Amy shares important things to do after an autistic child has a meltdown.Continue reading What To Do “After” a Meltdown
Preparing Children with Autism for the Holidays
Amy shares how she prepares her son who has ADHD and Autism for the Holidays by year-round exposure.Continue reading Preparing Children with Autism for the Holidays
Podcast 17: Why I Wrote the Book It Takes a Village and How It Can Help You
Amy shares what inspired her to write the book It Takes a Village: Get Your Hands Dirty and Builds Yours From the Ground Up and how her book can help you.Continue reading Podcast 17: Why I Wrote the Book It Takes a Village and How It Can Help You
Being a Fun Parent Can Increase Compliance
Amy shares how making what you want your child to do MORE fun than what they want to do can increase compliance and decrease tantrums in children with autism.Continue reading Being a Fun Parent Can Increase Compliance
Autism & Rules: A Hand-in-Hand Pair
Amy shares how autism and rule following are strongly connected and how to use that strength to help the child overcome challenges.Continue reading Autism & Rules: A Hand-in-Hand Pair
Podcast 16: The Importance of Open-Ended, Fantasy, and Creative Play
Amy shares how a screen-free play area filled with open-ended toys can foster creativity and imagination in your child.Continue reading Podcast 16: The Importance of Open-Ended, Fantasy, and Creative Play
A Simple Drawing On a Napkin
Amy shares how drawing simple pictures on the napkin she puts in her son’s lunchbox has helped build his communications skills.Continue reading A Simple Drawing On a Napkin
Podcast 15: Your Child’s Strengths
In this episode, Amy shares how she came to realize her son needed to focus on interests and strengths as much as well as overcoming his challenges. She encourages families of children with developmental disabilities, such as ADHD and Autism, to do the same.Continue reading Podcast 15: Your Child’s Strengths
Podcast 14: Using Reinforcers to Improve Behaviors
In this episode, Amy shares how using reinforcers can help encourage positive behavior. She talks about the difference between reinforcement and bribery. She then gives practical tips in how you can begin to use reinforcers to help your child overcome challenging behaviors. Continue reading Podcast 14: Using Reinforcers to Improve Behaviors
It Takes a Village: Get Your Hands Dirty and Build Yours From the Ground Up
Amy shares the Big Abilities first eBook that helps families with children with developmental disabilities build a support system.Continue reading It Takes a Village: Get Your Hands Dirty and Build Yours From the Ground Up
How to Have a Social Life When You Have a Child on the Autism Spectrum
Amy shares how her family has gone from struggling to have a social life to now adapting to a social life that works for them. Maybe her tips will help your family, too!Continue reading How to Have a Social Life When You Have a Child on the Autism Spectrum
Big Abilities is Now Featured on Feedspot
I am honored to have the Big Abilities blog now featured on Feedspot and on their Top 50 Autism blogs list. Reaching families that have children with developmental disabilities such as autism is our number one goal. Partnering with Feedspot will help us do just that!
3 Tips for Increasing Compliance in Children on the Autism Spectrum
Children with developmental disabilities, such as autism, often struggle to comply with the many requests of parents, educators, and other caregivers. This can make everyday activities and routines challenging. Fortunately, there are simple strategies that will significantly improve the child’s ability and willingness to comply.
Podcast 13: TV, Toys, and Cognitive Development (Part 1 of 2: Part 2 will be How to Use Open-Ended Toys to Foster Creative and Fantasy Play)
In this episode, Amy shares how parents can turn sedentary screen time into an interactive and engaging experience.Continue reading Podcast 13: TV, Toys, and Cognitive Development (Part 1 of 2: Part 2 will be How to Use Open-Ended Toys to Foster Creative and Fantasy Play)
Podcast 12: Autism and Rigid Routines
Amy shares some reasons why children with autism spectrum disorder can become very rigid and non-flexible with routines and then offers some strategies for helping them cope when those routines become disrupted.Continue reading Podcast 12: Autism and Rigid Routines
How Choices Can Increase Compliance
Amy shares an article she wrote for National Autism Resources on ways to use choices to increase compliance in children with autism.Continue reading How Choices Can Increase Compliance
Autism: One Bad Morning
Amy shares a story of a Sunday morning meltdown her son with autism had and how reflecting on that meltdown helped her realize he still has more good days than bad.Continue reading Autism: One Bad Morning
Helpful Tools for Families of Children with Special Needs
As a freelance writer for Playground Magazine, I do my best to write articles that reach families of children with special needs, like my own. My most recent article highlights 5 of the best resources available for families in the Central Florida area. Click below to check it out! Helpful Tools for Families of ChildrenContinue reading Helpful Tools for Families of Children with Special Needs
Mississippi Center for Autism and Related Developmental Disabilities 2019 Annual Fund Raising Event
Amy shares a summary of the Mississippi Center for Autism and Related Developmental Disabilities’ annual fundraising event.Continue reading Mississippi Center for Autism and Related Developmental Disabilities 2019 Annual Fund Raising Event
A Letter of Thanks to My Son’s Hairstylist
There is an unsung hero among the autistic community. Her name is Karis, and she works at Cool Cuts for Kids.
Podcast 11: Building Your Village
Amy shares how you can build a support system for you and your child and includes a three week program to help you get started.Continue reading Podcast 11: Building Your Village
Podcast 10: 3 Tips for Increasing Compliance in Children with ADHD and ASD
Amy shares tips and strategies for decreasing noncompliance and increasing compliance in children with ADHD and ASD.Continue reading Podcast 10: 3 Tips for Increasing Compliance in Children with ADHD and ASD
Barclay Flies in an Airplane
Flying on an airplane can be an overwhelming experience for children on the autism spectrum. Hopefully this video can help your child have a successful flight!Continue reading Barclay Flies in an Airplane
The 21st Annual Family Cafe: Connecting Resources to the Special Needs Community
The annual Family Cafe is an event where persons with disabilities and their caregivers can find resources and services as well as an uplifting celebration.Continue reading The 21st Annual Family Cafe: Connecting Resources to the Special Needs Community
Podcast 09: Self Care with Bethanne Weiss aka the Asset Queen
Amy talks with Bethanne Weiss, author of Move Your Assets From the Chair Not the Bank, about the importance of self care for parents of special needs children.Continue reading Podcast 09: Self Care with Bethanne Weiss aka the Asset Queen
Please Don’t Minimize My Son’s Autism
Amy shares how minimizing autism strips away the hard work that a person with autism must go through on a daily basis.Continue reading Please Don’t Minimize My Son’s Autism
Scripting is My Son’s Super Power
Amy shares how her son’s scripted speech has been helpful in him learning to speak and build his memory.Continue reading Scripting is My Son’s Super Power
Podcast 08: The Resources Won’t Come to You: How to Take the Initiative to Find the Resources Your Child Needs
In this episode, Amy shares steps you can take to be sure you are finding the best resources for your child.Continue reading Podcast 08: The Resources Won’t Come to You: How to Take the Initiative to Find the Resources Your Child Needs
To My New Insurance Company From a Mother of a Son with Autism
Until you really NEED your insurance, it’s just kind of there. For the last several years of my adult life my insurance was just kind of simmering on the back burner. I neither loathed it or appreciated it very much. Now, as a mother of a child with autism, I do both.Continue reading To My New Insurance Company From a Mother of a Son with Autism
How to Have a Successful Birthday Party for Kids on the Autism Spectrum
Amy share some practical tips in how to have a successful and stress-free birthday party for a child with autism.Continue reading How to Have a Successful Birthday Party for Kids on the Autism Spectrum
