Project for Autistic Students

[Anonymous]

I’m a special education assistant at the high school level and primarily work with autistic students. Last year I had one boy that was very interested in trains so I would always give him my Trains and Model Railroader magazines. This past week I met the incoming freshmen and two of the boys also enjoy trains. I would like to include something train and/or model railroad related as part of their classroom activities but I’m not exactly sure how to do that so I’m here looking for suggestions.

I was thinking of buying some pre-owned HO equipment that could be used to build a small layout. Unfortunately the room that we are in is too small for a permanent layout so the track would need to hold up to repeated set ups and take downs. Would Kato’s Unitrack or similar track system hold up to these conditions? Growing up I remember having a foam mountain/tunnel. Are these still available? What about structures? Although these students are in high school they function at a much lower level so gluing together a plastic kit is out of the question. Does anyone know if they have snap together buildings? Any ideas on the actual track plan? I would like to include one or two switches in order to provide for some operation as opposed to just watching the train go around in circles.

Thanks for all your help.
Tony

[loathar]

I'd go with the Kato or Bachman EZ Track. They should hold up. I don't think there are snap together structures but there are a lot of pre-built ones out there now. Maybe someone else can give you a specific link to them. My hats off to you working with those kids. That got to be a hard job.[bow]

[ARTHILL]

I ran a program for troubled boys in the 60's. After some time, the school found a nice room. Later there were many who wanted to help and we started a pike. I wrote to MRR and the ran a little article. I recieve so much free equipment we never did get it all instaled. Good luck, its a wonderful concept, but it can grow to be a lot of work.

[tstage]

Tony,

Talk to Chip (aka Spacemouse). He has a 7-year old autistic son and has a lot of EZ Track that I thought I remember him saying that he wanted to find a good home for. To contact Chip, click on the "Members" link (just above this post), then click the "S" link. I'm sure Chip would be very interested in helping you, if he can.

Tom

[Anonymous]

We have a 17 year old Down Syndrome child who is showing signs of Autism, we got him a Walthers Trainline set mounted on a 3X6 board, I am supposed to finsih it and let him have at it, but we have been finding him not real freindly with his trainset, he doesn't seem to bother mine (both in the same room). I had him paint a building for it, though his color choice was odd, an all blue grain silo [8D], now I have to find a blue ox, but he loses interest rather quickly.

What have others done to help foster of keep an interest for their child or as in Tony's case done to meet this task. I really want to get him involved and enjoy the hobby, but if it's me forcing him to do it, then I am failing at him having fun.

Sorry to piggyback on the topic.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by loathar

My hats off to you working with those kids. That got to be a hard job.

It can be a hard job but it can also be very rewarding.

[loathar]

http://www.manhattantrains.com
Hey Tony, I just stumbled across some HO snap together buildings.If this link doesn't take you right to the snap together section,Click the link,go to Structures,go to Walthers and there is a link to their Gold snap kits.
Hope this helps.

[SpaceMouse]

Hi,

Unfortuately I just gave away the EZ track to BMtrains. However, I have a bunch of ATlas sectional track you can have. I also have a couple engines and some cars--new in box you can have. Email me.

I think you would be much better off with a permanent portable layout. The autistic kids I've dealt with tend to be hard on the track/trains and get uninterested if you have to spend a lot of time rerailing. I would suggest nailed-down and well-tuned track.

[jrbarney]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dthurman

I had him paint a building for it, though his color choice was odd, an all blue grain silo [8D], now I have to find a blue ox, but he loses interest rather quickly.

Dthurman,
Don't you folks have any AOSmith silos in your state ? Maybe he has a better memory than you. [:)]
Bob
NMRA Life 0543

[SpaceMouse]

Bump

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jrbarney

QUOTE: Originally posted by dthurman

I had him paint a building for it, though his color choice was odd, an all blue grain silo [8D], now I have to find a blue ox, but he loses interest rather quickly.

Dthurman,
Don't you folks have any AOSmith silos in your state ? Maybe he has a better memory than you. [:)]
Bob
NMRA Life 0543

It's odd that you mention his memory, he can remember some of the most mundane things, but yet not recall what he had for lunch. I will have to look up the OA Smith stuff, I am not familiar with them. [:)]

[jrbarney]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dthurman
It's odd that you mention his memory, he can remember some of the most mundane things, but yet not recall what he had for lunch. I will have to look up the OA Smith stuff, I am not familiar with them. [:)]

Dthurman,
Here's a link:
http://www.aosmith.com/about/aoshistweb/
Scroll down to the year 1949 - 70,000 of them since then. The "wiring" of the human brain is a fascinating subject, and we know much more about it than when I studued the human nervous system in college some 50 years ago. [:)]
Bob
NMRA Life 0543

[Anonymous]

Tony:

I would just second what Chip said about having the "permanent, portable" layout with nailed down and well-tuned track. My nine-year-old daughter, who is autistic, doesn't do real well with activities that involve a lot of set up time, which you will have if you have to lay the track each time. I would go with a simple plan with a few turnouts as you mentioned, and some simple structures that can be placed over plastic cubes [even plain old styrofoam will work for this] so that you can place them quickly on the layout in the proper position/clearance. Your students who have better gross and fine motor skills can then assist in the set up with minimal frustration.

Good luck with this project. Your kids will surprise you with what they can do with this.

TrummyandElla