How do you break free from autism stereotypes? For Dr. Kerry Magro, a TV consultant, public speaker, and best-selling author, you leave behind stereotypes every time you show a realistic portrayal of the many different kinds of people with autism. Representation in media matters to him, and that’s why he works so hard with other self-advocates to share an accurate and varied picture of autism in television and film.
With so many different names for service dogs, it can be hard to decide which one, if any, might be right for your family. Caitlin Bird teaches parents how to train their own service dogs, and she explains to me when a family might decide to invest the time and energy into inviting these animals into their homes.
How do you know when it’s time to explore an out of home placement for a young adult with autism? Lisa C, a fellow autism mom of three, had to make this difficult decision for her 19-year-old son Ethan recently, and she shares her story with me today. Just making the initial decision was hard, but navigating insurance concerns and potential homes hours away made the decision even more daunting. Lisa’s story is one of hope, and I think you’ll appreciate her thoughtful perspective.
Behavior Reinforcement for Children with Autism When your children or clients do something that makes you think, “wow, I'd love to see that more!” Did you know you could actually make that happen? Today I’m going to talk all about behavior reinforcement. I once worked with a boy, I'll call him Roger, who would hit…
Children with autism often experience other medical issues, including anxiety. Today, I'm discussing the different types of anxiety that you may be seeing in your child or clients and I'm also going to give you next steps that you should take if your child has autism and anxiety. Chrissy was one of my clients at…
Before talking with Ryan on this episode, I had no idea the scope of the Eagles Autism Foundation. Founded just three short years ago in 2017, today the foundation has woven a commitment to the autism community throughout everything they do. From the end zone to employment to community grants, I hope you’ll be as impressed as I was about the possibilities that are available.
COVID-19 has caused all of us to pause and rethink how we do things. For the mental health community, it’s resulted in professionals suddenly becoming more accessible through telehealth. Dr. Ally Patterson talks about how she adapted her practice so that she could stay open during the pandemic, and she shares some tips for how to make telehealth a positive experience for professionals, parents, and patients.
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…
Putting your child in a floatie isn’t always the best way to keep them safe in the water. Being truly water safe means that a child should be able to demonstrate the 8 basic water safety skills. Tenaya Goldsmith, a swimming instructor for over 12 years, shares how you can teach your child, no matter their age or ability, how to be safe in the water.
Knowing when a child with autism is ready to learn how to ask and answer questions is an important step in their language and learning development. That’s why I recommend Dr. Mark Sundberg’s VB-MAPP assessment to help you quickly discover what a child knows and how you can build on that knowledge. In this tutorial, I’ll teach you how I give an assessment, and I’ll share some pointers that I’ve discovered over the years.
