Ten years old. That’s how old my youngest son will be this month. His birthday month is the same month of Autism Awareness. So it’s always a reminder for me to stop, count our blessings, assess our progress, and acknowledge our continued current and future challenges. Honoring one without the other, is like taking awayContinue reading Autism Awareness Month – April 2025
Content Note: This post will contain medical terms and other vocabulary related to going Number Two, if you’re okay with that carry on. Additional Note: I am not a medical professional, but a parent of a child with autism. This is not medical advice, but based on my research and experience in helping my sonContinue reading Encopresis & Autism: Chronic Constipation Meets Behavioral Challenges
It’s been almost six years since my son was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. He’ll be nine next month. He was three at the time of the diagnosis. But I knew long before that. He had three older siblings, and I’d been an educator for almost twenty years. At eighteen months, when he regressed inContinue reading Autism Awareness: Ten Things I’ve Learned Over the Last Six Years
“ My 8 year-old autistic son recently gifted me the title of “The On-Purpose Mom.” And while in moments of frustation, I assume he means this as a derogatory term, I consider it a term of endearment. Because yes, son, it’s on purpose when I expect you to get dressed independently in the mornings. It’sContinue reading The “On Purpose Mom”
Tonight, snuggled amidst a pile of Mario Brothers plushies, you’re in bed at 8:00 p.m. on a Sunday. Your little voice drifts from behind your closed door to me at my computer in the kitchen. I assume you and your Mario friends are adventuring before winding down for the night. As this innocent scene playsContinue reading To My Autistic Son After a Difficult Weekend
Hi friends! This book was published years ago with a different publisher. It’s now with Wild Ink , revised, recovered, and better than ever! Please take a chance on Goldilocks and buy one for an elementary school or autism family close to you. Thanks!Continue reading Goldilocks and the Three Bears: Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder
Living in the Tampa Bay area, one of our favorite “stay-cations” is Clearwater. And one of our favorite restaurants in Clearwater is Backwaters. It’s ocean-front casual dining with a local feel that we love. When we started going, an “approved by my autistic son” mac and cheese was on the menu. Due to his limitedContinue reading Inclusion is Often Just an Ask Away
Last night I tossed and turn through sleep stages. At one point, I was conscious enough to hear my son’s sound machine through the speakers of his baby monitor. But, the relaxing ocean waves lulled me awake rather than back to sleep. As per ritual, I felt around on the nightstand for my glasses. ThenContinue reading A Brown, Fuzzy Head on a Baby Monitor
This is the story of an autistic boys’ meltdown shown from the points of view of a bystander, the mother, and her son.Continue reading The Bystander, The Mother, and The Son
Barclay has been watching YouTubers for years, so when he asked me to help him record his first video, I was happy to help. While we have lots to learn about quality, I’m confident we will get here in time. Barclay wants all children with autism to know they can do ANYTHING!
This year to celebrate Autism Acceptance Month, I pledge to answer one question about autism per day. Day 6: What community accommodations exist for families of an autistic individual?Continue reading Autism Acceptance Month Day 6: What Community Accommodations Exist for Families of an Autistic Individual?
This year to celebrate Autism Acceptance Month, I pledge to answer one question about autism per day. Day 5: How does a diagnosis of autism impact a family?Continue reading Autism Acceptance Month Day 5: How Does a Diagnosis of Autism Impact a Family?
This year to celebrate Autism Acceptance Month, I pledge to answer one question per day about autism. Day 4: What should a parent do after an autism diagnosis?Continue reading Autism Acceptance Month Day 4: What Should a Parent Do After an Autism Diagnosis?
This year to celebrate Autism Acceptance Month, I plan to answer one question about autism per day. Day 3: How does a parent pursue an autism diagnosis?Continue reading Autism Acceptance Month Day 3: How does a parent pursue an autism diagnosis?
Happy World Autism Day! As the mother of an autistic son, I appreciate the world taking a day to honor what life is like for families like mine. Because, from education to the community to home, life with autism differs from life without.
This year to celebrate Autism Acceptance Month, I pledge to answer one question about autism per day. Day 2: How would a parent know to pursue a diagnosis?Continue reading Autism Acceptance Month Day 2: How would a parent know to pursue a diagnosis?
This year, to celebrate Autism Acceptance Month, I pledge to answer one question about autism per day. The first question is, “What is autism spectrum disorder?”Continue reading Autism Acceptance Month Day 1: What is autism?
Even though I haven’t crossed the threshold from parent to grandparent, I’ve heard it’s one of the most rewarding roles in a person’s life. But if you are the grandparent of a child with autism spectrum disorder, your role, although equally rewarding, comes with a unique set of challenges. Challenges that you probably haven’t experienced.Continue reading 5 Tips for Grandparents of Autistic Children
Consistency is important for all children, but for autistic children, consistency is a must. Here are 5 ways in which you can create consistency for your child across all environments, from home to school and beyond.Continue reading 5 Tips To Create Consistency For Autistic Children Across All Environments
Fear of needles (needle phobia) is common for children, however it can even be worse for children with autism. These 5 Tips will give you some great ideas in helping your autistic child tolerate medical procedures involving needles. Continue reading 5 Tips to Prepare an Autistic Child for a Shot
When things become overwhelming for an autistic child, numbers can be used as a coping mechanism.Continue reading Using Numbers to Help Your Autistic Child Remain Calm During Chaos
Here are five tips on how to keep morning routines consistent and calm for children on the autism spectrum. Continue reading 5 Tips for Keeping Morning Routines Consistent for Children with Autism
If you are the parent of a child with autism spectrum disorder obsessed with their saliva, you must be frustrated! Not only is the world still in the midst of a global pandemic transmitted primarily through respiratory droplets, but playing with saliva is also messy and socially unacceptable. My autistic son is six years old,Continue reading Minimizing a Saliva Obsession in Children With Autism
An advocate can be defined as a person who pleads on behalf of another’s cause. Plead can be defined as making an emotional appeal. Lastly, a cause can be defined as a principle for which a person or group is dedicated to fighting for. So, an advocate is a person who makes emotional appeals onContinue reading Being an Advocate for Your Autistic Child
I recently read a quote, “It’s never the same day twice, but don’t dare change the routine!” If you are the parent of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder, I am sure you can relate!
Young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder can struggle with following instructions, fine motor skills, creativity, color and number recognition, and task completion. Fortunately all of these skills can be improved with one simple and fun activity: coloring by number!
Autism Navigator, created by the Autism Institute at the Florida State University College of Medicine, is for families of children between birth and age eight with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis or at risk, as well as the providers that support them. Autism Navigator provides resources such as online courses, live webinars, and more.
A Google search of the phrase “what is autism spectrum disorder” will net you about 46,700,000 results in 0.62 seconds. Many of those results are full of complex medical jargon, paid advertisements, obsolete information, and misconstrued facts. It’s understandable that so many people both inside and outside the autism community do not have an accurateContinue reading What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
The Premack Principle, often referred to as First/Then or Grandma’s Rule, is a simple behavior modification strategy parents can easily implement to help children overcome challenging behaviors.Continue reading The Premack Principle: How Using First/Then Can Improve Behavior
In this episode, I have a conversation with Aaron Wright, author of the book Thirteen Doors.Continue reading Pod 35: Aaron Wright, Author of Thirteen Doors
Big Abilities 