We typically think of “stimming” as one of three actions common in autism – rocking, hand posturing, or hand flapping. But, in reality, our friends with autism display dozens of other non-functional, stereotyped, repetitive motor mannerisms. Let us look at some examples of stimming.
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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?
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Some of my friends with autism and their families are sitting in the dark and cold this week because of a treacherous blizzard that damaged power lines and brought their region to a halt. Weather forecasts allowed advance planning in this case. But situations sometimes arise unexpectedly, making it imperative to keep emergency supplies at [...]
What are the basics for getting a job? What skills does an individual with autism want to sharpen before going for that first job interview? Once employed, what skills can help people keep their job? Take a look at four job skills critical for successful employment.
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A recent Dennis the Menace cartoon by Hank Ketcham has a 12-word caption filled with wise advice for parents, teachers, therapists, and families of kids with autism.
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Research confirms what grandmamma always knew: “Vegetables are good for you.” Of course, veggies have no impact on the health of people who refuse to eat them. Let us look at 3 rules to follow when attempting to sneak healthy vegetables into the diet of individuals with autism.
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What are our options when a friend with autism is reluctant about participating in fun, recreational activities? Some individuals with autism require special encouragement or promises such as “First, take a walk with me, then you can watch your DVD.” But in many cases, the best approach is to simply announce an activity and, if [...]
I just heard a weather report forecasting several days of cloudy, windy, cold weather. The meteorologist described the upcoming days as “gloomy.” Many of us are prone to slugishness and low energy in the winter months because of the short days and cold weather. Kids and adults can bust the gloomies by staying active and [...]
Let us take another glimpse into the daily lives of ten-year-old twins Jenny and Jeffry, both of whom are diagnosed with autism. The marked differences in, among other things, their communication, personal interaction, sensory issues, flexibility, and self-sufficiency illustrate the breadth of the spectrum of autism.
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Jenny and Jeffry are ten-year-old twins. They are precious youngsters, loved by their family, teachers, and friends at school. The twins, of course, were born of the same parents, have grown up in the same home, and have had the same medical care, educational opportunities, and therapy over the years. But the twins, both diagnosed [...]
Should teens and young adults participate in group activities with younger kids? For example, at what point do our friends with autism outgrow the need for participating in soccer, swimming, t-ball, and other adaptive recreational activities designed specifically for individuals with special needs?
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This podcast comes with a warning. Except in a few cases, it is impossible to completely eradicate obsessive murmuring. In fact, our calling attention to the irritating habit can, indeed, escalate the problem. Part 1 of this series describes the issue on continual words, nonsense syllables, scripts, or conversations. Today we will look at some [...]
In my corner of the world, February 14 is Valentine’s Day – a day of expressing love and friendship with family, friends, fellow students, and others whom we see daily. Today we’ll share some ideas for helping our friends of all ages with autism join in the fun. And take a minute to click on [...]
Some children, teens, and adults with autism frequently strike out at other people. Why do our friends hit or pinch strangers, family and friends, or their fellow students at school?
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Several families and teachers have posed questions about kids and adults with autism who constantly flush toilets. This obsession not only wastes water, but it also distracts our friend with autism from interacting with other people and disrupts the classroom or family routine.
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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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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 [...]
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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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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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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