Keep up with the latest news and updates
June 23, 2022
You’ve researched and pored over every reputable autism resource to check symptoms and characteristics of the neurodevelopmental condition. So many things finally make sense, including a spectrum of social communication challenges traceable from your early childhood. Obtaining a formal diagnosis may seem like the next step but, for many autistic adults, it may feel like
June 21, 2022
Picture books generally help kids give context and meaning to the world around them. For children with autism, this doesn’t change. Many children with autism tend to rely on visuals such as pictograms to help them understand and organize information. According to the study, Children with autism and picture books: extending the reading experiences of
June 16, 2022
There are many different views and opinions about reinforcement strategies, negative punishment, and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and how they work together in applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy to improve behavior. Many parents, caregivers, and educators are unsure of what reinforcement strategies and negative punishment are and how they might benefit the person with autism.
June 15, 2022
Kim attempted to open the door to her algebra class only to drop half of what was in her hands. Frustrated, she picked up her belongings, pushed her glasses back to her forehead, and tried again. School was a place where she could pour herself into her studies. She liked that, but she wished she
June 14, 2022
Being an autism parent is no easy task and when planning routines, working on behavioral and communication skills, and preventing meltdowns is on the top of your agenda, a movie night might be just what the doctor ordered. In fact, it really is, with the National Library of Medicine revealing movies are not only a
June 10, 2022
For parents of neurotypical children and neurodivergent children alike, some things are universal. We all want our kids to be happy, healthy, and loved, and we all worry—a lot. One of the biggest concerns we may have for our kids can be how they will handle romantic relationships, sex, and the social aspects of dating
June 10, 2022
Discussions about the shared traits between children with autism spectrum disorders and their undiagnosed parents often lead to pondering the broader autism phenotype. Is it possible for relatives of autistic kids to have autism spectrum disorder…to a lesser degree? Autism spectrum disorder is a medical diagnosis but the broader autism phenotype is not. Rather, it
June 9, 2022
Children with autistic siblings may be at high risk for developing socio-emotional difficulties, according to a recent study released from the Yale Child Study Center. Researchers at the center have been observing brain scans, tracking eye movement, and observing play to determine whether children with autistic siblings may be at high risk for developing socio-emotional
June 6, 2022
Meet Stephanie Smith, a woman driven by her passion to create change in the autism community through education. Stephanie Smith is the recently appointed Deputy Headteacher at The Cavendish School, a state-maintained special free school for young people with autism in the UK—and the world’s first International Baccalaureate (IB) special autism school. Stephanie has been
June 3, 2022
Autism guardianship is a decision with major repercussions; for some parents, however, it may seem like the only choice offering maximum protection for their almost adult child with developmental disabilities. In most countries around the world a child becomes a legal adult on their 18th birthday; this is a fact most parents find terrifying. Thinking
June 1, 2022
For parents who may be wondering about the process of obtaining an autism diagnosis for their child and what follows after a diagnosis, this article could help. When parents first wonder if their child is on the autism spectrum, feelings of concern may arise along with questions as to what to do next. This review
June 1, 2022
Ensuring your child has good sleep hygiene can seem daunting as a parent, but autism sleep problems can bring a whole new twist on what is considered a good night’s sleep. Children with autism are known to have different social and sensory behaviors compared to typically developing children, both of which can contribute to sleep
June 1, 2022
Becky beamed as she walked out the front door of her friend’s house, hurried down the steps and out to her mom’s car. The excitement of the party was overshadowed a bit by another kind of happiness—triumph. She had survived the party without an anxiety attack, for the first time ever. Social anxiety had been
May 25, 2022
An article, in a parenting magazine about intimate or romantic relationships…groan…in this context, many parents would rather not talk about sex. But, open and honest conversations about sex, specifically when it comes to sexuality in neurodivergent individuals is a conversation that could keep your autistic adolescent safe—and make them feel seen. Your neurodivergent child is
May 25, 2022
The sound of Johnny’s laughter reverberated off the walls of the RV they had rented for the weekend. Camping was a rarity in their family, as was the sound of his giggles. His mother, Connie, drank in the sound; it was as comforting and welcome as her morning cup of coffee. Since his autism diagnosis
May 24, 2022
They say childhood is fleeting, and it’s true. Just five months ago, my son turned 18. I still can’t believe it. Contrary to what our kids often think, they usually don’t leave the family home or stop having to listen to us the very second they enter adulthood. The reality is, independence doesn’t always mean
May 19, 2022
There are several opinions on self-stimulatory behavior, also known as “stimming”. This article considers the first-hand view of an autistic person. I have heard varying definitions and reasons why self-stimulatory behaviors occur in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The explanations are frequently from those in a position of treating or serving the ASD community,
May 19, 2022
Navigating and trying to figure out what should be on an autism symptom checklist can be daunting. Maybe there is a child in your life that shows signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), like repetitive behaviors, or an adult that questions whether their difficulties in social situations could mean they are autistic. Without a full
May 19, 2022
Your autistic child’s behavior may not conform to “classic” characteristics described by doctors and research. Does the spectrum have subtypes meaning autism may manifest uniquely according to differing categories? This used to be the case, until an umbrella term, autism spectrum disorders, was introduced. The spectrum nature of autism makes it difficult to diagnose; it
May 17, 2022
Jenny sat facing the ocean and, as the waves rolled in and out, so did her anxiety. That morning, at her daughter’s Well-Child Visit, she’d heard the pediatrician’s recommendation for a formal evaluation for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but she couldn’t quite process it yet. “I don’t even know how to get my child tested
May 16, 2022
A new drug designed to improve the quality of life in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is in the works. The medication, known as AB-2004, is an oral absorbent which is meant to attach itself to certain gastrointestinal (GI) metabolites in order to decrease the amount of these metabolites in the gut, and ultimately
May 16, 2022
An autistic advocate draws from her personal experiences to offer advice on remaining true as a friend and building lasting relationships. “Once, at the ANCA World Autism Festival in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, a very sweet and gentle Japanese lady—no older than her early-twenties—sat next to me during the screening of a documentary film. We sat
May 10, 2022
A study has been released in the Journal of Child Development exploring the developmental patterns of sensory trajectories experienced by kids throughout their early childhood. The study was conducted in North Carolina, USA, of a birth cohort of more than 1,000 autistic children, ages ranging from infancy to those entering first grade. Parents of the
May 10, 2022
A detailed overview of the different educational options available for children on the spectrum. It has often been said that if you’ve met one child with autism, then you have met one child with autism. Parents can easily become overwhelmed with trying to address all the needs of their child with autism. Anxious parents often
May 10, 2022
There are seven dimensions of Applied Behavior Analysis; conceptually systematic may be one that needs a little more explanation… Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a controversial and unfortunately divisive topic in the autism treatment sphere. From parents who believe the behavioral techniques have helped their kids on the spectrum thrive, to autistic adults who feel
May 10, 2022
A study conducted by the Infant Brain Imaging Study (IBIS) network has found that a key structure in the brain, known as the amygdala, increases in size in babies between the ages of 6 and 12 months who later develop autism spectrum disorder (ASD). What is interesting about this study is that it may potentially
May 9, 2022
A free app has been released by autism expert Professor James Adams, PhD and his team at the Autism Nutrition Research Center (ANRC) which displays the user ratings of many autism therapies and treatments. The ANRC Autism Treatment Rater App is a smart-phone app that shows the ratings of multiple medications, supplements, diets, and therapies,
May 2, 2022
Developmental disorders like autism are complex, even specialists in cognitive science fields recognize there is still much to learn; however, when a child receives an autism diagnosis, parents often turn to the latest cognitive theories to learn more about their child’s unique brain development and other autistic traits. Many parents would love a single, concise,
May 2, 2022
A study conducted by some of the top universities in the United Kingdom has shown similarities between the way autistic and non-autistic individuals process information. In the largest study of its kind, the universities of Bath, Cardiff, Manchester, and King’s College London conducted research on more than a thousand people to examine the link between
April 28, 2022
Parents of autistic children may have thought to themselves, “What are some autism coping skills and strategies I could use with my child?” Understanding when their children have meltdowns or become triggered by some outside factor is a good starting point. Knowing about coping strategies and teaching them can help support autistic children in difficult
April 28, 2022
There is a crisis in children’s mental health services in the United Kingdom which means neurodivergent children are waiting up to five years for an initial appointment on the National Health Service (NHS), according to figures obtained by The Observer. Evidence of this waiting time is demonstrated in the undiagnosed years of Eva Pyle. After
April 27, 2022
A comprehensive guide for creating dialogue about relationships, sexual maturity, and consent with your autistic child. Relationships are tricky for everyone, especially those with autism. There are many questions such as: How does love feel? How does a real friend act? How does a lover act? How do relationships really look? Was I flirting? Was
April 27, 2022
Johnny, my son, my oldest, the first one of my children to start learning to drive, sat behind the wheel. Beside him, in the passenger’s seat, my heart skipped a beat; our roles were reversed for the very first time. Pride mixed with nostalgia, mixed with fear, and then accompanied my deep inhale as I
April 22, 2022
It can be tricky trying to figure out autism benefits by state. Below is a comprehensive listing, organized by US states, to help parents along this journey and answer some questions. A list of autism benefits by state Alabama Intensive Care Coordination – supports such as assessments, case planning and arrangement, social support, and monitoring
April 21, 2022
Figuring out what is behind the challenges you see your child facing can feel a bit like a dog chasing its tail. At least that is the way I have felt as a parent, many times. I remember one conversation with my sister. I was detailing my concerns and expressing my frustration over so many
April 20, 2022
As you go about your week, going to work or going out on the weekends, how many fingers would it take you to count how many times you saw an autistic individual in a working environment? Every person on the spectrum is unique, just like every neurotypical person is unique, so it can be hard
April 18, 2022
Here are some ideas for how you can increase your child’s responsiveness to his/her own name. Dale Carnegie said: “Names are the sweetest and most important sound in any language.” I agree, but there is much more to it. Parents take great care in choosing their child’s name; initially it may reflect their own personalities
April 15, 2022
The third Autism Parenting Summit, hosted by Autism Parenting Magazine, took place earlier this month (April 2022) and was a great success. The virtual Autism Parenting Summit was hosted during Autism Acceptance Month and featured a diverse array of speakers—from autism experts, therapists, doctors, and educators, to neurodivergent advocates and parents. Over the course of
April 13, 2022
Parenting neurodiverse children often requires us to have contact with many different kinds of professionals. This creates, what can be, an overwhelming amount of appointments, and many appointments, that in and of themselves are overwhelming. We often find it necessary to put children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) into situations that make them especially uncomfortable
April 12, 2022
The LEGO Foundation has launched a new accelerator programme, Play for All, designed to celebrate the strengths of neurodivergent children and help ensure all young people have the right to play, learn, and thrive. Play for All is an equity free funding and fixed term mentorship program for social enterprises, ventures and organizations that support
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