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. Today’s AUTISM Interview is with Jennifer Thomas-Goering who is a full-time anesthesiologist, entrepreneur and autism advocate. She is married to Patrick with two small, […]
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Where oh where did your words go? We’ve searched high… And we’ve searched low… You practiced other ways to talk, PECs and sign language we tried them all! Although your words were far away, you made more progress every day. We knew the words were around somewhere. Under here? Over there? What a day! A […]
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I am the proud parent of a severely autistic and nonverbal miniature force to be reckoned with. His name is Ari Raphael Vincent Joyce—and he saved my life. And by save my life, I mean more in a spiritual sense. Not religious, I am not religious, but in a sense he allowed me to see […]
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The unique bond between a parent and a special needs child is astounding. My son, Douglas, and I share a very close and wonderfully special relationship. I am a single mom, and he has both autism and childhood schizophrenia. A lot of people would think that this sounds very difficult to live with, and they […]
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There is a steady slowdown of cars in front of us on our way to a swim meet. My son, who was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at an early age, starts to show his agitation. Anxiety violently announces itself in the form of rapid-fire questions. “Why are we stopping?” “How long is this […]
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My Writing Journeys I’m often asked, “Why autism?,” followed by “What’s Wayang?” when I tell people about my children’s book, Open—A Boy’s Wayang Adventure. The answers don’t come in one-liners. My path as a writer has been a long and complicated one. I started a food blog some years back to cope with the loneliness […]
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Before we dive into how color preference can influence learning ability in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developmental delay, let’s talk about the reason why children with ASD and developmental delay do not favor bright colors, especially yellow. Normally, neurotypical children love red and blue colors, that’s why so many toys and cartoons […]
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Splash Pads, Amusement Parks, Family Vacations For many families, summertime can be a source of family bonding, excitement, and fun. However, summer activities can quickly turn hectic. Many children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) crave stability. Meltdowns may seem inevitable whenever a child is thrown off a routine without warning. As a parent, it can […]
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What is Assistive Technology? Assistive technology (AT) is defined as any product, equipment, software program and/or system that enhances learning, working, and daily living for persons with disabilities.The goal of assistive technology is to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of people with disabilities (ATIA). Think about all of the skills that your child, […]
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A trip to Disney World is supposed to be fun for the whole family, including your child or teen with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Identifying the potential trouble areas and activities and preparing in advance will make a significant difference for your whole group and allow you to navigate the parks with ease. Since the […]
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