Autism Solutions

Special interest…even the name is contentious. Some autistic people feel it’s an almost patronizing term, to them special interest misses the mark completely when describing something they’re so deeply invested in. Hobby falls short by miles. So maybe obsession, fascination, or even specialized interest is more apt? Not quite, some alternatives are actually offensive; so

As humans, we generally like knowing what to expect. Before we apply for a job, purchase a vacuum, book a trip, or whatever, we ask around or go online to acquire all the information we can find. Knowing what to expect provides us with the cushion of comfort we crave before diving in. Expectations are

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects communication and behavior. An individual with autism might have difficulty with communication and interaction with other people. They may have restricted interests and repetitive behaviors, and can often struggle with motor planning. What is motor planning? Motor planning, also called Praxis, is the planning and

As children become older, they begin to develop a sense of self. This is known in psychology as metacognition: becoming aware of yourself, your thoughts, and how you relate to others. Research suggests metacognition is responsible for much of an individual’s responses in social situations and behaviors (e.g., (Nelson & Narens, 1990) (Grainger, Catherine, and

The brain of a child on the spectrum can be a noisy place; peace is a calm we hope for them to develop in their heart. We know that anxiety is common among children, and particularly common among children on the Autism Spectrum, which reflects an internal tension that may manifest in a variety of

Ever wonder why your son or daughter always has a hard time holding on to directions you give? Or, ever wonder why when you give the direction “Clean your room,” it never looks exactly how you pictured it in your head? Sure, children, adolescents, and young adults, at times, choose to listen to certain things.

It is hard to imagine adulthood or even begin thinking about it when we have so much on our plate daily. However, we do need to start thinking long-term and at the bigger picture. One thing we can count on is that our children are going to grow up. According to the research on autism

“What?” said Heidi, the mother of a severely disabled child on the spectrum, when I was hesitant to share good news about my son who is also on the spectrum because we had both tried the same supplement and I knew she had seen no change. “Are you suffering survivor’s guilt or something?” Our friendship

With summer break fast approaching, many of us have fond memories of our parents loading us into the car with the dog, camping equipment, and supplies and setting off on a family road trip, singing all the way. But for many of us, these fond recollections remain firmly in the past, never to be repeated.

I think farming has evolved over time, not just as a career opportunity or way of living, but also as a form of therapy. It’s been shown to provide so many areas of education and help children and adults with their emotions. It can become a coping mechanism when people are struggling. For me it’s been

There comes a time as parents and carers where we will have to support our autistic child to live in a changing environment that is not always constant and regulated within our control. While children with autism have a fundamental need for routine, it is also important that we push the boundaries of routineness and

Childhood is a wonderful time of growth, development, experimentation, and learning about ourselves and the world around us. Unfortunately, as adults, we often work against this natural time of development for our children. To help set the course in the right direction, here are five things every autism spectrum disorder (ASD) child needs. 1. Every

The beautiful thing about autism is that oftentimes children and adults become hyper focused on one subject. Their interests can range from reciting lines from movies, to remembering stats of sports teams, to playing video games, to being gifted in art, to playing an instrument. The list of interests goes on and on. The number

When I was younger, I would never use public transport. The thought of getting a train or bus, especially on my own, would have just scared me. During my years at secondary school, I would travel by taxi with others from my local area. Once I had left the school my parents decided it would

Self-regulation is the ability to manage your emotions and behaviour when in situations that may evoke stress, anxiety, anger, and frustration. This includes being able to identify your feelings and channel them appropriately when presented with challenging circumstances. These skills, which are developed over time, enable children to reflect on the consequences of their actions

All too often there is too much to do and too little time to do it all. For students, time management can be a real struggle. They have school work, chores, planning (next school year, independent living, college, jobs), extracurricular activities, and sometimes pressures from peers and society—the elephant gets bigger as the list grows!

Children with autism are no different than other children when it comes to the possibility of needing to get glasses. Many parents are aware of the possible behaviors associated with autism and their own children. Such behaviors as: poor eye contact, side viewing, photosensitivity, or even hand flapping are often viewed as part of having

As an occupational therapist working in an interdisciplinary program for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), I often am leading groups of five to six children at a time. When planning our group activities, I strive to find the optimal way to facilitate improvement of each child’s fine motor skills at once. One of my