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Considerations When Selecting a Summer Camp
Selecting a camp for a child is often a difficult task, but it becomes even more arduous when your child has a learning and/or social concern. There are so many items to explore, so many questions to ask—with no clear path through the wilderness! However, you may find this task easier if you...
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Dear Self
A few weeks ago I read an issue of People Magazine that featured one of the Real Housewives of New Jersey and her newly-diagnosed autistic son. The headline bleated something like, “Jersey Housewife Fights to Save Her Son!” When I read this, I felt a surge of outrage. Save? Save? After a...
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Alpine Learning Group’s Parent Training Program: Be Your Child’s Best Teacher!
Why should parents receive training? More and more children are being diagnosed with autism before their third birthdays. Providing early, intensive, behavioral intervention at the point of diagnosis is beneficial to achieve the best possible outcomes for children with autism. Given that the amount...
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Special Needs Family Planning – Tips for Families with Special Needs
What is the sign of a good decision?® It’s creating a life care plan for a special needs child.. A gift of cash from grandma, grandpa or anyone else could end up costing special needs families thousands of dollars in lost government funding and services – benefits that are critical in helping...
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Vital Services to Promote Child and Family Resilience
It is common knowledge that having a child with ASD has an impact on the family, and the family has a profound impact on the developing child. Why then are there so few services to support families as they deal with the cumulative challenges they face managing child behavior, family relationships,...
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Tips to Promote Caregiver Emotional and Physical Health
Autism is oftentimes confusing, unpredictable and hard to manage. As parents and caregivers you are required to traverse the highs and lows of the autism diagnosis. From the outset of parental/caregiver concern to the day your loved one receives the diagnoses on the autism spectrum and everyday...
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Autism Parent Support Groups – A Successful Model Providing Information and Support
Families often lack information about the autism diagnosis such as what to expect, treatment options, and how to access services. Support groups serve two main functions. They provide families and caregivers with much needed information on a variety of topics related to autism spectrum disorders...
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Emergencies Happen – You Must Plan Ahead
At the time of this article’s publication, many of us will have been affected by Hurricane Irene. In light of this weather emergency we can look at this event and learn some valuable lessons. For those of us raising children with autism, high functioning autism or Asperger’s the challenges...
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What Do You Do When Relatives Don’t Believe the Diagnosis and Question Your Parenting?
“Give him time.” “She’s the last child born in the family; everyone does the talking for her.” “Your expectations are too high, every child has his/her own timetable.” “Don’t put him under a microscope. Relax and he will be fine.” “When I had my kids, the world was...
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Divorce with a Child on the Spectrum
Raising a child on the autism spectrum exposes a family to a whole host of stressors on top of the stressors normally associated with parenting. These stressors can overwhelm a couple and lead to marital dissatisfaction. In fact, there is some empirical evidence that families with a child on the...
