“You’re having twins!” Can you imagine the excitement? In 2001, Jared and Jason Zimmerman, were born to my amazing wife Tina and me. Our first thoughts were we would need two of everything, that our families were going to be completely surprised, and of course, this could get expensive! Needless to say, no matter how… Continue Reading
We have been working with families of children with autism for many years. A common concern among parents is their child’s difficulty with social interaction. This leads to problems at home, school, and in the community. We saw a need for an easy-to-remember method parents could use to help their children improve social functioning. We… Continue Reading
Rick walks into his classroom, and he is angry. He throws his backpack across the classroom while yelling that he is going to “mess up” Jeremy because Jeremy played his music too loudly on the bus. His classmates look at him with fear in their eyes, and Twyla asks her teacher if Rick is going… Continue Reading
As a child, we had a player piano in my home. Oftentimes, I would put a musical roll into the console of the piano and let it run and see if I could pattern my fingers after the keys. In doing so, I would try to fool myself (and others) into believing that I could… Continue Reading
Welcome back to Social Skills Corner. For the July issue, we are going to describe ways you can help your child manage crowded events in general and July 4th celebrations, specifically. We will begin with an example of what can occur if you and your family try to attend large events without adequate preparation. Mary… Continue Reading
Social skills are especially difficult for teens on the autism spectrum, but many of these skills can be learned, and with practice, can become habit. Social skills are critical in order to make friends, get a job, and to live a fulfilling life. Research from Harvard University says social skills are the top factor for… Continue Reading
Socializing forms a big part of our everyday lives. From exchanging polite conversation with strangers to cementing lasting relationships with our family and friends, the ability to talk and engage with our peers is an incredibly useful skill to have. But for those with autism, being social doesn’t always come naturally. Children usually pick up… Continue Reading
Welcome to Social Skills Corner. We have been working with families for many years. Parents frequently express concerns about their children not having friends or not knowing how to interact with other people either individually or in groups. We want you to be able to help your child to make friends and improve social interactions… Continue Reading
Coping with Asperger’s syndrome can be a day-to-day challenge for some. Unfortunately, not everyone understands what it’s like to be on the spectrum so I have developed a list of coping mechanisms that have helped me over the years. Based on practical experience, these are the most effective strategies for dealing with challenges such as… Continue Reading
Jamie Carter, Ph.D. and Ahna O’Shaughnessy, M.A. have developed a four step program to help parents teach their children diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) how to improve social skills and emotion management. Their book, PREP for Social Success: A Guide for Parents of Children with Autism, is available exclusively through Amazon Kindle. Parents… Continue Reading