Editorās note: This is part of a series of articles. Click here to read the first one. By now you should know which plan your school district has selected to begin the school year. If you are not sure, contact your childās school or check the district website. We do know that every student will…
Planning for School, Step 1: Understand Your Options
Anxiety is running high these days, and one of the big stressors is what the coming school year will look like for our kids. On July 14, Gov. Cooper announced that each of the school districts in North Carolina will operate under their Plan B scenario for reopening under moderate COVID-19 conditions, with the option…
Working through the Challenges of Wearing a Mask
As wearing a mask becomes our new normal, supporting an individual with autism to wear one for any amount of time might feel like a mountain to climb. In this blog, I will discuss potential reasons it can be particularly challenging for individuals with autism to wear masks, some alterations/adaptations to try, and suggestions for…
The Health of Our Aging Adults
Over 30 years ago, after our suspicions were confirmed that our young daughter did indeed have autism, we asked a question that many of you also may have contemplated: āWhat is the normal life expectancy of someone who has autism?ā We were given a fairly encouraging yet vague answer: āWe really donāt know for sure,…
Addressing School Concerns During COVID-19
By now many of you have found your new normal as you navigate through this unusual and unprecedented time. Among the many life changes that have had to be made across the country, who would have thought that homeschooling would be one of them? All parents of school-age children (K-12) face the task of teaching…
Staying Structured and Engaged in this Challenging Time
Individuals on the autism spectrum may be feeling particularly unsettled during this time. People around them are behaving differently and may be showing anxiety. Routines, on which many are so reliant, may be changing. The adults in their families may be working from home or not at all, and their schools might be closing. Access…
Creating Success While Incorporating Interests and Strengths
A Look Back When my son Logan was diagnosed with autism at the age of 4, he was preverbal and was not able to pronounce most of his sounds. He could say āba,ā and a year later was able to say āma.ā It took years for him to master making all of the sounds necessary…
Promoting a Childās Independence Within Daily Routines
One of the greatest joys of teaching students with autism is watching them become more confident in their abilities and take pride in their accomplishments. As they learn salient skills for completing daily routines and develop a greater sense of responsibility, students naturally become more self-determined and desire greater autonomy. Given systematic training, coaching, and…