The school cafeteria can be one of the most sensory-demanding parts of the school day. Loud conversations, chairs scraping the floor, strong food smells, bright lights, and a crowded room all happen at once. For some children with autism, these sights, sounds, smells,...
Helping your child build communication skills doesn't have to be limited to ABA therapy sessions. Some of the most impactful learning happens during everyday moments. Everyday routines like breakfast, errands, and bedtime create simple, low-pressure opportunities for...
Parenting a child with autism can be very different from parenting a neurotypical child. There are many challenges but there are also many rewards. One thing that seems to be universal is that children with autism require more of parents, including more time, effort,...
The negative impact of screen time is an important issue for everyone - adults, teens, and children, including children with autism. Parents, with good intentions, may allow their children with autism to use electronic devices for a variety of reasons, including: A...
When a child is first diagnosed with autism parents go through a range of emotions. Those emotions may include sadness or fear of the unknown as they wonder what the future will hold for their child. Will their child marry, have a family, go to college, or have a job?...
“Stimming” is an abbreviation for “self-stimulatory behavior.” Examples of self-stimulatory behaviors that many of us may engage in are twirling our hair, tapping pencils or fingernails on a table, and swinging our feet. Everyone engages in self-stimulatory...
Children with autism are five times more likely to have eating problems than neurotypical children. Feeding problems may include food selectivity, unhealthy eating habits, or mealtime behavior issues. Autism Spectrum Disorder and Poor Eating Behaviors Eating...
Sleep Issues are Common in Autistic Children Studies have shown that at least 50% of children with autism have sleep issues. Issues may include difficulty falling asleep, waking during the night, and difficulty falling asleep after waking. Research has also shown...
What Is Elopement? The term “elope” usually means to run away and not return to a place. As applied to the special needs community, “elopement” refers to an individual with cognitive challenges or special needs who wanders, runs away from, or otherwise leaves a place...
