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Triveni Goswami Vernal(Registered Special Educator CRR A64010) Creative Movement Therapy is a part of Expressive Arts Therapy that uses movement to create integration between multi-modal aspects of well being—cognitive, emotional, social and physical. It helps individuals explore the relation of the body that they have, to the space they occupy in various environments by working on their spatial…

Triveni Goswami Vernal(Registered Special Educator CRR: A64010) April is designated as World Autism Awareness Month and April 2nd is celebrated as World Autism Awareness Day, every year. There are several events organized around the world to celebrate the unique abilities of individuals with Autism, as well as to create awareness about the Autism Spectrum. But while doing so, we must keep in…

Triveni Goswami Vernal(Registered Special Educator CRR: A64010) April is designated as World Autism Awareness Month and April 2nd is celebrated as World Autism Awareness Day, every year. There are several events organized around the world to celebrate the unique abilities of individuals with Autism, as well as to create awareness about the Autism Spectrum. But while doing so, we must keep in…

Triveni Goswami VernalRegistered Special Educator (CRR: A64010) The act of caregiving can take a toll physically, emotionally and mentally. It is a full-time job, very often, with no respite. And it is seen, that mothers usually bear the brunt of the caregiving because most often than not, they choose to give up their careers at their peak, and work with the child at home. Women are also the…

Triveni Goswami VernalRegistered Special Educator (CRR A64010) The previous blog provided an overview of what Gestalt Language Processing is, the various stages and the sources that can be referred to, to understand the origin and context of the phrases used. This blog, will look at how AACs can be used for Gestalt Language Processors. All AACs basically target the use of Core and Fringe words.…

Triveni Goswami VernalRegistered Special Educator (CRR A64010) The previous blog looked at how both minimally speaking as well as non-speaking individuals on the Autism Spectrum may be Gestalt Language Processors. This blog will have two parts—Part 1 will provide a brief overview of Gestalt Language Processing and what it entails. Part 2 will shed light on how AACs can be used by Gestalt…

Triveni Goswami VernalRegistered Special Educator (CRR A64010) Individuals on the Autism Spectrum often have challenges with language as well as communication. Some individuals may be considered completely verbal but still struggle with communication. While some others may have minimal speech and there may still be others, who are considered non-speaking and have no speech. It is important to…

Triveni Goswami VernalRegistered Special Educator (A64010) In the natural world, Penguins (especially two species, Adelie and Gentoo)  are known to present smooth pebbles used for nest building to their partner as part of their courtship display (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pebbling). In humans too, one can see evidence of “pebbling” when they send gifts, or engage in actions that convey to…

Triveni Goswami VernalRegistered Special EducatorCRR: A64010 I was recently invited to share my story as a Human Book as part of the second cohort of a course on Bibliotherapy, wonderfully curated by Dr.Vibhuti Sharma  and Sagarika Sukhija (batchmates and now friends from my Expressive Arts Therapy training in 2024).There was another speaker, Shveta Kapur, a Mindfulness and Wellbeing coach  who…

The Sunflower Lanyard: Process of Application and its Benefits for individuals on the Autism Spectrum Triveni Goswami Vernal(Registered Special Educator CRR A64010) We have all heard of the Sunflower lanyard and how it helps create better accessibility for individuals with hidden disabilities, like Autism, during air travel.I recently travelled to Guwahati from Hyderabad and decided to apply…

Triveni Goswami VernalRegistered Special Educator (CRR A64010) The first part of this blog provided an overview of Photosensitive Epilepsy and what the triggers for it, might be, whereas the second part of the blog will shed light on Photoparoxysmal Response (PPR) in individuals on the Autism Spectrum. WHAT IS PHOTOPAROXYSMAL RESPONSE (PPR)? Photoparoxysmal Response refers to abnormal…

Triveni Goswami VernalRegistered Special Educator (CRR A64010) I have often heard from other parents that a repeated exposure to strobe lights, flashing lights and repetitive visual patterns, can sometimes trigger seizures in individuals on the Autism spectrum. For a lot of individuals with Autism, epilepsy is a co-morbid condition. Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by…

Triveni Goswami VernalRegistered Special Educator (CRR: A64010) Drama Therapy is a form of expressive arts therapy that utilizes tools from theatre and drama, such as story-telling, role playing, creative body movements etc to improve mental health, facilitate social communication and foster personal growth. WHAT DOES RESEARCH SAY ABOUT DRAMA THERAPY AND NEURODIVERSITY? Dramatherapy for children…

Triveni Goswami Vernal(Registered Special Educator CRR: A64010) Drama Therapy is a form of Expressive Arts Therapy that uses techniques from drama and theatre to facilitate the expression of thoughts, emotions, desires etc through role playing, story-telling, improvisations, puppetry, use of masks etc. It is often used for emotional regulation, enabling communication, build social skills and…

Triveni Goswami Vernal (Registered Special Educator CRR A64010) The previous blog provided a brief overview of Dance / Movement Therapy (DMT) and its benefits. This blog will look at how DMT can be used with the neurodiverse population. DMT has been found to improve motor skills (balance and coordination), strengthen body awareness, foster social and communication skills, and may build upon…

Triveni Goswami Vernal(Registered Special Educator CRR A64010) The American Dance Therapy Association (ADTA) defines Dance / Movement Therapy (DMT) as the “psychotherapeutic use of movement to promote emotional, social, cognitive, and physical integration of the individual, for the purpose of improving health and well-being” (accessed from the website…

Triveni Goswami Vernal Registered Special Educator (CRR A64010) Dance is so much more than a mere activity of leisure—one that has innumerable benefits for mental, physical and emotional health. I have always admired people who can dance. I think it is one of most “freeing” activities one can engage in—to move your body to a rhythm, to any kind of music –to feel truly alive.If one has two left…