Can Do
Deficits and challenging issues tend to be the center point of discussions related to autism. How can we shift the focus to include recognition of what individuals with autism can, indeed, do? Listen Now:
Archive | Communication
Homework, Part 2
Part 1 of this discussion about homework discussed autism-related factors that may escalate the conflict between parents and students when kids come home with a back-pack filled with homework. How can we diffuse the situation and make school nights more peaceful? Listen Now:
Homework Part 1
With just a few exceptions, kids resist homework, whether they are diagnosed with autism or not. Homework is challenging for many families, and autism can add another dimension to the conflict. What issues related to autism have the potential for escalating conflict between parents and students when it comes to homework? Listen Now:
Cross the Line
At what point do certain behaviors cross the line from being slightly annoying to being potentially hurtful or disruptive? Listen Now:
Easter Parties
How can we help our youngsters with autism enjoy participating in traditional games and parties? At this time each year in my corner of the world, parents and teachers are searching for ideas about Easter egg hunts and other spring activities. Listen Now:
Very Broad Spectrum
We might be puzzled when we see a movie or read a news article about a person with autism. The person with autism depicted in the movie or article might be the very opposite of our child or student with autism. Autism can be perplexing because of its diversity, and because of the vastly different [...]
No Magic Pill
Life would be much easier if we could find the fool-proof answers to all our questions about autism in a manual entitled something like: Guaranteed-Solutions-For-All-Challenging-Issues-Related-to-Autism. But the complexity of autism prevents the development of magic pills and watertight solutions that work in all cases and with every individual diagnosed with autism. Listen Now:
Conversation Roadblocks
Why is it so challenging to have a conversation with some of our friends with autism? What stands in the way of two-way communication? Some of the roadblocks are a result of characteristics inherent in autism. Listen Now:
Overwhelming
Communication Daily Living Skills Personal Interaction Quality of Life Rituals and Routines Social Skills
Autism can be overwhelming. It touches so many different aspects of a person’s life and the lives of those around them. Teachers, parents, therapists, medical professionals, and others interested in the well-being of their friends with autism are constantly reading new research and literature, checking out new strategies and ideas, developing and implementing effective interventions [...]
That’s MY Arm
I have the good fortune of spending time every week with dozens of individuals diagnosed with autism – toddlers, children, teens, and adults. Among other things, it is interesting to see the consequences of their interpreting language literally. Here are a few examples from the past few weeks. Listen Now:
Literal Student
Because students with autism tend to interpret instructions so literally, they sometimes struggle with following basic instructions and common classroom routines. More issues arise when a literal student also lacks the ability to automatically pick up on social cues and copy the behavior of the other kids. Listen Now:
Shoe Solutions
Shoes can be challenging. Some like them tight, while others like them loose. Some have trouble tying shoes, and others refuse to wear shoes. And what do we do if our friend with autism wants to wear their shoes to bed? Listen Now:
Shoe Issues
Shoes issues go to extremes for some individuals with autism. Some simply cannot tolerate shoes, and other cannot tolerate bare feet. Some of my friends with autism love the snug fit of shoes so much they wear shoes to bed. Now, that is extreme! Listen Now:
Gardening
It is springtime in my little corner of the world – lots of sunshine, longer days, warmer weather, and wildflowers spreading carpets of color. My own spring fever reminds me of the interest in gardening some of my friends with autism have developed over the years. Listen Now:
Noticing Progress
When we spend time with a person every day, we can inadvertently overlook strengths or simply not notice tiny steps of progress in target areas. Let us look at an example from a real-life situation. Listen Now:
Matter of Degree
One of the primary characteristics in autism is that of restrictive and repetitive behaviors. At what point do these issues become a problem? Since restrictive behaviors are inherent in autism, is it reasonable to expect people with autism to stop all restrictive behaviors? Is the heart of the issue actually a matter of degree? Listen [...]
Teacher Attitude part 2
Behavior Issues Communication Following Directions Personal Interaction Quality of Life Social Skills
We are continuing a conversation about teacher attitude – about welcoming students with autism into a typical classroom. In the podcast “Teacher Attitude 1,” we talked about the first of three basic principles for educators to consider when welcoming students with autism into the classroom. In this podcast, we will continue the discussion. Listen Now: [...]
Teacher Attitude Part 1
Behavior Issues Communication Following Directions Personal Interaction Quality of Life Social Skills
Every student – whether they have specific disabilities or not – has their own unique learning style and personality. The teacher’s job becomes even more complex when autism is added to that mix of individual differences. We will look at three basic principles for educators to consider when welcoming students with autism into the classroom. [...]
Classroom Welcome
Teachers on all grade levels have asked for tips about welcoming a student diagnosed with autism into a “regular education” classroom. The overall topic of helping a youngster with autism function well in school could fill several books. Today we will just look at one tiny issue that can make a world of difference from [...]
Boring Stories
Some individuals with autism repeat the same stories over and over or talk endlessly about one topic. How can we help our friends add variety to their conversations? Listen Now: