As a society, we have come a very long way to embrace children with autism in the educational system. Still, we have not made good educated progress to integrate adults across the autism spectrum to the workforce. As a society, we must break down the barriers and create new paths to employment. “In the United […]
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Can you give me some advice on teaching vocational skills to those with autism?– Karen Hi Karen, This is such an important topic. Research indicates that up to 85% of those with autism are unemployed or under-employed! The areas of difficulty for our teens and young adults on the spectrum are obvious: communication struggles, social […]
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Does your child have a difficult time handling disappointment? Do seemingly simple requests turn into tantrums? Sometimes children learn one way to handle situations like this (i.e., meltdown) and have a very difficult time learning a new and better way to respond. It’s likely not enjoyable for you or your child when these situations arise, […]
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During the busy and event-filled holiday season, parents of special needs children are often depressed and isolated. Many mothers and fathers feel as though a spotlight is being shined on their lives, and that their families fail to measure up to the so-called “normal” families portrayed in ads, TV programs, and movies. This can create […]
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For many families, gearing up for the summer is an exciting endeavor! As the warmer weather begins, there are families opening pools, and there may be trips to a lake or the ocean. While being active and outdoors is definitely something to be encouraged, it can also come with some increased risks for children with […]
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Question: Hi, I wonder if you can offer advice on how to deal with an adult son who, although undiagnosed, I am sure is on the spectrum. He does not do small talk, doesn’t understand why anyone should be interested in what he is doing, and has no interest in anyone else. Conversations are very […]
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When you welcome a newborn child into your family, you will probably experience pride and joy as the parent of the infant who joined the family. As a young father, I felt this way as my first daughter entered my world and proceeded to grow and learn. Like other children, she began to speak as […]
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Encouragement Speaker Derrick Hayes gives an AUTISM interview by asking six questions through each letter in the word AUTISM to give readers insightful perspectives from parents, experts, entrepreneurs, and other leaders in the field. Today’s AUTISM Interview is with Luke Vincent who runs a YouTube channel called Vincentville where the family shares their autism story. They do their best […]
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While working with teenagers with special needs as an education assistant in a Perth, Australia high school, I would often listen to the kids and their parents talk about the hopes and dreams they had when they finished year 12. Many of these students, some of them with autism, suffered from anxiety and would voice […]
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I never cared much for New Year’s resolutions. While the premise behind them is positive, the timing never seemed to make sense. If I’m planning on making productive changes to my life, why wait until a certain date to begin? Even if you do, why assign a strict year-long time period to achieve them? It […]
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