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Autism Speaks Offers 100 Day Kit for Families
Autism Speaks, the nation's largest autism advocacy organization, is offering families of children newly diagnosed with autism a “100 Day Kit”, a personalized resource to assist families in getting through the critical time following an autism diagnosis. In addition to receiving the contents of...
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Coping with Autism: A Mother’s Journey
People often ask “How do you cope with autism?” Having been down this journey for a dozen years with my 14-year-old son with autism I’d hope to “know the answer” as if it was that straightforward, but I know rather that the right balance and type of guidance and comfort that helps each...
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Dr. Fred Volkmar of the Yale Child Study Center Answers Common Family Questions
Fred R. Volkmar, MD, Director of the Yale Child Study Center, recently shared his comments on some frequently asked questions from parents of children on the autism spectrum: Q: What type of patients do you see at the Developmental Disabilities Clinic in Greenwich? A: We have seen a range in...
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Helping Parents and Family Members Cope with ASDs Stress, Support, and Coping in Families of Children with Autism
When a child is diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, there are effects on each family member. The challenges are significant, and families cope very differently with the challenges. While many families report experiencing significant stress, many also report being strengthened by the...
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How Authorities Interact and Respond to Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders
There is a great deal of debate surrounding the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders in the United States. One recent federal survey indicates that at least 1 in every 150 people in the United States will be affected by an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Whatever the frequency of occurrence may be,...
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How to Be Your Child’s Best Advocate During IEP Meetings
Sitting at the long table during CSE (Committee on Special Education) meetings and annual reviews can be unnerving. Even the savviest advocates can become anxious and unfocused during meetings. As CSE and annual review season approaches, we decided to ask some of our most experienced members to...
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How to Find (and Keep) an Excellent Doctor: A Roadmap
When we decide we need a new doctor, it often is not a tranquil time. The opportunity for thoughtful analysis and careful evaluation isn’t there. On the contrary, it may be an emotional or frustrating time. But why do we need or want a change? The current situation is not working. This roadmap...
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Searching for a School-Age Program
Cathy began searching for a kindergarten for her son, who has an autism spectrum disorder, in 2007. Even though her son was only 3 at the time, other parents had warned her that it could take years for her to find the right kindergarten. Now, her son is 4. As graduation in June looms large in...
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Summer Camp: The Gift of Friendship
Overnight summer camp teaches skills in a variety of disciplines - sports, arts, nature and the like. However, the enduring value of summer camp is not the skills that it teaches, but the values and traits of character that it imparts. A camp experience teaches children to work together more...
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Tools for Identifying Autism in Infants and Toddlers
All of us in the field of autism spectrum disorders — parents, doctors, therapists, researchers and activists — agree that early identification is essential for enabling early intervention and investigating underlying causes. Many of the tools, such as the Modified Checklist for Autism in...
