Does anyone have any good resources, ideas, software, etc. to help improve nonverbal abilities such as matrix reasoning, processing speed, and visual spatial reasoning? Thanks.
improving nonverbal abilities
This site offers a lot of software and “toys” that might be of interest to you. Don’t forget to look at the toy section.
http://autismcoach.com/Software.htm
The games of SET and Rush Hour are excellent for working on visual-spatial reasoning.
Cognitive skills training programs work directly on the skills you mention — with the exception of matrix reasoning. The most readily available programs are Audiblox, BrainSkills and PACE.
For a child 8yo or older, I would choose BrainSkills if finances are tight; PACE if you can afford a provider-based program. (BrainSkills is the home version of PACE, while LearningRx is the franchised version of PACE.) All of these programs work more directly on processing speed than Audiblox does.
Websites are http://www.audiblox2000.com, http://www.brainskills.com, http://www.processingskills.com, and http://www.learningrx.com.