For years, I’ve been searching for a way to reconcile my passion for speech therapy and my addiction to earning new, vibrant stamps in my passport. I was reading a news article when I came across a non-governmental organization in Cambodia helping to make speech therapy available to those with communication difficulties. In Cambodia, speech… Continue Reading
One of the most difficult things to cope with as an autism mom was my son’s inability to speak. I remember hoping and praying that speech was going to develop and reassuring myself that it was a matter of time and the words would emerge by perhaps the next holiday or birthday. I recall having… Continue Reading
As parents to children who are nonverbal or have limited speech, we have to learn some skills of our own to help them learn to communicate better. I have three children with autism myself who are all now extremely verbal, but when they were younger, communication was a constant struggle. Here are a few of… Continue Reading
Communication issues and autism For many children with autism, communication issues are one of the first telltale signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). As autism covers a spectrum of challenges, children can present communication issues differently from one another. Some children might have a large vocabulary and learn to read at a young age but… Continue Reading
The new school year can be a source of stress for many children and even more so for children with autism. There are new people to meet, new routines to learn, and all the while having to navigate this real-world environment we call school. Communicating with your child’s teacher is critical to your child’s success. … Continue Reading
My son, now 17, was diagnosed with Asperger’s at age 12, though we knew there was something “different” about him long before then. I remember going to school for career day and seeing several kids in the hall excitedly greet my son, who just walked right by them without even acknowledging they had spoken to… Continue Reading
As a speech-language pathologist for more than 18 years, I have spent most of my career in the field of augmentative and alternative communication. My key interests have always been children and adults who have complex communication needs. This population displays a variety of disabilities, but my past and current caseloads include mostly children with… Continue Reading
Although the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1997 requires assistive technology (including communication devices) be considered for every child with a disability during Individualized Education Program (IEP) planning, it seems as though there is a specific population that tends to be overlooked…the high school-aged child. While there is much evidence to support early… Continue Reading
Let’s go back to a moment when your child shared a story that was not his/her own and was disconnected from that present situation. Give yourself the luxury of a short daydream. First, focus on your child’s adorable, precious face. Next, fill in the scene that you just imagined. Include your shared words or story… Continue Reading
How can we best communicate with our children? The answer is always their preferred choice of play. Below you will find a breakdown of the 5 primary tools for communicative play outlined in the pages of Solitary Genius: Discovering the Gifted Child Within. Solitary Genius is a memoir that touches upon the many complexities of communication… Continue Reading