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Empowering Eye Exams: Strategies for Supporting Autistic Patients
Eye exam. Two words that can cause a lot of anxiety in families of autistic patients. Questions may arise about how your child will tolerate the exam and what to do if they need glasses. If your child has communication limitations or sensory sensitivities, you might wonder if they’ll be able to...
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Cultivating Sensory-Friendly Health Care Environments for Autistic Patients
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a multifaceted neurodevelopmental condition characterized by challenges in social interaction, communication, and limited or repetitive behaviors. Individuals with ASD might also experience sensory sensitivities, such as heightened responses to lights, sounds,...
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The Silent Roadblock: Understanding the Ripple Effects of Feeding Difficulties on the Spectrum
While it’s widely documented that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects social interaction, communication, and behavior, there is a less spotlighted, yet pivotal, piece to these neurodivergent children: feeding difficulties. It’s estimated that up to 80% of autistic children have some form of...
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Addressing Sensory Behaviors Through the Lens of an Occupational Therapist and a Behavior Analyst
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a prevalent developmental and neurological disability that affects one in 36 children (CDC, 2023a). Individuals with ASD may have significant impairments in social communication and interaction, restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests, sensory features, and...
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Cruising Tips for a Fun Autism Friendly Family Vacation
Do you wish you could go on a family vacation but think it’s too hard to manage with a child on the autism spectrum? With proper planning, a cruise can be a great way to combine fun and predictability for the perfect autism friendly family vacation. As a mom of children on the spectrum,...
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Supporting Students’ Self-Regulation Needs: An Occupational Therapy Perspective
Self-Regulation is an individual’s ability to process and manage behavioral and emotional reactions to what is happening in their immediate environment. Throughout the day, a child’s nervous system is constantly attempting to process the sensory components of opportunities presented to them....
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Designing a Sensory-Friendly Workplace for Autistic Adults
Autism is a lifelong condition, yet there is a noticeable lack of research on adults on the autism spectrum (Fairbank, 2023). Despite limited studies, challenges are emerging, one being a lack of sensory-friendly workplaces (Pryke-Hobbes et al., 2023). While the struggles of entering the workforce...
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Setting Students Up for Success: Balancing Sensory Needs in the Classroom
Sensory considerations play a key role in developing a classroom environment conducive to learning. When classrooms are arranged with sensory needs in mind, teachers will often see increased levels of social participation and task engagement. Some students face challenges finding their voice in a...
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Inclusive Housing: How Sensory-Friendly Features Can Help Address a Growing Need
Home should be a place where you can relax, feel safe, unwind from the day, and feel like it is your space. However, not everyone has that option. To illustrate, in our work of supporting inclusive housing for autistic adults for over 16 years at Madison House Autism Foundation, we have found that...
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Advocating for Sensory-Inclusive Education: IEPs, Classrooms, and Schools
There are many lists and suggestions for sensory-inclusive education for autistic students. Gaining a sense of your student’s unique sensory profile – what causes distress or helps them stay regulated – is important. They may be impacted differently at school than at home. How can a caregiver...
