Hand Flapping in Kids with Autism Hand flapping is a common self stimulatory behavior for kids with autism. Today, I'm talking all about hand flapping and giving you insight on what to do about it. Have you ever been in a lecture where the material is way too easy or completely over your head? Or…
I’ve been consulting with children and a few adults with autism for many years now. I had a revelation soon after I published my book The Verbal Behavior Approach. I now believe that there are three main skills every child and adult with autism needs to be successful. These skills for autism, I believe, are the...
Should You Use Chew Toys for Kids with Autism? Most infants chew on various toys and blankets, especially while they're teething. Some kids with autism - or signs of autism - continue to chew well beyond infancy. Whether they are chewing on their hand, shirts, sleeves of their shirts, or any nonfood items, it can…
ADOS Test for Autism There are different levels of the ADOS. The autism diagnostic observation schedule is mainly used for children. However, it can be used for older kids who you’re not sure have ADHD, speech delays, or obsessive compulsive behavior. There’s also a part of the ADOS that can be used for adults that...
I gave a keynote presentation called “Lessons Learned on my Autism Journey.” One of the lessons is about positive praise. The best part of this lesson is that you will most likely benefit no matter how old you are, no matter if you are male or female and no matter if you know anything about...
So often we hear something along the lines of early intervention is best practice. This is true, but even still, young children are not usually sent for further assessments until closer to two or three. The good news is, if you're worried about early signs of autism in babies, there are steps you can take…
IEPs (Individualized Education Plans) are super important. My son, Lucas, who is now 23 years old was three when he got his first IEP. At that point, I didn't know much about what an IEP was but I learned a lot over the years. So, today I want to share what an IEP is, why…
How to Help Late Talkers Having a child who is a late talker can be stressful. Will they talk on their own? Do I need to intervene? Are they just a late talker or is it more - like autism? Whether they are just late talkers or it is more, the fact remains that there…
Respite Care for Children with Autism The reality is, most of our kids need to be engaged most of their waking hours. Respite care for children is needed to give parents a break regardless of the length of time they have been on the autism journey. In this blog I'll be discussing what respite care…
Early Childhood Intervention for Children with Autism Are you seeing delays in your child but scared to take the leap to get evaluated and start early childhood intervention services? One of the most critical things you can do for your child is to start intervention as soon as possible, whether they have autism, ADHD, a…
