Disinterested in GiftsMost of us have learned to expect looks of awe and wonder on the faces of children when they open gifts. When our friends with autism seem apathetic or disinterested, we can be disappointed. It is probably good to be realistic about what response we expect from individuals with autism and to recognize [...]
Giving gifts is a holiday tradition that many individuals with autism miss. Particularly if a person with autism is rather disconnected from people or is unable to communicate opinions and ideas, we sometimes forget to include them in the process. It is often easier for us to just pick up a few gifts and wrap [...]
“One of my students touches the hair of nearly everyone he sees, even complete strangers,” said a teacher of junior high students with autism. “Whether in the hallway at school or in the grocery store with his family, he touches the hair of adults, teens, and kids. As you can imagine, this sudden approach from [...]
When we compare our youngsters with autism with their more typical peers, we may discover that some of the issues we struggle with every day may be common with all kids in that age range. Although autism may, indeed, magnify some issues, the fact remains that nearly all parents struggle with the attitudes of teenagers, [...]
“I realize that communication is complex,” commented a teacher of early elementary students with autism. “Just look at all the skills involved in answering a question or asking for a green crayon. I need some sort of basic framework to help me sort through the complexities of communication so I can maximize their expressive language [...]
“It seems to me that my students with autism and Asperger’s are not paying attention,” commented a junior high school English teacher. “How can they learn anything if they are always gazing off into space?” Listen Now:
“I feel like all I’ve done for ten years is get my son fed, bathed, dressed, and toileted,” commented a mother of a youngster with autism who needs assistance with nearly all daily living tasks. Another parent commented that it seemed like caring for her daughter was an endless cycle. For a variety of reasons, [...]
“It seems that everyone thinks my son would be a better kid if I would just be a better parent,” said a mother of a 5-year-old with autism who overheard comments by strangers when they witnessed her son’s melt down in the grocery store. The mother went on to say, “These people don’t realize that [...]
“We are having houseguests for the holidays, and we want to make the experience relaxed and enjoyable for the grandparents as well as for our kids,” commented the parents of two children, including a four-year-old daughter who functions on the spectrum of autism. “What are some things we need to consider in making plans for [...]
Parents of a third grader diagnosed with autism commented they couldn’t tell if their son enjoyed family visits during the holidays. “He just sits on his grandmama’s couch and flips through magazines all afternoon. He won’t eat any of the special thanksgiving meal she prepares for our large family because he just likes macaroni and [...]
“Just the thought of visiting our family at Thanksgiving raises my blood pressure,” commented a parent of a fifth grader diagnosed with autism. “Although none of the aunts and uncles and grandparents have said anything critical, my husband and I both feel pressure to make everything perfect so our daughter doesn’t act strange or have [...]
What are our options when an individual who has limited communication skills explodes with anger? What steps can we take to help them calm down? What can we do to help them stop screaming or hitting or biting or throwing or otherwise shouting their frustration or anger in hurtful or disruptive ways? How should we [...]
“I am looking for ways to help students who have very limited language skills manage their explosive anger,” commented an experienced therapist. “Many of these youngsters resort to hitting, biting, and screaming to communicate their displeasure In some cases, it is very difficult to determine the source of their anger or frustration, so their response [...]
“My brother gets very upset when there are any changes in routine,” said a family member of a teen with autism. “Because he just throws an extreme fit anytime we try to do something different, we eat the same foods and go the same places and watch the same movies over and over again. We [...]
“My daughter has outgrown her favorite childhood toy, and the stuffed puppy is simply worn to shreds,” commented a parent of a 4th grader diagnosed with autism. “I realize that she is dependent upon her puppy to help her stay grounded during the day and to reduce the trauma of transition, but her favorite stuffed [...]
Several family members of individuals with autism have asked for ideas for carrying on conversations with individuals with autism who are non-verbal or who only echo what has just been said to them. A volunteer who has begun giving rides to a young adult with autism to a weekly recreational event echoed similar concerns when [...]
“In spite of years of effort by dedicated teachers and therapists and lots of attention from a loving family, my son isn’t able to talk or read anything but functional words,” commented a father of a young adult with autism. “But he has been given many opportunities over the years to use what gifts he [...]
Pumpkins. Cool mornings. Swirls of colorful leaves. Sometimes we miss the change of seasons and the beauty of autumn 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 [...]
“Most of the youngsters diagnosed with autism in my classes are not quick to pick up on social cues,” commented an elementary teacher. “The kids would blend in better with the group if they could learn to follow the crowd rather than needing to be guided through every group procedure and process.” Although individuals with [...]
“My daughter is entering high school next fall,” wrote the parents of a teenager diagnosed with autism. ‘Over the next few years, we are hoping she can learn some basic skills that allow her to get a job. It may be that she would need a job coach in order to be successful, but we [...]
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