I love buying my son toys that serve a valuable function. We have had this Melissa and Doug Fresh Mart for a couple of years and we love role playing shopping at our favorite grocery store, Publix. For children on the autism spectrum, life skills can sometimes be difficult. So check out the review below and click the link for more great Melissa and Doug products!Continue reading Melissa and Doug Fresh Mart: a Great Tool For Teaching Life Skills
Are you the parent of a VPK student and are not sending them to a brick and mortar campus for the upcoming school year? If so, check out this free downloadable At-Home Guide created by our team at Collaborative Corner for Exceptional Children.Continue reading Collaborative Corner For Exceptional Children’s Get Started VPK At-Home Guide
Educational choice for children has historically been a fairly easy decision for families. But families of children with disabilities, who already faced tough choices, amid a global pandemic the decisions are even tougher.Continue reading Education 2020: School Choice Amid a Global Pandemic
Today, as my husband and I stood in the garage about to put our 5-year-old son in his stroller for a walk he did something he never had before, but something I’d been terrified he eventually might.Continue reading Autism and Eloping: What it is, Why Children on the Spectrum Are Prone to It, and How to Minimize the Risks
This article by the online speech pathology program from Baylor University’s Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences is an excellent read for parents who may be concerned about language delays or speech disorders.Continue reading Parent’s Guide to Language Delays and Speech Disorders in Children by Baylor University
Today my sweet mother tragically lost a dear friend that, as a result of COVID-19, I never had the chance to meet. I wrote this to help to heal us both. His death reminded me that isolation may reduce the spread of COVID-19, but there are also consequences to that isolation. For me, that meant never getting the chance to meet someone who was so important to my mother.Continue reading Mourning the Loss of Someone You Never Met, But Should Have
If you are the parent of a child with a physical, cognitive or developmental disability, home safety can be a concern. Fortunately, Bob from Child Senior Safety is here to help!Continue reading Keeping Children With Special Needs Safe at Home with Child Senior Safety
I am excited to share my new role at the nonprofit Collaborative Corner for Exceptional Children.Continue reading My New Role at Collaborative Corner For Exceptional Children
I raised girls for more than a decade before I became the mother of a son. When I was pregnant with my first son I was worried I wouldn’t know how to be a good boy mom. Now I have two sons and I realize, all I needed was love. They’d teach me everything else I needed to know!Continue reading The Bathroom Always Smells Like Pee and Other Joys of Raising Boys
Dental visits can be very challenging for children on the autism spectrum. Here are some tips that have helped my 5 year old with ASD have his best dental visit yet!Continue reading Tips for Helping Children on the Autism Spectrum at the Dentist
In this article for Autism Parenting Magazine, Amy shares actionable steps you can take immediately if you suspect your child is on the autism spectrum or they are an early diagnosis and you are struggling to find the best resources.Continue reading Big Abilities Featured in Autism Parenting Magazine
Even amid a global pandemic, if you have a child on the autism spectrum, keeping their life as consistent as possible is essential in helping them function and thrive.
Amy shares how using the BigBoxPlay system with her son who is on the autism spectrum both at home and in therapy has helped his imaginative play skills improve.Continue reading BigBoxPlay! Helping Children on the Autism Spectrum Improve Their Imagination
Amy shares a review of her recent purchase for her son of a customize-able Maxtrix Bed by Maxwood Furniture. #mymaxtrix #maxtrixaffiliateContinue reading The Maxtrix Bed by Maxwood Furniture
Amy shares her take on the difficult decision the Stauffer family made to “rehome” their son Huxley and how the culture surrounding Autism Spectrum Disorder has evolved over time.Continue reading The Evolution of the Culture of Autism
Amy shares the impact systemic racism has on children of color who are on the autism spectrum and the hope that change is coming.Continue reading How Systemic Racism Harms Children On The Autism Spectrum
Amy shares 8 steps parents should immediately take if they suspect their child may have a developmental delay or disability.Continue reading 8 Steps to Immediately Take if You Suspect Your Child May Have a Developmental Delay or Disability
In this post, I share 20 autism words that might help you understand the autism of someone you love.Continue reading 20 Autism Words You Need to Know
Amy shares how she uses timers with her son who has autism and offers helpful tips and suggestions.Continue reading Using Timers For Children With Autism
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
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
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
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
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!
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.
Children with autism can have severe sensory sensitivities that makes simple things such as a haircut very challenging. But the right hairstylist can make all the difference in the world!Continue reading A Letter of Thanks to My Son’s Hairstylist
Amy shares an autistic meltdown story from 3 points of view: a bystander, the mother, and the child.Continue reading The Bystander, The Mother & The Son
Amy shares her attempt at trying to explain what autism is like from her son’s perspective.Continue reading My Autism Story
