Top Ways to Use Lego Blocks for Purposeful Play With Autism
Some people believe they are not ‘good’ at playing with Lego® blocks, others prefer other toys or activities, but very few people really dislike it. Traditionally Lego has been seen as a toy, however, this is not necessarily the case anymore. Lego is increasingly being used as a tool to encourage and develop creativity, improve […]
Continue readingHELP: How Do I Stop My Son With Autism From Biting When He’s Angry?
Dear Rob, My son used to bang his head but he has stopped. For the past two months, he has been pushing and biting children in the classroom for no reason. At home, he is trying to bite us when he gets angry about not getting what he wants. Please tell me why he is […]
Continue readingMaking the Most of Spring Break With Autism
As the end of winter inches closer, just about everyone starts counting down the days until spring break, kids and parents alike. And while there’s excitement about the vacation from school, there are also some very valid reasons why parents of kids on the autism spectrum or with various sensory issues may also have some […]
Continue readingFrom Chaos to Peace – Using Mindfulness in Special Education
Close your eyes and imagine walking into a classroom and seeing what can only be explained as pure chaos. You can see students arguing with paraprofessionals, a student laying on the floor and kicking his feet while he yells, a student sitting in the corner with his hood on (no doubt trying to cancel out […]
Continue readingHow You Can Create a Climate Of High Expectations in the Classroom
“He doesn’t talk much. He reads at a 1st-grade level. We’re working on coloring and staying in the lines.” As a public school special education teacher, nothing upset me more than statements like these. An incoming 6th grader, the student gained three years of academic growth that year. By the end of 7th grade, he was […]
Continue readingWhen Special Education Fails to Be Special
Whether you call it special education or exceptional education, your expectations for its role in your child’s life are high, as well they should be. As parents of special needs students, we face decisions that parents of typical students rarely consider. Public, private, or charter school? Consider homeschooling? Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan? Standard diploma […]
Continue readingBest Ways to Explain Your ASD Child’s Needs to Teachers
When it comes to autism, there can be many misconceptions and misunderstandings in the classroom environment. Sometimes, parents of children with autism in mainstream settings are blamed for their child’s unusual behaviors; teachers may not accept that behaviors they are seeing are typical of autism. This is probably because autism isn’t always apparent when a […]
Continue readingDo You Need to Be a Special Ed Teacher to Homeschool a Child with ASD?
Dear Rob… I sure hope you are able to give me some advice. My eight-year-old son has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, stress, and anxiety. The school will listen, but does nothing to help as far as changing his Individualized Education Program (IEP) for behavior issues. I am doubting myself […]
Continue readingIssue 69 – The Gift of Calm This Season
Buy Single IssueSubscribe today and save 50%Features:Expert Advice On How To Manage Anxiety In Children With AutismA consultant psychiatrist with 20 years of clinical experience shares ways to ease your child’s anxiety and encourage stress management.Andrés Fonseca, MD, MSc, MRCPsych, FRSA Easy Ways To Create Some Calm For A Child With ASD This HolidayLearn 10 simple […]
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