FAQautismFAQautismFAQautism features concise, practical tips that can implemented immediately to make a lasting impact on the quality of life of individuals with autism. Articles
Summertime Blues
2007-09-28 00:40:00 ?After years of agitation, our son finally seems to be more content at school,? said parents of a 14-year-old diagnosed with autism. ?But now that he is home for the summer, he is reverting back to some of his explosive, agitated behavior. What can we do about this?? Listen Now: or continue reading: More About: Blues , Summertime
End of Your Rope
2007-09-28 00:29:00 Today?s podcast offers some first aid for caregivers who sometimes feel as if they are at the end of their rope. When everything comes crashing down and no light is visible at the end of the tunnel, what can we do? Listen Now: or continue reading: More About: Rope
MORE Undercover Veggies
2007-09-28 00:22:00 Several parents and other caregivers asked for more ideas for adding more fruits, veggies, and other healthy foods to the diet their loved one diagnosed with autism. Let?s look at some ideas for sneaking veggies into the daily routine. Listen Now: or continue reading: More About: Undercover
Transition Objects
2007-09-28 00:22:00 Holding a familiar object often helps people with autism stay grounded during the day. But, as our youngsters with autism get older, the old teddy bear they have held for years gets very ragged and looks a bit out of place in a junior high school classroom. Several parents and teachers have asked for some ... More About: Objects , Transition , Tran , Transit
Green Thumb
2007-09-28 00:21:00 A parent asked about some ideas for helping her 3rd grade daughter experience the joy of taking care of something. ?She didn?t respond well to the unpredictable activity of puppies and kittens, and she cried uncontrollably when a fish died. What are some other options?? SPECIFIC STRATEGY A rewarding and rather fool-proof option is to ... More About: Green , Quality of Life , Thumb
Check Those Assumptions
2007-09-28 00:21:00 Because of cognitive challenges, some individuals diagnosed with autism are not able to read, write, or even talk.. Other people with autism seem self-absorbed and do not seem to be interested in learning. In these cases, it is easy to assume that a person cannot or will not understand science or history or music. ... More About: Communication , Quality of Life , Check , Assumptions
?Why Are You Being Difficult??
2007-09-28 00:14:00 Several teachers were discussing the challenge of trying to communicate with individuals with autism, especially those who are non-verbal. What is a person trying to communicate when they suddenly start screaming, hitting, or biting? What are they saying when they suddenly drop to the floor or scratch their arm or cry uncontrollably? One teacher said, ... More About: Diff
Snack Sacks
2007-09-20 07:01:00 Since many individuals on the spectrum of autism enjoy the sensory burst of crunchy foods, one good option for snacks, lunch-boxes, and riding-in-the-car treats is sandwich-sized ziplock sacks filled with a mixture of snappy munchies. Even very young children can help pick out the theme, pick out the ingredients, and help put the ingredients in ... More About: Quality of Life , Snack , Sack
Holding Too Tight?
2007-09-19 07:01:00 Sometimes we hold too tightly to our friends with autism, trying to control every detail of their lives in an attempt to prevent any stumbling, any hurts, or any problems. In the process, our focused efforts can make our friends with autism and everyone around them miserable. So, how do we draw the line? At ... More About: Quality of Life , Holding
Tolerating Change
2007-09-18 07:01:00 ?My adult granddaughter will only ride in my car and her step-sister?s car,? wrote a grandmother who is the primary caregiver of a young adult with autism. ?This is a habit she has had for about five years. She won?t even ride with other family members or with some of her best friends. I need ... More About: Change , Chang , Chan
Parents With Autism
2007-09-17 07:01:00 A parent wrote about noticing that, in some ways, she and her son diagnosed with autism share some of the same challenges, only to different degrees. She said, ?For example, I don’t like tags in my clothes and eye contact can also be difficult for me, but not very noticeably so. Most of the ... More About: Autism , Quality of Life , Parents , Parent , Pare
Fact or Fiction
2007-09-14 07:01:00 “My second grader is having some trouble sorting fact from fiction,” commented a parent of a youngster with autism. “Maybe it is because he interprets things very literally, but some of the books for kids his age seem to be confusing to him.” Teachers of youngsters with autism of all ages have made similar comments about the confusion that can arise from literal interpretation of fictional or imaginary stories. Listen Now! or continue reading: More About: Fiction , Fact
Persistence Pays Off
2007-09-13 07:01:00 A teacher who has made a huge impact on numerous youngsters with autism over the years commented recently that she is impatient. “When the new school year starts, I see so many things that we can work on, and I want everything to happen right now!” In reality, her impatience translates into passionate persistence. She really cares about the youngsters and works intensely every day to make a real difference in their lives. Although that persistence is difficult to maintain, we can probably learn a few lessons from this teacher’s experiences. Listen Now! or continue reading: More About: Pays , Persistence
Following Directions
2007-09-12 07:01:00 “It is a relief to see that other people are experiencing the same problems we are,” said a mom. “My child is 11 yrs. old and was diagnosed with autism 4 years ago. Sometimes I feel like we are regressing in his behavior. We have a hard time getting him to follow directions. I feel as though he is ignoring us and just not listening. He starts whining and becomes very agitated when I keep repeating what I want him to do. We started back to school last week and the mornings are really tough. Trying to get everyone out the door on time is difficult. I need some ideas.” Listen Now! or continue reading: More About: Directions , Dire , Rect
Stealth Health Snacks
2007-09-11 07:01:00 “It seems like we have a never-ending battle about eating healthy snacks after school and on weekends,” commented a mom of two young children, one of whom is diagnosed with autism. “I try to get them to eat healthy snacks, but they always pick things that are too high in fat, sugar, and salt. I need some ideas.” Listen Now! or continue reading: More About: Health , Snacks , Stealth , Heal
Where Do We Start?
2007-09-10 07:01:00 ?Our son was diagnosed with autism last year, but, at the time, he was relatively calm,? said the parents. ?Now he is four years old and he has started tearing and breaking items and grabbing people, scratching and biting them. He won?t sit for more than two minutes before running, and he tries to pull ... More About: Start
Snack Sacks
2007-09-09 04:27:00 Since many individuals on the spectrum of autism enjoy the sensory burst of crunchy foods, one good option for snacks, lunch-boxes, and riding-in-the-car treats is sandwich-sized ziplock sacks filled with a mixture of snappy munchies. Even very young children can help pick out the theme, pick out the ingredients, and help put the ingredients in ... More About: Quality of Life , Snack , Sack
Holding Too Tight?
2007-09-08 04:26:00 Sometimes we hold too tightly to our friends with autism, trying to control every detail of their lives in an attempt to prevent any stumbling, any hurts, or any problems. In the process, our focused efforts can make our friends with autism and everyone around them miserable. So, how do we draw the line? At ... More About: Quality of Life , Holding
Defining Space
2007-09-07 07:01:00 CHALLENGING SITUATION. At the beginning of the school year, even the most experienced teachers may encounter ?controlled chaos? during circle time. Group activities are challenging for all pre-schoolers, but particularly for kids with autism. The first skill youngsters need to learn in order to participate successfully in group activities is to stay in the area ... More About: Space
Tolerating Change
2007-09-07 04:25:00 ?My adult granddaughter will only ride in my car and her step-sister?s car,? wrote a grandmother who is the primary caregiver of a young adult with autism. ?This is a habit she has had for about five years. She won?t even ride with other family members or with some of her best friends. I need ... More About: Change , Chang , Chan
Inside Autism
2007-09-06 07:01:00 INSIGHTS. A friend with autism who is a high school student told his parents that one of his teachers keeps telling him he needs to look at her when she is talking. During lunch last week, one of his friends asked him why he always lined his food up in a perfect row before eating. ... More About: Communication , Autism , Quality of Life , Inside
Parents With Autism
2007-09-06 04:24:00 A parent wrote about noticing that, in some ways, she and her son diagnosed with autism share some of the same challenges, only to different degrees. She said, ?For example, I don’t like tags in my clothes and eye contact can also be difficult for me, but not very noticeably so. Most of the ... More About: Autism , Parents , Parent , Pare
Positive Progress
2007-09-05 07:01:00 CHALLENGING SITUATION. ?Sometimes it is difficult to see that we are making any progress with some very difficult behaviors,? commented a therapist working with several individuals with autism. ?I wonder if I need to approach the situation differently.? Other teachers and family members have expressed similar frustration, especially when working to decrease very disruptive or ... More About: Progress , Positive , Posi
Fact or Fiction
2007-09-05 04:23:00 ?My second grader is having some trouble sorting fact from fiction,? commented a parent of a youngster with autism. ?Maybe it is because he interprets things very literally, but some of the books for kids his age seem to be confusing to him.? Teachers of youngsters with autism of all ages have made similar comments ... More About: Communication , Fiction , Fact
Busting Boring Lunches
2007-09-04 07:01:00 SITUATION: ?My daughter seems to have gotten in a rut with her school lunch,? commented a parent. ?Whether she takes her lunch or buys lunch in the cafeteria, she just plays with the food and doesn?t really eat.? Similar concerns have been expressed by other parents and by teachers of students of all ages diagnosed ... More About: Quality of Life , Boring
Persistence Pays Off
2007-09-04 04:22:00 A teacher who has made a huge impact on numerous youngsters with autism over the years commented recently that she is impatient. ?When the new school year starts, I see so many things that we can work on, and I want everything to happen right now!? In reality, her impatience translates into passionate persistence. She ... More About: Pays , Persistence
Following Directions
2007-09-03 04:21:00 ?It is a relief to see that other people are experiencing the same problems we are,? said a mom. ?My child is 11 yrs. old and was diagnosed with autism 4 years ago. Sometimes I feel like we are regressing in his behavior. We have a hard time getting him to follow directions. I ... More About: Directions , Dire , Rect
Stealth Health Snacks
2007-09-02 04:20:00 ?It seems like we have a never-ending battle about eating healthy snacks after school and on weekends,? commented a mom of two young children, one of whom is diagnosed with autism. ?I try to get them to eat healthy snacks, but they always pick things that are too high in fat, sugar, and salt. I ... More About: Health , Snacks , Stealth , Heal
Where Do We Start?
2007-09-01 04:19:00 ?Our son was diagnosed with autism last year, but, at the time, he was relatively calm,? said the parents. ?Now he is four years old and he has started tearing and breaking items and grabbing people, scratching and biting them. He won?t sit for more than two minutes before running, and he tries to pull ... More About: Start
Classroom Circle Time
More articles from this author:2007-08-31 07:01:00 ?The students with autism in my early childhood classroom really thrive on structure,? commented a teacher. ?It seems that they have caught on to the concept of picture schedules and the general flow of the classroom. I need some strategies to help them in group activities. Our circle time is chaotic!? Listen Now! or continue ... More About: Time , Circle 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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