Receiving a diagnosis of any kind is difficult for parents, and an autism diagnosis can be particularly frightening. The uncertainty about how to best support your child, and the confusion that can follow conflicting treatment advice, can be very unsettling. Hearing that autism is an incurable and lifelong condition tends to only add to the …
Parents and the Autism Diagnosis: How to Accept Your Autistic Child Read More »
Every parent thinks negatively from time to time, but the negative and often fear-filled thoughts parents of autistic children struggle with can be off the charts because they are so different from the typical worries of other parents. Conquering these negative thoughts is not easy, but very important for the sake of your happiness as …
Conquering Negative Thoughts When Parenting Autistic Children Read More »
April 2 is the start of the internationally recognized World Autism Awareness Month. In recent years, many have advocated, and some changed the name to World Autism Acceptance Month, citing that awareness is simply not enough. I could not agree more, and if it were up to me, I’d go a step further, and call it World Autism Action Month. After …
Many children with autism develop special interests and become so entranced with them that they spend much of their time talking about them with great enthusiasm. Initially, it can be astounding to hear an autistic individual share their knowledge and expertise on topics such as dinosaurs, bus routes, video games, insects, and the list goes …
How to Help a Talkative Autistic Child to Talk Less and Listen More Read More »
Teaching Language and Communication to Autistic Children Dr. Temple Grandin, professor of animal science at Colorado State University and internationally renowned autism spokesperson, was one of the first autistic people who wrote about her lack of speech during early childhood. She gave us a rare glimpse into the autistic mind when she wrote, “Not being …
Teaching Language and Communication to Autistic Children Teaching language and communication to autistic children who are non-verbal can be extremely challenging. When it appears that all our efforts to teach them to speak are in vain and no progress is noted, we can be tempted to think that there’s no hope of improvement and that …
Valentine’s Day, the day we celebrate the people in our lives that are most important to us, is just around the corner. Many people spend time with loved ones, and kids will exchange cards and treats with their teachers and classmates, but children with autism may experience the day a bit differently. While they may …
AUTISM AWARENESS AND ACCEPTANCE TO PREVENT BULLYING There has been a lot of talk about Autism Awareness and Acceptance through the years, and while we still have a ways to go, much has improved since my grandson was first diagnosed with autism in 2009. At that time, I knew next to nothing about autism, and …
10 Things a Grandmother of a Child with Autism Would Like Other Children to Know Read More »
The benefits of setting clear boundaries for children on the autism spectrum All children need rules and boundaries to help them know how to act appropriately in different settings and situations, and children with autism are no exception. Rules and boundaries will teach them skills they will need to be successful in life. But how …
Taking the Sting out of Discipline for Kids with Autism Read More »
It is estimated that 80% of children with autism also have sensory issues, if not Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), as a comorbid condition. However, many parents, caregivers, and educators are not aware of the struggles this can pose for children on the spectrum. My attention was drawn to this again recently after a special education …
How to Help ASD Students Who Have SENSORY Processing Disorder Read More »
