Weāre thankful for you As Thanksgiving nears, we cannot help but think of how grateful we are for all of you, whether you are a friend we serve, one of their family members, part of our staff, a volunteer, or a supporter. Together, we build fulfilling lives for children and adults on the spectrum. We…
Autism in the Friendly Skies
While it is impossible to foresee every scenario or emergency, as a flight attendant, I would like to share some tips for parents traveling on a plane with an autistic child. Booking your flight Notify your airline at the time of booking about your need for assistance and any accommodations they can provide such…
I Really Am Listening to You!
I really am listening to you! My eyes are looking elsewhere. Iām playing with something. Iām rocking. Humming. Giving an unpleasant facial expression. Fill in the blank! āNormalā people look right at you and respond. Sorry! I canāt! But I can listen! I AM listening! You are very important to me. Your thoughts are interesting….
Teaching Skills to Prepare for Back to School
Going back to school after time off for the summer is an exciting, but often overwhelming time. You may begin to feel some nervousness about how your loved one will transition to a new schedule or even navigate a new environment. To help prepare them for the new school year, it is important to think…
Shutting Down Like an Overloaded Computer
Why does your computer suddenly choke on you? Are 1,000 windows open? Is YouTube playing while Facebook is showing cat videos? Is a browser doing some sneaky scans on the hard drive? Itās all eating the data and memory. Too many tasks at once! Computer crash! Well, imagine an autistic brain working like that. Give…
Make the Most of Family Outings
Meaningfully participating in community outings is one of the most important areas that we can address, for any individual with or without autism. Community-based experiences provide opportunities to work on social skills, following instructions, transitioning appropriately, and otherwise learning how to just be around other people. But being in the community can be very stressful…