Navigating the Sandwich Generation: My Personal Journey as a Neurodivergent Entrepreneur, Mother, and Daughter

• By: Michelle Markman ND Coach, Inc.
• October 2nd, 2023
• actually autistic, coaching, diagnosis acceptance, entrepreneurship, Fall 2023 Issue, family, motherhood, neurodiversity, parenting, personal story, relationships, sandwich generation
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I am a sandwich generation mother and daughter; I can attest to our unique challenges. I have the added challenge of a disability, or as I like to refer to it, a unique neurotype. Despite growing up thinking I was a neurotypical person who was just unlikeable or “weird,” I have always been...

How to Overcome Dental Health Challenges for Children with Autism

• By: Jessica Sassi, PhD, BCBA-D, LABA The New England Center for Children (NECC)
• October 2nd, 2023
• anxiety, behavioral concerns, community partnerships, dental care, dental desensitization, dental skills curriculum, dental visits, dentist, Fall 2023 Issue, improved access to care, in-house dental clinic, mock dental suite, oral health disparities, oral hygiene, quality of life, sensory overload
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Dental visits can be difficult, if not impossible, for children and teens with autism and developmental disabilities. These challenges can preclude important preventative care that impacts underlying health issues. In these situations, dental care also becomes a quality-of-life issue - not only...

Supporting Families and Caregivers Through a Highly Skilled Workforce: Training with Compassion to Produce Best Outcomes

• By: Jennifer Ruane, MS, BCBA, LPC, CDE Jennifer Flanders, MEd, BCBA, LABA Jill Harper, PhD, BCBA-D, LABA, CDE Melmark
• October 2nd, 2023
• behavior skills training, caregiver training, clinician-caregiver feedback loop, collaborative practices, compassionate care, cultural humility, evidence-based practices, Fall 2023 Issue, integrated treatment plans, interpersonal skills, lifelong learning, performance feedback, social validity, therapeutic relationships, treatment adherence
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Effective ABA services do not occur in isolation. We, as behavior analysts, are part of a larger team including those we serve, stakeholders, and other professionals. In fact, our code of ethics outlines that services provided extend to team members such as caregivers (BACB, 2020). While effective...

Self-Care is Not Selfish: The Important Role Self-Care Plays in Promoting Good Outcomes in Autistic Individuals

• By: Suzanne Muench, MSS, LCSW Melmark
• October 2nd, 2023
• burnout, caregivers, Fall 2023 Issue, family training, health and wellness, resource sharing, self-care, self-regulation
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Self-care is one of those buzzword phrases that often goes in one ear and promptly out the other. Well-meaning clinicians, and even the latest podcast gurus, talk about prioritizing self-care in a world that is constantly demanding more and more of your time and energy as a family member. We are in...

Advance Your Career with the Synchrony Tech Scholarship for Autistic Adults

• By: Courtney Carroll Hire Autism, A Program of the Organization for Autism Research
• October 2nd, 2023
• certifications, confidence, employment, Fall 2023 Issue, job satisfaction, professional development, scholarship, skill development, technology careers, training programs
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The demand for professional certifications has significantly increased in recent years, especially for IT and technical positions. This increased demand has led many job applicants towards continuous learning and professional development prior to and during employment. A 2020 IT Skills and...

A Mother’s Journey Advocating for Her Child’s Autism Diagnosis and What Fellow Educators Can Learn

• By: Shelley Hughes, OTR Pearson Clinical Assessments
• October 2nd, 2023
• access to resources, advocacy, assessments, diagnosis, diagnosis equity, early detection, early intervention, education, Fall 2023 Issue, improved outcomes, mental health, parents, racial disparities, research, screening, socioeconomic disparities, teachers, underdiagnosis of females
• 1381    0

As a registered occupational therapist (OTR) and Director of Portfolio Management and Delivery at Pearson Clinical Assessment, I have extensive experience working with students who have been diagnosed with a variety of conditions. And as a mom of an autistic daughter, I understand on a personal...

Supporting Immigrant Parents (Now U.S. Citizens) In Navigating Services for Autistic Children

• By: Trudy Ann Pines, EdD AHRC New York City’s Middle/High School
• October 2nd, 2023
• Fall 2023 Issue, family engagement, immigrants, language barrier, multilingual support, parent counseling, parent training, parents, school, transition workshops
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There has been an increase in the prevalence of childhood disability worldwide. One in six children, ages 3-17, has recently been diagnosed with a developmental disability.1 Parenting children with a disability poses challenges for all parents, although immigrant parents experience more...

“Reflecting on the Journey” – A Retreat for Parents of Autistic Family Members

• By: Barry M. Prizant, PhD, CCC-SLP Childhood Communication Services, University of Rhode Island Elaine C. Meyer, PhD, RN Harvard Medical School Barbara Domingue, MEd Community Autism Resources
• October 2nd, 2023
• caregivers, community building, emotional support, Fall 2023 Issue, family support, fun, improved relationships, parenting challenges, parents, reflection, respite, rest, retreat, self-care, social support networking, stress management, stress relief
• 1894    2

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...

Supporting Families in ABA Programs with Compassion and Sensitivity

• By: Bobbi Rogers Proud Moments ABA
• October 2nd, 2023
• ABA, applied behavior analysis, compassion, Fall 2023 Issue, family tips, parents and caregivers, sensitive language, therapist tips
• 1899    0

Imagine the feeling of expecting a child. You dream for your child, wonder what they will be like, wonder if they will be funny or smart, outgoing, or quiet. You wonder about a lot of things, but you don’t wonder whether they will ever learn to talk. You don’t wonder if they will ever have a...

The Role of Compassion in Professional ABA Services Relationships

• By: Howard Savin, PhD Michael Reid, PhD, PsyD, QABA Global Autism Initiative
• October 2nd, 2023
• ABA, active listening skills, applied behavior analysis, culturally sensitive support, developing therapeutic relationships, education, empathic relationships, Fall 2023 Issue, family empowerment, hope, nonverbal communication, online parent education, unequal access to services
• 620    0

“Phenomenology or phenomenological psychology, a sub-discipline of psychology, is the scientific study of subjective experiences. It is an approach to psychological subject matter that attempts to explain experiences from the point of view of the subject via the analysis of their written or...