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Project ImPACT: Empowering Parents with Evidence-Based Strategies for Early Autism Intervention
The prevalence of autism has increased dramatically over the last 20 years, with current estimates at 1 in 36 children having a diagnosis or special education classification of autism (CDC, 2023; ADDM surveillance network, 2023). The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all children...
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Empowering Families Online: Reducing Barriers through a Virtual, Group ESDM-based Caregiver Coaching Program
Autistic children often experience difficulties with language and communication development (Tager-Flushberg et al., 2005). Early intervention (EI) is an integral and highly efficacious tool to target and promote optimal development in this population (Zwaigenbaum et al., 2015). By targeting...
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The Autistic Guide to Small Talk
Small talk is often declared the bane of existence to those on the spectrum everywhere. An inane social ritual where you’re expected to exchange obvious facts about the weather and be happier for it. But small talk is your foot in the door for communication. If you’re trying to branch out...
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How to Best Determine if an Autistic Individual is Using an Effective Communication System
Clear and effective communication is one of the most significant challenges autistic individuals encounter. As with many other characteristics of autism, the communication abilities of autistic individuals present across a wide spectrum. While many individuals understand and use spoken language,...
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Can Being Denied Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Cause Lifelong Trauma?
Complex trauma happens when someone feels they are trapped and alone in continuing threatening or unsafe circumstances, like child abuse, war, or racism (World Health Organization, 2019). In situations where a person experiences threats every day, changes occur to the part of the nervous system...
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Parent-Led Strategies to Support Communication in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
When Mukri Yilma noticed her son Kibur’s use of words and gestures starting to fade at 22 months, she knew something was wrong. Suddenly, he was not waving “hi” or pointing at airplanes anymore, and he stopped using words that had been part of his vocabulary. Concerned, Mukri took Kibur to...
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It’s Never Too Late to Communicate: Increasing Communication Access for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism
An estimated 5 million people in the United States are living with complex communication needs (CCN) (Beukelman & Light, 2020). This estimate includes people across all age groups and disability types who experience difficulties meeting their communication needs using only verbal speech....
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More Than Words: Empowering the Voices of People with Autism
Living Resources, a Capital Region agency where I proudly work, serves about 1900 people with autism or other disabilities and life-challenging conditions. As I pen this piece during the holiday season, I am reminded of one of the most rewarding and instructive moments I experienced at one of the...
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Empowering Voices: The Importance of Self-Advocacy and Effective Communication for Autistic Individuals
Self-advocacy is a critical skill requiring communication for individuals on the autism spectrum, enabling them to express their needs, rights, and preferences effectively. It plays a significant role in their personal and academic lives, particularly as they transition into adulthood and face new...
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Active Listening and Multimodal Communication: Strategies for Understanding and Supporting Unique Needs
You’re going through your workday, and suddenly, the bottom of your foot starts to ache. You stop, untie your shoe, and take it off to see what’s happening. Relief washes over you when your supervisor appears because help has arrived! You start to peel your sock back to show them where you’re...
