Rhythm or percussion instruments are any instruments that you can shake, hit or scrape to make a noise. These instruments require force, eye-hand coordination, and motor skills, which is why investing in kids’ rhythm instruments is so important. Playing musical instruments is perfect for developing fine motor skills and developing gross motor skills. For those
in Autism Activities for Kids by Erin Bergman, BA
Dance has always been known as a universal form of self-expression. The benefits are numerous. For kids with autism, dance can be a therapeutic resource. There are many studies exploring the benefits of dance, for both neurodiverse and neurotypical individuals, and thus there are many dance programs geared towards those with special needs to encourage
in Autism Therapies and Treatments by Erin Bergman, BA
Besides being cute and a major source of love, dogs are an extremely valuable resource for learning when it comes to compassion, taking care of another living thing, feeling supported, and feeling less anxious. The connection between a dog and a child is an incredibly powerful thing. Research suggests there are three types of dogs
in Autism Therapies and Treatments by Erin Bergman, BA
Playing is one of the best and most important parts of being a child. The freedom to create and use your imagination using the toys around you or getting attached to a specific toy is something many of us have enjoyed growing up. For your autistic child, this can be the same. Play is important
in Autism Tools and Supports by Erin Bergman, BA
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
in Visual Supports by Erin Bergman, BA
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
in Autism News by Erin Bergman, BA
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
in Autism News by Erin Bergman, BA
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
in Autism News by Erin Bergman, BA
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
in Autism News by Erin Bergman, BA
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
in Autism News by Erin Bergman, BA
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
in Autism News by Erin Bergman, BA
As the number of autism diagnoses increases each year, so do the fears of parents and the need to see specialists. During the past few years, not only has the COVID-19 pandemic put a hold on autism diagnoses, it has put a strain on parents getting the right treatment for their kids. The different signs
in Autism Diagnosis, Autism News, COVID-19 Coronavirus and Autism by Erin Bergman, BA
For years documentaries have been used as an educational resource to teach about autism spectrum disorders (ASD) but the number of titles have been limited. As the rate of autism diagnoses increases, more and more parents are looking to equip themselves with as much knowledge as possible. The thing is, there is now so much
in Autism Advocacy by Erin Bergman, BA
Naturalistic teaching is a branch of applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy that takes on a more natural approach than the more commonly known discrete trial training. In this article we will discuss what naturalistic teaching is, the different naturalistic procedures and if it supports children with autism. What is naturalistic teaching? In the early days,
in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) by Erin Bergman, BA
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