Rachel Bédard

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Rachel Bédard

Rachel Bédard,PhD is a licensed psychologist practicing in Fort Collins, Colorado. She uses a strengths based approach and her clients note she has the ability to help them laugh about even the most stressful or embarrassing events in life. Dr. Bédard has co-written two books with her favorite Speech Language Pathologist, Mallory Griffith. Their most recent book is You’ve Got This!: The Journey from Middle School to College, As Told by Students on the Autism Spectrum and Their Parents. Learn more about Dr. Bédard and the collaborative books on her website www.drrachelbedard.com and thesociallearningproject.com

Hopes and Dreams for the Neurodiverse community

Sometimes we get so caught up in the everyday tasks of living that we forget to dream. Along with dishes, carpools, piles of laundry, last minute school projects, and doctor appointments, we also get to ponder the future, create a bucket list of adventures, and imagine a mental utopia of what life could be. Join […]

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in Autism Advocacy by Rachel Bédard

When Should My Child Get a Job?

Imagine you live in the same town as Dr. Temple Grandin (as I do). Imagine Dr. Grandin’s recent push was for everyone to get.a.job! (now transitioned to learn.to.drive!). Imagine you are a parent (uh, you are a parent, so you can do this): you know you need to do what Dr. Grandin suggests, but you […]

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in Employment by Rachel Bédard

Am I Overparenting My Child on the Autism Spectrum?

Your parenting style: helicopter, snowplow, or what is actually needed? You know what it takes to parent a child on the spectrum. You do this parenting gig every day. You know it is a bigger role than most parents will ever face and includes extra encouragement, extra reminders, extra appointments, less sleep, less personal time, […]

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in Autism Solutions by Rachel Bédard

Diagnosing Up the Family Tree: When You Realize You Might Be on the Spectrum

That moment when you realize your child isn’t the only family member on the spectrum… So, adults can be on the spectrum. And so can women. Two profound sentences that really shouldn’t be quite so profound, but we continue to be amazed when we find women on the spectrum. Here is a typical scenario in […]

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in Autism Parenting Advice by Rachel Bédard

Dating and Special Needs: Are You Ready?

Most parents of teens tell me they are not ready for their baby to date! No question, their teens are curious, developing sexually in a typical manner (thank you, puberty), wondering/anxious about dating, and are truly considering the possibility of dating. Before we get to the horrors and anxieties of dating, let’s recall some of […]

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in Transitioning to Adulthood by Rachel Bédard