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Ball Games
2008-06-10 06:01:00
Families, residential home staff, teachers, camp staff members, and others who live and play with individuals with autism are always looking for ideas to help engage their friends in active play. One avenue to explore is adapted ball games and other fun with balls. Listen Now: or continue reading Shooting hoops is a great leisure activity, either alone ...
More About: Communication , Games , Quality of Life , Ball

FAQautism VODcast: Public Restrooms
2008-06-09 22:49:00
Moms often dread the need to use public restrooms with their young adult sons with autism who need some assistance with toileting. Diaper changes for adults are even more challenging. The problem is magnified ten-fold with a dad who needs to help his teenage or adult daughter with every aspect of toileting and personal ...
More About: Public , Quality of Life

Away from Home
2008-06-09 06:01:00
Several families have asked for ideas to help smooth the transition from home to a residential home for their young adult son or daughter with autism. Transition or change of any kind is challenging for many individuals with autism, and the families want to do what they can to help them adapt to their new ...
More About: Home

Berry Patch
2008-06-06 06:01:00
Research indicates that fresh veggies and fresh fruits impact both our long-term and short-term health. The trick is inserting these healthy foods into the daily diets of individuals with autism who are resistant to new foods. One technique that has worked for some folks is visiting ?pick-your-own? orchards, berry patches, and gardens. Listen Now: or continue reading People ...
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Stealth Exercise
2008-06-05 06:01:00
Families of youngsters diagnosed with autism ranging in age from 4 to 25 years have asked for some ideas for encouraging kids to get some exercise. Some of these youngsters are a bit self-absorbed and rarely initiate action. So, how can we help these kids get moving without nagging them? or continue reading Many parents are so ...
More About: Exercise , Quality of Life , Stealth

Peaceful Summer
2008-06-04 06:01:00
Although most youngsters love the freedom of long, summer days, some kids with autism struggle with the lack of routine and an empty schedule. To help prevent the summertime blues, families might consider building some structure and predictable activities into their youngster?s daily routine this summer. Listen Now: or continue reading One family uses this plan to help make ...
More About: Communication , Summer , Quality of Life , Peaceful

Explosive Outbursts
2008-06-03 06:01:00
Why do some individuals with autism have frequent explosive outbursts ? dropping to the floor or scratching their arms or throwing items? What is a person trying to communicate when they start screaming, hitting, or biting without warning or apparent provocation? What causes some of our friends with autism to suddenly start rocking vigorously, biting ...

Daily Bath
2008-06-02 06:01:00
Several adult friends with autism have commented on problems related to grooming. One has sensory issues that make shaving and showering quite unpleasant. Another tells me that she remembers being very resistant as a kid to baths and brushing teeth. She thinks these unpleasant confrontations arose because she didn?t like her mom interrupting her daily ...
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Imperfection
2008-05-30 06:01:00
Parents of a youngster with autism were talking recently about their inability to adequately meet all the needs of their son. They acknowledge that he needs structure and a more regular schedule at home. They realize that they should take time every day to work on communication and social skills and motor skills and reading. ...
More About: Quality of Life

Bedtime Blues
2008-05-29 06:01:00
One of the most common topics I hear parents of youngsters with autism discussing is that of problems at bedtime. Although many family members realize that a regular, predictable nighttime routine would help decrease the struggles, most do not know where to start in developing that routine. Listen Now: or continue reading Bedtime is a bit chaotic and unpredictable ...
More About: Blues

Emergency Supplies
2008-05-28 06:01:00
Natural disasters around the globe and close to home are reminders for the need for an emergency plan. That need is urgent for everyone, including individuals with autism and their families. Most of us find it challenging enough just to take care of regular days, so we rarely take time to plan ahead for a ...
More About: Quality of Life , Supplies , Emergency

Encourage Learning
2008-05-27 06:01:00
Some people with autism seem self-absorbed and disinterested in learning. Others are not able to read, write, or talk. It is easy to assume that a person dealing with these challenges cannot or will not understand new concepts. But we can enrich the lives of our friends by purposefully and systematically giving them opportunities to ...
More About: Communication , Quality of Life , Learning

Scratching and Picking
2008-05-23 06:01:00
Some individuals with autism obsessively pick at or scratch their skin, causing sores and wounds that do not heal readily. An ongoing cycle of scratching, breaking skin, picking at sores, and scratching can result in skin damage. How can we break the cycle of picking at skin? How can we protect sores and wounds to ...
More About: Scratching , Picking

Picking Your Nose
2008-05-22 06:01:00
Sally, a student in an elementary classroom, has a rather obsessive habit of picking her nose throughout the day. This youngster with autism is very resistant to reminders to keep her hands down or to use a tissue. She shouts, flaps her hands, and turns away from adults when given verbal prompts. She loudly refuses ...
More About: Nose , Picking

Celebrate Birthdays
2008-05-21 06:01:00
The excitement of birthday parties can simply overwhelm some children with autism. The traditional party with a crowd of noisy kids, lots of sweets, balloons, and piles of gifts can lead to a meltdown. With a bit of creative planning, you can host a special celebration without the usual birthday party hype. Listen Now: or continue reading Take into ...
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Toilet Talk
2008-05-20 06:01:00
As youngsters with autism grow into teens and young adults, they often retain some of the habits they learned as toddlers. For example, it is socially acceptable for a three-year-old to say, ?Go pee-pee?? or ?Go tinkle?? But it can raise eyebrows if a boy blurts out those phrases at school or while playing on ...
More About: Talk , Toilet

Daily Chores
2008-05-19 06:01:00
So, should children with limited skills be required to help with chores around the house? It is probably quicker and easier for adults to take care of daily tasks without interference or interruption of a youngster who needs assistance. Autism adds another layer since many individuals with autism require supervision and prompting in order to ...
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Come Join Us
2008-05-16 06:01:00
For a variety of reasons, children with autism are often reluctant to participate in group activities, and may resist joining ?circle time? in an early childhood classroom, a play group, Sunday School class, or other setting. Short of picking them up and physically moving them to the circle, how can we encourage a youngster to ...
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Constant Nagging
2008-05-15 06:01:00
Although we may have the best intentions, we can certainly fall into the trap of constantly nagging our family members or students with autism. It can be helpful to take an inventory of the words we speak every day and to move toward gentle nudging rather than constant nagging. Listen Now: or continue reading At the risk ...

Going Overboard
2008-05-14 06:01:00
At what point are we guilty of stepping over the line when trying to manage the details of the lives of our children or students or friends with autism? Of course, we want to make the path smoother and to help people reach their full potential, but at what point are we going overboard in ...

Do Not Do That
2008-05-13 06:01:00
We all fall in the trap of saying repeatedly, ?Do not do this? or ?Do not do that.? When people ignore our pleas, we respond by saying, ?Why don?t you ever do what I ask?? Hmmm, maybe it would be wise for us to examine our words. It might be more effective to state specifically ...

Parking Lot Plop
2008-05-12 06:01:00
What can we do if our friend with autism just plops down in the middle of a parking lot and refuses to get up? We can certainly try to determine the cause of the behavior and take some proactive steps to prevent the frustrating and potentially dangerous behavior. But sometimes our best intentions and strategies ...
More About: Parking

Summer?s Coming
2008-05-09 06:01:00
The lazy, hazy days of summer are just around the corner. Most school-aged kids enjoy all the free time and loose structure, but many individuals with autism prefer some consistency and a predictable schedule. Having pre-planned activities to look forward to each day can help keep the summer doldrums away for the youngsters and their ...
More About: Summer , Quality of Life

Touching Strangers
2008-05-08 06:01:00
For whatever reason, many of my friends with autism impulsively touch other people, including strangers. For example, the dad of a teenager with autism was horrified recently when his son reached out to straighten the bottom of the jacket of a stranger in the grocery store. When the gentleman felt someone?s hand in an inappropriate ...
More About: Strangers

Calm the Storm
2008-05-07 06:01:00
For a variety of reasons, some individuals with autism display explosive behavior occasionally. Sometimes the emotional turmoil is due to factors such as intolerance for change, inability to communicate frustration, or intolerance for sensory overload. At other times, the meltdowns are simply temper tantrums. Some of my friends with autism seem to have extreme episodes ...
More About: Storm , Calm

Compulsive Snacking
2008-05-06 06:01:00
Parents and teachers often comment on the challenge of preventing youngsters with autism from compulsively eating unhealthy foods or devouring all the snacks in the pantry. Some individuals must avoid certain foods because of dietary restrictions or diabetes, and others are compromising health with too many calories or unhealthy snacks. One parent commented that their ...

Outside Adventures
2008-05-05 06:01:00
Families, teachers, and others who care about the well-being of individuals with autism frequently ask for ideas to help prevent isolation. Challenges like loud outbursts, aggressive behaviors, repetitive mannerisms, and meltdowns can make folks hesitate to get out in public. Sometimes it is just easier to just stay at home to keep the peace. The downside to that decision is isolation for our friends with autism as well as for folks in their care network. One way to decrease seclusion and detachment from society is to get outside! Listen Now: or continue reading Wide open spaces allow for loud noises and provide a safe cover of anonymity for our friends who may unusual mannerisms. Getting outside also impacts physical health and emotional well-being. So, get up and get going! 1. Take a Trek. Walk or bike in the park, around the block, or just to the end of the driveway. 2. Around the House. Put a swing in the backyard or on the front porch. Go outside every day to feed the dog, p...
More About: Adventures

Hurtful Words
2008-05-02 06:01:00
The sister of a non-verbal youngster with autism and developmental disabilities said it really hurts her feelings when fellow students use the word ?retard? or say something like, ?You are so retarded.? This young lady says she doesn?t remember anyone using the term to describe her brother specifically, but she still thinks it is rude ...
More About: Communication , Words , Quality of Life

Undetectable Vegetables
2008-05-01 06:01:00
We simply can?t ignore the research confirming the health benefits of vegetables. Even if our friends with autism are very picky eaters or if they insist on eating just two or three preferred foods, we can still contribute to a person?s overall well-being by sneaking in undetectable vegetables. Listen Now: or continue reading The key to increasing vegetable ...
More About: Vegetables , Quality of Life

My Own Place
2008-04-30 06:01:00
Remember when you took those first steps into the big world as a graduate? That exciting, yet scary, time of transition from high school student to graduate is approaching for some of our friends with autism. Some will move on to college or to a job and their own apartments, and others will remain at ...
More About: Quality of Life , Place