In February 2020, Michelle’s daughter was given an autism diagnosis, but while she was lining all of the specialists up, the COVID shutdown occurred. Suddenly without the support she was counting on to help her, Michelle purchased my online course. In just six weeks, Michelle’s daughter went from only two words to around 500 words. Even I was amazed by the huge progress Elaina had, and I knew I just had to hear her story.
As a dual language household, Magüi Moreno and her husband intended to teach their son Adrian both Spanish and English. Early concerns about his language abilities were brushed off as a result of trying to teach two languages at once, but an autism diagnosis at the age of 4 led their family on a different path. Language learning is not an innate learning, so Magüi had to learn how to teach a language from the bottom up. Today Adrian is learning a little Spanish with his grandma. Stay tuned for Magüi’s tips for special needs parents trying to cope with the Coronavirus pandemic.
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…
I met Amanda V. about eight years ago when her son was newly diagnosed with autism. Imagine my delight when she contacted me to share that her son was starting middle school in a mainstream classroom, and was on the football team. Early intervention in the birth-to-three program, and the ABA techniques I taught her gave her the support she needed to reach him.
There are many professions in the autism community, and one very helpful person to have on your team is an OT. Dore Blanchet is one of my favorite OTs that I’ve worked with, and today we’re going to cover fine motor skills; the role of an OT; and how Dore continues to work with her clients in the midst of COVID-19.
My ultimate goal is for our children to live their happiest, most independent lives; that’s why language comprehension is so essential. Today I’m going to focus on how to build receptive language abilities; how to assess comprehension; when and how to use visuals, and more!
Language Delays: How Are They Different from Autism? Are you worried that your child may have a language delay? You are not alone. Language delays are one of the most common developmental delays. But it isn't just about if your child is talking or not. Language delays can also be related to a child's understanding…
Language Development Milestones in Children with Autism The waitlists to receive an Autism evaluation are getting longer every day, but there are some things you can do to get some insight on where your child or clients stand while you’re on the waitlist. Pediatrician Dr. James Coplan, who specializes in Language Developmental Milestones and diagnosed…
When you’re first introduced to the autism field, whether you’re a fresh-faced professional or a confused parent, it’s very easy to become overwhelmed. There are so many different autism models to focus on – how are you supposed to know what to choose? My interviewee, Tracy Vail, is an expert on many different methodologies and will be able to lead you through the autism treatment maze.
We all want our children or clients to be successful with vocal language, but it doesn't always happen right away. For kids that are not yet talking, things like sign language, picture exchange or AAC devices can be implemented and often serve as a springboard not only to better communication but also to vocal language.…
