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The Power of Accountability in Autism and Wellness
The right course of action in life is usually a mean between two extremes. For example, if I am a student who wants to do well in school, my path runs between the opposing extremes of not studying on the one hand and consistently pulling all-nighters with the books on the other. And if this...
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Navigating Health as an Autistic Picky Eater
Like most, if not virtually all autistics, I lived with a variety of sensory sensitivities my entire life. As a child, I was extremely averse to certain visual stimuli (particularly camera flashes), specific kinds of sounds, and the motion of an elevator. Luckily, these subsided as I got older. Two...
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Mindfulness and Meditation Practices for Stress Reduction
Founded in 1978, Services for the UnderServed (S:US) works with over 37,000 individuals and families throughout New York City to create pathways to rich and productive lives by offering housing, employment, skills-building, treatment, and recovery services.1 S:US provides support in the areas of...
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A Wellness Incentive to Empower Health and Community
There is a plethora of research that has documented the importance of physical activity and wellness interventions specific to the neurodivergent population. A recent meta-analysis of 22 studies that included 763 young adults with ASD indicated that physical activity interventions improved the...
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The Profound Impact of Holistic Wellness on Individuals with Autism and Developmental Disabilities
Individuals with autism and developmental disabilities face unique challenges in maintaining their physical and emotional well-being. Sensory sensitivities, communication barriers, and co-occurring conditions often contribute to heightened stress, anxiety, and sedentary lifestyles. These challenges...
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Empowering Safety: A Foundation for Physical Health and Emotional Wellness for Autistic Individuals
Safety is often seen as a way to avoid harm, but it is much more than that. Safety is a cornerstone of physical health and emotional wellness, especially for people on the autism spectrum. It provides the foundation needed to navigate life’s challenges, build independence, and maintain a sense of...
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The Importance of Outdoor Recreation: A Pathway to Wellness and Skill Development
Hippocrates said, “Nature itself is the best physician.” In our work with young adults on the autism spectrum to help them develop the skills to live independently, we follow the ancient Greek physician's advice and ensure that nature plays a crucial role in their growth and...
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Fostering a Healthy Workplace Requires a Holistic Approach
Our home lives have invaded our workspaces, and vice-versa. The whole person, not just the employee, shows up at work, and likewise, it’s not just mom or dad who shows up at home. Because of the pandemic’s significant impact on employee work-life balance, employers can no longer assume...
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Analyzing Health Informatics to Ensure Safety and Wellness
As the amount of data recorded in classrooms continues to expand, so, too, does the opportunity for individual, organizational, and systemic improvements informed by that data. One area of increasing focus is the collection and analysis of health and wellness data, collectively known as health...
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Let’s Get Physical: Exercise and Health Issues in Adults with Autism
The research is clear: autistic adults are spending way too much time on the couch. While children with autism may flourish by taking advantage of numerous opportunities for group exercise and team sports, these activities become increasingly scarce after they “age out” of school at age 21....
