Amy shares how she has adapted her daily schedule as she now finds herself in the role of her ASD preschool son’s home-school teacher and ABA therapist.Continue reading Mom School: When You Must Become the Teacher & the Therapist
Podcast 23: What Parent’s of Children With Special Needs Wish You Knew
Amy shares what families of children impacted by developmental disabilities, such as ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder, wish their friends and families knew. Continue reading Podcast 23: What Parent’s of Children With Special Needs Wish You Knew
Guest Appearance on “Thriving in the Midst of Chaos” with Jessica Temple
Amy shares her guest appearance on the podcast “Thriving in the Midst of Chaos” where she talks with host Jessica Temple about the importance of building a support system and how to make it happen.Continue reading Guest Appearance on “Thriving in the Midst of Chaos” with Jessica Temple
Letting Go: A Little
Amy shares how she is learning to let go, a little, to allow her son to build his functional independence.Continue reading Letting Go: A Little
Podcast 21: Autism and Functioning Labels
In this episode, Amy shares what her research uncovered about autism functioning labels.Continue reading Podcast 21: Autism and Functioning Labels
Dialed IN! Podcast “Big Life” Series Episode #35 Featuring Amy Nielsen with Betheny Clemenson
Amy was recently a featured guest for the Big Life Series on the Dialed IN! podcast which is hosted by Bethany Clemenson.Continue reading Dialed IN! Podcast “Big Life” Series Episode #35 Featuring Amy Nielsen with Betheny Clemenson
Podcast 19: Your Other Kids
In this episode, Amy shares how if you have more than one child, and one has a developmental disability, that it is important you spend quality time with your other children since the quantity of your time is most likely being spent with the child with special needs.Continue reading Podcast 19: Your Other Kids
My Son is Going to Kindergarten! A Letter of Gratitude
Amy shares a letter of gratitude to all of the people who are part of her son’s support system.Continue reading My Son is Going to Kindergarten! A Letter of Gratitude
Your Words Matter
Amy shares how important it is to keep the words you say about your child as positive as possible.Continue reading Your Words Matter
Podcast 18: How Forward-Thinking Can Impact Your Mindset
Amy shares how when you have a child with a developmental disability such as ADHD or autism forward-thinking can help you have a more positive mindset.Continue reading Podcast 18: How Forward-Thinking Can Impact Your Mindset
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
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
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
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
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
The Vestibular System: The Seventh Sense and Autism
Amy defines the vestibular system and describes it’s impact on children with developmental disabilities.Continue reading The Vestibular System: The Seventh Sense and Autism
Podcast 04: Defining Your New Norm
In this episode, Amy shares how having a child with a developmental disability, such as ADHD or Autism, means that you more than likely will have to redefine what normal looks like for your family.Continue reading Podcast 04: Defining Your New Norm
Overcoming Apraxia
Amy shares how her 3 1/2 year old son overcame Childhood Apraxia of Speech at an age younger than when most children receive the diagnosis.Continue reading Overcoming Apraxia
A Christmas Meltdown Turns Into Christmas Miracle
Amy shares how a holiday meltdown turned into a holiday miracle.Continue reading A Christmas Meltdown Turns Into Christmas Miracle
Podcast 03: Saying “No” is a Big “Yes”
In this episode, Amy shares how parenting special needs children with developmental disabilities such as ADHD and ASD can make social outings challenging and that sometimes you need to say “no”, but you also need to create experiences you can say “yes” to.Continue reading Podcast 03: Saying “No” is a Big “Yes”
Medication and the MTHFR Gene Mutation: Genetic Test Using Genesight
Amy shares a genetic test her son with ADHD and ASD had done by his developmental pediatrician and how the results have helped shape her son’s treatment. (Originally written December 2018. Updated September 2019 with new information.)Continue reading Medication and the MTHFR Gene Mutation: Genetic Test Using Genesight
Planning & Preparing for Excursions
Using real-world examples, Amy shares tips on how to prepare for a family outing with a child who has ADHD or ASD.Continue reading Planning & Preparing for Excursions
It Takes a Village: Get Your Hands Dirty and Build It From the Ground Up
Amy shares how important it is for families of special needs children to have a support system and offers practical tips on how to accomplish this.Continue reading It Takes a Village: Get Your Hands Dirty and Build It From the Ground Up
An Apology Letter to My Former Students
Amy shares a letter she has written to her former special needs students sharing with them a heartfelt apology for not understanding how to reach their individual needs and her promise that going forward she will be an advocate for children like them.Continue reading An Apology Letter to My Former Students
What Parents of Children with Disabilities Wish You Knew
Amy shares some firsthand responses that parents of children with disabilities wish their family and friends knew and understood.Continue reading What Parents of Children with Disabilities Wish You Knew
Their Stories
“Their Stories” is where we will celebrate the “Big Abilities” of children with developmental disabilities.Continue reading Their Stories
Using Video to Create Social Stories
Amy shares how social story videos help her son with new and/or challenging experiences and offers step-by-step suggestions for creating your own.
Continue reading Using Video to Create Social Stories
A Trip to the Supermarket Can Be So Much More Than a Trip to the Supermarket!
Amy shares how she uses Supermarket trips with her son, Barclay, to target specific developmental goals.Continue reading A Trip to the Supermarket Can Be So Much More Than a Trip to the Supermarket!
Making Screen Time Interactive for Children with Developmental Delays
Amy shares how parents can turn sedentary screen time into an interactive and engaging experience.Continue reading Making Screen Time Interactive for Children with Developmental Delays
