FAQautism

At what point do favorite clothes become an obsession rather than a preference. A high-school friend who functions on the spectrum of autism reports that she only wears t-shirts featuring her favorite television star. She said, “I don’t know if it is an obsession, but I just feel like I can’t wear any other shirts to school.” Every Thursday, I visit with one of my friends with autism whose clothing preference might be considered obsessive. Although she has a closet full of clothes, she has worn the same outfit every single Thursday, no matter the weather, for over ten years. The outfit is getting rather tattered. Some parents have discovered that they only make matters worse when they try to get rid of favorite clothing. The issue can become serious when sweatshirts deteriorate into shreds or shoes no longer fit.

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03 September 2010

What exactly do we mean when we tell someone to be quiet? Do we mean that they must be totally silent, making not a tiny sound? When we say, “be quiet,” do we mean to talk softly so they don’t interrupt a conversation? Or do we say “be quiet” just when we get irritated or have a headache? Sometimes our friends with autism interpret phrases very literally, so it would probably help them if we would tell them exactly what we mean when we say, “be quiet.”

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02 September 2010

Autism is complex. Each person diagnosed with autism is different, so what is true for one person may not be so for another. People living with autism and the professionals providing services often have more questions than answers. Slowly but surely, science is validating some facts about autism.

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31 August 2010

One of our regular FAQautism.com followers – a mom extraordinaire – sent a message with lots of good ideas for keeping life on track for her daughter. And for the rest of the family. Among other things, she recommended keeping a roll of duct tape handy. Duct tape? Why duct tape?

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30 August 2010

Even if youngsters with autism get along pretty well in school, the transition to a new school can be challenging. For example, when moving from elementary to middle school, students are expected to listen to and remember about various procedures and rules given to an assembly of the whole student body on the first day of school. They will hear dozens of rules about recess, procedures for dressing out in gym class, expected behavior in the hallways, tips for organizing their schedule and locker and backpack, steps to follow in an emergency drill, and on and on. Yikes! How can we help with transition to a new school?

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27 August 2010

Many of my friends with autism are a bit lost during the first few weeks in a new school. Sometimes we assume that all students are soaking in the flood of information – school traditions, procedures, rules, and routines – presented to youngsters in an assembly on the first day of school.

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26 August 2010

Some folks just don’t like change. Some folks with autism HATE change! As summer comes to an end, and the first day of school approaches, some students with autism respond with temper outbursts, poor sleeping habits, and stubborn refusal to follow directions. Even youngsters who seem to like school struggle with the transition. What can we do about the “Back to School Blues?”

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25 August 2010

More and more pre-school teachers are encountering youngsters diagnosed with autism in their classrooms. From the perspective of a child with autism, the group pre-school experience can seem chaotic, even under the leadership of the most extraordinary teacher. The youngster is having to process all the sounds, songs, colorful decorations, activities, people, and events swirling around them. Let’s take a look at some of the challenges encountered by little ones in a pre-school classroom.

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24 August 2010

At the tender young age of three, youngsters with autism often embark on an exciting and challenging adventure: pre-school. By its very nature, pre-school requires youngsters to function in three different spheres – group time, free time, and transition from one to another. Each sphere requires different skills, many of which are foreign to little ones diagnosed with autism.

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23 August 2010

Mid-August is a great time for a Shooting Star Party. Just gather with some family and friends after sunset, spread sheets on the ground, and gaze upward. Although some individuals with autism might not seem to notice the bright streaks through the night sky, it is still a relaxing, enjoyable experience. A bit of planning and a bit of knowledge about meteor showers can make this nighttime adventure a great success.

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20 August 2010

Several friends with autism and their families have gone to amusement parks over the summer. The experiences have been different for all involved, so we are taking a few minutes to look at some challenges that may arise when visiting a large amusement park.

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17 August 2010

Over the years, many of my friends of all ages with autism have been intrigued with the process of cooking over a fire. Even people who have never shown much interest in eating have taken bites of food they have helped prepare over the colorful glowing embers and dancing flames.

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16 August 2010

Gathering around a campfire is a traditional summertime experience that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and interests. There are few experiences more enjoyable than watching the flames of a campfire leap up from the logs, cooking s’mores with family and friends, singing some silly songs, then watching the embers glow and fade. Let us look at some ideas based on long experience to help make the campfire a safe, enjoyable, stress-free experience for all.

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13 August 2010

In part 1 of our discussions about swimming pools, we looked at one example of water safety rules a family implements every time their youngster with autism goes swimming. Safety is, of course, the first consideration when it comes to our friends with autism and water. In part 2 of this discussion, we will take a brief look at other issues related to swimming and water activities.

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12 August 2010

Just as with more typical kids, some youngsters with autism love the water. Let’s take a look at some creative ideas and some serious factors related to autism and water. First and foremost, we must consider water safety.

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11 August 2010

Sometimes we get so bogged down in dealing with special diets, meds, therapy, behavior management, and other issues related to the special needs of our friends with autism that we forget to make room for good old-fashioned fun. Some parents were brainstorming about summer traditions, and came up with these quick, easy, inexpensive ideas to help make the most of these waning days of summer.

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10 August 2010

During the first week of August, it seems that the first day of school is the focal point of conversations and activities for nearly everyone in my corner of the world. But many of my friends with autism live in the present moment, so they are not at all interested in the future. And those who do get caught up in “first day of school” fever can become obsessed with the event or agitated with the long wait. I encourage families of school-aged youngsters with autism to make the most of today rather than focusing on an event that is several weeks away.

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09 August 2010

For a variety of reasons, children with autism are often reluctant to participate in group activities, and may resist joining “circle time” in an early childhood classroom, a play group, Sunday School class, or other setting. Short of picking them up and physically moving them to the circle, how can we encourage a youngster to come join the fun?

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05 August 2010

Although we may have the best intentions, we can certainly fall into the trap of constantly nagging our family members or students with autism. It can be helpful to take an inventory of the words we speak every day and to move toward gentle nudging rather than constant nagging.

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04 August 2010

Families, teachers, and others who care about the well-being of individuals with autism frequently ask for ideas to help prevent isolation. Challenges like loud outbursts, aggressive behaviors, repetitive mannerisms, and meltdowns can make folks hesitate to get out in public. Sometimes it is just easier to just stay at home to keep the peace. The downside to that decision is isolation for our friends with autism as well as for folks in their care network. One way to decrease seclusion and detachment from society is to get outside!

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03 August 2010