A reminder that there is so much more to communication than speech—your child may be speaking to you in his/her own unique way. For over 35 years, I’ve engaged with children on the autism spectrum, children who were labeled nonverbal. As a speech and language therapist, I am here to tell you, they all communicated

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in Communication Skills by Karen Kaplan, MS

As students prepare to go back to school following the summer, the question is: how can we ensure they feel safe post-pandemic? Some are saying: “What could schools look like for those with severe autism, post-pandemic?” Those students who are unable to wear a mask, stay a reasonable distance from another, follow directions without physical

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in Education and Classroom by Karen Kaplan, MS

Q: I have a nine-year-old girl who is not able to speak fully. She can spell some words when we teach her, but I want her to get better in her speech. Any suggestions, please? A: Hi Kavitha, Firstly, saying a letter in isolation can often be easier than saying a whole word with multi-syllables

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in Autism Parenting Advice by Karen Kaplan, MS

A comprehensive guide for creating dialogue about relationships, sexual maturity, and consent with your autistic child. Relationships are tricky for everyone, especially those with autism. There are many questions such as: How does love feel? How does a real friend act? How does a lover act? How do relationships really look? Was I flirting? Was

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in Autism Health and Medical Info by Karen Kaplan, MS

A look at how you, as a parent, can identify your child’s red flags and develop coping strategies. I am sure we have all been a bit dramatic in our lives about something. A scratch on a new car. A rip in our favorite pair of pants. The dog once again tracked mud onto the

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in Autism Behavioral Solutions by Karen Kaplan, MS