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The Trauma of Relocation: Understanding the Autistic Experience
My military family moved house seven to eight times by the time I turned 8, and 11 times before I was 18. I didn’t yet have a diagnosis of Autism or ADHD, but I was diagnosed with Dyslexia and related learning disabilities at age 7 and had started special education. Then we moved. I don’t...
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Early Intervention and Its Lifelong Impact: Kyle’s Story
There is a growing body of research documenting the positive impact early intervention has on the lives of individuals on the autism spectrum. The research spans over 25 years of practice and has demonstrated improvements in IQ, language, adaptive behavior, social communication, cognitive and daily...
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Identifying and Understanding Risk Factors for Sexual Victimization in Women with Autism Spectrum Disorder
While individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) report similar levels of interest in romantic connections to their neurotypical peers (Hancock et al., 2016; Fernandes et al., 2016), autistic individuals may experience more difficulty establishing and maintaining healthy and safe relationships...
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When the Going Gets Tough: How to Foster Safety and Stability During Challenging Situations
The journey through autism and disabilities is certainly complex – filled with excitement and achievements, as well as challenges and uncertainty. Some challenges may relate directly to the disabilities themselves, such as navigating insurance denials for essential therapies or medications,...
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Beyond Fun: How Summer Programs Build Executive Function, Social Confidence, and Independence
Summertime has so much potential. With more flexible schedules and a break from traditional classes, your student can focus on what matters most in their season of development. Autistic elementary age children and middle schoolers may benefit from additional focus on building or practicing social...
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We Can Get Through This – How Autistic Individuals Can Cope with Massive Burnout
It is not surprising that burnout is one of the toughest things that autistics face in their lives. Granted, each autistic suffers from burnout differently, but it is a difficult situation nonetheless. Burnout can affect the ability to cope with sensory sensitivities, manage executive...
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Using Physical Management in Safety Care: The Struggles of Group Home Direct Support Staff
Group homes often serve as critical places for individuals with developmental disabilities, like autism spectrum disorder (ASD), who require specialized support and care (JEDU Care Services, n.d.). The individuals responsible for this support, known as Direct Support Staff, work on the front lines,...
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Leadership in Action: Dr. Isaac Mawuko Adusu’s Impact on Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
In a significant stride toward enhancing care for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, Dr. Isaac Mawuko Adusu, author of the article “Using Physical Management in Safety Care: The Struggles of Group Home Direct Support Staff,” published in this edition of the Autism Spectrum...
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Fostering Safety and Stability for Autistic Adults During the Transition from College to Career
For many young adults, the shift from college to career is a time of excitement and possibility. But for autistic adults, it can also bring a unique set of challenges, especially when systems of support that existed in educational settings begin to fall away. Without intentional planning,...
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Co-Occurring Conditions in Autism: Understanding the Overlap with Anxiety, Depression, and More
For many individuals on the autism spectrum, navigating life often involves managing more than just the core characteristics of autism. Co-occurring conditions — also known as comorbidities — are extremely common. These overlapping conditions can complicate diagnosis and care, especially for...
