Keep up with the latest news and updates
September 28, 2023
Find out what adaptive skills are, why they are necessary, and where these skills are needed. “Who needs adaptive skills? I easily adapt from one task to the next.” Parents can easily think like this, especially if they are unaware of what adaptive skills are and why they are necessary. For children on the autism
September 27, 2023
The global Autism Parenting Summit is returning in October 2023. Imagine 32,000 attendees, 30+ world-class speakers, 4 informative days, and 1 global event – the Autism Parenting Summit is back! The Summit, hosted by Autism Parenting Magazine, is a free virtual event on October 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th. Doctors, psychologists, educators, advocates, and people
September 20, 2023
We hear it on television, in magazines, and on the radio… Everywhere people are talking about celebrating neurodiversity. But what does it mean, and are there stereotypes or misconceptions associated with it? After all, the term was only coined in 1998 by sociologist Judy Singer, and it can refer to a diverse range of conditions,
September 14, 2023
In April 2023, my son had one of the worst meltdowns I could remember. He was screaming, running, crying, throwing himself on the ground, and was generally inconsolable. He struggled with emotional regulation at that moment. See, his routine had been thrown off. But how do you help an autistic child regulate emotions in such
September 7, 2023
“We have a wide variety of seating, so students can choose how they learn.” This was a statement I wasn’t expecting to hear when I met my son’s teacher. I grew up when all the desks were the same, and students were expected to sit quietly and follow along with the teacher’s lesson. But when
September 4, 2023
“He can’t have autism; our family has no history!” These words from family members cut me like a knife when my youngest son was diagnosed with autism, and it immediately brought up the age-old question: Is autism hereditary? My son was just three weeks shy of turning two years old when he was diagnosed, and
September 1, 2023
When autistic children are interested in something and talk about it constantly, parents and others wonder if autism and narcissism are linked. Although having a passion and discussing it with others is great, especially when they listen, but would that qualify that individual as a narcissist? It can be daunting when little Johnny or Susie
August 30, 2023
Change is part of life. We move from one task to the next or even move house. But many autistic children thrive on consistency and a schedule – struggle adapting to change. This struggle can cause stress for the children, parents, teachers, and others interacting with them during these difficult transitions. Instead of reacting, parents,
August 23, 2023
An autism diagnosis can bring a lot of uncertainty. One of the first things families learn is that it is a spectrum, hence autism spectrum disorder (ASD). But did you know there are different autism levels? Besides being on a spectrum (low to high-functioning autism), not many parents know that the 5th edition of the
August 10, 2023
Imagine you pick your child up from school, go through her bag and find a letter from her teacher. You see the phrases flash before your eyes: “disruptive in class,” “hit a classmate,” and “damaged school property.” Naturally, you are very concerned about your child’s behavior and wonder what you can do next. For many
July 18, 2023
Parents in the US can take a sigh of relief because a recent study published in Pediatrics found that community-based primary care doctors with specialized training make accurate autism diagnoses in most cases. This primarily applies to pre-school ages children and comes mere months after the CDC announced that 1 in 36 children are now
July 14, 2023
As a parent, seeing your child battle depression can be one of the most difficult things to do. You want to help them through it and see brighter days ahead, no matter how bleak things may look at the time. But what about children with autism? Can a child have autism and depression? The simple
July 7, 2023
When I was a teenager, there was a young boy whose family attended the same church my family did. He had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). He often exhibited what was viewed as “classic” autism symptoms, at least by 1990s standards. Today, that little boy is a grown man and many would refer
July 5, 2023
For any parent of a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it’s essential to keep up with some of the fantastic research findings connected to ASD. Much of it is innovative, and almost all of it is informative. Autism research has come a long way from when those in the autistic community were shunned. But
June 28, 2023
Tips on how people on the Autism Spectrum can stay safe with Independence Day fast approaching Independence Day is fast approaching in the United States, and that means the sure signs of American patriotism will be on full display. Families will be going to picnics and barbecues, fun will be had at the nearest lake
June 23, 2023
If you’re a parent of a child on the autism spectrum, it can sometimes be challenging to develop a fun way for them to play. Children with autism are often not intrigued by the same types of play that other kids love. Many children will need some ideas for sensory play that will keep them
June 21, 2023
Getting a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can seem daunting to many parents and families. What does this mean? What are the symptoms? And what therapies are available? We have done some research and digging and got some answers to central questions. This article is not an exhaustive list and will not answer all
June 16, 2023
An autism diagnosis can cause many parents and family members to experience various emotions — from anger and frustration to sadness and confusion. They might scour the internet and ask questions like “What causes autism?” or “How can autism be managed?”. One common question many parents ask at the beginning of this journey is: “Can
June 15, 2023
The phrase “autism treatment” can cause quite a controversy in the autism community. At one time, autism was viewed as something “wrong” with a person that needed to be cured. As more research has been done, we’ve learned much more about autism and see neurodivergence differently. Research has provided incredible resources for parents and guardians
June 8, 2023
Is there a difference between Asperger’s and autism? If so, what are the differences? Many people use both terms but are not always aware of the history, meaning, and context. Although there seems to have been an increase in awareness and trying to understand autism and other diagnoses, there are still plenty of questions and
May 2, 2023
The global Autism Parenting Summit is returning in May 2023. Summit host Autism Parenting Magazine has announced that the virtual event will be back for four days on May 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th with a stellar lineup of expert speakers. Doctors, therapists, educators, advocates, and people on the spectrum will again cover the topics
April 18, 2023
A reminder that there is so much more to communication than speech—your child may be speaking to you in his/her own unique way. For over 35 years, I’ve engaged with children on the autism spectrum, children who were labeled nonverbal. As a speech and language therapist, I am here to tell you, they all communicated
April 13, 2023
Have you heard about the gut-brain connection in autism? Researchers have discovered that there may be a link between gut bacteria (the microbiome) and the brain, which could contribute to certain challenging behaviors, such as aggression, emotional meltdowns, and self-injury, in autism. For many children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), coping with irritability is an
April 11, 2023
A respected educator offers advice for supporting your nonverbal child on the spectrum. It is not uncommon for a child with autism to present with a speech or communication concern. Many researchers believe as high as 40 percent of children with autism may be nonverbal. The following practical suggestions may help you to assist and
April 5, 2023
Due to the fact that over 75% of adults with a disability live with their aging parents, and one million of those households in the United States are being managed by a parent over the age of 60, planning for the future needs to be discussed. The obstacles to planning for the future can be
April 4, 2023
As students prepare to go back to school following the summer, the question is: how can we ensure they feel safe post-pandemic? Some are saying: “What could schools look like for those with severe autism, post-pandemic?” Those students who are unable to wear a mask, stay a reasonable distance from another, follow directions without physical
April 3, 2023
An autism dad shares how his family celebrates this notable month. April is Autism Acceptance Month. It’s the time of year where we put an extra focus on Autism Spectrum Disorders and those affected by it. It helps bring the autism community together with walks and events that help autistic kids and their families get
March 30, 2023
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released the results of its latest autism spectrum disorder study, and autism is more prevalent around the world. According to the study, one in every 36 kids in the United States is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. That’s up from one in 44 in the previous study
March 15, 2023
One of the keyways I have been supporting learners during my time as a special needs school teaching assistant and as an LSA at a local college, and now with my own daughter, who I am home educating, is by providing learning that is interest based. This means that the activities and tasks I provide
March 10, 2023
Parents and caregivers of children with diagnosis of down syndrome and autism spectrum disorders, can wonder if these diagnoses can coexist, and when it comes to down syndrome vs autism what should they look for? Although these two conditions can coexist, if parents and/or caregivers have concerns, their child’s doctor has the knowledge and resources
March 9, 2023
A tale of an autistic adolescent boy going through life’s natural changes when change is his worst enemy. 4:53am: ”Mom?” A low whisper from my 12-year-old son. I give no response. “MOM!!” A louder whisper I can’t ignore. Here we go. I fly out of bed, through the dark (I’m a veteran to navigating the
March 7, 2023
Financial planning for your autistic child’s future can be scary. Learn about Samuel and how his parents took the initiative to start a business to support his future. Meet Samuel Samuel is 24 years old. He was born in Round Rock, Texas. He was diagnosed with PDD-NOS at age four. He began speech and physical
March 6, 2023
As the world at large is learning more about autism spectrum disorder, many adults are starting to recognize the possibility they have undiagnosed autism. While autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is often associated with childhood, many individuals go through life without a formal diagnosis, independently navigating the complexities of undiagnosed autism in adults and the many
March 3, 2023
Parents can spend hours looking for support for their children with autism, accommodations that can make learning and the environment a little easier. Some of the learning challenges that autistic children can face, along with sensory processing difficulties, and others that are specific to the student can make learning much more difficult. It doesn’t have
March 2, 2023
Encouragement Speaker Derrick Hayes gives an AUTISM Interview by asking six questions through each letter in the word AUTISM to give readers an insightful perspective from parents, experts, entrepreneurs, and other leaders in the field. Rose Morris is the founder and president of Abram’s Nation and a mother who was driven by the relentless pursuit
March 1, 2023
Q: I have a nine-year-old girl who is not able to speak fully. She can spell some words when we teach her, but I want her to get better in her speech. Any suggestions, please? A: Hi Kavitha, Firstly, saying a letter in isolation can often be easier than saying a whole word with multi-syllables
February 24, 2023
Do autism and sport go together? It’s a question that I’m sure the parents of any children on the autism spectrum have asked themselves. It’s a question that my wife and I have definitely asked ourselves when it comes to our own children. But it’s not an easy question to answer, and can change depending
February 23, 2023
Understanding your older child’s sexual identity and desires isn’t always easy. Meet one family that has successfully navigated this journey. Understanding our place in the world is difficult enough; trying to understand our human sexuality can make it even more difficult. This article is designed to help families of young people on the spectrum gain
February 21, 2023
Imagine hearing there is a huge waitlist for your child to be enrolled at an ABA center? As a parent, you feel defeated and helpless. This article is going to cover ABA therapy activities that parents can easily do at home to help their child with autism. Today, ABA therapy is one of the most
February 17, 2023
As a parent with a child newly diagnosed with autism, it can be easy to ask yourself, “What do I do for my child diagnosed with autism?” This is a reaction that is to be expected and can be followed with overwhelming feelings and a lot of questions. The good news is that parents don’t
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