Having spent time since 1974 with dozens and dozens of families and individuals with autism, and having worked with public school special education programs in my town and surrounding towns for over three decades, I have seen the challenges and joys of education from both sides of the coin. Based on those extensive experiences, I [...] Possibly Related posts:Home School The debate about home-schooling youngsters with autism has vocal advocates...Homework Wars Most youngsters, including those with autism, balk when they hear...Public School The debate about the pros and cons of public school...

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Occasionally one of my friends with autism will just suddenly burst out in graphic language. These unexpected and embarrassing moments always seem to happen when we are in a public place surrounded by strangers who are not aware that my friend has special needs. Let?s look at some preventative measures for inappropriate language. Listen Now: or continue [...] Possibly Related posts:Public vs Private Behavior Most of us know that some behavior that is acceptable...Mature Audiences Only Because I spend time every week with dozens and dozens...Uneven Language Skills One of the most confusing aspects of autism is the...

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For a variety of reasons, several of my friends with autism display explosive behaviors when riding in a car. Although hurtful outbursts can usually be controlled over time, we must take immediate steps to insure the safety of everyone in the car. Take a look at these three strategies for responding to aggressive actions while [...] Possibly Related posts:Seatbelt Houdini Some youngsters with autism are escape artists who can unbuckle...Dangerous Actions 2 First things first. When individuals with autism do something that...Public Outbursts A youngster with autism randomly shouts out when in church,...

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Some of our friends learn to talk when they are toddlers, and others may not speak words until they are adults. But, whether spoken language begins emerging at age four or forty, we can take some purposeful steps to encourage communication at this critical stage of development. Listen Now: or continue reading PRESENCE. Your friend with autism [...] Possibly Related posts:Starting to Talk Although most people with autism communicate basic needs and opinions...Something to Talk About ?Our son is just now starting to talk,? wrote parents...Conversation Starters Sometimes individuals with autism who have not previously conversed with...

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In the midst of the hustle and bustle of daily life, it is certainly easier to just take care of every detail of the lives of our friends with autism. In reality, all children and teens, whether they have autism or not, benefit from having the responsibility of daily chores. Listen Now: or continue reading BUILD ON [...] Possibly Related posts:Daily Chores So, should children with limited skills be required to help...Pitching In Around the House Several parents of my music therapy students were discussing the...Pitching In Sometimes families and teachers inadvertently fall into the trap of...

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Hearing about miraculous cures or seeing a show about a person with autism who displays an extraordinary talent can lead to wishful thinking. Our frustration is magnified if our youngster is just plodding along or even regressing in some areas. Our time and energy might be best spent on developing a rich relationship with our [...] Possibly Related posts:Miraculous Breakthroughs Sometimes we hear of incredible breakthroughs for people with autism...Difficult Behaviors Developing effective strategies for dealing with difficult behaviors is challenging...Toileting Troubles 1 In spite of patient and consistent attempts, our best efforts...

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Some of my friends with autism insist on the same foods in their lunch box at school or work every single day. This intolerance for change can be very difficult to crack. One way of expanding that menu is to work with them to develop daily lunch specials ? a standard, predictable menu for each [...] Possibly Related posts:Busting Boring Lunches ?My daughter seems to have gotten in a rut with...Brown Bag Lunch Lunchtime can be very challenging for individuals with autism for...Snack Sacks Since many individuals on the spectrum of autism enjoy the...

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Our youngsters with autism deserve consideration when it comes to family visits on holidays or other special events. Taking a look at seemingly insignificant details can make a difference between disaster and a successful family visit. Listen Now: or continue reading TIMING. Pick the best time frame for your visit. For example, if your son nearly always [...] Possibly Related posts:Better Holiday Visits Parents of a third grader diagnosed with autism commented they...Family Gatherings Some families avoid family gatherings during the holidays because of...Holidays Coming Soon The excitement of the holidays, large family gatherings, new foods...

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Some individuals diagnosed with autism display exceptional talents in music, memory, art, reading, or other areas. The trick is to help our geniuses enjoy their talent, and, if possible, learn to use their gift in a productive way. Listen Now: or continue reading Family members, teachers, therapists, and others interested in the well-being of gifted youngsters might [...] Possibly Related posts:Smart Kids Although children with autism certainly do not have a corner...Exceptional Memory ?Our son seems really smart,? commented parents of a four-year-old...Practical Numbers It is awe-inspiring to see a person with autism solve...

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How can we help our friends with autism deal with change? Resistance to change, common across the broad spectrum of autism, can really stand in the way of contentment and daily functioning. In some cases, we can plan ahead and help people ease into new situations. Listen Now: or continue reading Some people with autism are rather [...] Possibly Related posts:Baby Toys It can be difficult for children to give up their...Anticipating Change Transition is difficult for everyone, but many individuals with autism...Building Tolerance Some individuals with autism are extremely resistant to change. Meltdowns...

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Because of distance or schedules or other issues, extended family may not be able to visit often. With careful planning, we can help grandparents and other relatives stay connected with our youngsters with autism. Listen Now: or continue reading LONG DISTANCE CONNECTIONS. It is becoming easier and easier to stay connected across the miles. Your youngster [...] Possibly Related posts:Avoiding Holidays 1 Holiday visits can raise the stress level for all families,...Holidays Coming Soon The excitement of the holidays, large family gatherings, new foods...Successful Family Visits Our youngsters with autism deserve consideration when it comes to...

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Making slime ? a substance similar to Play-Dough – is a fun, educational activity that teaches the concept chemical reactions when different substances are mixed together. This activity isn?t right for every individual with autism e.g. individuals who might eat the mixture or individuals whose tactile defensiveness will not tolerate sensory slime. But many individuals [...] Possibly Related posts:Sensory Slime Making Slime – smooth, gooey substance – is a fun,...Bubbles Made Easy Few activities are more enchanting to any of us than...Customized Snacks Several parents and teachers have asked for ideas about snacks...

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Sometimes we can fall victim to well-meaning people who constantly give advice about teaching or raising a youngster with autism. And individuals with autism can feel as if they are trying as hard as possible to learn a new skill or break a bad habit, but everyone around them just keep pressing without even giving [...] Possibly Related posts:Constructive Criticism Although often well-meaning, comments intended as ?constructive? recommendations are often...Critical Relatives Relatives sometimes make remarks about our youngsters with autism that...Holiday Visits ?Just the thought of visiting our family at Thanksgiving raises...

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It may be the sensory feeling of chewing crunchy foods, or it may be the unique in-the-head sounds, but, for whatever reason, many of my friends with autism love crunchy foods. One youngster summed it up when his eyes widened when he saw some crispy mini-carrots on my kitchen table and exclaimed, ?Want some crunchies, [...] Possibly Related posts:Yummy Snacks With a bit of creative thinking, we can add variety...Frozen Grapes What are some ideas for some healthy snacks? ?We need...Healthy Snacks Parents, teachers, and group home staff are always looking for...

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Understandably, it is tempting for families and individuals with autism to just skip family holiday gatherings. Holidays are great fun, but they can also create some agitation and stress for individuals with autism. Changes in daily routine paired with the swirl of new sights, sounds, foods, and people can be disconcerting for individuals with autism. [...] Possibly Related posts:Avoiding Holidays 1 Holiday visits can raise the stress level for all families,...Holidays Coming Soon The excitement of the holidays, large family gatherings, new foods...Holiday House Guests ?We are having houseguests for the holidays, and we want...

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Holiday visits can raise the stress level for all families, and the issues related to autism can add to the pressure. Some families worry about their youngster?s behavior in a new setting with lots of people around. Others are sensitive to the reaction by grandparents, aunt and uncles, and other family members to their child?s [...] Possibly Related posts:Home for the Holidays Holiday gatherings strengthen family bonds and build memories and traditions...Avoiding Holidays 2 Understandably, it is tempting for families and individuals with autism...Holiday Visits ?Just the thought of visiting our family at Thanksgiving raises...

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A youngster with autism sneaks into the kitchen at night and eats an entire carton of ice cream. In spite of his family?s watchful eye, an 8-year-old attempts to flush whole rolls of toilet paper down the drain. An adult with autism obsessively hides objects, including car keys, cell phones, purses, and other important objects. [...] Possibly Related posts:Remove the Temptation Difficult behavior tops the list of challenges that many parents...Remove Temptation Sometimes the solution to a problem is right in front...Toileting Troubles 3 Once we have pinpointed the specific factors contributing to toilet...

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Not all of our FAQautism.com listeners live in countries that celebrate this seasonal holiday, Halloween. But, those that do are probably aware of the challenges that Halloween can present to individuals with autism. Costumes and masks paired with unusual and unfamiliar sounds can be confusing and frightening. Halloween is a tradition that can be great [...] Possibly Related posts:Tricks and Treats Halloween is a tradition that can be great fun for...Fall Fun It is fall in our part of the world ?...Five-Minute Fall Follies Pumpkins. Cool mornings. Swirls of colorful leaves. Sometimes we miss...

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For a variety of reasons, inattention is one of the challenges inherent in autism. One of my most articulate friends with autism tells me that no matter how hard she tries to focus, various scripts running through her head and a swarm of external stimuli distract her. This distractibility interferes with her ability to focus [...] Possibly Related posts:Look At Me ?It seems to me that my students with autism and...Barriers to Friendship In spite of our best efforts, we can find it...Bribes and Treats Nearly every parent uses that old trick of bribing their...

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Some individuals with autism are unable to enjoy magazines because they tend to shred the paper or tear out pages. Others simply wear out the magazines by reading their favorite issue over and over again. Take a look at this simple solution for making magazines more durable. Listen Now: or continue reading Many of my friends with autism [...] Possibly Related posts:Ripping Books Reading aloud and sitting side by side while looking through...Tearing Books Some of my friends with autism enjoy looking at books...Safe Haven Some parents asked for strategies to help decrease the need...

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