Autism has introduced me to a life of pleasure, anger, spirituality and madness. But at the end of the day, Autism is all about beauty, grace and our children’s triumphs. My son’s differences have brought me great joy; his fortitude has touched my heart. I have watched helplessly as he struggled...

Good morning.  No, this is not your class room anymore.  I’m sorry but you’re not allowed to be here.  Do you see that person over there surrounded by children you don’t know?  She is your new teacher and those will be your new friends.  Please go with them.  That is where you...

When you think about a regression, words like fear, loss, and failure often come to mind. By definition, a regression means going backwards, or in terms of human functioning, the return of previously alleviated negative symptoms or patterns.  The autistic brain has difficulty being able to consistently...

With the New Year, comes thoughts of what has happened in the past year, what will happen in the coming year, and feelings about ourselves and our lives.  But children significantly affected with autism have a limited understanding of the concept of “self”, and often are incapable of forming these...

Establishing meaningful emotional and physical engagement is difficult for children and adults with autism. The introduction of novelty into daily routines can increase sensory and cognitive awareness and thus increase the chances of being more connected to people and what is going on in their environment. ...

Last month I shared a large number of Autistic acronyms. One of the acronyms, RDI ®, may or may not be familiar to you.  Relationship Development Intervention was first developed by Steven E. Gutstein, Ph.D. and his wife, Dr. Rachelle Sheely, in 1996. They were determined to clarify learning problems...

Do Autistic acronyms have you confused? Do you reach for a medical dictionary every time you ponder over the newest, greatest latest “breakthrough” that is conveniently represented with an unpronounceable acronym? When you begin your quest to understand Autism and the many associated acronyms you...

“People should be more like animals,” my son explained, “Because then they could just hide behind their tails when they’re having a bad day.” The visual was a comical one… I tried to envision myself with a big fluffy Persian cat tail. I mentally pictured myself escaping from the quandary...

How does a parent feed their child to ensure that developing brains actually develop? Bear in mind that I’m not talking about actual “food” when I ask this question. I’m referring to the kinds of verbal and visual “food” feed to our children when they park their brain in front of the commonly...

My son has carved out a place for himself in school. He has not lost his identity or buried his Autism; he has made friends and found his niche. Chris enjoys dance and loves music. His classmates share his interests and passions. Music has forged the way for relationships. My son socializes within his...