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“Reflecting on the Journey” – A Retreat for Parents of Autistic Family Members
This past year marked the 25th anniversary year of our annual weekend retreat for parents of young and adult autistic individuals. This innovative family support activity has become a highlight of the year for us, and for many of the approximately 60 parents of autistic family members who join us...
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Services for the UnderServed’s Positive Psychology Approach to Serving People in Crisis and Their Families
Since 2016, Service for the UnderServed’s START/CSIDD (Crisis Services for Individuals with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities) Program offers crisis prevention and response services to people who have both developmental disabilities and complex behavioral needs and their families and...
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The Invisible Struggle: Autism Diagnosis in Immigrant Families
According to Constance Baker Motley, the first Black woman elected to the New York State Senate in 1964, “something which we think is impossible now is not impossible in another decade.” About 11 years back when I was graduating as a Doctor of Social Work, I held similar thoughts for the...
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Empowering Caregivers Through an Innovative Peer Navigator Program
After a child receives an autism diagnosis, caregivers begin to look for appropriate services and supports. This journey requires them to navigate a very complicated service system. Caregivers are usually tasked with coordinating their children’s medical, educational, and community-based services...
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Listening is Key to Supporting Families and Caregivers and Leads to Better Outcomes
Supporting families and caregivers is a lifelong learning process as children and young adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) typically undergo many changes. When providing workshops to families about accessing services, I began to consider the question of how we can support them further, as...
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Supporting Caregivers During the Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic drastically changed the lives of many. Beginning in March 2020, many became immediately isolated, experiencing increased stress and anxiety. Parents caring for children of all ages were impacted by these variables the most. It is already known that parenting is a stressful...
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CDC Launches COVID-19 Resources for People With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Care Providers
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unique challenges for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). To address them, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) created a COVID-19 toolkit with communication resources explaining in plain language how people with IDD...
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Crisis Management in Children with Autism and First Responders
Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are more likely to engage in challenging behavior than their neurotypical peers. Severity of these behaviors range from mild to very severe and include topographies such as aggression, self-injury, destructive behavior, pica, and elopement...
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Identifying Why Challenging Behavior Occurs: Tips for Prevention
Children with autism often display higher rates of challenging behaviors, including non-compliance, aggression, self-injurious behavior, and socially inappropriate behavior such as disrobing in public, when compared to typically developing peers (Holden & Gitlesen, 2006). It can be difficult...
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Accessory Dwelling Units Offer More Housing Options and Keep Loved Ones with Disabilities Close to Home
Moving out of a family home is often one of the biggest decisions in a young person’s life, representing a turn towards independence and a chance to create their own space in the world. While this is a big step for any individual, it can be especially challenging for individuals with...
