Navigating Autistic Burnout as an Autistic Parent

• By: Danielle Aubin, LCSW My Autistic Therapist
• October 2nd, 2023
• actually autistic, anxiety, autistic burnout, autistic parents, burnout, Fall 2023 Issue, neurodivergence, neurodivergent children, parenting, preventing burnout, recovery, rest, self-awareness, self-care, self-compassion, setting boundaries, support
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Being an autistic parent is hard. When your kids are also neurodivergent, this can make life even more challenging when trying to navigate everyone’s complex, often diametrically opposed needs. When we need space, a lot of the time our children need connection and closeness, and we can become...

Anderson Family Partners: Extended Family, Redefined

• By: Marybeth Cale Cale Communications Estuary Coaching
• October 2nd, 2023
• advocacy, caregivers, communication, community, Fall 2023 Issue, families, family support, quality of life, relationships, support groups
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For Colleen Contreni, Family Liaison at Anderson Center for Autism, the concept of ‘extended family’ has long inspired her work. “I have always been a very family-oriented person, and this role at Anderson is a reminder that by cultivating a spirit of kinship among parents, caregivers, and...

Your Child Has Just Been Diagnosed with Autism – Now What?

• By: Ann-Marie Sabrsula, MS The Arc Westchester Children’s School for Early Development
• October 2nd, 2023
• accessing services, advocating needs, autism diagnosis, building partnerships, coping strategies, early intervention, Fall 2023 Issue, managing stress, multi-modal approach, parent support groups, processing emotions, self-care, support network, tailored treatment
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Every family has their own personal journey towards an autism diagnosis for their child. Whether it brings the confirmation of what may have been suspected or the news of something completely unexpected, the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder can have a significant impact on a family. Like the...

Harnessing Technology to Support Individuals with Autism and Their Families

• By: Karen Lindgren, PhD Bancroft
• October 2nd, 2023
• AI, apps, artificial intelligence, Fall 2023 Issue, innovation, partnerships, personalized interventions, technology, virtual reality
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We are in a moment of limitless possibilities. Tech innovation is the new zeitgeist, and its development and growth are moving bewilderingly fast. With it comes possibilities to provide the best care and the best outcomes for those living with autism and their families. For providers largely...

Managing Feeding and Toileting Challenges in Children with Autism

• By: Bianca Coleman, PhD, NCSP, BCBA-D Behavior Therapy Associates
• October 2nd, 2023
• accidents, bathroom, caregivers, co-occurring conditions, data collection, diet, eating, Fall 2023 Issue, feeding, gastrointestinal concerns, health, intervention, nutrition, toilet training, toileting
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Challenges with toilet training (e.g., frequent accidents, withholding urine or feces) and eating (e.g., food selectivity, getting sufficient nutritional intake) may have a significant impact on the child’s functioning in the home, school, community, and social events. These issues often impact...

Supporting Families to Prepare Students to Be Participating Members of Their Community

• By: Dianne Zager, PhD Carly Werner, MEd, MS Boca School for Autism
• October 2nd, 2023
• committee engagement, community integration, cultural appreciation, customized instruction, education, Fall 2023 Issue, family, home-school communication, improved outcomes, information gathering, parent involvement, school, self-determination, student potential, teacher-parent collaboration, teachers, transition to adulthood
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For over five decades, I’ve had the privilege of serving students with autism and developmental disabilities and their families. I’ve been employed as a teacher, administrator, professor, consultant, and advocate in public, private, nonprofit, and for-profit settings, working in preschools,...

Autism Without Fear: An Autism School Seeks Behavioral Health…Through Humanism

• By: Michael John Carley New York University Connections ASD Program
• October 2nd, 2023
• ABA-induced trauma, actually autistic, applied behavior analysis, autism school, behavior correction, culture change, discrete trials, Fall 2023 Issue, humane intervention, humanism, mental health, SCERTS, self-regulating behavior, transition from ABA to SCERTS, trauma-informed care
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Disclaimer: This past year I consulted for the League School of Greater Boston, the school that is the subject of this piece. I worked with their students on a self-advocacy curriculum, and I’ve also presented for the school on separate occasions. Seeing what they are attempting up close demanded...

Telehealth: Is It Right for Parents and Children?

• By: Doreen Samelson, EdD, MSCP Catalight
• October 2nd, 2023
• access to care, behavioral health treatment, children, convenience, Fall 2023 Issue, family, research, stress, telehealth, treatment, wellbeing
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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...

Helping Families with Disabilities Transition from Child to Adult Systems of Care

• By: Amy Kelly, MBA, MNM Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health
• October 2nd, 2023
• ABLE account, community programming, day programs, Fall 2023 Issue, families, financial planning, guardianship, special needs trust, supplemental security income, systems of care, transition to adulthood, waiver funding
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Having a child diagnosed with a lifelong disability is like planning a trip to one country, but unexpectedly arriving in a different country (read Emily Perl Kingsley’s essay Welcome to Holland). Just imagine, you have nothing packed that would make the trip easier or more comfortable, and you do...

Supporting Latine Caregivers of Autistic Children: Community Needs and Perspectives

• By: Roxana Rodriguez, MA Ana D. Dueñas, PhD, BCBA-D San Diego State University College of Education Department of Special Education
• October 2nd, 2023
• children, community advocacy, cultural stigma, culturally adapted interventions, delayed diagnosis, Fall 2023 Issue, familismo, family resilience, intersectionality, Latine caregivers, Latine community
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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...