The general public tends to assume people with autism do not interact with others, but, in reality, the range of social interaction in autism is very broad. The scope ranges from individuals who seem literally oblivious to other people on one end of the scale to individuals who are very friendly, even overly friendly with [...]

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Furious outbursts and meltdowns are unwelcome interruptions that cause stress to escalate for everyone involved. It is difficult to remain calm when a person explodes, but quiet, measured, predictable responses help dissipate the storm. Sometimes an angry individual with autism needs some quiet time away from others in order to calm down. Listen Now: or continue reading [...]

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Whether or not they are diagnosed with autism, people do not act rationally when they are extremely angry. So when our friends with autism are in the midst of a furious explosion or emotional meltdown, rational conversation will not penetrate the wall of frustration and anger. Under the circumstances, it is unwise to scold an [...]

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Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother?s house we go! But that trip isn?t always merry. The long, seat-belted road trips can cause significant problems for our friends with autism who get agitated and grumpy with the change of routine. As the season for family visits approaches, we are repeating some tips many [...]

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Amidst all the planning meetings and strategies and therapies and appointments, we can inadvertently overlook the humanness of our friends with autism. Therapists, teachers, and family members need occasional reminders to take a break and develop a relationship with the person, not their autism. Listen Now: or continue reading An adult friend who struggles with many daily challenges [...]

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Some individuals with autism have explosive outbursts ? dropping to the floor or scratching their arms or throwing items. Some people rock vigorously, bite and hit their hands and legs, shout loudly, grab and throw items, or strike out at others. One key to preventing explosions is to determine the catalyst. What causes our [...]

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For a variety of reasons, some individuals with autism occasionally display explosive, and potentially harmful behavior. Probably because these outbursts resemble temper tantrums, we tend to assume that an explosion indicates anger. In reality, sudden surges of disruptive or hurtful behavior can be caused by a broad range of factors.. Some individuals with autism, even [...]

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Relatives sometimes make remarks about our youngsters with autism that hurt our hearts. They may shower us with uninvited advice about parenting, or they may criticize our child?s behavior. Even when the advice is well-intentioned, it can still be hurtful. Sometimes parents avoid visiting with extended family members in an effort to dodge advice or [...]

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When our friends with autism have adequate receptive and expressive language, we tend to overlook another prevalent problem ? that of carrying on a conversation. Conversation skills of people with autism cover a broad range. Listen Now: or continue reading 1. Initiating a conversation. Some individuals with autism avoid conversing with others at all costs, but others do [...]

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Some of our friends with autism never outgrow the toddler habit of expecting a little treat or toy every time they make a trip to the store. Even when family members set limits on trips to the store and on purchases, some ?shopaholics? react with extreme tantrums at home, in the car, or in the [...]

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Most people just explore and learn naturally, but our friends with autism may need a boost to help them notice what is happening around them. The inability to read or write or talk should not stand in the way of learning. We can certainly do individuals diagnosed with autism a great service by assuming that [...]

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The excitement of the holidays, large family gatherings, new foods and activities, and interruptions in familiar routines can cause stress levels to rise even as autumn leaves start falling. Several parents have already asked about strategies for helping smooth out family visits. This podcast features some of the tips we discussed at this time last [...]

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Toilet Training. Getting dressed. Staying in chair. Saying hello. Writing name. Paying attention. Stop biting. Riding in school bus. Playing with others. Stopping echolalia. Staying calm. Getting a job. Keeping a job. These are just some of the issues that teachers, therapists, and family members deal with every day as they spend time with individuals [...]

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Last week several parents of youngsters with autism were talking about all of the issues that arise in their daily lives ? a flood of challenges that can seem overwhelming. They specifically mentioned two issues encountered by many families of individuals with autism: toilet training and letting a youngster get himself ready for school in [...]

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My friend, Joseph, is a middle-aged adult with autism. When he was a youngster, the breadth and depth of autism was not known. When Joseph was in school in the 1950?s and 60?s, autism was viewed as a very narrow range of behaviors that were widely assumed to be a result of unloving, physically distant [...]

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Teenagers tend to push the limits on clothing, hair, shoes, sleep, music, leisure time activities, language, and friends. Adolescents sometimes resist chores, homework, and family activities. Hormonal changes can cause moodiness, defiance, or oversensitivity. When teens with autism reach this stage, the adults in their lives might need to take a deep breath, hold on [...]

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Every teenager needs some help learning the skills necessary for getting a job and keeping it. Teens and adults with autism may need more intense training in various aspects of job-readiness. Even the most capable person with autism may need help with some job component. A job coach is a good option in this case. [...]

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