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Parent-Led Strategies to Support Communication in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
When Mukri Yilma noticed her son Kibur’s use of words and gestures starting to fade at 22 months, she knew something was wrong. Suddenly, he was not waving “hi” or pointing at airplanes anymore, and he stopped using words that had been part of his vocabulary. Concerned, Mukri took Kibur to...
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It’s Never Too Late to Communicate: Increasing Communication Access for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism
An estimated 5 million people in the United States are living with complex communication needs (CCN) (Beukelman & Light, 2020). This estimate includes people across all age groups and disability types who experience difficulties meeting their communication needs using only verbal speech....
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Overcoming Barriers in Math Education and Assessment for Autistic Children
In the 21st century, there is no disagreement that a math education is considered important for all students, including those with disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), so that their access and success contribute to the development of skills necessary for an independent life. Good...
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Autistic Lived Experience: To Be Disabled Is to Be Strong!
Not everything is as it seems on the surface. Many things can be looked at in more ways than one. Much of what comprises a person is hidden from plain sight, though it is nonetheless very real and often of great power. Human strength is a prime example. When I attended a 2-week tennis...
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More Than Words: Empowering the Voices of People with Autism
Living Resources, a Capital Region agency where I proudly work, serves about 1900 people with autism or other disabilities and life-challenging conditions. As I pen this piece during the holiday season, I am reminded of one of the most rewarding and instructive moments I experienced at one of the...
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Empowering Voices: The Importance of Self-Advocacy and Effective Communication for Autistic Individuals
Self-advocacy is a critical skill requiring communication for individuals on the autism spectrum, enabling them to express their needs, rights, and preferences effectively. It plays a significant role in their personal and academic lives, particularly as they transition into adulthood and face new...
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Active Listening and Multimodal Communication: Strategies for Understanding and Supporting Unique Needs
You’re going through your workday, and suddenly, the bottom of your foot starts to ache. You stop, untie your shoe, and take it off to see what’s happening. Relief washes over you when your supervisor appears because help has arrived! You start to peel your sock back to show them where you’re...
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Beyond Words: Overcoming Barriers to Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) for Autistic Individuals
Key Points: Speech-language pathologists work to enhance communication and independence in autistic individuals through the use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) AAC tools. Challenges to using AAC include lack of knowledge, negative attitudes, financial and time...
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Enhancing Communication Skills in the Workplace: Strategies for Autistic Employees and Employers
Communication in the workplace is a vital key to increasing employee engagement and allowing new perspectives and voices to be heard. Once a work environment exists where all members of staff feel comfortable communicating, you are likely to see greater innovation, growth, and more effective teams...
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The Problem with Calling Neurominorities “Neurodiverse”
Calling individuals neurodiverse spreads neurodiversity lite. Neurodiversity lite is the pathology paradigm in disguise. The pathology paradigm marginalizes/medicalizes neurominorities. Using the word “neurodiverse” to refer to individual people spreads neurodiversity lite...
