In this episode, Amy shares the program her son’s behavior therapy team developed to help him tolerate wearing a face mask.Continue reading Podcast 28: Helping a Child With Autism Tolerate Wearing a Face Mask
Helping a Child With Autism Tolerate Wearing a Face Mask
Amy shares the program her son’s behavioral therapy team created to help him tolerate wearing a face mask.Continue reading Helping a Child With Autism Tolerate Wearing a Face Mask
Caregivers of Children With Autism: Self-Care During the Pandemic
As a mother of a child on the autism spectrum, I’ve learned that self-care must be a high priority. Early on in my special needs parenting journey, I realized that if I didn’t fill my needs first, I couldn’t fill the significant needs of my son. In my book “It Takes a Village: Get YourContinue reading Caregivers of Children With Autism: Self-Care During the Pandemic
Podcast 27: Hitting the Pause Button
In this episode, Amy shares why she is temporarily hitting the pause button on her blog and podcast. She also offers tips and suggestions for how you can also hit the pause button on what may be impacting your ability in filling the needs of your child while also protecting your mental health during thisContinue reading Podcast 27: Hitting the Pause Button
Mom School: When You Must Become the Teacher & the Therapist
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
Autism and Saliva: Why Children with Autism Can Be Obsessed With It and What To Do About It
Amy shares how her son’s obsession with saliva and spitting has become a growing problem especially during this recent pandemic and her strategies to help him overcome this issue.Continue reading Autism and Saliva: Why Children with Autism Can Be Obsessed With It and What To Do About It
Podcast 26: My Guest Appearance on “I Used to Be a Therapist” with Wendy Bruton
Amy shares her guest appearance on the podcast “I Used to Be a Therapist” hosted by Dr. Wendy Bruton.Continue reading Podcast 26: My Guest Appearance on “I Used to Be a Therapist” with Wendy Bruton
Podcast 25: Vacationing With Children With Autism Featuring “The Autism Dad” Rob Gorski (including a review of DoubleTree Orlando at Sea World and Sea World)
Amy interviews “The Autism Dad” Rob Gorski about their recent shared experiences at the DoubleTree Orlando and Sea World to review both facilities’ Certified Autism Center accreditation in addition to talking about the challenges of vacationing with children with autism and how children who are prone to wondering add a layer of concern to being outside your families comfort zone.Continue reading Podcast 25: Vacationing With Children With Autism Featuring “The Autism Dad” Rob Gorski (including a review of DoubleTree Orlando at Sea World and Sea World)
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
Podcast 24: Guest Appearance on “Thriving 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 Podcast 24: Guest Appearance on “Thriving the Midst of Chaos” with Jessica Temple
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
A Positive Mindset Isn’t an Option
Amy shares a personal experience that illustrates how even though autism is hard, loving your child is easy.Continue reading A Positive Mindset Isn’t an Option
20 Autism Words You Need to Know
20 Autism Words You Need to Know Understanding these words might help you understand autism a little more.
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 22: Their Stories “Barclay”
“Their Stories” is a series that focuses on the strengths of children with developmental disabilities such as ADHD and autism. In this first episode, Amy interviews her husband, Brent, about their nearly 5-year-old son Barclay’s big abilities.Continue reading Podcast 22: Their Stories “Barclay”
Using Timers For Children With Autism
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
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
Using Visual Schedules For Children With Autism
Amy shares how she used visual schedules to help her son follow routines.Continue reading Using Visual Schedules For Children With Autism
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
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
What To Do “After” a Meltdown
Amy shares important things to do after an autistic child has a meltdown.Continue reading What To Do “After” a Meltdown
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
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
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
