Handling July 4th & Labor Day crowds with a child with autism Parades, festivals, and community celebrations are a hallmark of summer holidays. For many families, they are something to look forward to. For children […]
When headphones aren’t enough: Helping children with autism during fireworks For many families, the Fourth of July means backyard barbecues, sparklers, and fireworks. For families of children with autism, it can mean something very different. […]
What to do when your child with autism will only eat the same five foods You’ve made the pasta again. Same brand. Same shape. Cooked the exact same way, served in the exact same bowl. […]
Parents ask me about this all the time. Their child can have a long, detailed conversation with an adult about weather systems, trains, sea creatures, or Minecraft strategies. They may sound thoughtful, funny, even incredibly […]
There is a moment many parents know well. A child becomes overwhelmed, and everything suddenly escalates. Screaming, crying, running, hitting, and collapsing to the floor. Instinctively, adults move into problem-solving mode. We try to reason. […]
You ask your child a question. They don’t look at you. Their gaze drifts to the corner of the room, or the floor, or somewhere just past your shoulder. You wonder if they are listening […]
There is a moment many families recognize. A question is asked or a conversation begins, and then there is silence. Not the silence of disengagement, but the silence of a child who is listening, processing, and […]
Most people picture autism as a behavioral condition. Rocking. Repetitive routines. Meltdowns in the grocery store. Those things can be part of the picture, but they tend to show up later. What researchers and clinicians […]
Every parent who has watched another child talk in full sentences while their own toddler stays quiet has felt that particular anxiety. The answer depends less on how many words a child is using and […]
The first few days after an autism diagnosis can feel overwhelming for any family. The paperwork is new, the language is clinical, but the child sitting across the room is the same as they were […]