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Autism & Eating Challenges: You Are Not Alone!… is well intended, it can make you feel isolated when others can’t fathom your experience.  The importance of community support And when we feel there’s no one with whom we can discuss our own anxieties, our thoughts can start spinning inside … the feeding tool kit’s original Facebook post provided a wonderful forum for many of you. You’ve been offering each other support, suggestions and, sometimes, just a simple “I understand.”  Feeling part of a community, even if it is virtual, can … for Autism Speaks ” or through your region’s AS-ATN center . Perhaps you’ll even feel inspired to start your own support group using these and other ways to connect with other families. Creating a long-term plan Establishing a support group
Research to Practice: Expanding Opportunities for Employment… to their specific needs,” said Bridget A. Taylor, PsyD, BCBA-D, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Alpine Learning Group . “As the adult autism population continues to grow, employment opportunities are critical to foster independence, … as potential employers. Assessments from the Alpine Learning Group The Alpine Learning Group of Paramus, N.J., with the support through a grant from NEXT for AUTISM from the proceeds of Comedy Central’s  Night of Too Many Stars , developed two …
Newly diagnosed adult with autism seeks therapy advice… adults with autism.  Finding adult autism programs in your community While we have few scientifically tested therapy and support programs for adults with autism, many clinicians, parents, community providers and adults with ASD are developing such programs in their communities. One place to look for therapy and support programs is in the Autism Speaks Resource Library for Adults . Another way to search for these programs is through … I recommend seeing a psychiatrist for a medical consultation and a psychologist or social worker for individual therapy or group counseling. Ideally you want someone experienced in helping adults who have autism. So ask for such expertise when you …
Should I pursue an autism diagnosis as an adult?… you to go through the effort of pursuing a diagnosis. However, you describe a number of important challenges that warrant support. You can get help for some of these issues without an autism diagnosis. For example, a psychologist may be able to … at this time. What a diagnosis can bring At the same time, a diagnosis of autism may help you access additional therapy and support programs. The availability and quality of such programs vary from state to state and from one educational … provides. In addition, many colleges have supportive programs and services for students with a diagnosis of autism. Support groups You may or may not need an autism diagnosis to join an adult support group or social skills training group in your …
Help! Our Adult Son Has Severe Autism and Extremely Narrow Diet… “Our grown son - who's severely affected by autism and living in a group home - no longer eats anything but white-bread bologna sandwiches. We're really concerned about his health. What can … causing his new food selectivity. We also recommend that your son be seen by a registered dietician to discuss nutritional support. The Autism Speaks Resource Guide includes local contact information for dieticians and other specialists who work … the text link and click on your state. Once you have input from your son’s doctor and dietician, you can work with the group-home staff to develop a plan that gradually expands his eating choices. Developing a plan In developing a realistic …
Finding Information on Autism-Related Genes … 15q duplication syndrome, copy number variation Pheland-McDermid syndrome and DiGeorge syndrome . A number of advocacy groups and organizations provide information, parent and child support, research funds and services for those affected by these specific genetic disorders. (See list below.) … aware of an organization that specifically addresses Xp22.31 deletions. There are, however, a few Yahoo and Facebook parent support groups for Xp22.31 deletions. The National Society for Genetic Counselors provides a platform for finding genetic …
Parent Worries: Adult Son with Autism Still Obsessed with Barney… 24 and is on the autism spectrum, diagnosed with PDD-NOS as a child. He works part-time at Home Depot and attends a social-support group called Community Connections twice a week. While he continues to get more involved with the adult world at his job, he … Peter Gerhardt. Dr. Gerhardt, who serves on Autism Speaks’ Family Services Committee, has more than 30 years of experience supporting teens and adults with autism in educational, residential, vocational and community settings. Thanks for your …
Auditory Processing Disorder… that her EEG cap is on.  These insights, we believe, are the first step to developing personalized interventions that can support communication and improve quality of life. I’m pursuing this work under the mentorship of Helen Tager-Flusberg, … need it most Around a third of children and adults with autism have severe language impairments, and we believe that this group is likely to be more affected by auditory processing disorders. But it can be challenging to study auditory processing …
Thriving at Home during the Pandemic: Authentic Tips for Resilience… tasks in blocks of time rather than longer sustained arcs. “Chunk” tasks like cleaning or responding to emails into groups to avoid exhaustion. This will leave longer blocks of time for recovery from tasks or demands. Adapt your interests … Being at home can actually be a plus when it comes to sensory needs. You can build or access your preferred sensory supports. The current situation may disrupt your meal preparation and personal hygiene routines. Tips: Frequent handwashing …
Autism and Eye Contact… Is he more likely to look up at you when you engage him on these subjects? This is a wonderful way to encourage him. Visual supports Of course, it may be that your son doesn’t make enough eye contact for you to be able to reinforce it on a regular basis. In that case, you might try some strategies to “catch his eye.” This can be as obvious as us using a visual support or touching the corner of your eye with a motion that starts within his range of sight and then reinforcing. … “ Visual Supports and Autism Spectrum Disorder .” Follow the link for free download. Behavioral therapy and social-skills groups If your son is already seeing a behavioral therapist, eye contact and attentiveness are wonderful skills for them to …