Types of Autism Behavior Interventions
What is an intervention? Intervention for autism involves taking action, often with outside help, to improve a specific condition or behavior. A successful intervention requires the cooperation of the child, parent, and therapist. With consistent practice and teamwork, interventions can make a difference. There are many interventions that address the many challenges parents encounter when […]
Continue readingHow to Help a Child With Autism With Emotional Self-Regulation
The stressors of a typical school day are only compounded for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). They often struggle with emotional self-regulation, or the ability to moderate feelings in situations that provoke intense reactions. Traversing a crowded lunchroom can flood heightened senses, and difficulty understanding social dynamics during group projects can spark panic. To […]
Continue readingBehavior Support Strategies for Children With Autism
Because autism comes with neurological differences, it is almost certain that these children will have difficulty with conventional behavior expectations. Among the common characteristics of autism which often lead to behavioral conflicts, are the following: Significant, atypical difficulties with understanding and using language. This is especially demanding in group situations where several people are conversing, […]
Continue readingMedical Cannabis, Autism, and the Transformation of Medicine
In 1987, during my freshman year at Lehigh University, our first English assignment was to write a letter to an elected official advocating for a controversial issue of our choosing. I decided to write my United States congressman to express why I believed marijuana should be legalized. What was supposed to be a three to […]
Continue readingA Parent’s Love Knows No Bounds
A parent’s love is a special love. It is not about approval or accomplishment. It is about unconditional support and concern. It’s a love born in joy, nurtured during adversity and reconfirmed on a daily and hourly basis. It’s a love bound up in anxiety and expectation. Often worry and concern can creep in as […]
Continue readingA Special Father’s Day: My Journey With Marley
My oldest daughter is 17 years old, and her name is Marley. I should have known the journey with Marley was going to be an interesting ride from the start. My wife and I adopted Marley from China on her first birthday. The day I officially became a father is the most vivid day of […]
Continue readingAchieving Great Success Beyond the Autism Diagnosis
Throughout most of his life, Gregory Chabolla had continuously proven that he could achieve far beyond the limits set by his diagnosis. It was back in 1998 when he was diagnosed with Pervasive Development Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). Gregory was just three years old. And his mother, Michelle, was told her son would never be […]
Continue readingHow to Introduce New Foods to Picky Eaters with Autism
Picky eating isn’t uncommon to anyone who has or works with children. Most parents know there are only a handful of foods their children will eat, and getting them to try new foods is often challenging. Picky eating, or food selectivity, has a much higher prevalence in children who are on the autism spectrum compared […]
Continue readingAn Exclusive Look at AUTISM With Julie Polanco
Encouragement speaker Derrick Hayes gives an AUTISM Interview by asking six questions through each letter in the word AUTISM to give readers an insightful perspective from parents, experts, entrepreneurs, and other leaders in the field. Today’s AUTISM Interview is with Julie Polanco who is the author of God Schooling: How God Intended Children to Learn. […]
Continue readingWhy It’s Important to Embrace Autism Research
Research is very important for parents to understand—unfortunately, it isn’t something that a lot of families have time for or can easily access. It may seem that research exists in an ivory tower. I want to inspire you to embrace research. It helps inform the practitioners and teachers that work with your loved one on […]
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