One mom shares her experience of Peer Coaching Circles and explains how, by joining with other parents, autism families can find great support. Everyone travels on their own path. On my journey, I have moved, overcome, and in vain left some of the pebbles behind. Each path is a path of clearing, reclaiming, and reconnection
Auditory training, discrete trial training, vitamin therapy, facilitated communication, music therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and sensory integration, Supplements, CBD oil, medical marijuana, chiropractic care, yoga.
Rebecca shares insight into how occupational therapy has helped support her family and her son through sensory processing disorder. I was a behavioral intervention specialist for children with autism before becoming a dedicated mother of two—and I still couldn’t get a grip on my bulldozer of a son who could demolish a room or family
Our bodies have an intrinsic ability to sense and position themselves in space, called proprioception. A set of sensory receptors in our joints, muscles, and skin shape the proprioceptive system, responsible for building full-body awareness. There are simple tests you can do to try this out, like stretching your arms out in front of you,
This is the story of Frankie, a young boy with autism who stopped toe-walking and learned to talk after his family discovered MeRT therapy. For the first few months of Frankie’s life, his father, Frank, had no inkling that something might be different. Frankie is his first and only child, and in the glow of
Parents of children with autism are likely to have heard about the concept of using a fecal transplant in hopes of reducing autism symptoms. The idea is one that has undoubtedly gained momentum and popularity in the field over the past few years. If you’re a parent wanting to learn about the fecal transplant procedure
From my sensational family to yours… What does a parent who wants his/her child to follow directions, pay attention, and perform well at school have in common with a teacher who wants his/her student to keep his/her body in his/her own space, do his/her work in a timely, neat manner, and stop disrupting the entire
Music has a strong effect on our mind. Music can work like a bridge of communication. This makes music therapy suitable for treating the particularities of many autistic children. However, due to limited information, parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have many questions. Does music therapy simply mean singing with my autistic child?
Justin Bieber sleeps in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. He has one at home and one at his studio. No, if you are wondering, JB has never been diagnosed with autism. He says he uses the therapy to rid his body of toxins and decrease anxiety by supplying more oxygen to the brain. Consumer interest in
What’s happening to my child? I was a behavioral intervention specialist for children with autism before becoming a dedicated mother of two—and I still couldn’t get a grip on my bulldozer of a son who could demolish a room or family gathering and leave no survivors. I’m talking wild. Not just difficult in a mischievous,
I said it in my head… As I got back to the car, I felt destroyed. I’d carried Rory into school, he cried so bad, his body was like a real dead weight, he was like concrete, he had somehow found a way to be heavier, he is so strong but today he was even
I grew up having nine older siblings and adore them all to this day. But from the time Isaac gave me my first swirly, Maureen tickled me to tears, and Laura manipulated me into believing frogs aren’t animals, I learned that peaceful sibling relations require work and the ability to memory-hole trauma. Fortunately, I’m now
You’ve been through the identification process, and you have a diagnosis of autism for your child after noticing differences in behaviors and preferences; you may have been told by friends and family that your child would ‘grow out of ‘ something or that he is a late bloomer; after all, children do develop at their
The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for many and can be particularly difficult for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). With little time to prepare, they had to leave school and acclimate to distance learning, which doesn’t offer the support and structure of the classroom. Add in the boredom and frustration that can come with
When parenting children with autism, it is essential for parents and carers to understand all behavior is a form of communication. When that behaviour challenges parents and carers it is most often the environment, which includes the people within it, which triggers anxiety and the Fight or Flight response. Learning to understand your child and
“Imagine your son was dropped in the middle of China, without a phone, a map or a grasp of the language and he was expected to find his way home by himself. Picture that and then you have an inkling of what life is like for him every day.”. (Tsachi Manor, Clinical Psychologist) If we
At first glance, simple toys may seem less “exciting” than the complex, high-tech toys children often find fascinating. All there is to do with wooden blocks is stack them, right? Wrong! Simple toys overflow with educational potential and have such an important role in development. From addressing fine motor skills to fostering imaginative play to
An autism diagnosis can bring major life changes for families and there are few resources available to help as they face an onslaught of important decisions. There are no easy solutions to address feeding difficulties, sleeping issues, and behavioral concerns. The stress on family life is truly taxing and there is little respite even if
Gardening can be a personally rewarding and gratifying activity. Some can equate gardening to your favorite leisure activity. It’s certainly mine. I only wish I had more time to be in the garden because it makes me feel calm, centered, satisfied, and happy. The next best thing to gardening is to share a few ideas
The treatment of lice is one of the primary reasons the insects are such an irritating pest. On their own, the creatures are itchy and annoying, and treating them is an extensive and time-consuming process. Treating them on your children is even more difficult, and if your child is sensory sensitive, it can be agonizing
Receiving a diagnosis of autism is overwhelming. Waves of emotions begin to flood your inner being, ranging from sadness to anger to feelings of anxiety. You begin to ask yourself questions like, “Why me?”, “What did I do wrong?”, and “What do I do next?” There is a plethora of information on the internet and
When you go to the doctor they always ask, “Is your child meeting milestones?” There are milestones each child should meet at different ages. The doctor will ask “Is he or she rolling over? Is he or she crawling? Is he or she talking?” The list goes on. I was the parent who always had
A loyal companion, a friend who doesn’t require a lot of conversation, and even a gentle but insistent guardian; a dog can provide these things and more for a child, teen, or adult with autism. According to the Journal of Pediatric Nursing, in a survey of families with dogs and one or more members
Your child has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy has been recommended. The gold standard for treating children with autism, ABA is a behavioral learning program that requires intense treatment, with up to 40 hours per week prescribed. The intensity of treatment is a proven factor that directly
I am a UK-based Speech and Language Therapist experienced in working with children who have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as well as severe speech difficulties that can be best described by childhood apraxia of speech (CAS). I have been touched and inspired by the amazing progress made during therapy and I want to, in
The martial arts are everywhere. You can find references to them in movies, on the covers of magazines, in TV commercials, and most likely you have one in your neighborhood strip-mall. Whether someone is looking for improved focus, expanded levels of conditioning, a newfound sense of purpose and self-confidence, or a healthy social environment to
Dogs are often referred to as man’s best friend. In fact, the American Pet Products Association found that in 2019, 63.4 million Americans own a dog. Countless studies support the claim that having a dog improves overall well-being, especially for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). There are three areas where trained dogs can benefit
Have you been following the recent news reporting the benefits of CBD oils for autism? While scientific studies are underway, families report CBD oils can reduce stress for people on the autism spectrum, as well as lessen aggression, self-injurious behaviors, and anxiety surrounding social interactions. Recent reports indicate CBD can aid children with co-occurring seizures.
What is occupational therapy? The role of occupational therapy for autism is to help the child participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. (“About Occupational Therapy,” 2019) Occupational therapy takes a holistic approach to the client’s wellbeing. It addresses the physical, psychological, and cognitive aspects
What is Craniosacral Therapy? Craniosacral therapy (CST) is a non-invasive, touch-based therapy that is part of cranial osteopathy. This therapy involves applying gentle pressure on the skull, spine, and parts of the pelvis. It is used by osteopaths, chiropractors, and massage therapists to relieve pain and discomfort. Practitioners claim that craniosacral therapy can melt away
Approaches that help autism are widely varied and individualized. Autistic symptoms are also unique to the individual, although they tend to fall into clusters or patterns. So where does it all come together? We know that all of these approaches affect the autistic’s brain, and most of the symptoms emerge from the brain as a
What is an autism intervention? Intervention for autism involves taking action, often with outside help, to improve a specific condition or behavior. A successful intervention requires the cooperation of the child, parent, and therapist. With consistent practice and teamwork, interventions can make a difference. There are many interventions that address the many challenges parents
In 1987, during my freshman year at Lehigh University, our first English assignment was to write a letter to an elected official advocating for a controversial issue of our choosing. I decided to write my United States congressman to express why I believed marijuana should be legalized. What was supposed to be a three to
Scientists and researchers have noted that autism and thyroid disease are two epidemics on the rise. Dr. Raphael Kellman believes autism and thyroid disease are closely related. His study showed that 75 percent of children with autism have undiagnosed thyroid problems often due to unreliable blood tests. The most common type of thyroid disease seen
Many parents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) children are aware at some point that their child has a very accelerated splinter skill, a specific task that does not generalize to other tasks. For some parents, they may have noticed that their child is very advanced in art or music, and yet some highly advanced abilities
Recently, parents of a 3.6-year-old child diagnosed with autism with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) in a US public school district approached me for some general tips on parenting a child with autism. I am a physical therapist with a special interest in the educational impact of a diagnosis like the autism spectrum, attention deficit
What makes yoga different from other activities is its focus on correct full breathing during the exercises and the emphasis on doing them mindfully. Therefore it is important to encourage children to be fully present during this sequence and regularly remind them to keep awareness on their breath, and in what they are feeling in
It is Thursday. I am about to meet a new child on the autism spectrum. My goal is to teach basic music skills and use these skills to build confidence, improve fine motor movement and prompt timely responses. To achieve this, I must capture the child’s attention. Brain function researchers have applied various definitions to
Autism typically causes social difficulties and repetitive behaviors, as well as intellectual disabilities, and even physical symptoms like insomnia, irritability, hyperactivity and digestive troubles. Caregivers often turn to herbal substances or alternative medications to treat these types of symptoms. In fact, about 40 percent of families who have children with autism symptoms or other developmental disorders
Mastering social skills is generally an ongoing endeavor for kids on the autism spectrum. Just when you master one skill, peers get older, change, and it’s time for an upgrade. How do you know if your child is ready to benefit from learning social skills in a group setting? In my office, groups promote safe
“The word theatre comes from the Greeks. It means the seeing place. It is the place people come to see the truth about life and the social situation. The theatre is a spiritual and social X-ray of its time.” — Stella Adler The truth is theater is just a mirror. We hold mirrors up to ourselves every day. We
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