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 [...]
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:
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:
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 [...]
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:
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:
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:
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:
As our children with grown into teens and young adults, we need to help them find a safe haven – their own spot to relax and escape from the constant supervision by adults in their lives. Listen Now:
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 [...]
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. Listen Now:
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: [...]
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. [...]
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 [...]
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:
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. Listen Now:
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. Listen Now:
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 [...]
Давайте еще раз взглянем на повседневную жизнь 10-летних близнецов Дженни и Джеффри. У обоих поставлен диагноз- аутизм. Значительные различия в них включают их общение, межличностное взаимодействие, сенсорные проблемы, гибкость и самостоятельность. Это все иллюстрирует широту спектра аутизма: поведенческие проблемы, забота о себе, общение, личное взаимодействие, рутины, социальные навыки.
