Developmental Disabilties

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.

It’s 7:30 am. I am slowly drifting out of a dream. “Have you seen a boat? A boat, I saw a boat it passed by here not too long ago. Quick, follow me!” The chatter goes on for a while. I open my eyes and chuckle. From the monitor I hear my son reciting lines from Finding Nemo. I smile as I listen a few more minutes before crawling out of bed to get him up and ready for the day.

Interoception: The Eighth Sense and Autism

Amy explains what interoception is and how to help children who have autism better develop interoceptive awareness.

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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.

A Christmas Meltdown Turns Into Christmas Miracle

Amy shares how a holiday meltdown turned into a holiday miracle.

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Genetic Testing 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.

My son is 3 1/2 years old and diagnosed with a severe communication disorder called Childhood Apraxia of Speech, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

For the last six months he has been on a roller coaster of medication trials to help get some of the ADHD symptoms under control. He’s gone from Focalin, to Dyanavel, to Guanfacine with nothing seeming to be the right fit. The Guanfacine offered the least side effects, but also the least results. He is in a full-time Applied Behavior Analysis program and was so wired during the first half of the day that therapy was becoming a challenge. He would then crash mid-morning and fall asleep which meant he was then missing several hours of therapy.

I called his developmental pediatrician and asked if we could discuss trying yet another medication. She said she first wanted me to bring him in for a test called the “Genesight“. Continue reading “Genetic Testing 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.

A few days ago we took our 3 1/2 year old son to the North Pole! Well, not really but he certainly thought we did! His current favorite movie is the Polar Express. A local train station puts on a holiday Polar Express themed event. It begins with a live action show inside the station, followed by a very entertaining train ride complete with singers, dancers, and the big man himself, Santa!

My son has ADHD and ASD. As a result, outings for our family require a lot of planning and preparation. For a long time we didn’t go out often, and that wasn’t good for any of us. It’s important for our family to be able to enjoy events in our community, going out to dinner as a family and visiting parks and zoos. If you have a child with ASD or ADHD and have had difficulty in the past with family outings, don’t give up! The following guidelines can help you and your child enjoy these special family moments again! Continue reading “Planning & Preparing for Excursions”