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.

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 this helpful social story from Carol Gray….click the image to view. For more resources, go to our Links page.

Unforeseen Changes

The advent of the Coronavirus has suddenly caused us all to adapt and change many of our daily routines. As school systems close during this initial phase of distancing, attempting to slow the virus down, at Centering on Children are making adjustments by reducing staff attendance, and sanitizing our environment. School closures have necessitated these steps for we are linked to the classrooms we serve. 

And no one is more directly connected to these classrooms than the students themselves and their families. A change of this magnitude is a huge challenge as families scramble to accommodate their child’s needs at home and the child is now faced with a change to their daily routine which can be most unsettling. It has been observed that students on the autism spectrum can quickly lose the skills learned in school when out of that setting for an extended period of time. Let’s hope this break is short lived!

One way to combat this loss of skills while maintaining some continuity with structured schoolwork is to continue having one-on-one sessions with your child at home. I’m happy to share this information with you, via a downloadable pdf here. If possible, I would suggest talking to your child’s teacher about appropriate materials, perhaps even borrowing some from the school during this time. Teachers can be a valuable resource and support during this time, in what may be a new type of relationship you are developing with your child.

I am available, upon request, to offer suggestions on setting up one-on-one sessions in the home and/or independent worktables.  Contact me directly at ron@shoeboxtasks.com and let’s work together to make this challenging time more harmonious for everyone involved. 

Ron Larsen