FAQautism: Episodes
My throat is beginning to heal and my ability to speak is finally emerging after 48 hours of virtual silence. As I am slowly becoming more able to communicate with the people around me, I am getting a brief glimpse into the world of my non-verbal friends with autism. Listen Now: or continue reading 1. ...
Those of you who are listening to this podcast can tell that my voice is still lost, and that it is difficult to understand what I am saying. Having spent over 24 hours without talking has made me realize some of the challenges of non-verbal communication. non-verbal_communicationListen Now: or continue ...
This will be a very brief podcast because I have actually lost my voice. But take a minute to listen, because I have two quick stories to tell you.
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First, it is very interesting to see the reaction of some of my friends with autism when I lose my voice. It is especially ...
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First, it is very interesting to see the reaction of some of my friends with autism when I lose my voice. It is especially ...
Family members frequently bring up the issue of problems at bedtime with their youngsters diagnosed with autism. “All my kids resist going to bed,” commented one mom. “But my son with autism explodes every evening, and doesn’t calm down until after midnight. Our whole family is suffering.” ...
Some individuals with autism are extremely resistant to change. Meltdowns often occur when they encounter a change in routine or food or clothing or other aspects of their daily lives. Although we might be bored with the same, predictable routine every minute of every day, we need to acknowledge that ...
As their youngsters with autism graduate from high school, parents look for ways to help them transition into the world of adulthood. Among other things, they look for appropriate security objects. One of my friends calls these items “adult blankies” in reference to the tattered baby blanket her ...
Having an excellent memory and being able to recall sequences are gifts that can certainly be useful. But some individuals with autism who have exceptional memories can become obsessed with a sequence or a script. Their obsession may need some attention if it interferes with their willingness or ability ...
“I have this bad habit of just putting my papers crammed in my backpack,” wrote a high school student diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. “I have lots of trouble keeping my papers together and in the right folders.” She says she ends up with a frustrating mess at the end of the day.
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The ...
Listen Now:
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The ...
Graduation ceremonies are challenging for all participants, even the most compliant, flexible high school senior. Many individuals with autism are able to wait patiently, maintain acceptable behavior, and blend in with their “typical” classmates. But what are our choices if we anticipate a graduating ...
Some of our friends with autism have rather extreme sensitivities to loud sounds, causing them to become very agitated or to have an emotional meltdown in noisy situations. But, some individuals with autism actually thrive in loud environments. Why the difference?
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The ...
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The ...
This discussion about the words we use when talking to our children with autism came to mind when a mom said to her 6-year-old daughter, “Let’s go change your diaper” as the youngster and her classmates were gathering for a field trip.
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I’ve known mom for many ...
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I’ve known mom for many ...
I read a funny anecdote that describes one aspect of the lives of parents, teachers, and other people involved in the daily lives of individuals with autism. Did you hear the story about Donald?
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One time a dad was shopping for groceries with his little son who was ...
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One time a dad was shopping for groceries with his little son who was ...
Occasionally our friends with autism are somewhat removed from their surroundings – sitting aside from others, self-absorbed in their own stimming and repetitive scripts. How can we encourage connections and interaction? Try bubblegum. Bubblegum?!?
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I can feel my ...
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I can feel my ...
In this, the second half of a discussion about the aggressive behavior of some youngsters with autism, we will take a brief look at possible causes for our friends suddenly and unexpectedly striking out to hit, scratch, pinch, or bite other people.
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Each person is different, ...
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Each person is different, ...
It can come out of nowhere. In spite of our implementing pro-active strategies for decreasing aggressive behaviors, some youngsters with autism occasionally reach out suddenly, impulsively hitting, biting, pinching, or scratching anyone in reach. What causes these abrupt, hurtful actions?
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Decreasing dependence on others is a challenge, especially when our friends with autism are unwilling to become more self-reliant, or if they have difficulty learning new skills or new routines. Under these circumstances, how can we encourage and teach a person to be less dependent?
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Why do some individuals with autism need a great deal of assistance with basic care? Whey is it that some people with autism who are very capable in other areas need ongoing supervision and support just to take care of daily living tasks?
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LEARNED DEPENDENCE. Sometimes ...
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LEARNED DEPENDENCE. Sometimes ...
It is hard to believe that some of our youngsters with autism are getting ready to walk across the stage in cap and gown in a few weeks. It seems like just yesterday they were toddlers. Time flies. How can we help our high school graduates transition to life in the “real world?”
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Listen Now:
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Some of our faithful FAQautism.com followers live in parts of the world where earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, tornadoes, tsunamis, and even civil unrest or war can lead to unexpected emergency evacuations. What would you grab in the event you and your youngster with autism were required to suddenly ...
We are continuing our conversation based on a clever quote by novelist Gail Godwin. What are some of the factors that allow us to teach individuals with autism effectively?
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Effective strategies and approaches for teaching youngsters with autism could fill a library, ...
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Effective strategies and approaches for teaching youngsters with autism could fill a library, ...