Autism Spectrum Disorder Definition: Child

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A Successful Transition to Adulthood for My Child With Autism

All parents worry about their child's future. Many of us wonder what our children will be like when they grow up. Will they go to college, join the military, find a good job and be financially independent? Will they have healthy relationships and become parents themselves?

Are the concerns of a parent of a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) any different? Except for some young adults who come back home to live with mom and dad (temporarily one hopes), parents of neuro-typical children don't usually worry if their child will be able to live independently. Unfortunately, worrying that your child will be able to live an independent life as an adult is a very big concern for parents with children on the Autism spectrum.

How will my child transition to adulthood?

How do I make sure my daughter can manage on her own when she is an adult?

What will happen to my son when I am not around anymore?

These are not the cries of parents whose children have ordinary needs but those of moms and dads whose children have the special needs that come with a diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Our assignment as parents is to prepare our children for a life of independence, regardless of our child's level of ability. This is not a job that we can or should postpone. This is a task that should begin early on, like the bank account or college fund some parents are able to set up at birth. But we all know that every child's independence extends beyond the financial aspect and has more to do with acquiring basic life skills and mastering daily living tasks.

This journey begins with having a positive vision for your child's future.

What kind of person do you want your son to be as an adult?

What opportunities would you like to make available to your daughter?

Seeing your child as capable of all possibilities is an important mindset to have because what we focus on grows.

Once a dream for your child's future is drafted in your mind, the next and most important step is to determine how you are going to help your child get from point A to point B as you focus on your child's unique talents. This is a process that can begin at birth and will be tweaked along the way as your child helps you shape it.

Here are some things parents need to pay attention to when planning and working towards an independent future for their child.

- Start now to expand your child's social skills. Knowing how to relate to others is a better indicator of success then a person's IQ according to Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ. Social skills groups and social thinking classes are great for children with Autism but never underestimate the power you have as a parent to enhance your child's ability to socialize appropriately.

- Help your child develop self-advocacy skills. When our children are young we need to be their advocate but as they grow the balance needs to shift into their court as much as possible if they are to achieve and maintain independence. Every day provides numerous opportunities for teaching self-advocacy skills and it begins with encouraging your child to make choices - choices for dressing, meals, play activities, and even choices for which chores to do around the house. Role modeling advocacy skills for your children will also help.

- Educate your child about Autism Spectrum Disorders and where he falls on the continuum. The more informed your child is about her uniqueness, the more empowering it is - especially when done in an empathic manner, always being mindful of where she is developmentally and what she is able to understand. If you start taking baby steps in this direction now your child will grow to be better able to embrace herself as is and access the amazing potential that exists beyond the label that has been given to her.

- Get to know the laws inside and out. If your child receives special education services don't wait until she is in high school to familiarize yourself with the laws that can empower her. There are three laws that overlap to protect you and your child with an ASD that you need to become familiar with right away: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). You also want to stay informed of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, signed into law by President Bush on Jan. 8, 2002, which expands the federal role in education by improving the educational lot of disadvantaged students.

If nothing else, remember to hold on to hope. Don't judge or make assumptions about your child's potential to live independently based on other children with Autism. As the saying goes, "Once you have met one child with Autism, you have met 'one' child with Autism." Your child is unique and his journey to adulthood should be customized to his abilities, not his disabilities.

Connie Hammer, MSW, parent educator, consultant and coach, guides parents of young children recently diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder to uncover abilities and change possibilities. Visit her website http://www.parentcoachingforautism.com/ to get your FREE resources - a parenting e-course, Parenting a Child with Autism - 3 Secrets to Thrive and a weekly parenting tip newsletter, The Spectrum.

Original article

Reducing Bathroom Battles When Potty Training Your ASD Child

Potty training a normal, healthy child can propel any parent into a state of anxiety, overwhelm and exhaustion. Now let's consider what potty training is like for a parent when their child is on the Autism spectrum? A child with Autism may have sensory issues that get in the way or they may not even understand what it means to use the potty.

Here are some things to consider when potty training a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to reduce the number of bathroom battles you encounter.

• Determine if your child is ready to be potty trained. Just because all the books say readiness occurs between the ages of 18 months to 4 years for a neuro-typical child it does not mean your child with Autism has the ability to do so. A developmental delay can carry over into many areas and postpone readiness. Does your child know when he is wet or has a dirty diaper? Does your daughter have a dry diaper all night?

• Find out what your child's elimination schedule is. It does not take long to do this. Keep notes on when your child's diaper is soiled or wet? Notice the time it takes your child to eliminate after he eats or drinks. Keeping a journal for three to five days will determine a pattern. Then you will know the times to focus on potty training the most.

• Do not punish the child for accidents. If your child has an accident remind them that is what the potty is for. Calmly clean up the mess with your child's assistance, even if on a limited basis. Make sure everyone caring for your child uses the same approach as well. Mixed messages will not help.

• Does your child have the skills to undress and redress? If not this can make potty training more challenging unless you have the luxury to let your child run around naked for the next month or two. You will also need to make time for wiping up puddles and scrubbing carpets and upholstery.

• Do not give up - remain consistent. If your child does not catch on right away do not give up. It takes a few weeks for a new skill to be learned. If you keep switching from diapers to the potty this will just confuse your child even more. Consistency is the key factor when potty training. This goes for any child not just children with Autism.

• Make the potty and your bathroom user friendly. Eliminating any source of stress or anxiety will help your child relax about potty training. Let your child see the potty and get familiar with it before they are made to sit there. Consider writing a social story about the potty chair and what it is used for. This will help them become comfortable with the idea.

Remember children with Autism are more likely to take longer to learn a new skill so be patient and stay relaxed. If your child senses tension you may be in for more battles than you bargain for. To increase you chances for potty training success you want to make sure you eliminate as much of your child's anxiety as possible.

Original article

The Psychiatrist and Your Child With Autism Spectrum Disorders

If you have a child with an intellectual disability such as Autism, Aspergers Syndrome, or Pervasive Development Disorder then chances are you have a psychiatrist in your life. They are responsible for putting mood altering substances into your child. Often times this is very necessary, and is done for good reason. The problem that occurs is that often times the psychiatrist is making their determination based on ten to fifteen minutes of face time. With fewer and fewer providers accepting Medicaid, it is just a fact of life that they are stretched so thin. They are the experts when it comes to pharmacology, but you are the expert when it comes to your child.

Here are a few things to remember when you are going to see the psychiatrist. The first thing that is inevitably going to happen is that they are going to talk to you rather than your child. They may talk briefly to your child, but 90% of their determination of treatment will come from what you have to say. You should be prepared for this ahead of time. Write down your concerns. Possibly in short bullet points and give it to the doctor when you walk into their office. You want these issues thought out ahead of time for two reasons. The first is that you want plenty of time to think about these before you get into the office. You don't want to say "Oh he seems agitated lately", only to think about it later and realize he hasn't been sleeping well. He could be agitated because he hasn't been sleeping. The doctor may prescribe a med to control the agitation, that doesn't address the sleeping. You want the time to think thing through. The second reason is that you want all of your concerns addressed. If you hand the doctor a short concise bullet pointed note, then you have a much better chance of succeeding in this. Don't make it long and drawn out. Remember the psychiatrist is well intentioned and wants the best for your child, but is limited on time.

The last thing you should do before you leave the psychiatrist's office is ask them how they would prefer you communicate with them in between visits. I have found that a lot of doctors would appreciate a short email from time to time. Emphasis on the word short. The psychiatrist is a part of your child's team, but they are often the outsider. Find out from them how, and how much they would like to be informed on your child.

These tips will take you a long way when it comes to your visits with the psychiatrist. Everyone wants whats best for your child, you just have to assert a little. To ensure that your child gets the best care possible.

More information and resources about Autism Spectrum Disorders can be found at my website http://www.autismspectrumresources.blogspot.com/.

Original article

Selecting The WRONG Autism Teacher Can Be Disastrous For Your Autistic Child

If you have an autistic child, then it almost goes without saying that you want the best autism teacher that is possible so that your child is able to learn, can be taught how to learn, and not be left behind as his peers advance and mature. But have you really considered the autism teacher that the school district simple assigns to your child? If not, then perhaps you should as explained in this article.

First of all, you need to remember that your child will be spending 30 or more hours per week in the classroom. All of this time, your child is receiving instruction from their autism teacher. This instruction is much more than just basic learning as would be done for normal children, but much of that time is spent in helping the child learn how to learn, learn how to interact with his peers, learning acceptable behavior, and all done by someone who has an understanding of autistic children and their very specific needs and requirements.

As such, the autistic child will frequently look at his teacher as a role model, someone that they respect, they admire, someone who helps them with seemingly infinite patience, and someone that the child will attempt to emulate because of that relationship and respect. But this is not always a good thing if you have not looked a bit deeper into the selected autism teacher to really determine if that person is really worthy of being your child's role model.

Almost all autism teachers have been trained in autism, cognitive learning disabilities and dealing with emotionally impaired children. Many of them even have a Masters Degree which indicates that they have learned the material required at least once and should be capable of being a good autism teacher. But unfortunately, that is not the end of that story, since "academic smarts" is not all that is required to be an effective autism teacher and to be seen by autistic children as a role model to follow and emulate.

Some of the autism teachers in today's world are not worthy to be viewed as role models. Sure, they have the required "academic smarts" but they are a far cry from being the type of person that you would want your child to emulate or view as a role model for their future lives. Although it is unfortunate, some of these teachers have a character and personality outside of the classroom that is simply, putting it mildly, not the kind of person that you would want ANYONE to emulate, let alone your autistic child who NEEDS a role model to help them determine what is good, bad, right and acceptable within today's society and amongst their peers. In the role of the teacher of autism, some of these people are totally superficial, pretending to be one type of person in the classroom, but outside of the classroom they are an entirely different type of person, many times exhibiting traits of coldness towards others, consistently lying to friends and family, and feeling no remorse about hurting others that they have deceived. Is that the kind of person that you want your autistic child to view as a role model? I don't think so, and you should not think so either.

The choice is yours and much of that choice depends on the value that you place on the instruction that your autistic child receives at school, understanding that when they develop a relationship with their autism teacher, that relationship will inevitably extend into viewing that teacher as role model. I would strongly encourage you to ensure that such a person is indeed worthy to be viewed as such a role model, and you are not required to accept the autism teacher that the school district arbitrarily assigns to you.

If you are serious about getting the best for your autistic child, I would encourage you to do your research into the right Autism Teacher for your child and to do the amount of research necessary to ensure that your autistic child is receiving the maximum benefit for their learning needs. For more insights about Autism and to read a case study of two very real autism teachers, please visit our web site at http://www.autism-explained.com/selecting-the-right-autism-teacher-for-your-child/

Original article

My Child Has Been Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) - What Do I Do Now?

Once your child has been diagnosed with ASD, begin researching best practices for effective learning. Autism is a lifelong disability, however, research indicates early intervention using the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA) can make significant changes in your child's ability to learn and meet his or her potential. ABA therapy is one of many programs available however, when researching different programs, talk to other parents who have gone through the program, examine data, and research the professionals in the program's credentials as a therapist. Be cautious of programs offering "cures" or "recovery" as autism is a lifelong challenge and effective means to prevent or cure autism do not exist at this time.

Although most public schools do not offer the intense ABA therapy needed for a child diagnosed with autism, there are many private agencies or professionals that can help develop an appropriate program to meet your child's individual needs. The most important step for a parent is to make sure the professional you choose is licensed by the state in which you live and or is a board certified behavior analyst with experience in working with children on the spectrum.

Programs should be individualized, use positive reinforcement strategies and increase wanted behaviors while decreasing unwanted behaviors. The philosophy of applied behavior analysis is to look at the function of a behavior. For instance, if your child screams every time you run water for a bath, then you either postpone the bath or skip the bath, the function of the screaming is to avoid a bath. By giving in and delaying or skipping the bath, the parent is then reinforcing the escape and avoidance behavior. At the same time, screaming can also mean something different when it occurs when a child wants a cookie and the parent says no. If the parent gives the child a cookie to stop the screaming, the behavior has been reinforced again, thus guaranteeing the behavior will be repeated again in the future because it worked for the child; he got what he wanted.

Parents should be involved in the development of the plan and asked what they would like to see their child learn in the process. Be thinking of what is most important to you, your child and family. Therapy should be preformed 20-30 hours per week even with children as young as 3 years. Early intervention and intensity are keys to success with someone diagnosed with ASD.

Kerri Duncan has been supporting families with children diagnosed with autism. She aims to increase awareness and educate those involved in the lives of individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. If you need more information and support, click here to see how she can help you and your child reach a brighter tomorrow.

For more information contact Kerri Duncan, Ed.D., BCaBA at 417.860.7640 or at http://www.facebook.com/hart4autism

Original article

How Can You Help Your Autistic Child Create Friendships?

Friends are important to people. Having friends and creating friends for your autistic child could be challenging. How will you be able to accept this challenge and help your child who has the disorder of autism, create friendships?

It is imperative to know your child.Know his or her weaknesses and strengths. Consider the social limitations your child may have. Not only participating with autistic children, but non-autistic children. Each child is unique and may need various kinds of help or coaching for encouragement and to gain confidence.

Some autistic children may have difficulty in expressing their verbal language. In addition, not being able to understand verbal language from other children. This can make it a challenge to communicate and create friendships with other children and autistic children.

Therefore, it is wise to determine the limitations your child may have, before you decide, your child should socialize and create friendships.

By taking this action, you will learn what your child is expressing and what he or she is able to handle. This will determine what kind of friends are appropriate for your individual to socialize with, when trying to create friendships.

Set a play date for that is fun for your child and other children. This could be done at school, or outside of the classroom. Take time to find the right situation for your child and other children to participate in.

When you do find the time that will work for all of the children, and the place, keep the time short and limited. This will eliminate stress, frustration and rejection from other children. By being aware of this and taking charge of the situation, your child will probably want to continue this activity or another one. It will help to create friends at his or her own pace.

If your child does not like crowds, bright lights, loud noises, confusing activities, multiple activities, take this into consideration. Do not force your child to take part in areas, where you know he or she will become upset. What is a fun activity or place for some children, could be extremely overwhelming for a child with the disorder of autism.

Another way you can help your autistic child create friendships is, if you have made many attempts for your child to participate in activities, new places, new times, to socialize and it does not seem to be working, perhaps it is time for you to be creative with a new idea or plan.

If you know your child, you will know if he or she needs more time to adjust to other individuals, activities, new places, etc. Be sure you are not placing an enormous amount of pressure on your child, by having too high expectations for him or her to socialize on your terms and thoughts. Instead, take into consideration each individual is different. You will want to evaluate your motives for encouraging creative friendships and socialization for your child.

If your child feels comfortable with one friend and is having fun, that may be all that is necessary for the present time. You may find you do not need to create more friendships or have your child participate in more social activities. Keep the pace simple for creating new friendships. Do not push your child into new friendships, when one or two friends could be enough and it will avoid unwanted stress.

Bonita Darula operates a web sight==> http://www.autismintoawareness.com/ SIGN up to RECEIVE your COMPLIMENTARY WEEKLY AUTISTIC NEWSLETTER on current TOPICS. For example: How can you help your child create and have friends? Order your Autism updated information from your Complimentary Autistic Newsletter to help your child and you.

Original article

Dealing With Embarrassing Situations As a Parent of a Child With Autism

Every once in a while parents are embarrassed by their child's behavior or the factual remarks they make, such as pointing to a person next to you in line and claiming, "she's fat!" Moments like this can be very uncomfortable but fortunately do not occur often, but the risk may be higher if you are a parent of a child with Autism.

All children eventually learn how to regulate their behavior and speech but children on the Autism spectrum tend to be slower at acquiring this skill. Children with autism experience the same world we live in but in a dramatically different way and they are limited in their ability to read social situations.

Most children with autism don't even realize that their behaviors are socially unacceptable. Some of these behaviors may include:

1. inappropriate touching or invading another's space,

2. handflapping, spinning or stimming

3. fascinations with particular objects,

4. extreme displays of affection or the exact opposite.

Some children respond aggressively when least expected and many have sensory issues that produce bizarre reactions to food textures, tastes, light, sound and smells.

Therefore, as a parent of a child on the Autism spectrum the possibility of having your child commit a social 'faux pas' in public is high. Unfortunately, until we are able create more awareness about Autism and minimize the judgmental reactions of others, parents will have to continue to deal with some embarrassing situations deemed 'socially inappropriate' by onlookers.

Eventually, you may develop a protective armor from the piercing looks of disgruntled strangers that just don't understand but what can you do in the meantime?

Finding ways to minimize or prevent the number of embarrassing incidents you might have to endure is one option. Here are some strategies to consider that might help.

• Remember, you are your child's best teacher. Your child may be receiving therapies that work on building appropriate social skills but you are with your child 24/7. Don't overlook potentially embarrassing actions and address them as they occur by telling and showing your child what to do instead, how to do it and when.

• Appeal to the way your child's brain works best. Most children on the Autism spectrum are very visual so use pictures, photos, lists or video modeling to communicate with your child. Some may respond better to auditory input, so make a recording for your child with step-by-step instructions for them to listen to. Others may need to be physically manipulated by taking their hand and demonstrating just how much pressure to apply to petting an animal or touching people.

• Be persistent. Constant repetition and reinforcement will eventually work to instill more suitable behaviors in your child. It typically takes twenty-one repetitions of an action before a new behavior becomes a habit but a brain that is wired differently may take more time - so start early, practice often, practice some more and have patience.

• Use distraction. Plan ahead when going out in public and bring a bag of tricks with you to divert your child's attention when your gut begins sending you a warning that something potentially unacceptable might occur. Fill a backpack with stress relievers and favorite items that will quickly catch your child's interest.

• Give people information. If all else fails, be prepared with a short statement to say to others that will enlighten them. Some parents carry around cards that explain their child's behavior and may even provide suggestions for being helpful or information about websites that educate people about Autism.

• Ignore onlookers. It takes time to build up the confidence, courage and a secure sense-of-self necessary to disregard the gawkers and disapproving stares that you may encounter. Begin building your protective armor by forcing yourself to focus on your child who really needs you to respond appropriately in that moment. Try creating a mantra to recite in circumstances such as these that would reassure you and help you concentrate on what is most important - your child.

Most importantly, be kind to yourself. Remember that every child has the potential to call attention to themselves or fall apart and every parent has the capacity to handle it inappropriately at times so don't be hard on yourself after an episode such as this. Tell yourself you did the best you could and use it as a learning experience to gain insight about what you might do differently the next time.

Original article

Music and the Autistic Child

In February of 2010, the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) hosted a professional, Nina Kraus, from Northwestern University speaking about cognitive-sensory connection between speech and music. During her presentation on the subject, Kraus said the following: "Indeed, musical experience can enhance the very auditory processes that are often deficient in clinical populations including developmental dyslexia and autism."

This statement backs up what many parents with autistic children have experienced firsthand when registering their children in childhood musical programs. Parents have long reported children opening up in music lessons in ways that they do not open up at home. This has led many parents to incorporate music in their homes, since it seems to be something that their autistic children really respond to in a positive, productive manner.

Quite a few studies have been done on the effects of music on childhood development, and the results have been positive. As Kraus discussed at the annual AAAS meeting, there is a connection between human speech, hearing and music. There have been instances of stroke victims who could not speak, but could sing clearly. This is just one example of how music interacts in the brain in amazing ways.

This extends to children as well, especially children with autism. Children become more cooperative with lessons when music is a part of the lesson. They are able to focus on one thing for a longer period of time if music is presented in some manner. Those with speech problems are able to improve through music while those struggling with eye contact can take great strides to meeting the eye of others through music lessons.

Take it from Myra J. Staum, Ph.D., the Director and Professor of Music Therapy from Willamette University. She wrote a piece on music therapy and language for autism.com, which touched on the power of music therapy for autistic children. She said that music is an effective form of therapy that can be used to enhance skill development with autistic children. Her reason for this comes down to the basic nature of music. She said it is "nonverbal" and "non threatening."

Staum goes on to explain how autistic children can be taught a variety of skills directly through music. This allows them to overcome a lot of their delays and developmental problems, so they function better in their daily lives.

Not all parents with autistic children have access to formal music therapy for their children, but that doesn't mean other forms of musical programs designed for children can't be used effectively. Parents with autistic children can easily surround their children with music and introduce music at home. With a little creativity, parents can even teach and guide children through music just as therapists are doing around the country.

A good children's musical program offered in the local community is a great start for autistic children. They will be encouraged to interact with other children, to use their brains and bodies in new ways, and to experience language from a musical perspective. Many children with autism love music and respond to it on a deep level that has not been experienced with anything else. All it takes to get that depth of response is constant exposure to music lessons in some capacity.

For more information regarding music for children and child development programs, visit Kindermusik Asia.

Feel free to publish this article on your website, or send it to your friends, as long as you keep the resource box and the content of the article intact.

The content is our own opinion and does not necessarily reflect the views of Kindermusik or Kindermusik Asia.

Original article

How Can Your Life Improve At Home With An Autistic Child?

I am almost positive your life at home can be extremely draining and frustrating, living with an autistic individual. How can you change and improve this? One way for you to improve your life at home is, keep your family strong.

You can do this by supporting and helping each person understand the dynamics of autism within your family.

Explain to your children who are younger and who do not have autism, what the disorder is, what to expect and the various complexities of autism.

Allow your family members to know and understand that there may be unexpected challenges and changes within your home, but it will improve with time. Give explanations of how it will change.

As parent(s), caregiver(s), you may be tempted or think you can improve your life at home by trying to be a strong person and make the changes by yourself, without any help.

You may feel you need to be strong for everyone in your family and you must know what to do and have all of the answers.

If you choose this approach, you will be putting yourself and your family under more pressure and stress. It will not improve your family life at home.

Reach out to support groups, counselors, other families who have individuals with the disorder of autism in their family.

Taking this kind of action, will improve your family life. It will help your family and you to cope with physical, emotional, and financial issues that can affect your whole family in the present and in the future.

I have learned, by having a brother who is autistic, it was imperative for me to gain knowledge and education about autism, and stay current with the new approaches and research. This will bring positive changes for improving your life at home.

In addition, keep communication open with all of your family members. Discuss new therapies, updates, treatments, improvements for your autistic individual and areas where there needs to be progress, or various approaches. Be aware of these options. This will improve your family life at home.

I feel it is crucial to have weekly family meetings. If not weekly, every two weeks or once a month, depending on the schedule of your family. Doing this, keeps the communication open for discussion and keeps your family alert, by bringing their concerns to these meetings.

Family meetings will also bring your family closer together and give a better understanding of how feelings, emotions, facts, concerns, can improve family life at home.

It is crucial not to be afraid to ask for help, or advice, and always stay in touch, connected to each family member.

Remember, you are a valuable person. As parent(s), caregiver(s), you must take time for yourself. Schedule some downtime, or fun activities go give yourself some positive reinforcement of energy and a new look on your life. This will improve your family life at home.

There will be days when you will be angry, exhausted, stressed, sad, but if you choose to take action to have your family improve at home, you will be experiencing more good days than bad days, and they will be healthy ones.

Are you willing to make positive changes to improve your family life at home with an autistic individual?

Remember, you will not be able to take of your family and your child, if you do not take care of yourself.

Bonita Darula's informational web sight==> http://www.autismintoawareness.com/. Take action and SIGN up to RECEIVE your FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER on Autistic TOPICS. For example: Are you willing to improve your life at home with an autistic child? Order your E-Books to identify symptoms of Autism.

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A Parents Story About Helping Their Child With Autism

Having a child diagnosed with autism can be at once a blessing and a curse. Finally, you have a place to begin to find some help for your son or daughter, but you may find your hopes dashed that things will go back to the way things used to be. Some experts say that autism has no cure. The idea that your child will never be "normal" is heartbreaking, but make no mistakes. With early diagnosis and Autism Services, children with autism can and do develop and thrive.

Our son was 21 months when his doctor first mentioned autism. We thought she was crazy. He was acting just like his brother and sister did at his age. His sister didn't talk until she was three, at which point she'd started and never stopped. Besides, he was always interacting with us... or was he?

One of the assurances I clung to during the quiet months while we waited was the fact he would take our hands and lead us to do things he wanted. He wouldn't point at the milk. He would take my hands and put them on the fridge door, and once opened, he'd put them on the carton. To us, that was communication in lieu of speech. To the educational autism team, it was the sign he was using us as tools instead of interacting with us socially.

We have always homeschooled our children and the idea of using a set of autism strategies on our son - to trick him into doing things his teachers wanted - seemed alien. If it wasn't coming from him, how was it helping him? They told us that he would see the benefits of the skills, and be motivated to develop them on his own. We wanted him to talk, to see a reason to communicate and build relationships. We weren't sure the team's ideas would work, but regardless, we tried them.

ABA stands for Applied Behavioral Analysis. It's one of the oldest, most effective methods for treating autism, and relies on actions being rewarded. Bribes, in other words. For autism teacher training often focuses on compliance, and the easiest way to get compliance from a young child is offering them something in return.

At a base level, I didn't feel it was the right things to do because I couldn't see it's long-term success. I do not bribe my other children to do chores with gold stars, and I didn't think using M&Ms to convince my youngest to use words would keep him talking at age 8 or 12. The thing I realized over a few months is that at very young ages, these autism strategies work to build skills that will continue later without those motivations. Once the child picks them up, they see the benefits and continue to develop.

After a certain point, ABA stopped motivating our son and we moved on to other autism strategies - like picture sequencing. To teach him how to use the restroom, we illustrated the steps, laminated them and taped them to the bathroom door. To keep him focused during the day, we had a flipbook we used for helping move him from one task to the other. We added sign language and speech therapy to help with communication. Three years after our journey began, our son phased out of the services the system could offer.

I know the story we share is different from many families. There are children with severe autism who always need assistance, and do struggle all of their lives. We know we're lucky to say our son is happy, well-adjusted and relatively self-sufficient. He may be a few years behind in maturity, but he isn't thought of as "different". Early diagnosis and follow-up with Autism Services helped our son to the point where he would not be diagnosed as autistic today.

Maximum Potential specializes in online learning environments for ABA Therapy

Original article

12 Easy Tips To Celebrate The Holidays With Your Autistic Child

The holidays are usually full of excitement and fun. You anticipate sharing them with family, friends and relatives. If your child has autism, you may dread thinking of going or participating in celebrating any kind of holidays.

There are some tips that will help you celebrate your holidays and make it easy for you to enjoy them.

* Take time to plan your holiday in advance. Explain to your child where you are going or the function you plan to attend and what particular day this will be. Sometimes your child does not seem to comprehend what you are telling him or her, does not remember the holiday, or the place. If this happens, take out various photos you have available and show your child some of the people you are going to visit and what their homes look like.

* Think about taking a favorite book, toy, stuffed animal, puzzles, coloring books, crayons or what you think your child will be comfortable doing, for activities.

* It might be wise to bring a change of clothes depending on the weather, such as, shoes, socks, coats, etc. These items can be used, if you decide to take a walk, or if the temperature changes.

* Take into consideration if your child has allergies, how would this affect the preparation of the meals at the destination you are going to be at. Inform the people you are going to visit, when celebrating the holidays, your child has an allergic reaction to certain foods, pets, perfume, plants, sweets, etc.

* You may want to suggest to the host or hostess, who is having the holiday celebration you will be attending, that you will be glad to bring your own prepared food for your child, due to his or her allergies.

* Plan to discuss with the host or hostess, regarding the function, if there will be a quiet place away from the other people who will be present, so your child can have some down time, if needed.

* If your child does not like noises, or loud conversations, whether it be a private home, restaurant, or other large gatherings, bring some headphones, creative soothing music that your child is comfortable listening to. In addition, earplugs are also a useful tool.

* Not all children who have autism enjoy handing out snacks to other guests before they sit down at the table. If your child is comfortable participating in handing out snacks, napkins, allow him or her to do it. This will increase their self-esteem and social skills.

* Another excellent way to help your child be at ease when you are celebrating the holidays, is to practice in advance where you are going, what is the occasion you are going to attend, what will the seasonal weather will be like at the time of the holiday event.

* Stay with the routine as much as possible and the home life that is familiar to your child, who has the disorder of autism. This will help the stress level, so you can enjoy the celebration of the holidays.

* Be creative, patient, understanding and realize your child may not enjoy changes. On the hand, changes will encourage your child to gain self-confidence, self-esteem and adapt to new social skills.

* Are you willing to take the time to celebrate the holidays with your autistic child and make it fun and less stressful?

Bonita Darula runs a popular online Autism web sight that gives you lots of useful updated information about treatments and how to celebrate the holidays with ease and less stress with your Autistic child. Register on her web sight to receive your FREE Weekly Newsletter at >>> http://www.autismintoawareness.com/

Original article

Helping Your ASD Child Survive A Sensory Sensitive Holiday

The holidays are a time of great joy, laughter, learning experiences, sensory awakenings, and fabulous opportunities. Unfortunately, maintaining a holiday atmosphere full of merriment and cheer is not possible to sustain twenty-four hours a day, every day of the week, especially when you have a child on the autism spectrum.

It's that time of year when candy, lights, sounds, new foods, family, and utter chaos can easily over stimulate your ASD child if you aren't paying attention. Keeping up with your child's sensory needs may seem difficult to do in the middle of holiday mayhem but it is the most important thing you can do to make the holiday season in your family more peaceful.

Sensory overload is very common during the holidays, for parents as well as children. It's a time of school field trips and parties, family visits, decorations galore and holiday shopping, when the stores are busier than ever. All of this activity makes it easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle and more difficult to maintain the status quo.

Here are a few strategies and ideas to help the whole family get through this season with lots of pictures of smiling people and as many joyful memories as possible.

For the child who is sensitive to light:

Traveling sunglasses - If your child is sensitive to bright lights you should always be prepared with a set of sunglasses. Dropping in on Uncle Jim who is competing to have the best-lit house on his block may be too much for anyone's eyes to adjust to. Always have a supply of cheap yet fun sunglasses on hand to shade your child's eyes from glaring department store lights or the Christmas tree blinkers. You never know where you will find them.

For the child who is sensitive to touch:

Handling holiday huggers - This one is very difficult to address, especially with grandparents that just want to hug their grandchild to bits and pieces out of sheer love and joy. Some children love the deep pressure and will spend many happy times getting squeezes and cheek-pinches. Other children might flinch, back away or freak out or even hit, especially if startled by the touch.

Teach your child how to politely let people know they don't want to be touched. Either with a non-verbal signal, such as outstretched hand in STOP signal mode or with words, such as, "No, I don't want to be hugged, but I will shake your hand." This allows your child to experience a feeling of control and hopefully success in communicating.

Dressing for comfort - Many parents want their children to look their best for the holidays, especially for those photo sessions. But who can have fun and relax when they're uncomfortable? The most important thing for your child to be wearing during the holidays is a smile. Be willing to make compromises and respect your child's honesty when she says, "This itches too much."

Arguing with her statement will only risk a potential meltdown later in the day when she absolutely can't stand it anymore - if you were even able to get her to wear the itchy item in the first place. Feel free to cut off tags, turn clothing inside out so they don't feel the seams, or even wear a special pair of pj's. It's a holiday and kids are cute, you can get away with it!

For the child who is sensitive to sound:

Minimizing noise - Many children benefit from wearing earplugs or headphones during big family gatherings or at busy stores. They won't block out all the noise but will dull the noise enough to help. If you choose to use noise cancelling headphones just remember that you will have to work harder at trying to get their attention.

Scout out a place of respite - Wherever your travels take you during the holidays, be it grandma's house, the airport or shopping, find a nice quiet space away from everyone for a possible get-away. Bring your child's favorite snuggly, blanket or feel-good object for extra comfort. Don't be afraid to say to relatives, "His body needs some quiet time" and bring him to the previously identified place of respite so he can relax and regroup. Whether you stay with him or not, you or he will know when it is time to rejoin the group.

For the child with sensitive tastes or delicate tummies:

B.Y.O.F.- Bring Your own food - Holidays provide a great opportunity to try new foods. Taking a bite of cranberry for the first time can be a delight or a nightmare. If you know your child isn't going to eat what your host has served, be honest. Definitely let them know of any allergies ahead of time and if the list of your child's taste sensitivities is too long, bring an alternative food and don't apologize for it.

If the only thing your child will eat is a bologna sandwich for Thanksgiving dinner, so be it, as long as the reason for it is a legitimate sensory issue. Giving in to a child's minor dislikes too easily will develop an expectancy for future requests to be honored and you will be contributing to the picky eater syndrome.

For the child with a sensitive nose:

Develop scent awareness - Be cautious of scents that you place around the house during the holiday season. A child with a sensitive nose may not react well to different smells. Potpourri, air fresheners and scented candles in particular can carry very intense odors that could be responsible for contributing to an outburst. Consider purchasing unscented products and stick to natural aromas. Be careful though, even the wonderful smell of a fresh cut Christmas tree might be overwhelming to the senses of some children on the autism spectrum.

As parents, you know your child as well as anyone and most of these sensitivities are well known to you but as children develop, new sensitivities can arise. Paying attention to clues and noticing new reactions right from the start can go a long way towards preventing unnecessary meltdowns due to sensory overloads. Don't let something as avoidable as this put a damper on your holiday celebrations this season.

Original article

Tips for Helping Your Child Become a Savvy Consumer

Every holiday from New Year's to Christmas and everything else in between provides opportunities for families and businesses to celebrate. It offers a time for families to gather and do something special and it gives business a chance to increase their revenues. As a result, the holidays and other occasions, such as back to school, are always accompanied by ample media messages in print and on the screen. We have come to know these as commercials and advertisements, and every holiday comes with new enticements to buy, buy, buy!

Commercials and advertisements have been around since the 1950's and every generation has been exposed to the shopping hype during the holiday season. Tis' the season for a constant barrage of media messages from various sources. Everyone that watches receives overt or subliminal messages from businesses that desperately want us to buy their wares - from a company trying to convince you that your child needs a particular item in order to reach his or her potential, to playing upon a parent's fear that their child's safety is at stake and a cell phone is what is needed to bring peace of mind.

As difficult as these messages may be for us adults to sort out and resolve, we are able to filter out what these cooperate conglomerates are attempting to do. We are able to think for ourselves and we have our values to guide us. Most of us are confident about our parenting identity and what we want for our children.

So where does that leave our children? Unfortunately, young children are very easily influenced by media messages, especially television commercials. Young children will use them to determine what is cool and what they think they need. The average child sees more than 40,000 commercials each year. Commercials are quick, fast-paced and entertaining. They are easy to remember with catchy phrases that try to convince your child they can't live without a certain product.

How many of you have experienced a constant request for certain toys, products, or clothing that your children have seen advertised on TV or on the internet? Once a commercial has enticed your child, the nag factor sets in. We have to expect that when kids are bombarded by ads telling them to buy certain products in order to be popular - that nagging will soon follow.

According to a national survey of youth commissioned by the Center for a New American Dream,

• the average American child aged 12-17 will ask their parents for products they've seen advertised on TV an average of nine times until their parents finally give in.

• for parents of so-called "tweens", 12-13 year olds, these children admit to asking their parents more than fifty times for products they've seen advertised.

Ask yourself if this is what you want to deal with when your child is that age?

We may not be able to control the images and enticements our children are bombarded with out there in the community at large but we certainly can maintain some control over which messages creep into our homes. How does a parent in today's media generated culture keep excessive commercialism from negatively impacting their child and the true spirit of the holidays? Here are some tips to help you get started.

Help Your Child Think Critically about TV

Whenever possible, talk to your child about what they see on television. If your child is very young she may not be able to tell the difference between a show, a commercial, a cartoon or real life and that characters on TV are make-believe and not real. For older children you can always turn a commercial or an advertisement into a learning experience by helping your child find the appropriate message. Always remember, if you do not want your child exposed to certain messages, you can either turn off the TV or explain why you object.

Help your child resist commercials

Do not expect your child to be able to resist ads for toys, candy, snacks, cereal, drinks or new programs without your help. When your child asks for products advertised on TV, explain that the purpose of commercials is to make people want things they may not need. Limit the number of commercials your child sees by watching public television stations (PBS) or other educational programing. You also can record programs and leave out the commercials or buy or rent children's videos or DVDs.

Make television viewing a team sport.

If your schedule prevents you from watching TV together as a family, try recording the programs so that you can watch them with your child at a later time. Watching TV with your children whenever you can allows you to mute the television during commercial breaks. This is a great time to discuss the life learning opportunities that can be derived from the television show you are viewing. Or, you can choose to watch the commercials together and help your children understand advertisers' marketing techniques.

Explore helpful resources.

Fortunately there is much that parents can do to protect their kids from the pressure to buy more and get more. The Center for a New American Dream http://www.newdream.org has a brochure called Tips for Parenting in a Commercial Culture , which can be downloaded for free.

Stay informed.

Find out what the experts are saying. The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued a policy statement on commercialism and how constant exposure to advertising effects children - Children, Adolescents, and Advertising. These policy statements are always being revised and kept up to date so make sure you check in and see what they have to say.

When any child watches television you can be sure that he is receiving numerous media messages, which promote the notion that consumption is the pathway to happiness, acceptance, popularity and success. These messages are also creeping into the internet and the cell phones that now seem to be a normal part of life for most children. It is important to understand that any media, which advances a commercial culture may impact your holidays, your child and your wallet more than you realize BUT don't ever forget that you are in control.

If you say 'no' to television because of commercials, say 'yes' to something else - a board game, making a pie, or going on a bike ride together. Help your child find other things to do with his time, such as playing, reading, arts and crafts, exploring his natural environment, learning a hobby, a sport, an instrument or doing a community service. In doing so you can take pleasure in knowing that you are advancing a culture of creative thinkers and caring people.

Original article

How to Reduce Stress and Anxiety in Your Special Needs Child Effortlessly

I interviewed Joshua Pittman on how to effortlessly reduce the stress/anxiety in your special needs child. He touches on how one technique can improve attention, reduce stress, anxiety, and impulsive behavior.

1. Please introduce yourself?

My name is Joshua Pittman. I was born and raised here in NYC. I went to film school at NYU and worked at a film post-production company for five years before learning how to teach the TM technique. I learned the TM technique as a teenager in high school. I saw my mom and step-dad meditating at home and liked the silent atmosphere that it seemed to create. I wished my friends in school did it too.

2. Where do you currently work?

I am one of the directors of the TM program in Manhattan.

3. What is your expertise?

I teach people how to effortlessly transcend the surface outer field of life and experience their silent Self within.

4. How can TM help students with special needs?

As a society we are always on the go. We never take a moment to experience who we really are - to smell the roses. We are therefore always looking for solutions to our problems on the surface, and therefore never really find the root of our problems. All problems and suffering are caused by a lack of experience of the Self. Having this experience wakes up the brain, and makes one more coherent, more aware, and more resilient to the stresses in life. It is not mood making or wishful thinking, it is a powerful and practical solution.

5. Is it easy for students with special needs to implement in their daily lives?

It is easy and doesn't take long to add this simple procedure of TM to one's daily routine, and the benefits are wide reaching. Students meditate for 10-15 minutes twice a day. Parents who meditate will benefit as well. Adults meditate for 20 minutes twice a day to release stress and create more happiness and peace in their life.

6. What age do you recommend children start learning this technique?

TM is effortless and enjoyable so ten-year-old children learn the same sitting down, eyes closed meditation that adults learn. Children under ten can learn a children's technique if their parents have already learned TM.

7. Where can parents go to learn more about TM?

There are some wonderful videos, and stories on www.DavidLynchFoundation.org.

Stephen DeSerio can be found on http://www.smdaba.com/ (free 30 minute evaluation). This site is designed for parents/caregivers who need assistance in raising their child with autism and other behavioral concerns.

Original article

Can You Improve Your Conversation Skills With Your Autistic Child?

Every child with the disorder of autism has varying degrees of communication skills. Do you want to improve the conversation skills for your child who has the disorder of autism? If you do, how can it be accomplished?

Many children with autism can be confused with certain phrases we use in our every day language. For example: "Pennies from heaven," or it is "raining cats and dogs," "money grows on trees, when blooming," "to save for a rainy day, you will be sure of a drizzle."

Trying to have your child understand and interpret this kind of conversation and language, is a challenge for your child. Can this be improved, to have your child better understand this type of communication?

Have you ever tried to comprehend some of the conversations you have had or are having, with your child who has autism, in addition, to his or her peers?

Some individuals use phrases with a large amount of chatter and talk that only they seem to understand and it means something to them. Someone else trying to listen and communicate with their conversation, it makes no sense and it is confusing.

Some individuals who have autism, will use a monologue and not quit talking. They are not aware of the fact, people are bored with their conversation. Parent(s) become confused as to how they can improve the skills of communicating with their child. You may be in that category.

I have a friend who has an autistic child and he is constantly using gestures. They are powerful with his conversations, but his gestures are extremely confusing for other people to understand what they mean.

You as parent(s), caregiver(s), must understand that your child does want to have a conversation, with you or other individuals. You have the challenge to improve it. Improving conversation skills with your child who has autism, requires patience.

In the past, I have used flash cards to help with conversation skills when children have a difficult time expressing or formulating conversations with other individuals.

Practice spending time to show an interest in what your child is saying and expressing, to improve a conversation that makes sense and is understood.

You may want to use pictures, word games,gestures, puppets, flannel boards, videos, books, go for walks in the park, the library, etc.

Keep communication open and current with your child. Do not be afraid to talk to your child as you would with another child who does not have autism.

During conversations with your child, be aware of what your child understands and has difficulty with. You can change and improve the conversation skills by being alerted to the needs of improvement to develop new conversation skills.

* Keep your conversations simple. Use appropriate language, speak clearly, slowly and have a desire for your child to respond.

* Praise, smile encourage your child for the efforts of improving skills for their conversations.

I have discovered that role-playing is a helpful part of improving conversation skills for your child.

Are you willing to take an interest in improving the conversation skills of your child? Start today.

Have you thought about receiving your FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER? Get the full story. Go to>>> http://www.autismintoawareness.com/ and leave your name and email address. Bonita Darula wants you to learn, grow, gain knowledge about autism. Take immediate action now.

Original article

Adapting to the Knowledge That Your Child Has Autism

As a parent, you've never wanted less than the best for your own child. If you're adapting to the knowledge that your child has autism, you're likely in a state of disbelief. You may feel like you're a failure. You may feel helpless. No parent wants to hear that something is wrong with his or her child that he or she cannot fix. However, we live in a world where disease is more the rule than the exception and we must adapt. In your case, you must adapt quickly in order to help your child live the most fulfilling life possible.

For many parents, autistic children are mysterious and challenging. They may be hard to bond with because they seem distant and their actions make no sense. Believe it or not, high-functioning autistic children often feel the same way about their parents. The key is for you to move beyond your feelings so that you can do what is right to adapt to the knowledge that your child has autism. A full adaptation, accompanied by studying up on the topic, may give you the tools you need to give your autistic child the tools he or she needs to function independently when you're no longer able to care for him or her.

Discover your child's degree of autism. The term autism simply describes a minimal extent of measurable traits. In other words, nearly everyone has autistic traits, it's just a matter of how many they have and how dominant those traits are. You, your friends, or some of your co-workers might fall into the minimally autistic category without even realizing it.

You need to get your child to specialists in order to learn the extent in which your child is autistic in order to make a plan of action to help your child's development.

Make a treatment option list. Once you know the extent of autism, you can work with a specialist to come up with treatment options, ranging from special parenting skills classes to special schools for autistic children.

Build a support system. You need a specialist you can call with questions and, ideally, a support group for parents of autistic children where you can talk about your problems.

If you have other children, remember that it is hard for them too, so make special time for them. You also need to stay current on the latest autism studies and don't be afraid to try new things with your child.

The number of children diagnosed with autism is growing at a rapid rate. As a result, many parents are forced into roles they are not familiar with and are not prepared to handle. For more information on autism in toddlers, visit AutismInToddlers.net, a site that helps parents understand autism.

Original article

How Can The Most Famous Loser in Olympic History Give His Secret to Help You Raise Autistic Child?

Derek Anthony Redmond is a retired British athlete and he is best remembered for his performance at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. You might have heard of him.

On that day at the 1992 summer Olympic; Redmond favored to win gold.

How he finished his race could lift your spirit... that all hope is not lost.

You might be interested in this because it confronts you with the difficulties of raising autistic child and searching for the solutions. Did you ever stop to think for a moment that you're going through one of the toughest time and wondering what the future holds for you and your autistic child?

It is frustrating at times just like Redmond had felt over his favorite sport as his career was blighted by a series of injuries. Redmond was a world-class runner. He was fast. During his illustrious career, he held the British record for the 400 meter sprint.

Before the summer games, he had won gold medals in the 4x400 meter relay at the World Championships, European Championships and the Commonwealth Games which is why pundits tipped him to win.

What happened to him at the Olympic that summer day?

Redmond thundered out of the blocks, as the gun signaled the beginning of the race. From the very moment he started sprinting, it seemed apparent that he would win and carry the Union Jack proudly.

He was in good form by the time of the semi-final, but an unfortunate event changed the course of history.

Redmond started well, but in the back straight about 250 meters from the finish line, his hamstring snapped! You can imagine the pain was so intense that as he hobbled, he collapsed on the track. Obviously you can see that his Olympic dream shattered like a broken glass.

As he kneeled on one knee, in pain, stretcher bearers made their way over to him, but Redmond did the unexpected. He did a thing that would change the meaning of winning, forever. He decided he wanted to finish the race.

He got up and began hopping down the track. The crowd's jaw dropped, as shown on the live telecast worldwide. As he hobbled along with face a picture of agony, he was joined on the track by his father, Jim Redmond, who barged past security and on to the track to get to his son.

He put his arm around his son's shoulder as he kept going, sobbing and limping as he went.

And so Jim and Derek complete the lap together. As they crossed the finish line, the crowd of 65,000 spectators rose to give Derek a standing ovation. It was the loudest and longest ovation of the games.

In spite of the pain, in spite of the humiliation and in spite of a shattered Olympic dream, Derek finished his run.

Are you a finisher like Derek?

Probably, you are not the strongest person or have the most brilliant mind. You may have big obstacles between you and your search to give your autistic child a better future. In your journey, I urge you not to let these things stop you.

Whether you are searching for the signs or symptoms of autism, or on course along with your autistic child battling the disorder, keep going... and... FINISH.

As for Derek, he didn't win the gold but surely, he have won the hearts of 65,000 at the venue and millions others watching on their televisions across the globe, and rose becoming the most famous loser in Olympic history. His secret was simply because he love his sport.

Look at me and listen closely as your child depends on you.

At times, you may feel a little discourage, and it may take heroic courage, strength and determination, but you will cross the finish line because YOU and I know that deep inside you... you are a finisher, you are a fighter, you and your child's future are brighter than you had ever imagined. And you will be a winner.

I'm hoping you find some JOY because isn't that what we're all searching for anyway?

Doctors reveals breakthrough treatments for autism. You might want to have this information because it'll guide you into the hidden world of autism to help you avoid a fruitless and frustrating journey when raising your autistic child.

Original article

7 Key Things You Should Know If Your Child Has Autism

ASD can be a frightening diagnosis, which every parent reacts differently to. Along with a diagnosis parents are often bombarded with advice and strategies which are often not always helpful. Here are just 7 points I think every parent should be aware of when parenting a child with autism.

Autism is Not New

There is a wealth of knowledge and understanding that can be found within the minds of other parents alike. Any problem you may be facing has invariably been dealt with before in other families. This means you can learn and use what others have learned and experienced about raising a child with autism to help you. Parents understand autism, perhaps somewhat better than some professionals as they have not lived the experience. There is no need for you to go and reinvent the wheel, but there is a need for you to connect with other parents of autism. This way you not only learn but are able to give back on what your experiences have been as well.

Children with Autism LOVE their parents.

I realise at times this may not seem true. Invariably your child may have the tendency to beat up on you, hate being touched or run off in the opposite direction at any given chance with no need to turn back to see how far they are from you. They may struggle to look at you eye to eye and connect with you on an emotional level you crave for, but this does not mean they do not love you. Keep sharing and exposing your love for your child in all the ways that you do; they may just surprise you

Don't get too hung up on Critical Periods of Learning

I have great belief in the wondrous outcomes that early intervention can have on a child with autism. However I so often hear parents trying to beat this race and treat their child before the 'window of learning' period is closed. The human brain is a wonderful organ. It is constantly changing, forming and developing in response to learning and environment stimulation. Yes it has been said that children learn best in their younger years, but it is naive to think that learning and development have to stop there.

Learning and Development can be a Bumpy Road on the Autism Spectrum

All children go through rough patches in their learning and development. Some get left behind a bit in certain areas but then catch up later. This is true for children with ASD as well. However leaps of development and deficits are generally more pronounced. When a learning regression or plateau hits we so often want to blame something or put it down to one thing. This is often not the case. The trick is also to keep with your child, don't give up them or your self as this is the time you really need to help pull your child through the rough patch. It can be completely un-motivating when your child hits a learning plateau especially when they may be miles behind their peers already. Chances are they will come out on the other side with a big bang and you may struggle to keep up with them.

Your Child's Abilities Can Shift Over Time

We hear much talk regarding the different "functional levels" within the Autistic Spectrum. A professional may point out your child falls into the spectrum at a certain level whether it be high functioning of low functioning. You need to realise though that this can change over time with the right treatments and guidance. Diagnosed children are very often moved from one autism diagnostic category to another.

Professionals are a Great and useful Resource, BUT they can also be Disappointing

Some professionals don't know enough about autism, some may only know the "doom and gloom" aspect of autism. Some professional are incredibly knowledgeable and helpful. The point is, all incoming information concerning your child at any level needs to be scrutinised by you, perhaps even do some more research if you not sure. Find doctors and Therapists etc that you are happy with, that know the particulars of what you are dealing with and understand your child and family.

YOU ARE YOUR CHILDS' BEST AND MOST IMPORTANT TEACHER

A lot people believe that in order to help our child you need to go from therapy to therapy. Your child spends huge amounts of time with other people than with you. Don't let people drag you into this notion that your child is so unusual that only a person with an advanced degree can help him learn.

Yes therapies are important, but you are your child's primary caregiver and leader. You are the person that needs to guide them through life. And no one loves your child as much as you. Parenting Autism can be frustrating at times, but remember You are important and don't let anyone tell you any differently.

Remember to Get your Free copy of: Autism -Where to start guide, where you will learn immediate strategies to help your loved one with Autism.

Original article

Turning Common Interactions Into Meaningful Social Skill Lessons for a Child With Autism

Do you have a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who is challenged socially? Do you realize that you don't have to rely on the professionals who provide services to your child to enhance their social skills. Social skill groups and classes led by experts in the field are extremely beneficial but you also have the power to take every social interaction your child experiences and turn it into a teaching/learning opportunity.

As parents we interact with our children numerous times during the day. Each interaction has a specific reason attached to it, helping a child dress, tucking them into bed, or reading them a story are simple encounters that are almost done by default as if we are on automatic pilot. These can be anything from a greeting, asking them a question or giving them a direction that may be brief yet powerful. When you think of it, every contact we have with our children is a social one and as simple as it might be we can make it even more significant to our autistic child if we take 30-45 more seconds to describe what we are doing.

Children with Autism are very concrete and literal and we should not assume that they are picking up everything we do via watching or observing us. We need to be more mindful and deliberate when it comes to parenting a child with autism because they do not always absorb things just by being exposed to them. Realistically, there is much that is happening that is not being noticed unless we specifically point it out.

The best strategy for turning a social encounter into a meaningful learning experience for your autistic child is to call attention to the manner in which you relate to them and why. This is a simple yet effective way to expand your child's social toolbox. Here are some tips on how to make each interaction you have with your child more meaningful and useful.

- Use the rewind button. After a typical social interaction you have with your child, rewind what you just did and replay it for them in slow motion. Ex. "Did you notice what I just did? I wanted to ask you a question so I made sure I was close to you instead of hollering from across the room." Replay the scene using each approach and ask which one works best. For older children you can also get into a discussion of why that tactic was the better one to use.

- Pretend you need help. All children like being asked to share their opinion - it makes them feel important. When you have time to think ahead, try involving your child in a social skill decision. "I want to ask your dad a question but he looks as if he is busy right now, what do you think I should do?" Then present two plausible options, one more socially acceptable than the other and ask your child what do you think will happen if I use option A, then examine option B.

- Paint a picture of what you just did. "I wanted to make sure I had your attention so I leaned over and looked into your eyes." Then follow up with a specific description of using that skill - "When you want to make sure someone is listening to you, it's best to get in front of them and look at the color of their eyes." Add any specific details that you think your child will need - in front of means an arms length away, not right up in their face, etc.

- Point out your mistakes. Even as adults, not all of our interactions are successful but we often know where we went wrong. This is a great opportunity to share your experience with your child and prompt them to think about what you could have done differently. When asking their advice do not let too much time go by after you pose the question or make them feel pressured by it, simply fill in the answer for them and briefly discuss it, if possible.

Remember, there is no such thing as too much repetition for a child on the autism spectrum. It is always a good idea to end each one of these possible scenarios with a specific description regarding the social skill you are trying to teach and duplicate it as often as you think you need to in order for your child to grasp the skill.

There is always ample opportunity to practice most of these skills because they occur over and over again in our daily activities. The added benefit to this process is that we grow in awareness as to how we utilize our own social skills to communicate and get to practice them more consciously.

Connie Hammer, MSW, parent educator, consultant and coach, guides parents of young children recently diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder to uncover abilities and change possibilities. Visit her website http://www.parentcoachingforautism.com/ to get your FREE resources - a parenting ecourse, Parenting a Child with Autism - 3 Secrets to Thrive and a weekly parenting tip newsletter, The Spectrum.

Original article

6 Ways to Nurture Curiosity in a Child With Autism

Along with motivation, curiosity is the one of the best and most direct paths to learning new things. Encouraging curiosity in children is a crucial role parents need to play in developing their child's intellect. Children will stay curious as long as they are allowed to explore, discover and ask questions. It's that easy!

If your child is non-verbal and unable to ask questions remember that there are many ways to be curious. Never assume that a child cannot learn just because he can't articulate a question. Every child's level of curiosity will be unique.

Young children tend to show their curiosity in various capacities. Children with good communication skills may be verbally inquisitive and their constant questioning, the "whys" and "why not's", can drive you nuts! This is when parents need to practice patience.

Other children on the spectrum explore their world more quietly because their ability to communicate is challenged. But as parents pay careful attention, they are able to notice what catches their child's fancy and build on it.

Your autistic child, verbal or not, may be curious about many things on her own but depending on where she falls on the autism spectrum this exploration may become hyper-focused, excessive, repetitive and cause her to escape from the world around her. Sometimes this is a coping skill kids on the autism spectrum will use when sensory overload occurs.

In situations such as these it is important to remember that curiosity and exploration becomes much more functional when it is interactive. Steering your child's curious mind in a positive direction by joining in with him will not only expand his cognitive intellect but his ability to socialize as well.

Regardless of your child's abilities, discovery and learning is most pleasurable when it is shared with someone else. A young child's learning is reinforced when it is experienced with a loving caretaker who offers a positive comment or gesture.

When exploration is pleasurable it reinforces additional attempts to learn new things and prepares a child to become an active life long learner. Repeated curiosity ensures mastery of new skills, builds confidence and increases self-esteem along the way, which leads to a sense of security for more exploration.

If you want to reinforce curiosity in your child in order to encourage an internal motivation for life-long learning, here are some helpful tips:

1 - Be patient with questions. "What for?" "How come?" and "Why?" can seem like a broken record at times but this is a sign that your child is internally motivated to understand his world and how it works. Providing a quick and simple answer will often satisfy your inquisitive one. Sometimes, it is effective to turn the tables and ask your verbal child, "What do you think?"

When the timing is not favorable for a litany of questions to be asked, such as bedtime, it is time to set some boundaries with a reply such as, "Our time for questions is over and we need to keep the others for tomorrow. It's time for sleep now."

2 - Give your child voice. If your child is non-verbal or challenged with language why not bring the questions to her. As you and your child experience your day together, find opportunities to formulate questions that will make her think - questions that you think she might ask if she were more able to. After a short pause, verbalize possible answers to your question.

Any simple task or even a common household item such as a window screen provides an opportunity for posing questions that will stimulate brain cells to make vital connections. "Why do houses have screens?" "What would happen if they didn't have them?" etc

3 - Create new adventures from everyday experiences. Make being outside an enticing learning experience. A walk in the park can be transformed into a treasure hunt or scientific laboratory that is ripe for promoting new learning. A child who explores their natural environment benefits from using all five of their senses, which stimulates brain development in more ways than one.

4 - Develop questioning conversations when the timing is good for you. Take advantage of breaks in your busy schedule or quiet opportunities for discussion, like driving in the car, to formulate your own inquires that stimulate your child to think. Conversations such as this, that are scheduled on your time clock, will allow you to give your full attention to your child and how his brain thinks or his body responds.

If your child is stumped by your questions let him know it's all right by responding, "That's OK, let me tell you what I think." Once you share your information in a respectful way your child may have something to add. If your child is nonverbal and unable to contribute you are still stimulating connections in his brain simply by trying to engage him.

5 - Revitalize your curious side. The more you share your own inquiring mind with your child, the more it will spark their interest. Try making your inquisitiveness contagious. A good time to do this is when you are reading a story together by asking aloud, "What do you think will happen next?" or "I wonder how this story will end?" When doing daily chores invite your child to problem solve with you by asking for their input. "What do you think would happen if we never took the trash out?"

6 - Ask, "What If?" or "What else?" Asking your child to take their thinking one step further will certainly help develop and expand their brain's capacity for learning. Asking, "What would the birds do if it snowed today?" could lead your child to respond in many ways. Any answer should be validated and followed up with "What else might happen?" In prodding your child to establish new ways of thinking, you are modeling a joy of discovery. Just remember, the focus is not about getting the correct answer but more about engaging them in a conversation.

Do you still need to be convinced of the benefits that come from engaging in the inquiry process with your child? Once you realize the power of stimulating your child's curiosity and all the brain cell connections that it makes, you can trust that it is rewiring your child's brain in a positive way.

If a young child's curiosity is encouraged in an open and enjoyable manner learning will always be seen as something pleasant. What better gift can a parent provide!

Connie Hammer, MSW, parent educator, consultant and coach, guides parents of young children recently diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder to uncover abilities and change possibilities. Visit her website http://www.parentcoachingforautism.com/ to get your FREE resources - a parenting ecourse, Parenting a Child with Autism - 3 Secrets to Thrive and a weekly parenting tip newsletter, The Spectrum.

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