Perkins School for the Blind - New Transition Program

Archive for the ‘Family, Parents, and Caregivers’ Category

Making Meaningful Connections: Amy Kelly Discusses Value of Devereux’s Internal Family Support Group

At Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health, we are always looking for ways to better support our talented and hard-working team members. Devereux National Director of Family Engagement Amy Kelly, MBA, MNM, leads a family support group for Devereux employees and their significant others who are parents,...

Advice for Parents with Children Entering Post-Secondary Education

The transition from high school to post-secondary education can be overwhelming. There are several different pathways to success for your loved one, including a specialized post-secondary experience for non-degree seeking students to provide them with a college campus experience, programs that...

Supporting Caregivers During the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic drastically changed the lives of many. Beginning in March 2020, many became immediately isolated, experiencing increased stress and anxiety. Parents caring for children of all ages were impacted by these variables the most. It is already known that parenting is a stressful...

Improving Parent Engagement for Your Child with Autism

If you are a parent of a child with special needs, you’ve had to balance many new challenges along with those you already face on a daily basis. Lately, you may be spending more time than ever with your child, but more time doesn’t mean you’re getting more quality time. While it may not be...

Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Home: How to Thrive as a Family Unit

Various research studies have shown that early intervention for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is important for providing the tools and strategies needed for long term success in areas such as education, career, and life in general (McEachin, Smith, & Lovaas, 1993). It is...

Guidelines for Parents on Addressing the Needs of Siblings

There is little doubt that those of us raised with siblings have been influenced by that relationship. Living with a brother or sister with an autism spectrum disorder adds more significant and unique experiences to that relationship. Throughout numerous accounts of parents and siblings of children...

Preparing for a Successful Holiday Season

Parties! Gift giving! Twinkling lights! The holiday season can be a source of joy and excitement for some but for individuals with ASD the holidays present unique challenges. With communication, planning, and patience, individuals with ASD and their families can successfully navigate and enjoy the...

When Residential Schooling Is an Option

As a single mom of a nine-year-old autistic son, I would never have imagined my son being placed in residential schooling. All of the autism characteristics were there at the tender age of two. Through early intervention services and then my son being placed in a New York City District 75 program,...

Why Autism Parents Say: “I Can Never Die”

The caregiving workforce shortage is and will be a crisis for so many Americans. “I can never die.” This is the rallying call of autism parents everywhere. Why do we feel that way? Because many autistic adults live with their parents – 85%, according to autism researcher Peter Gerhardt....

Supporting Parents in the Transition Process

Adulting was on Oxford Dictionary’s 2016 short list for word of the year. “Adulting” is an endearing word that flashes an instant, sympathetic understanding about the scary, confusing, and sometimes dull aspects of being a grown-up. Parents watching their children’s wobbly advances toward...