articles - Matthew's Puzzle - Autism Recovery, Gluten Free, Green Living Mom Blog

AutisMate iPad App Review

February 16, 2013 By Maryann

I don’t think anyone expected the iPad to become the go-to product for working with autistic individuals, but it really has become the perfect vehicle to help them learn and communicate. AutisMate is a new app available through iTunes or the AppStore that encompasses many tools that are usually separate products, brings them together and allows them to be customizable and portable.

AutisMate offers preexisting scenes, but more interestingly, the ability to build your own scenes with photos that mean something to the person with autism. I built one using a photo of our pantry. I used the tool to put “hotspots” on the photo which are “clickable”. I used hotspots to designate the area where gluten free snacks are stored in our home. I also opted to record my own voice instead of using the synthesized voice that comes with the app. I think this is a great option since it allows the user to hear familiar voices in the correct setting. You may wish to have a teacher or therapist record their voice in the school or therapy settings. This helps to build consistency which is very important when dealing with autistic children who thrive on stability.

AutisMate also offers the ability to create visual stories which can be likened to social stories. You can, again, populate the stories with photos of specific items and people in your child’s life. This would be great for all sorts of situations such as going to school, to the dentist or even on vacation. As long as you have photos you can customize these stories and review them as often as necessary. If something changes, you can easily change the scene.

photo provided by AutisMate

It also offers a Sentence Builder which uses PEC type symbols and allows the user to “write” sentences to communicate wants, needs or information. There is the Visual Scheduler portion which allows you to customize routines and schedules for your child. These can be very helpful for children that need reminders of what to do in certain situations or at different times of the day.

AutisMate is a complete toolkit which can be completely individualized for each user. It can also easily be updated as a user’s skills and needs change. The fact that it is on an iPad not only makes it interesting but it is very portable and there is a GPS option which can build items around your location. AutisMate retails for $149.99. It is not limited to those with autism, but instead, can be used for anyone with communication issues. For more information visit AutisMate online.

I was provided with a free beta version of AutisMate to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

Friday Favorites Date #FridayFavorites

February 15, 2013 By Maryann

Friday Favorites Date

This Friday Favorites Toni asked us to tell you about our favorite dates. I had two wonderful dates with my husband that really sick in my mind. One was our very first date that ended with us laughing in the rain during Lent and the other had me firing a 9mm handgun in Los Vegas ! They are wonderful memories. What was your favorite date? Please leave me a comment.

Paleo New Orleans Style BBQ Shrimp

February 14, 2013 By Maryann

Paleo New Orleans Style BBQ Shrimp

Yep, here is another delicious Paleo meal that looks like it takes forever, but really is super easy and tastes even better if left to sit for a while (like so many other famous New Orleans dishes). Years ago I took my first, and only, trip to New Orleans. It was the October right after 9/11 and I was there with my then-best friend. My father had told me so much about the restaurants in that city, I owned an antique print of the Court of Two Sisters, and I had a huge agenda listing all the great restaurants we NEEDED to visit. But one night we were strolling around and dropped into some little restaurant on one of the squares where I tried New Orleans Style BBQ Shrimp, and I fell in love. The best part is these are Paleo New Orleans Style BBQ Shrimp not by design, but by the nature of their original design. I love that. No faking it here, just pure and simple Paleo New Orleans Style BBQ Shrimp. This recipe is inspired by this recipe.

Paleo New Orleans Style BBQ Shrimp

Recipe type: Entree

Serves: 4

Ingredients

2 lbs shrimp, unpeeled
½ lbs butter
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 tablespoons Paul Prudhomme Seafood Magic seasoning
2 tablespoons creole seasoning
1 teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
1 tablespoon black pepper
4 oz Tabasco sauce
2 oz Louisiana hot sauce (I used Franks)
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
2 lemons, sliced and seeded
1 cup dry white wine

Instructions

In a large saute pan, large enough to accommodate all the shrimp, melt butter and add all ingredients except shrimp.
Bring to a low boil and allow to cook for a moment or two, stirring frequently.
Add shrimp and cook for 5 to 10 minutes until shrimp are just fully cooked.
Be careful not to over cook.
Serve immediately or allow to steep in the juices, covered to stay warm.

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Paleo New Orleans Style BBQ Shrimp

Wordless Wednesday Photo Props

February 13, 2013 By Maryann

This Wordless Wednesday isn’t so wordless. I wanted to have a little fun with my photos and show you an easy, inexpensive way to get some photo props that I like to use. I love using a wide aperture setting on my camera which causes the things in the background of the photo to blur giving a more ethereal look to the picture. One of the items I really like to use is colored glass. They give a beautiful, light coloring to the background without being fully distinguishable when using a large aperture. I have made mine out of Ball jars, Modge Podge and Wilton gel food coloring. Simply take an small amount of Modge Podge (the actual amount depends on the size of jar, but you want enough to cover the inside of the jar) and add the gel food coloring, making sure to mix thoroughly, then swirl it around the inside of the jar so that it fully covers the inside of the jar. Turn the jar over on a paper plate and allow the excess Modge Podge to drip out for about one hour. Turn the jar right side up and allow it to air dry fully. And that is it. You can no longer use the jar for food products but you can use it for decoration or as props in your photography.

Photo Props

Wordless Wednesday Photo Props

Wordless Wednesday Photo Props

Wordless Wednesday Photo Props

Wordless Wednesday Photo Props

As you can see, they add a nice touch to the background and they are reusable. You can make them out of any glass containers. I need to make some green, yellow and orange jars too. They add a nice warmth to the photos.