Debra Moore, Ph.D.
Debra Moore, Ph.D.
One Mom’s Lessons from Raising Three Children on the Spectrum
Jeannie married and had her first child by age 18. Carlos was a quiet, sweet natured baby. The year was 1998. For this first time parent, the word autism didn’t mean much. Unfortunately, it didn’t mean much to Carlos’s teachers or pediatrician either. As an only child for the first six years of his life, […]
Continue readingReflections and Advice from a 20-year-old on the Spectrum
I first met Cosette and her mom when they were referred to me by their pediatric neurologist. He wondered if Cosette, then six years old, might be autistic. Our evaluation affirmed that yes, Cosette was on the autism spectrum, that she was clearly struggling, and that she needed assistance and resources. At that time, Cosette […]
Continue readingLife Advice from a Young Adult on the Spectrum
A Conversation with Patrick… Patrick, now 27, is a kind, candid, and wickedly funny young man. I counseled him beginning in his teens, and was later able to share his story in The Loving Push, which I coauthored with Dr. Temple Grandin. Patrick and I spoke recently by phone. We hope some of his story […]
Continue readingSimple Ways to Avoid “Learned Helplessness” with Autism
I am a broken record when it comes to talking about learned helplessness! I think it is one of the most dangerous and damaging traps that kids or parents can fall into. Learned helplessness may be a term unfamiliar to you as well, so let me give you the basics, and 10 practical ways to […]
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