Communication is the act of exchanging a message between two people, either vocally or non-vocally, and it begins at the very beginning stages of life. At the first stages of communication, we may cry or babble in order to self-soothe or react to something unpleasant or exciting. Later, we may start to reach, point, or… Continue Reading
Most dads like to give gifts to their children. Some dads give toys, some give treats. Others give money, books, or clothes. But one pair of dads—whose children had no speech of their own—gave a gift that meant much more than any of those. They gave the gift of voice. Brian Whitmer and Scot Wahlquist… Continue Reading
Molly was diagnosed with autism at age two. She was quiet—almost non-verbal—and did not play with other children. To communicate, she led her parents to what she wanted or needed. Molly also had severe tantrums and trouble maintaining a regular sleep pattern. She did not appear to be a typical two-year-old. She seldom smiled or… Continue Reading
Over the past 17 years, our program, Kid Pan Alley, worked with more than 40,000 children writing songs in schools throughout the country. Those kids have written more than 2,700 songs, some of which were recorded by top entertainers such as Delbert McClinton, Sissy Spacek, Amy Grant, Kix Brooks, Suzy Bogguss and more. One was… Continue Reading
As a parent, a loving, emotional connection with your autism spectrum disorder (ASD) child is likely what you crave above all else. Chances are that you feel robbed of this as a result of your child’s diagnosis. I know this feeling first-hand. My son (now 19) was diagnosed at the age of five after a… Continue Reading
It is amazing to watch the interaction between these two young, fun-loving adults. Both are geniuses in their own way. One is an artist. The other, a computer whiz. And they both share a fantastic camaraderie. They have a special connection and enjoy spending time with each other. They’re both blessed with a sense… Continue Reading
We were chatting before our IEP (individualized education plan) team meeting. Michael, Jacob’s Dad, was narrating the special moments he shared with his son. “Every morning Jacob and I wake up at 5 am. It’s Daddy-son time. Jacob and I laugh as we play cars and Bat Man. Even when I don’t understand Jacob, it… Continue Reading
Note: While the term Special Education Needs Coordinator (SENCO) is specific to the education system in the UK, the following information is valuable for any special education program. The transition to secondary school can be a challenging time for any parent, and there are a number of additional considerations for the transition from primary to… Continue Reading
I recently attended a networking dinner during which one guest asked another to share a bit about her previous career in education. “I’m done with that part of my life; I don’t talk about it anymore,” the woman said without a moment’s hesitation. While initially her bluntness seemed fairly rude, later, I found myself admiring… Continue Reading
Do you remember going into middle school? You may have been excited to start but once you got there everything seemed different. Teachers expected more, friends formed new alliances and left you behind, and you may have felt lost. Transitioning into middle school is hard for any teen but particularly difficult for teens on the… Continue Reading