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
in Autism Diagnosis by Donnesa McPherson, AAS
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
in Autism Parenting Advice by Donnesa McPherson, AAS
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
in Autism Tools and Supports by Donnesa McPherson, AAS
What do you picture in your mind when you hear the phrase “symbols for autism”? It might be the puzzle piece, the color blue, the infinity sign, or maybe the butterfly? This article will discuss some of these symbols, what they mean, and how autistic advocates feel about their usage. When researching for this article,
in Autism Advocacy by Donnesa McPherson, AAS
The traditional summer camp experience is something a lot of people look forward to attending, but what about a summer camp for autism? There are plenty of questions to ask and qualifications to check out when considering a camp for your child on the spectrum. When the school year ends, how do you know if
in Autism Activities for Kids by Donnesa McPherson, AAS
There was a time in history when comorbidity between psychiatric disorders and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) were written about extensively, and autism was sometimes mistaken for a mental illness. Thankfully, these days there is much more understanding, awareness, and acceptance of autism. However, people still have many questions about what autism actually is and if
in Autism Health and Medical Info by Donnesa McPherson, AAS
Finding the perfect chewy for autism can benefit those children with a need to chew. However, there are many different chew toys available on the market that range from chewy tubes to chewable jewelry that are textured and help with different tactile needs. When searching for the perfect chewy, it’s hard to know where to
in Sensory Solutions by Donnesa McPherson, AAS
An overview of the potential nutritional, dietary, and therapeutic benefits of drinking camel milk for people with autism spectrum disorder or children with neurological conditions. What is the camel milk/autism connection? Are there truly benefits for people with autism and consuming camel milk? Some other questions people could ask are why people cannot ingest cow’s
in Autism Diet and Nutrition by Donnesa McPherson, AAS
Evidence based practices for autism spectrum disorder are a procedure or group of procedures that use a combination of instruction and intervention approaches. Evidence based practices for autism are a procedure or group of procedures that use a combination of instruction and intervention approaches. For a practice to qualify as evidence based, researchers provide information
in Autism Behavioral Solutions by Donnesa McPherson, AAS
Over the past decade there has been much debate about autism intelligence and whether autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disabilities are linked. Or, if greater intelligence is present among the ASD population compared to neurotypicals. These thoughts typically stem from people noticing some children with autism show above average abilities, like reading at an
in Autism Diagnosis by Donnesa McPherson, AAS
How autism affects the brain is a topic that plays on people’s minds if they are coming to terms with a diagnosis or have limited understanding of neurodivergence. The good news is there are scientific studies that can help answer some questions—although more research is needed. Since autism is considered a neurodivergent diagnosis, it is
in Autism Health and Medical Info by Donnesa McPherson, AAS
The autism rate by state in the USA is challenging to determine as it varies and is always changing. The variation in the prevalence of the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in each state can be dependent on ASD resources and knowledge available, among other factors. Which state has the highest autism rate? One
in Autism Diagnosis by Donnesa McPherson, AAS
Autism charities are found world-wide. They can help with the support of children living with autism and their families, funding for autism professionals, caregivers, and their organizations, etc. Within this article there are charities listed that help and promote autism awareness. Also listed is how to contact them, get involved, and donate to them, as
in Autism Advocacy by Donnesa McPherson, AAS
There has been increasing research based on robots for autism and the benefits that technology can have in the world of neurodivergence. Many parents, caregivers, and technicians are becoming increasingly interested in the skills that these machines could potentially support. The possibilities to help improve interactions with children with autism and their environment are a
in Autism Technology by Donnesa McPherson, AAS
Vocational therapy is a branch of occupational therapy. It uses work scenarios as a means of treatment to help strengthen and develop interpersonal skills in a workplace environment. Many young adults with autism who are getting ready to choose a career typically benefit from learning various skills beforehand. These skills can be taught and made
in Autism Therapies and Treatments by Donnesa McPherson, AAS
There are many factors to consider when discussing the typical age of autism diagnosis because children on the autism spectrum range in age, socio-economic group, race, gender, etc. Due to these factors and others in the general population, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be reliably diagnosed as early as three to ten years
in Autism Diagnosis by Donnesa McPherson, AAS
Autism dating can be quite a daunting and challenging part of growing up for both the people with autism and their parents. People that are on the autism spectrum often misread body language, lack scripting and appropriate skills to initiate relationships, and cannot always communicate what is on their minds. Activities like speed dating can
in Transitioning to Adulthood by Donnesa McPherson, AAS
To understand sensory cognition in children with autism, we first need a general understanding of the eight different sensory systems. We are all born with these systems, which include vision, smell, hearing, touch, taste, vestibular, proprioception, and interoception. How children interact and learn from the world around them is typically done through these senses. The
in Sensory Solutions by Donnesa McPherson, AAS
When someone is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), social cues, language skills and the ability to decipher what the other person or people are expecting, socially, can be difficult or misconstrued. This can equate to a delay in social skills as well as related behaviors, expectations, and interactions. What is social behavior? Social behavior
in Social Skills by Donnesa McPherson, AAS
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