DVD models behavior for autistic children

Poway couple create 'Kibbles' for kids

By Patty McCormac For the North County Times | Saturday, April 19, 2008 10:41 PM PDT ∞

POWAY ---- Sometimes it's difficult for children with autism to catch on to everyday life skills, like how to greet another person, how to express themselves in appropriate ways and how to understand others by their body language.

To make it a little easier for them, a Poway couple have produced a DVD geared to autistic children ages 2 to 7, with an upbeat, positive, musical message. It's called "Kibbles Rockin' Clubhouse." Scott and Anne Leslie came up with the idea after their son, Gage, was diagnosed with autism.

According to the Autism Society of America, autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life. The result of a neurological disorder, autism affects the brain's normal development in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. Children and adults with autism typically have difficulties in verbal and nonverbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities.

The Leslies noticed that Gage responded to music on television shows such as "Blue's Clues," but when they went looking for other products that captured his attention in the same way, they found none, Anne Leslie said.

Since the couple own a production company that produces videos for businesses and other clients, they thought they would produce this teaching video.

"Kibbles Rockin' Clubhouse," is set in an after-school clubhouse where children are taught through music, games and stories, she said.

Kibbles, a puppet, and his faithful dog Piddles, another puppet, team up with humans Handy Sam, Miss Angela and a cast of children to get out their message.

"The kids learn appropriate behavior using peer models to show the way things should be done," Anne Leslie said. "The very first segment is about greeting, the right way to greet, to look the other person in the eye. You shake their hand and say hi, hello or howdy."

Then there is a song tied to the skills.

"That's the format. You learn a skill, you see a peer model and then a fun song that reinforces the skill," Scott Leslie said.

Their video, the Leslies said, is catching on.

"We have had a great response from parents," Anne Leslie said.

Patricia Collier of San Marcos is so pleased with what her 2-year-old autistic son has learned from Volume One that she can't wait for the next editions.

"I'm waiting for as many volumes as they make," she said.

Since viewing the DVD, she said, her son makes eye contact when greeting people and has learned when things don't go his way to sit down, take deep breaths and count to three, another lesson taught on the DVD.

"We love it," said Cara Lucier of Encinitas, who has a 4-year-old son who is autistic. "Our son responds so well to it. He picked up many things that were on his therapy goals, like understanding human emotions. He was able to make sad faces."

She said it helped him with communications so that he can look someone in the eye when he says hello, a skill that is sometimes difficult for autistic children.

"He learned about different ways to say hello, like hi or howdy, how to mix it up," she said.

The other kids in the neighborhood like the DVD, too, she said, though they are not autistic. "They like it for the songs," Lucier said.

She picked up her copy at a meeting of the Autism Tree, a nonprofit organization that has a mentoring program for children, parents and teachers.

Eventually, the Leslies said, they plan to offer a series of videos covering many aspects. For Volume One, "Expressing Yourself," they worked with Angela Neve and Julie Guy, both music therapists and cofounders of The Music Therapy Center of California in San Diego, and Kara Dodds, a speech pathologist. They developed the storyline, and wrote the music and the script. Then they put out a casting call for children of different ages who could sing and dance. Neve, who has a degree in extended neurological music therapy, also acts as Miss Angela in the DVD.

"I think these (videos) stand out from the regular videos that you would buy off the market," said Neve, "because they use peer models in a very targeted way and the music is crafted to directly teach a specific social skill."

She said the music works like glue: "It helps the skill stick onto the child's memory."

Dr. Alan Lincoln, a licensed psychologist for the Center of Autism Research, Evaluation and Research in San Diego has not seen the DVD, but he does recommend the method of teaching it employs.

"Video modeling for training social skills is quite effective," he said. "It breaks down the issues into very small components so they are more digestible. You can go back to it over and over again."

In "Expressing Yourself," children learn the importance of saying hello and goodbye, how to make masks representing different emotions and how to recognize what others are feeling by reading body language and vocal tone. They also learn how to use words to let people know how they are feeling or what they want, and learn to accept that things don't always go their way. Subsequent DVDs will cover other social skills such as manners, friends, being a helper, etc.

The DVD has a segment just for parents that teaches them how to engage their children and what they should do if their child has been newly diagnosed with autism, she said.

Call (866) 552-9032 or visit www.noteabilities.com. Suggested retail price is $24.95.

Autism Fast Facts

-- 1 in 150 children will be diagnosed with Autism

-- 1 to 1.5 million Americans affected

-- Fastest-growing developmental disability

-- 10 percent to 17 percent annual growth

-- Growth comparison during the 1990s:

U.S. population increase: 13 percent

Disabilities increase: 16 percent

Autism increase: 172 percent

-- $90 billion annual cost in U.S.

-- Cost of lifelong care can be reduced by 2/3 with early diagnosis and intervention

-- In 10 years, the annual cost will be $200-400 billion

---- With thanks to the Autism Society of America