Features:

How Music Therapy Can Help Your Child on the Spectrum
A look at the benefits of music therapy as an alternative therapy method.
Martina Riepen, MA

From School to Home: Advice from a Psychotherapist
Hooray for the Holidays? Ways to support your child’s transition from school to home.
Rachel Melville-Thomas, MA ACP

Deep Pressure Therapy for Children with Autism
How deep pressure therapy for autistic children supports proprioceptive input.
Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB

Cecostomy: Everything You Need to Know
For parents with kids experiencing challenging gastrointestinal symptoms an autism mom shares her son’s cecostomy experience.
Chrystal Venator

Dramatherapy and Creative Play for Children with Autism
A dramatherapist explores how play and creative approaches might support young people with autism.
Clive Holmwood, PhD

TMS Treatment for Autism: What is it?
A look at whether TMS therapy is effective for treating autism symptoms.
Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB

Caiden Hooks: Living By Faith Not By Sight
Meet an autistic blind wrestler who has overcome the limitations of his diagnosis.
Ron Sandison, MDiv

Stem Cell Therapy for Autism: Does it Work?
An overview of stem cell therapy and whether it may prove to be beneficial for children on the spectrum.
Andréas RB Deolinda, BA, BSc

Is Your Child Fearful? Or Careful and Protective?
A look at ways to teach and instill safety etiquette in autistic children.
Karen‌ ‌Kaplan,‌ ‌MS‌

Supporting the Nervous System Through Diet and Supplementation
A mother’s account of her experience with biomedical interventions to support and improve her autistic son’s symptoms.
Rebecca Duvall Scott

Herbs for Autism: A Natural Approach
A look at conventional medicine versus alternative and herbal remedies for children on the spectrum.
Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB

Maybe Autism is My Superpower
Ben Blanchet’s mother shares how he celebrates neurodiversity as a unique superpower.
Angela Blanchet

What is Sensory Integration for Therapy?
Discover how sensory integration improves the sensory experiences of autistic children.
Andréas RB Deolinda, BA, BSc

How Much Therapy Is Too Much?
A roadmap to deciphering the right amount of therapy your child should be receiving.
Karla Pretorius, M. Psych

Poetry Corner: Winding Down
Mary Kangas

Pet Therapy for Children with Autism
An occupational therapist shares the therapeutic benefits of pet therapy.
Lauren Martini

Can Energy Medicine Support Your Child’s Health and Wellbeing?
Can focusing on a child’s energy field help relieve symptoms of autism and ADHD?
Tina Bishai, BSc, BSc PT, MBA

ASD Marketplace: Bluebee Pals
Discover the NEW 4.0 Bluebee Pals Interactive Plush Learning Tool with Companion Life Skills/Educational App.

An AUTISM Interview with Mireille Fourner
Hear from an autism mom and artist who is raising autism awareness for her son.
Derrick Hayes

Art For All: Encouraging Autistic Creativity
Discover the power of art in bridging the gap of creativity and communication.
JC Ellinger, MBA

What’s New on the Bookshelf?: The Ancestors Within
Immerse yourself in the tale of two nonverbal siblings with abilities as energy healers.

Autism Warrior: Toby Mullins
Meet Toby Mullins, a headteacher on a mission to empower autistic children.
Andréas RB Deolinda, BA, BSc

Make a Plan, Then Share the Pain
The importance of preparing for the worst when you care for someone with special needs.
Ryan F. Platt, MBA, ChFC, ChSNC

Dear Readers,


With so many options to choose from, and so much conflicting advice, finding the best form of therapy for your child on the spectrum is no easy task.


To help you navigate this minefield, our theme this month is Alternative Therapies. We know Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), and Occupational Therapy (OT) often hog the media spotlight, so we’re shining our own light on other approaches families might wish to consider. 


Among the alternative therapies featured in our pages are: hypnotherapy, music therapy, deep pressure therapy, drama therapy, creative play, TMS treatment, stem cell therapy, herbal remedies, sensory integration therapy, pet therapy, and even energy medicine—it’s a real mixed bag! With parents, therapists, and people on the spectrum penning all this content, our hope is you find enough information to make informed choices for your loved ones. 


On a different note, we’ve included an article from autistic advocate Joe Carr titled Why Parents Should Feed Children’s Special Interests. Joe asserts that the economy needs specialists as well as generalists. He believes nurturing a child’s passions more than tackling areas of difficulty is key to future success. How literally this should be interpreted is up for debate, but Joe credits his mom’s nurturing of his interest in performance as vital to his own achievements. 


Another standout article this month is What a Chore! Establishing Routines at Home, written by Julie Mower. It’s no secret that children with autism prefer routine, but Julie takes this concept to new levels. She advises working household chores into children’s daily schedules to help them build life skills and independence in a comfortable environment.


We hope you find many golden nuggets of wisdom in this month’s pages. If you discover an alternative therapy that supports your child, don’t hesitate to let us know!

Enjoy the read.


Emily Ansell Elfer

Editor

Autism Parenting Magazine

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