Dear Readers,

Caring for your autism family is paramount, whether you’re a mom, dad, grandparent, or guardian. You want your family to be happy and healthy. You want your children to feel cared for, loved, and respected. And chances are, as an autism caregiver, you strive every day to ensure your child’s needs are met before your own. We see you—and we know how important it is to access the information you need to make the best decisions for your family. Our goal to make life easier for you.

Does your child have healthy self-esteem? According to Louis Carter, MA, and Sarah Andress, LMSW, as children mature, they become more aware of their thoughts and how they relate to others. This influences how people behave and respond in social situations. In the article, How to Help Your Child with Autism Develop Positive Thinking, Carter and Andress advise, “This process can be particularly difficult for children with autism since many of their self-soothing and repetitive behaviors already lead to ostracism and judgment in public social situations.” For excellent strategies on how to help your child understand his/her feelings, improve self-esteem, and think positively, please look at their article.One of the most challenging aspects of parenting is when a child with autism responds negatively or aggressively toward you or someone else.

We had a reader reach out to us recently for professional advice as her young son with high-functioning autism continuously threatened aggressive behavior when he didn’t want to follow instructions. Kelly Beins, BA BHSc, OTR/L, clarifies how to respond when a child with autism struggles with aggression in her piece Help: My Child with Autism Threatens Destructive Behavior. As Kelly explains, statements of aggression do not always mean a child will act on them, but it’s wise to pay attention and work to understand why these statements are being made and learn how best to respond. Tara Bertic, the mother of a child with autism who is physically aggressive, has provided her support for families in her piece, The Everyday Reality of Parenting an Aggressive Child with Autism. Take a quick look as Tara shares her personal struggles while offering encouragement.

Are you able to secure therapeutic services for your child? If you are looking to add Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) to your child’s therapy plan, look at Accreditation—Why Parents Should Care About It and Organizations Should Aim for It by Carla Gross, MA, LPEC. Here she explains what parents should look for when selecting an ABA provider to help improve social, communication, and learning skills. She also shares the best ways to navigate telehealth—especially during the current pandemic.

Have you considered occupational therapy (OT) for your child? OT is an integral part of a treatment plan for many children on the autism spectrum as it provides exercises that work on developing skills to encourage independence. Rebecca Duvall Scott, who was a behavioral intervention specialist for children with autism before she became a mother, explains how occupational therapy (OT) became their saving grace for her child with sensory processing disorder (SPD). Read Occupational Therapy and the Benefits That Keep on Giving to discover how persistent and early occupational therapy can significantly improve the daily struggles.

Another concern for families is being able to keep kids safe, especially now with so many kids utilizing the internet for school. If your child spends any time on the internet, you need to read 10 Ways to Keep Your Child Safe Online. Ruthangela Bernadette, whose daughter was targeted by a predator after downloading an innocent-looking app, shares her suggestions on what to consider when allowing access.

This month’s issue is overflowing with beneficial family support. From information on mainstream schooling and ways physical activity can improve motor skills to advice on selecting a Guardian for your child, there is information for everyone.

In observance of Grandparent’s Day this month, we would like to give a big shout out to extended family members who are actively involved and supportive. To celebrate, Dr. Ron Malcolm has written a piece for us on the benefits of this special relationship in Why Grandparents are Important for Your Child with Autism.

Wishing you and your family love and comfort in the months ahead—stay well.

Kind regards,

Amy KD Tobik
Editor-in-Chief