FAQautism

Sometimes very simple, everyday substances can solve complex, challenging issues related to autism. Today we are talking about one such “magical” substance: white school glue, sometimes known as Elmer’s glue.

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09 February 2010

If anything is on her desk or table at school, a teen with autism sweeps them onto the floor with her arm. She does the same when sitting at a table at home or in a restaurant. Needless to say, her knocking items to the floor causes major problems. Let’s look at a plan for decreasing this disruptive, potentially destructive habit.

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08 February 2010

Although some individuals with autism are quite self-sufficient, others are limited in their abilities to care for themselves. But even people with significant limitations can lend a helping hand at home or school if given a chance. It is simply a matter of discovering a person’s strengths and giving them opportunities to be in charge.

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05 February 2010

A few brave adults diagnosed with autism have asked about a taboo topic: underwear. Individuals with marked sensory issue often struggle to find clothing, socks, and shoes that are comfortable. Underwear is, of course, an important consideration for people with tactile sensitivities.

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04 February 2010

How should we respond to our friends with autism who murmur under their breath, some only occasionally but others with a constant stream of conversation, nonsense syllables, the alphabet song, or movie scripts?

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02 February 2010

What options do we have when a student with autism screams loudly and scratches his arms when unexpected announcements are made over the loudspeaker in the classroom? Or when a youngster sneaks into the kitchen at night and eats whole jars of peanut butter? How can we help a person who inadvertently distracts her fellow high school students and teacher with constant fidgeting and rocking? Or someone who compulsively puts small objects in his mouth? One sure-fire strategy is to change the changeable.

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01 February 2010

The realities of autism can bring on a flood of challenges, a situation that causes parents, teachers, therapists, and other to scramble in efforts to change behaviors, teach new skills, deal with issues, and otherwise shape our friends with autism. Over time, we realize we cannot fix everything. When establishing priorities about issues that are most pressing, we need to take a step back, consider a single issue carefully, and ask the question, “Does it matter?”

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29 January 2010

Last year we posted a podcast on FAQautism.com – Mom vs. Dad – that continues to be popular. Because of the pervasive nature of conflict in families and between husbands and wives, we are looking at the issue again. Unfortunately, disagreements are part of human nature, and, in many families, conflict over child-rearing practices is the norm. Autism just adds another bone of contention into the stew of family feuds.

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28 January 2010

Everyone join me in singing, “Happy 700th anniversary to you…..!” We are posting our 700th FAQautism.com podcast today, and we haven’t even scratched the surface of the myriad of issues that arise in the daily lives of individuals with autism. The challenges keep coming for all of us, but, fortunately, the supportive autism community – family members, teachers, therapists, caregivers, medical professionals, friends, and individuals with autism – keeps churning out creative solutions.

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27 January 2010

We are all aware of the value of interacting casually with our friends with autism, but we also know of many issues that stand in the way of making personal connections. Our time and energy are limited. Some individuals with autism actually resist social interaction, seem to ignore our friendly conversation, or even appear oblivious to people in their lives. How can we overcome these stumbling blocks?

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26 January 2010

Autism is complex, touching many facets of a person’s life. Where do we begin? Among the myriad of issues related to autism that demand our attention, what is the top priority? Where do we focus our attention and energy as friends, teachers, therapists, family members, medical professionals, and others?

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25 January 2010

The term “picky eater” can be quite an understatement when autism is involved. Part 1 of this conversation about inflexible or restrictive eating habits includes examples of the types of food issues common in autism. The podcast Food-Part 2 overviews the process involved in pinpointing the specific problem encountered by an individual with autism and scouting out all the factors contributing to the issue. In this third and final segment of the food discussion, we will look at just two basic strategies to consider when tackling restrictive food habits.

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22 January 2010

What factors contribute to various food-related problems common in autism? How can we effectively address these challenging situations? Obviously, we cannot answer those questions in a brief podcast, so let us just consider one specific, real-life situation, that of a youngster who insists on eating just one food for breakfast, lunch, and supper.

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21 January 2010

For a variety of reasons, some individuals with autism have issues with food. To begin this discussion about food and autism, we will look at some of the challenges that arise in the lives of individuals who have difficulty with their eating habits.

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20 January 2010

Among other things, sudden loud noises or constant murmuring can be attempts by youngsters with autism to communicate, to get attention, to avoid chores, to protest changes in routine, or to irritate other people. But sometimes repetitive noise-making seems to be more of a habit or a “stimming” activity.

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19 January 2010

For a variety of reasons, some individuals with autism occasionally make loud, startling sounds that do not seem to be attempts to communicate. Others talk out loud, absent-mindedly mumbling repetitive nonsense phrases or bits and pieces of conversations or movie scripts. The sudden outbursts or constant chatter can disrupt others at home, school, work, and in the community. Is there anything we can do to keep our noisy kids quiet?

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18 January 2010

Today’s podcast is just a quick reminder of the interest many individuals with autism have in rhythm and rhyme. Take time every day to sit down and read some rhythmic stories or children’s rhymes. Sing or chant rhythmic, repetitive rhyming songs while riding in the car. Predictable, clever rhythms and rhymes add joy and encourage interaction.

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15 January 2010

We are continuing our brief overview of general categories of issues in the lives of individuals with autism contributing to emotional outbursts. By looking at these categories and pinpointing the factors contributing to the problem, we can develop more effective strategies for decreasing meltdowns and increasing contentment for all involved.

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14 January 2010

Several families and teachers lately have reported an escalation in the frequency and intensity of emotional outbursts by youngsters with autism. Some concerns involve kids who withdraw and sulk or cry uncontrollably, and others describe aggressive tantrums with screaming, tearing or throwing items, kicking, crying, and self-abuse including biting, scratching, and head-banging.

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13 January 2010

Some individuals with autism really struggle with patience. They may have an emotional meltdown when required to wait for a delayed meal or for a slow school bus. Some people become very agitated when required to wait while a parent talks on the phone or when stuck in traffic. How can we teach kids, teens, and adults with autism to be more patient?

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12 January 2010