Throughout my life when I was asked to describe myself, I constantly had no clue as to what to do. I had masked myself into a corner, To myself I was even a foreigner. Then at thirty-one the dials on the locks began to click, Suddenly it all fell into place so quick. How…
A Parent’s Perspective on Handling Meltdowns
Meltdowns happen. Meltdowns happen first thing in the morning, right before bed, and all the times in between. They happen at your in-law’s house, at the grocery store, and during religious services. Meltdowns seem to be the number one reason that parents seek a diagnosis of autism for their child. That was true for me…
Finding New Traditions in 2020 While Honoring the Old
The holiday season is fast approaching. Late October is typically when our family starts to coordinate travel plans with extended family. You know, the usual: who will sleep where, who will cook what, what time we should leave the house to start the four-hour drive… and on it goes. To be frank, we usually do…
Rapid Response Clinical Consultation: A new telehealth service
Are you an individual with autism in need of targeted, short-term coaching to help you reach your goals? Or, are you a parent/caregiver in need of additional strategies to support your loved one? You might be a good candidate for Rapid Response Clinical Consultation, a new telehealth service offered by the Autism Society of…
Parent to Parent, Part 2: Practical Considerations for End-of-Life Planning
In part one of this two-part series, we addressed the fact that parents and caregivers for loved ones with disabilities such as autism will need to plan in advance for their eventual death to ensure the appropriate steps are taken for their loved one in their absence. In abstract terms, this process includes envisioning the…
Parent to Parent, Part 1: Addressing the Hardest Questions of All
Often, parents and/or caregivers of individuals with autism are told by friends and family how resilient we are. While others may see the daily struggles we face, they are probably not aware of the anxiety we may have when we think of the inevitable: the time when we will no longer be here to care…
Beth Strathern Named 2020 Roman Award Winner
During her career as a special education teacher in Pitt County, Beth Strathern helped countless children with autism. But it’s her special 20-year relationship with Shala Bell that made Beth the 2020 winner of the John and Claudia Roman Direct Service Award. The annual award honors a direct service employee of the Autism Society of…
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…