents and adults adaptive strategies to cope effectively with these stressors. The goal of this program is to help individuals with DD develop psychological flexibility by using mindfulness-based strategies for coping with the stressors in their lives.
The Mindfulness Made Ezy program is designed for people with developmental disabilities. Video lessons accompanied with easy to read worksheets and audio stress management exercises make this an ideal program for people with limited reading skills. The program is designed to be done together – by you and the person with developmental disabilities. In the program we call the caregiver – parent, direct support staff, advocate, or friend – the LEARNING PARTNER. The person with a disability is called the LEARNER. Together, both LEARNING PARTNER and LEARNER go through each section of the program. There are seven section that you do together. Each section consists of a different mindfulness exercise. Each lesson will have a short video program followed by a worksheet that is done together. We also have a downloadable MP3 mindfulness audio exercise that can be downloaded for you and the LEARNER to use at other times in the day.
Your Instructor
- I am the owner of Double S Instructional Systems and have received federal funding for over 20 National Institutes of Health Small Business grant projects. I have developed instructional programs on dangerous drug prevention, nutrition, weight loss and exercise, leisure, future planning, stress reduction, anger management, and abuse prevention for people with developmental disabilities and their support providers. For 12 years I worked first as a teacher and then as an administrator in charge of programs for high school students with developmental disabilities. At that time, I supervised classrooms for students with autism and other developmental disabilities. I ran a foster care home for individuals with autism and intellectual disabilities for seven years. I also worked as a consultant for group homes helping staff with adults with disabilities who had a range of anger management problems. I am the coauthor of Managing the Cycle of Meltdowns for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. I have worked as a therapist for a local counseling center and specialized in helping individuals with a variety of mental health problems. I am a certified DIR "Floortime" Provider and hold an adult education teaching certificate. I currently provide training to individuals with developmental disabilities, parents, care providers, and professionals-- helping them to adopt a healthier lifestyle and also helping them manage their stress by using mindfulness techniques.
There is enthusiastic support for the program
Here is what some people with developmental disabilities say:
“Short and simple to follow.” “Sweet, simple and right to the point.”
Here is what some caregivers say about the mindfulness activities:
“It helps me with my stress,”
“The breathing [activities] calm me down.”