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The difficult decision to place my autistic son in a group home with 24/7 support… started rolling. Someone came over to evaluate Justin. Shortly after that, I finally was told that he was approved for a group home. I had mixed feelings. I knew this was coming, it was help at long last, but it was difficult to accept. Where … of the autism experience. What a journey! A Journey to Acceptance. … The difficult decision to place my autistic son in a group home with 24/7 support …
Why I advocate for Direct Support Professionals… by Kit Peterson, a grandmother of a young man on the autism spectrum. She is an advocate for fair pay for the direct support professionals who have become family to people like her grandson. Despite how difficult it was to accept our … are impacted: it begins right in Albany, but can reach far beyond New York State. We must raise our voices on behalf of a group who often cannot speak for themselves; they are our grandchildren. They need direct support professionals who can …
Expert Q&A: Supporting siblings of autistic children with aggressive behaviors … for the other child and have long term effects if unaddressed. It's important for parents and caregivers to know how to support their children through these challenges by acknowledging their feelings, keeping lines of communication open and teaching healthy coping strategies. Support groups can be a valuable tool, giving both siblings and parents a safe space to share their experiences and learn new …
How general education teachers can support students with ASD… to autism is nearly non-existent and rarely mandatory. As a result, even the best teachers can be unsure how to properly support their autistic students. Some even struggle to understand autism. Ethan Hirschberg experienced this in high school . … course in autism to promote awareness and acceptance and to help create an inclusive classroom environment that not only supports autistic students but the entire class. But the learning does not stop and start with one teacher in one … autistic student is likely to have anxiety in social situations, particularly with peers. Carefully consider pairings when group work is required. It is best to ask for input from family and past teachers. Do not assume an autistic student and an …
Purpose-driven, functional mentorships support low-pressure learning … how to play a specific video game or cook a particular dish. Informal mentorships are not arranged by an organization or group, and mentors and mentees are not assigned. Mentees, their parents, teachers or friends seek out someone with … I use the knowledge and apply it? If my co-worker hasn’t been to a meeting with my boss and has little understanding of the group dynamics, I can’t achieve my goal of understanding the meeting behavior. It might be time to find a better mentor for … nothing I do is typical. That is one of the many things I enjoy about autism. … Purpose-driven, functional mentorships support low-pressure learning …
Preparing to teach autistic college students in an unprecedented fall semester … setting and, with many course offerings transitioning to hybrid, hyflex, or fully online platforms, professors are eager to support students in new and varying ways. Five Ways to for Professors to Support Students with ASD Across Learning … content and interactive features of online classrooms into each course. Small “breakout” rooms within a larger class group can allow instructors to monitor student participation and encourage interactive groups, which naturally require …
Seeking Therapy: Options and considerations for autistic adults… Some people go to therapy after being diagnosed with a mental health condition. Others have a specific behavior or need support through a challenging short-term period. For others, therapy is a safe space to talk and get support in solving the … to CBT. However, DBT focuses more on regulating emotions, being mindful, and accepting uncomfortable thoughts and feelings. Group Therapy is a form of psychotherapy involving one or more psychologists leading a group of roughly five to 15 patients. …
Tips to create inclusive sports and recreation activities… shared interests. One option is through high-quality adaptive programs – those designed for people with disabilities in a supportive environment, from the Special Olympics to local therapeutic horseback riding lessons to school LEGO clubs. Since … individuals with and without disabilities participate together. Some activities and programs are already designed with the support needs of people with disabilities in mind. (Think: online video gaming.) But what happens when they are not? Here we … online within your county or state can open doors. One of the wonderful things about technology is there are virtual groups based on shared interest open to people across the world. These can be ideal if you feel burned out in general or if …
Why a mother-daughter running duo teamed up for Autism Speaks… Christel, Iowa Wesleyan ’88, decided to check out different race options online. She saw that through Disney you can run in support of various charities, including Autism Speaks. Christel and her daughter Samantha, Iowa Wesleyan ’14, decided to … signed up for the races six months in advance and began training 16 weeks before the race. “Everyone has so many different groups and causes to support, so it was hard for me to ask people to give to another cause. Putting myself out there on social media and asking …
Meet Martha… When Martha’s son, Josh, was growing up, Martha faced many challenges finding him the services and supports he needed to overcome his speech delay and behavioral challenges. Now, at age 21, Josh has grown into a bright, … graduation, he went off to a neurodiverse college for a year. That was incredibly stressful for him—they didn’t have the supports they purported to have for him. Then the pandemic happened, so he came home and did some online courses. Now, we’re … strengths and to support them to follow their dreams. Try to seek out support wherever you can, whether it’s in a support group, friends or family. Listen to your heart. If you feel like a situation isn’t working, don’t be afraid to change. The …