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 [...]
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 [...]
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. Listen Now: [...]
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. Listen Now:
An elementary school teacher commented that colder weather and shorter days in mid-winter seemed to affect the mood of her students. She said casual observations over the years led her to believe that youngsters diagnosed with autism tended to be more withdrawn, less attentive, less responsive, and generally lethargic during winter months. Family members and [...]
We are continuing our discussion about the aversion to shaving that some teens and adults with autism experience because of marked sensory sensitivities. The issue is very real because failure to shave can stand in the way of getting a job, and friends or society in general can be impatient or intolerant of a person’s [...]
One of my adult friends with autism finds his marked sensory sensitivities stand in the way of his shaving regularly. His aversion to the sound of an electric razor and the grating feeling of a hand razor or an electric razor cause him to appear poorly groomed. His failure to shave causes problems with employers [...]
Holiday gatherings, large and small, are filled with challenges for individuals with autism. For example, meals can cause problems. What issues create conflict or confusion? And what can we do to make gathering around the dinner table an enjoyable experience for all? Listen Now:
Some of my friends with autism insist on the same foods in their lunch box at school or work every single day. This intolerance for change can be very difficult to crack. One way of expanding that menu is to work with them to develop daily lunch specials – a standard, predictable menu for each [...]
It may be the sensory feeling of chewing crunchy foods, or it may be the unique in-the-head sounds, but, for whatever reason, many of my friends with autism love crunchy foods. One youngster summed it up when his eyes widened when he saw some crispy mini-carrots on my kitchen table and exclaimed, “Want some crunchies, [...]
Not all of our FAQautism.com listeners live in countries that celebrate this seasonal holiday, Halloween. But, those that do are probably aware of the challenges that Halloween can present to individuals with autism. Costumes and masks paired with unusual and unfamiliar sounds can be confusing and frightening. Halloween is a tradition that can be great [...]
Sometimes we miss enjoying life because we are so busy addressing all the issues inherent in the lives of our youngsters with autism. It is tempting to retreat into “survival mode” and just focus on making it to the end of each day. Our main goal can become to crash into bed each night without [...]
Toileting is a serious issue for some individuals with autism. Realistically, many of our friends are simply not going to magically transform into a person who takes care of toileting independently. They need a systematic plan tailored to their specific situation, and they need a perceptive, patient coach to help with the process. The first [...]
In spite of patient and consistent attempts, our best efforts to toilet train our youngster with autism can sometimes fail miserably. Diapers, wet beds, and soiled clothing are huge issues for teens and adults with autism, with the potential of causing problems at school, at work, and in the community. If you are not dealing [...]
Some compulsive or repetitive behaviors displayed by individuals with autism are annoying or socially inappropriate. But some behaviors are dangerous or potentially threatening to the safety and well-being of our friends with autism or people in the vicinity. Listen Now:
Sometimes we have to be a bit sneaky to impact the health and fitness of less active individuals with autism. Take a look at this great idea for encouraging even your most reluctant couch potato to become more active. Listen Now:
Overeating and compulsive snacking are issues in the lives of lots of people, including individuals diagnosed with autism. Since obsessive interests are an inherent part of autism, eating disorders can be a negative factor in a person’s well-being. Listen Now:
An articulate teen with autism talked about his pillow last week. He gets agitated when his mom just suddenly replaces his pillow on occasion. His mom does not understand why he wants to cling to his old pillow since everyone else in the family loves new pillows. The teen thinks his mom is unreasonable, and [...]
In response to our FAQautism.com podcast about developing an emergency kit, a friend talked to me about some ideas for teaching individuals with autism how to respond in an emergency. Today we will take a look at a few of her ideas about emergency evacuations, great ideas based on her many years of experience teaching [...]
Most of us find it challenging enough just to take care of regular days, so we rarely take time to plan ahead for a disaster. Even if you live in an area that isn’t typically affected by natural disasters, it is still a good idea to have an emergency plan in place and supplies stocked [...]
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