I enter the room late. My brother drives me to ballroom dance class on time, but I get stuck in the car and can’t move. I have this pair of swim goggles that I had just modified, having cut out all the rubbery parts except for most of the strap. I am enjoying the crisp […]
Continue reading
Each of us has our own autism journey, and we all go through different tests or struggles that are unique to us. But certain things are common; we do learn things from each other’s experiences. We all have an autism journey destination. Sometimes the autism journey process can be more complicated than we anticipated. It […]
Continue reading
As a pediatrician, I have been taught that the developmental progress of a three to four-year-old should include well over 500 words and a child should be able to describe things and situations in a meaningful way. This milestone is one that all parents strive for as it is an important part of a child’s […]
Continue reading
When we think of “finding one’s voice” we often think of a writer seeking the most natural and fluent way to express him or herself. When it comes to autism, “finding one’s voice” is more literal: we are often literally teaching a child to speak who has never spoken before or teaching a child to […]
Continue reading
What better time to initiate a conversation about encounters with the criminal justice system than during autism awareness month? As parents, we are all-too-familiar with the child who is bullied or victimized. But parents are surprised to learn that their child is at an increased risk of being detained in the back of a police […]
Continue reading
Incontinence in autism comes with its own unique set of daily challenges. Comforting and supporting your child, preparing for accidents, and avoiding sensory triggers may leave you exhausted at the end of the day. On top of that, you may soon have travel coming up. However, traveling with incontinence is not impossible, but is actually […]
Continue reading
What Are Social Skills? Social skills refer to a child’s ability to communicate with others in a way that is acceptable and appropriate. When a child has social skills, he/she can form friendships and can carry a simple conversation. Social Skills and Autism It’s a common misconception that children with autism do not make friends […]
Continue reading
Over the years as a behavior analyst, I have been able to work with a varying number of parents and caregivers who have son or daughters diagnosed with developmental disabilities. During these interactions, it has become prevalent that strategies that have been recommended by helping professionals to reduce challenging behaviors are tough to remember and […]
Continue reading
What is a support group? A support group is defined as “a group of people with common experiences or concerns who provide each other with encouragement, comfort, and advice.” There are support groups for most common illnesses, disabilities, and addictions. Support groups are vital for families, friends, loved ones, and caregivers of those experiencing life’s […]
Continue reading
Many parents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) children are aware at some point that their child has a very accelerated splinter skill, a specific task that does not generalize to other tasks. For some parents, they may have noticed that their child is very advanced in art or music, and yet some highly advanced abilities […]
Continue reading