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Understanding Aggressive and Self-injurious Behavior
When addressing challenging behaviors, specifically when it comes to aggressive behaviors and self-injury, it’s important to understand the reason as to why these behaviors are occurring before determining a solution. The behavior of all living organisms serves specific purposes; and the reason...
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The Effects of Cortisol on Individuals with ASD
One Saturday, Catherine Maurice took her son and daughter, Daniel and Anne-Marie, for a walk. Anne-Marie has autism. A little black dog ran out of a driveway, yapping excitedly. Ann-Marie was afraid and began to cry. This excited the puppy then began to jump up on her. The dog was not dangerous, he...
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The Changing World of OPWDD Services and Supports
For every parent who watches their child morph into a young adult right in front of their eyes, this transformation is filled with anticipation, uncertainty and limitless challenges. For the parent with a child on the autism spectrum these issues are magnified as they begin to explore the world of...
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Steps to Increasing the Success of a Behavior Plan
A large percentage of caregivers of children with autism will want (or need) to implement a behavior plan. When I ask a parent what he or she wants out of a behavior plan designed for his or her child the answer can usually be found among the following: “I want my child to be more compliant with...
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Opinion Piece: Standardized Testing in Schools Inadequately Accommodates Special Education
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) covers many federal education programs. The act, in 2001, was put forth to strengthen America’s educational system by requiring States to implement accountability systems covering all schools and all students. Although NCLB covers various education programs, the...
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Should Parents Tell Their Children They Have Asperger’s?
A diagnosis of Asperger’s can be an overwhelming experience for parents and children. Some parents may feel an initial sense of relief at finally finding an answer to their child’s difficulties; at the same time, it also can foreshadow a long and trying road ahead full of therapies, academic...
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Rumination: Past, Present, and Future
Rumination is characterized by regurgitation of previously ingested food into the mouth, and re-chewing, re-swallowing or expelling that food (Chial, Camilleri, Williams, Litzinger, and Perrault, 2003). Although rumination is typically observed in infants and individuals with developmental...
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Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports: An Effective Approach for Schools to Prevent and Manage Challenging Behaviors
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) was developed in the 1980s as a data based behavioral intervention for students with behavioral disorders (BD). Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an evidence-based approach which incorporates behavioral and academics...
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Managing Challenging Behavior Due to Autism during Emergencies: Advice for First Responders
First responders are by definition available and on call twenty-four hours a day to provide emergency services ranging from medical to safety and protection needs. In most cases these encounters are brief, intense and are paired with stressful episodes including medical emergency, fire or other...
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Is the Label or the Person the Focus?
People who are diagnosed with Autism are often seen first for the diagnosis that they have. Many times programs are developed by organizations that have expertise with the labeled disability. People with autism are often accepted into programs based on this diagnosis. This is not unlike many other...
