For those who have autism, the holidays can be a very overwhelming time of year. Excitement shifts into high gear. They must deal with lights and decorations, busy stores, extra traveling, family gatherings, and more people everywhere they go. Not to mention, if they are school-age, the routines they thrive on are interrupted by holiday…
Setting Goals and Making Resolutions
How many times this week have you been asked whether youāve made any New Yearās resolutions? How many times in your life have you been asked about your plans for the future? How would you answer if you had a limited concept of time and limited organizational skills? What is a goal, anyway?! Individuals with…
Transitioning to Competent Adulthood with Dr. Peter Gerhardt
Dr. Peter Gerhardt, who has worked in the autism field for 37 years, shared some of his expertise with parents and professionals last week at a one-day conference in Raleigh. His presentation was titled āTransitioning to Competent Adulthood for Individuals with Autism: Implications from Preschool to High School and Beyond.ā Dr. Gerhardt is the Executive…
Building Communication-Rich Environments: Practical Strategies for Success
Throughout your daily life, consider how frequently you communicate your wants and needs and the various tools you use to do so. Now imagine that you lost your communication abilities. Conveying even the most simplistic messages about your thoughts, feelings, and basic needs would suddenly be much more difficult. Many individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder…
Tips for Traveling with Children and Adults with Autism
Summer is supposed to be a time to reward yourself and your family for a year of hard work, growth, and change. It represents a break from multiple settings and situations ā school for children, and often a lull in expectations at work for adults. However, it can present another set of stressors for a…
Simple Ways to Keep It āCoolā this Summer
Summer is finally here, and the temperatures are rising! Thankfully, we donāt have to see a rise in tantrum behavior with those temperatures. Here are five simple ways to help prevent the heat from rising inside your home: Grandmaās Law There is no way to avoid asking your child to do tasks that they…