What is sociopathy, does it relate to high functioning autism and can these conditions overlap, co-occur, or are professionals misdiagnosing autistic individuals as sociopaths, to their detriment? This was an interesting article to take on due to the controversy surrounding these diagnoses. At first, when you start a research project based on sociopathy, or correctly

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in Autism Diagnosis by Karla Pretorius, M. Psych and Nanette Botha, BEd

Read on for suggestions about which therapies to use for your child  and how much therapy is sufficient. I’ve been working with parents and families for nearly two decades. I have not, in all these years, met a mom or dad that said: “Parenting is a piece of cake!”  It is the most important, yet

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in Autism Advocacy, General by Karla Pretorius, M. Psych and Nanette Botha, BEd

Here are five ways you can support your child’s social development.  It is a common myth that children on the autism spectrum do not crave social interaction and friendships. The way our children initiate interactions, or, at times, wait for others to initiate interactions, does usually differ from neurotypical exchanges.  Children diagnosed with autism may

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in Autism Parenting Advice by Karla Pretorius, M. Psych and Nanette Botha, BEd

A look at how using an interest-based approach can effectively aid your child’s learning. I was trained in Verbal Behavior when I started out in the field of autism and related disorders. I loved working with Sue* who was two years old when I met her and “echolalic”. She was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder

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in Autism Parenting Advice by Karla Pretorius, M. Psych and Nanette Botha, BEd

Like parents, children on the spectrum have had to adjust to  COVID-19 regulations. Here are some tips for creating a home environment that supports your child’s development. We all know there’s no such thing as a “perfect environment”. But there is an optimum, and it is our goal to create it—not just for us, but

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in Autism Parenting Advice by Karla Pretorius, M. Psych and Nanette Botha, BEd