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Helping Youth with Autism and Co-Occurring Low Vision and Blindness
The prevalence of autism has been increasing over the years. The CDC estimates that 1 out of every 44 children has an autism spectrum condition (CDC, 2021). It has changed from a low-incidence disability (i.e., 1 in 10,000) to a more common one. Blindness, on the other hand, is currently considered...
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Telehealth: Is It Right for Parents and Children?
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the availability of telehealth for autism and other developmental disorders has exploded. Now that we are mostly post-pandemic, many parents are asking: “Is telehealth still the right choice for my child’s treatment?” There is no single answer. Below are several...
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Supporting Latine Caregivers of Autistic Children: Community Needs and Perspectives
Latine* caregivers of recently diagnosed children on the autism spectrum have unique needs and face unique challenges in supporting their children (Blacher et al., 2019). Latine families report feeling overwhelmed, confused, and concerned with information about the incidence of autism, the...
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From Parent to Advocate: My Mission to Help Other Families
When my son Oliver was about nine months old, I noticed some milestone delays. I also realized that he had a tic. He would get very excited - wailing - when he saw something that caught his attention. It was also around that time that I knew I had to quickly become his advocate. Naturally, I...
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Creating a Summer Routine: Enriching (And Fun!) Activities for Children With Disabilities
Summer is a time of fun in the sun and making new memories. Although my children are now grown, I distinctly remember the days when they could not wait for their summer break to begin. As a parent, this time of year brought both feelings of excitement and apprehension. I wondered how I would...
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Understanding and Resolving Conflict in Divorce Involving Autistic Children
Divorce is complicated enough, but when there is a child with autism or other disability involved, it takes things to another level. I should know. I unexpectedly faced divorce after 21 years of marriage, and it took incredible amounts of time, money, and emotional energy to get through the...
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The Importance of Special Needs Trusts for Children with Autism
When my child with ASD and intellectual disability was young, I had no idea what tomorrow would bring, much less what would happen years from now, when I would no longer be there. My son’s behaviors were anxiety-provoking enough without me having to lie awake at night thinking about the future....
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Navigating the Legal Rights and Entitlements for Your Student with Autism
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is the federal law that governs the education of children with disabilities, including autism. Congress’ purpose in passing IDEA 48 years ago was to open the school doors for children with disabilities and provide them “a free appropriate...
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“It’s Special” Podcast with Tracey Spencer Walsh, Esq. and Cecelia McCarton, MD
Tracey Spencer Walsh is the Founder and Chief Litigation Strategist of Spencer Walsh Law, PLLC and is also the creator and host of the podcast, “It’s Special.” The “It’s Special” podcast takes a vast amount of information in the realm of special needs - sometimes too...
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The Power and Potential of the IEP
To address the inequity of limiting special needs children from obtaining an appropriate public education, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) was implemented in 1975 across the United States school systems. The IEP is an educational road map for children with disabilities. It is required by...
