Welcome to ShoeboxTasks
Centering on Children is dedicated to providing creative, educational activities and opportunities for autistic individuals with learning disabilities as they are "learning how to learn."
ShoeboxTasks® provide the opportunity for children and adults who need a high degree of structure to experience success. Developed by Ron Larsen during his time as a therapist with the North Carolina TEACCH program, the Tasks have proven to be an educational breakthrough for those students who are beginning their educational journey while developing greater independence. The Tasks also provide an example of the kind of visual organization necessary for teachers/caregivers who are serving this population.
Centering on Children is the sole-source creator and distributor of ShoeboxTasks, employing adults on the autism spectrum in its Vocational Workshop where they assemble and package the Tasks independently with the guidance of job coaches.
We are proud to offer a work environment that provides fair wages, dignity, and a sense of accomplishment for our employees, while implementing as many environmentally friendly principles as possible.
Learn More
Check our YouTube Channel
for lots more videos
Stay Informed
Times they are a-changing! As we all come to grips with the evolving situation, we understand it can be difficult to comprehend, particularly for our autistic population. We’re happy to share with you a beautiful social story from Carol Gray that we feel would be especially helpful at these times. Click the image for the full story.
LEARNING HOW TO LEARN
Young students on the autism spectrum entering the educational setting for the first time can be easily overwhelmed. Besides changes to familiar routines, there are social challenges and possible sensory issues that can add to their discomfort. It makes sense that the activities presented during this transitional process do not add to these potential challenges. ShoeboxTasks activities help students make this adjustment more smoothly, and provide teachers with a design model they can emulate.
Ron Larsen discusses "learning how to learn" in the video below...
VOCATIONAL WORKSHOP
Centering on Children has designed the ShoeboxTasks workshop to meet the needs of its autistic employees by providing a work environment that strategically uses visual aids and is organized in a way that encourages independence and success. Employees are not only productive wage earners, they enjoy having a sense of community at the workshop and also the satisfaction of knowing their work is important, appreciated and of great value.
Find out how our vocational workshop operates...
NEUROTYPICAL - movie trailer
An unprecedented exploration of autism from the point of view of autistic people. The film's subjects occupy different positions on the spectrum, but are all at pivotal moments in their lives. How they work out perceptual and behavioral particularities is a remarkable reflection, revealing inventive adaptations among both those on the spectrum and neurotypicals--an emerging critique of what it means to be normal and what it means to be human. Buy Neurotypical
Watch the movie trailer here...
“The most interesting people you’ll find are ones that don’t fit into your average cardboard box. They’ll make what they need, they’ll make their own boxes.”