How to Take the Initiative to Find the Resources Your Child Needs
If you have a child with autism or ADHD or other developmental disabilities, or if you suspect they do, you cannot wait for resources to come to you. Each day that goes by is valuable time you can’t get back. Each day that goes by is a day of intervention or therapy your child isn’t […]
Continue reading5 Ways to Help Autistic Children Build the Friendships They Need
It is a proud moment for a mom when she sees her child making friends. However, if your child has autism spectrum disorder, he/she might face difficulties in picking up social cues, thus making friends a challenge. Your kid wants friends but does not know how to make and keep them. Your parenthood strategy takes […]
Continue readingFor Carers of a Loved One On the Spectrum: Self Care Starts With You
Who were we before we were carers for our autistic children, and who have we become after? How do we want to be, and what have we given up and gained on the deep path of raising them? I would not change my kids. I love and adore them for who they are. I appreciate […]
Continue readingAm I Overparenting My Child on the Autism Spectrum?
Your parenting style: helicopter, snowplow, or what is actually needed? You know what it takes to parent a child on the spectrum. You do this parenting gig every day. You know it is a bigger role than most parents will ever face and includes extra encouragement, extra reminders, extra appointments, less sleep, less personal time, […]
Continue readingThe Benefits of Positive Statements for You and Your ASD Child
Words are powerful! Words affect every aspect of your body from the way you think, to the way you feel, to your actions. From the time you wake up to the time you go to sleep your inner dialogue is on autopilot and you are continuously talking to yourself. The majority of the time we […]
Continue readingWhen Your Partner is on the Autism Spectrum
Many of us have fallen in love with someone on the autism spectrum. We may only realize later, when we share children who become diagnosed as being on the spectrum, that our partner’s idiosyncrasies, amazing abilities, and literal interpretations actually are spectrum traits. Many adults who live regular lives, excelling in areas of math, science, […]
Continue readingChoosing a Therapy Dog for Your Child With Autism
A loyal companion, a friend who doesn’t require a lot of conversation, and even a gentle but insistent guardian; a dog can provide these things and more for a child, teen, or adult with autism. According to the Journal of Pediatric Nursing, in a survey of families with dogs and one or more members […]
Continue readingThe Beauty and Benefits of Buddy Sports Programs
From the moment my son, Charlie, 12, was born, he’s been the consummate sports fan, attending nearly all his older brothers’ events. In the early days when he napped in his infant carrier, and throughout the following years as he explored new playgrounds at various ballfields, he never minded watching. But as he got older, […]
Continue readingTop Businesswoman Improves Employment Opportunities for Autism
Autism Warrior: Silvia Planas-Prats Founder of Miami Is Kind Foundation, an industrial bakery offering employment opportunities for all kinds of professionals with autism or other disabilities, including bakers, customer service representatives, and warehouse operators. For 20 years, Silvia was confident in the successful progression of her career as a businesswoman, but after the birth of […]
Continue readingBest Ways to Work With Your Child’s Speech Therapist For Growth
There is not one day that goes by that my son, with high-functioning autism, opens my eyes to a new way of thinking, a different perspective. He “gifts” me a fresh lens to view a familiar situation with a new interpretation. Yet, as intelligent as our children are, their cognitive wiring is mapped differently, and […]
Continue readingThe Importance of Self-Care for the ASD Caregiver
It’s hard, folks. We all know the struggle and time consumption of caring for a child on the spectrum. It is a 24/7 lifestyle with what might seem like more downs than ups sometimes. I know for me it is a constant struggle, and when I say constant, I mean every single second is a […]
Continue readingHow to Go from Feeling Judged to Feeling Back in Control of Progress
Changing the things we can and letting go of things we cannot… If you have an atypically developing child, particularly one with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), you have seen the glances, stares, and report outs to you from school. Every judgement feels like a punch in your jaw. There are three mainstream theories to help […]
Continue readingIs Your Child With Autism Ready for Adulthood?
Once a student graduates or ages out of the school system, the support and structure the system once offered is no longer available. The completion of high school is a time of excitement for a young and his/her family but also can be scary. Many individuals with autism struggle with change and the transition from […]
Continue readingDiagnosing Up the Family Tree: When You Realize You Might Be on the Spectrum
That moment when you realize your child isn’t the only family member on the spectrum… So, adults can be on the spectrum. And so can women. Two profound sentences that really shouldn’t be quite so profound, but we continue to be amazed when we find women on the spectrum. Here is a typical scenario in […]
Continue readingFriendship Group Celebrates People With Nonverbal Autism
There are many social groups in our society going on most days of the week, all organized around topics of interest or values that people share. One particular group that meets in Newport Beach, California is a remarkable one. It may be one of only a couple of its type in the United States and […]
Continue reading6 Helpful Tips for Navigating A Driver’s License With Autism
“What’s the car gonna look like when I do my driving for driver’s education?” “How will I tell the teacher if I’m not ready for the highway?” “What if the teacher puts on loud music?” “What if a bunch of kids are in the car with me?” These are the questions I dealt with recently […]
Continue readingTop Tips on Helping Your Child With Autism Through Puberty
As a pediatric endocrinologist, this is an area of my expertise in my daily work. The early changes of puberty usually occur between the ages of 9 to 13 years. They are noticeable in girls by the budding of breasts and then pubic hair, with menstrual periods starting between 11 to 14 years of age. […]
Continue readingSimple Steps to Help Young Adults With ASD Find the Best Job
Determining a career path for young adults on the spectrum can be challenging for both parents and young adults. There are simple steps to work through with your young adult to get clarity on potential career options and interests. When starting career exploration, knowing how a young adult learned and processed information while in school […]
Continue reading3 Steps to Stay Calm During Your Child’s Meltdown
Most children on the autism spectrum have experienced several meltdowns. As parents, and we all know it’s nothing near like a tantrum of a neurotypical child. No way near at all. The meltdowns range from the calm ones where the child tends to stay in one place, maybe just screaming, to the more tantrum-like, where […]
Continue readingCoping Strategies to Help You Maintain Your Child’s ABA Therapy
Your child has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy has been recommended. The gold standard for treating children with autism, ABA is a behavioral learning program that requires intense treatment, with up to 40 hours per week prescribed. The intensity of treatment is a proven factor that directly […]
Continue readingNew Specialized Autism Program Creates Blueprint for Success
If you broke your leg and needed an orthopedic specialist, would you settle for an appointment with a heart surgeon? A revered specialist in his/her own right, a heart surgeon would likely not provide the proper diagnosis or treatment for your leg to heal properly. To get the best care possible, an assessment and treatment […]
Continue readingWill Monetary Gifts Affect My ASD Child’s Government Benefits?
Question: As the holidays are upon us, my son will be receiving cash as holiday gifts from grandparents and aunts and uncles. We are currently preparing to ensure he can receive government benefits as he will be turning 18 in February. Will these gifts be a problem for him being able to qualify for government […]
Continue readingAutism: A Mom Shares the Real-Life Journey
In the Beginning I can remember when I knew I was pregnant with our first child. I could feel it. I couldn’t wait to take a home pregnancy test. On the earliest possible day, I went to the drug store and purchased an early test and took it while at work. It was positive. I […]
Continue readingAn Exclusive Look at AUTISM with Chad R. MacDonald
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 Chad R. MacDonald, who is a writer, speaker and autism advocate in New York who […]
Continue readingI Like It Now
Laughing is all I hear and my tummy feels amazing and who knows what my face is doing? this movie is so funny I am here alone and feeling happy not that alone is better than with oh no this is fun sometimes leaning forward sometimes touching my face sometimes squirming with pleasure […]
Continue readingThe Princess and the Pea, Just Let Me be Me
There was once a little girl who longed to be like you. She longed to be like others but was mistaken to be aloof. She struggled and struggled when it was time to go to sleep. Every little sound, every little peep; why, oh why couldn’t she go to sleep? Ah, but there was relief! […]
Continue readingThe Joys of Horse Riding for A Boy with Autism
Running, running, running, with a huge smile on his face. His eyes are focused on the door he opened with the flick of a switch. Ponies safely in their stables ignore the boy, more interested in chewing the hay. It is a hazy, lazy summer’s day, where the cares of the world are forgotten. Kitted […]
Continue readingSafety and ASD: Locked Down Like Fort Knox
How many locks can one household hold? The answer for my household would take too many fingers and toes! I can say now after spending years working with locks of all sorts that I used to underestimate a lock’s ability. I would look at the basic use of a lock and my mind would stop […]
Continue reading5 Tips for Posting About Special Needs Parenting on Social Media
All three of us are parents (each of us have two kids) and educators who are aware of the need for guidance when posting about parenting on social media. We have all found social media helpful when attempting to connect with others (e.g., family, friends, other parents) but have also been hurt by posts from […]
Continue readingUnderstanding Perspective with ASD: The Sally Anne Test
Suppose there are two women, one named Sally and one named Anne. Sally puts a rock in a basket of hers and goes off somewhere else, leaving the basket. While she’s gone, Anne opens her basket, takes the rock out and puts it in her own box. In this presentation, it’s very clear Sally did […]
Continue readingHELP: My Child With Sensory Issues Has Trouble Sleeping Alone
My six-year-old son won’t sleep in his own bed, so we have been letting him sleep with us. How can we work on moving him back to his own room? He has sensory issues and always wants to be near me. —Jenny Dear Jenny, This issue of children with sensory issues not being able to […]
Continue readingExcellent Ways to Maximize Language with Your ASD Child
The most powerful insight I have gained during my 30 years of inspiring our beautiful children to verbally communicate is the knowledge that that all growth starts with acceptance of our children as they are. This cannot be overlooked or bypassed. It is the wings upon which all change occurs. If you want your child, […]
Continue reading3 Simple Tips for a Restful Night For Your Child with Autism
It comes as no surprise to the parents and professionals reading this article that many children with autism have sleep issues. At least 50 percent, and as many as 80 percent, of children on the spectrum struggle to sleep well (autismspeaks.org). To have these struggles on top of developmental issues can be wearing on any […]
Continue readingHow You Can Help Kids with ASD Reduce Bullying
Bullying has become a heated issue of debate among the autism community. When assessing specific types of disabilities, bullying prevalence rates differ: 35.3 percent of students with behavioral and emotional disorders, 33.9 percent of students with autism, 24.3 percent of students with intellectual disabilities, 20.8 percent of students with health impairments, and 19 percent of […]
Continue readingFive Smart Tech Ideas for Parents with Kids on the Spectrum
Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often use physical devices like helmets, gates, and locks as ways to keep their kids protected. But an increasing number of parents are also turning to smart tech to help. In fact, today’s ASD parents have plenty of options for keeping their children safe. Here are five […]
Continue reading8 Toys That Will Help Your Child with Autism Build Skills
A child’s job is to play. The act of playing helps children develop physical coordination, emotional maturity, social skills, and the self-confidence to try new experiences and explore new environments. For children with autism, it is important to provide toys and activities that are designed to foster these skills. By learning critical play skills children […]
Continue readingHow Can I Explain an Autism Diagnosis to My Child?
After getting a diagnosis, parents often ask me how they should tell their child that they have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Many struggle with how outsiders will view their child, worry that the information will be confusing or upsetting, fear that their child might use ASD as a crutch, or simply wonder just how useful […]
Continue reading5 Ingredients You Need for Holiday Success with Special Needs
Preparing for the holiday season is difficult for any family. We spend a lot of time trying to answer questions like “Is it my turn to host?”, “What do I get him that he doesn’t already have?”, or “I hope my sister-in law remembers my kid’s allergies!” We can all relate to these questions to […]
Continue readingTop Ways to Manage Stress When A Loved One Has Autism
Raising an individual on the autism spectrum comes with its challenges and blessings. Parents have to process the diagnosis and determine what approach to take regarding their child’s health. They have to learn how to navigate through the medical care process, schedule therapy providers, and plan for special education with their school districts. Their plate […]
Continue readingHow to Help Family and Friends Build Relationships with Your ASD Child
Parents often worry that friends and extended family don’t spend time getting to know their children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and tend to overlook them at gatherings and parties. Many adults aren’t sure how to engage with a child who isn’t verbal or doesn’t respond to social cues. They might be uncomfortable when a […]
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