When he was three years old, my friend Tyler communicated his dissatisfaction with life in general by making loud sounds and throwing items. Over the next fourteen years, he moved through the phases of language development, sometimes getting stuck in one phase for four or five years. Although the process has been very slow, his [...]
A teacher commented that several of her elementary-aged students diagnosed on the spectrum of autism seemed to have good language skills. She said, “They can spell, read, and spout math facts. They even speak to people politely and answer questions appropriately. But, although these youngsters are very sharp, they often misunderstand what I am saying.” [...]
Because this is our 200th podcast for FAQautism.com, we thought it would be appropriate to address an issue brought up by numerous parents and teachers – that of an incredible gift of numbers and sequences displayed by some individuals diagnosed with autism. This discussion revolves around the unimaginable scope of this phenomenon as well as [...]
A friend diagnosed with autism commented that her family is concerned about the fact that she likes to hang around the “special education” kids in her high school. Her thoughts give some perspective to the urgency for normalcy that we can feel for individuals with autism. Listen Now:
As a mom and I were talking in the grocery store, her 10-year-old son diagnosed with autism started rocking, putting cans of soup in and out of the grocery basket, and making repetitive sounds. His mom said, “Oh, this is so frustrating. I wish he could just learn to wait patiently.” Red flags were flying [...]
Having an excellent memory and being able to recall sequences are gifts that can certainly be useful. But some individuals with autism who have exceptional memories can become obsessed with a sequence or a script. Their obsession may need some attention if it interferes with their willingness or ability to interact with other people or [...]
Many of us are prone to slugishness and low energy in the winter months because of the short days and cold weather. Parents of two sons diagnosed with autism said, “Last week I noticed both boys were less responsive than usual, and this week I notice that the whole family seems drained of energy and [...]
Some compulsive or repetitive behaviors displayed by individuals with autism are annoying or socially inappropriate. But some actions are dangerous. If a person chews on or swallows soap, dirt, coins, rocks, paper clips, or anything else that fits in their mouth, there is a potential for serious illness or injury. Because constant vigilance is difficult [...]
How do you carry on a casual conversation with a person who is non-verbal? A fifth-grader said of a new student in her computer class, “I want to be Lucille’s friend, but it’s hard to talk to someone who doesn’t talk back.” A teenager said “All my brother does is repeat what I say, so [...]
We receive many inquiries about the issue of public restrooms so we are repeating a podcast from six months ago about this topic. A mom wrote: “I’m a mom with a grown autistic son. Not only do I worry about his safety when sending him unattended into the men’s restroom, but I also worry because [...]
Sometimes we might feel as if we are taking one step forward and two steps back when helping our friends with autism learn new skills and enjoy life. Many individuals with autism have uneven abilities in a vast array of areas, including language and communication, social interaction, behavior, adaptive skills, personal care, academics, job skills, [...]
Teachers, therapists, and family members often request ideas for interesting learning experiences for individuals with autism. Cooking Stone Soup is an activity that people of all ages and levels of ability can enjoy as a large group activity or with just two people. Listen Now:
“Our son seems really smart,” commented parents of a four-year-old diagnosed with autism. “He can count to 100 and recite the alphabet and he knows the words of nearly every song he hears.” Some pre-school children diagnosed with autism display extraordinary memories and an intense interest in sequences. The trick is to help these young [...]
A pre-teen diagnosed with autism was having some trouble making friends at school because she talked rather obsessively about the same topic. “I try to be her friend,” commented one of her classmates confidentially, “But it is really irritating to hear the same story over and over.” Sometimes our friends with autism need to be [...]
Some of my friends with autism love to talk. I am tickled that they have good verbal skills and that they want to interact with other people. At the same time, my friends sometimes need guidance about appropriate conversations and etiquette. Today’s podcast will focus on a teen who needed to decrease interrupting other conversations. [...]
“Sometimes my team and I feel as if we are on a never-ending journey of dealing with one difficult behavior after another,” commented a teacher of junior-high students with autism. Other teachers, parents, and therapists have made similar comments about the on-going nature of behavior management. The undertaking can seem like a downward spiral, but, [...]
“I can’t believe another year has come and gone,” commented a mother of a ten-year-old with autism. “Although I know I can’t control everything in my daughter’s life, I do want to do what I can to make these years count.” Another parent said she wanted to make some new year’s resolutions so she didn’t [...]
Once the Christmas festivities are over, it can be challenging to find enjoyable, inexpensive ways to keep our youngsters occupied for the remainder of the holiday break. One idea that has brought lots of joy to families and individuals of all ages with autism is piling in the car and exploring the local landscape. The [...]
Some families avoid family gatherings during the holidays because of their concern about the potentially explosive behavior of their youngster with autism. Others have expressed frustration about missing holiday events because of dietary concerns, sensory sensitivities, or other issues related to autism. Parents of a third grader diagnosed with autism commented they couldn’t tell if [...]
Holiday gatherings strengthen family bonds and build memories and traditions that last for a lifetime. Visits with extended family can also be stressful, especially for parents of youngsters with autism. Some parents say they resent advice about raising their youngsters with autism. Others say they tend to find themselves being very sensitive to even minimally [...]
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