Features:
Connections With Karen: Is It Autism? Some Resources for Parents
For parents wondering about a child’s possible autism, here are some resources to find the answers they need.
Karen Kaplan, MS
From Diagnosis to Action: Essential Tips for Parents
A mom with children on the spectrum offers insights, strategies, and resources for parents receiving the initial autism diagnosis.
Alicia Trautwein
MARAbio Advertorial
A preeminent scientist and a leading clinician discuss the implications of a breakthrough in the early detection of autism.
Autism Products and Services
Early Intervention and Diagnosis
Why early diagnosis and intervention for a child with autism is essential - a dad’s perspective.
Alex Kocan
Find Calm First
Providing calming strategies can help your autistic individual overcome the anxiety they may experience.
Karen Kaplan, MS
Self-Regulation through Positive Interactions
Here are some evidence-based strategies for parents to help support their autistic child’s self-regulation, behavior, and interactions.
Fizza Shaikh
Ask Dr. Malcolm
Dr. Malcolm answers parents’ questions and concerns about their autistic children.
Ronald I. Malcolm, EdD
10 Reasons I Celebrate My Son’s Diagnosis Day!
One mom focuses on the positive aspects of her son’s autism diagnosis.
Stephanie Compton
Why Wait? Intervention Strategies to Begin Now
Early intervention is critical for helping a child’s developmental success.
Brandi Timmons
4 Questions to Ask When Selecting a Special Needs School
Here are essential questions when choosing a special needs school for your child.
Denise Henry
Success Stories - Progress and Successful Travel
Here are two more success stories. The first, written by Lisa Henderson, celebrates her son’s progress with school and other areas of life. The second, written by Kim Brackin, celebrates her daughter successfully taking two trips.
Have a success story you want to share?
Sent in by Lisa Henderson and Kim Brackin
Get Your Autistic Students Writing
Help your ASD child write more proficiently with these three strategies.
Melanie Milicevic
5 Fun, Skill-Building Activities for Your Autistic Child
Exercise your child’s physical, cognitive, social, and daily living skills with fun activities.
Sharon Longo, BA
Get Moving! An Educator Inspires ASD Students through a Marathon
One educator’s encouragement and example lead to his students becoming more physically active.
Ryan Thomas
Navigating Transitions Through Adolescence to Adulthood
An autism parent shares helpful information to empower your child’s transition from adolescence to adulthood.
Jan Stewart
The Daughter I Love Turns Forty
Using four basic ideas, the writer and his wife guide their daughter through her autism journey.
Stephen J. Holoviak, PhD
Traveling With Autism: The Total Solar Eclipse
Traveling with two sons on the spectrum can’t eclipse this writer’s solar experience.
Jeremy Brown
Autism Warrior - Beauty With Purpose
An autistic woman and her sister-in-law help the special needs community one balm at a time.
Sharon Longo, BA
Dear Readers,
Fall is my favorite season, with its brilliant colors adorning the trees. The air turns crisp, and it’s a time of new beginnings. School, clubs, teams, and extra-curricular activities hold promise and maybe some excitement. Some might find September melancholy — an end to leisurely months and unstructured days. For parents with children on the spectrum, returning to structure and schedules may be long-awaited. For parents whose children have just been diagnosed, this time could be even more crucial with the start of speech, behavioral, or occupational therapy and other supports for their child.
Our theme this month is “Early Autism Diagnosis & Intervention,” and as always, we have a variety of topics for those who are just starting their journey and those who are already traveling this path. Alicia Trautwein has written “From Diagnosis to Action: Essential Tips for Parents” to help with some insights and resources. In our Education section, Brandi Timmons writes about the importance of early intervention in her article, “Why Wait? Intervention Strategies to Begin Now.”
If parents want to find the right educational fit for their child, Denise Henry writes about “4 Questions to Ask When Selecting a Special Needs School.” For parents with older children on the spectrum, Jan Stewart has written “Navigating Transitions through Adolescence to Adulthood.” You can also check out Stephen Holoviak’s narrative, “The Daughter I Love Turns Forty,” where he writes about four basic ideas he and his wife used to guide their daughter into adulthood.
Many parents seek guidance when it comes to behavior issues, whether their child is neurodivergent or neurotypical. Karen Kaplan writes about this in “Find Calm First,” and Fizza Shaikh provides some strategies in her article “Self-Regulation through Positive Interactions.”
Of course, everybody wants to have fun with their child. Read Stephanie Compton’s “10 Reasons I Celebrate My Son’s Diagnosis Day” and “Get Moving! An Educator Inspires ASD Students through a Marathon” by Ryan Thomas.
Whether you are starting your journey or have been on the road for many years, we are here to support you. There will always be difficult seasons along the way. Hopefully, like autumn, the melancholy or blustery moments will be blended with vivid hues that adorn your horizons and promise new beginnings. Enjoy the ride.
Happy Reading!
Sharon Longo
Editor
Autism Parenting Magazine