Perkins School for the Blind - New Transition Program

Archive for the ‘Fall 2023 Issue’ Category

Navigating Autistic Burnout as an Autistic Parent

Being an autistic parent is hard. When your kids are also neurodivergent, this can make life even more challenging when trying to navigate everyone’s complex, often diametrically opposed needs. When we need space, a lot of the time our children need connection and closeness, and we can become...

Anderson Family Partners: Extended Family, Redefined

For Colleen Contreni, Family Liaison at Anderson Center for Autism, the concept of ‘extended family’ has long inspired her work. “I have always been a very family-oriented person, and this role at Anderson is a reminder that by cultivating a spirit of kinship among parents, caregivers, and...

Your Child Has Just Been Diagnosed with Autism – Now What?

Every family has their own personal journey towards an autism diagnosis for their child. Whether it brings the confirmation of what may have been suspected or the news of something completely unexpected, the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder can have a significant impact on a family. Like the...

Harnessing Technology to Support Individuals with Autism and Their Families

We are in a moment of limitless possibilities. Tech innovation is the new zeitgeist, and its development and growth are moving bewilderingly fast. With it comes possibilities to provide the best care and the best outcomes for those living with autism and their families. For providers largely...

Managing Feeding and Toileting Challenges in Children with Autism

Challenges with toilet training (e.g., frequent accidents, withholding urine or feces) and eating (e.g., food selectivity, getting sufficient nutritional intake) may have a significant impact on the child’s functioning in the home, school, community, and social events. These issues often impact...

Supporting Families to Prepare Students to Be Participating Members of Their Community

For over five decades, I’ve had the privilege of serving students with autism and developmental disabilities and their families. I’ve been employed as a teacher, administrator, professor, consultant, and advocate in public, private, nonprofit, and for-profit settings, working in preschools,...

Autism Without Fear: An Autism School Seeks Behavioral Health…Through Humanism

Disclaimer: This past year I consulted for the League School of Greater Boston, the school that is the subject of this piece. I worked with their students on a self-advocacy curriculum, and I’ve also presented for the school on separate occasions. Seeing what they are attempting up close demanded...

Telehealth: Is It Right for Parents and Children?

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the availability of telehealth for autism and other developmental disorders has exploded. Now that we are mostly post-pandemic, many parents are asking: “Is telehealth still the right choice for my child’s treatment?” There is no single answer. Below are several...

Helping Families with Disabilities Transition from Child to Adult Systems of Care

Having a child diagnosed with a lifelong disability is like planning a trip to one country, but unexpectedly arriving in a different country (read Emily Perl Kingsley’s essay Welcome to Holland). Just imagine, you have nothing packed that would make the trip easier or more comfortable, and you do...

Supporting Latine Caregivers of Autistic Children: Community Needs and Perspectives

Latine* caregivers of recently diagnosed children on the autism spectrum have unique needs and face unique challenges in supporting their children (Blacher et al., 2019). Latine families report feeling overwhelmed, confused, and concerned with information about the incidence of autism, the...