Archive for December, 2009

School and early intervention programs can be wonderful ways for your child to interact positively with others, not to mention, further develop. Because autism is so unique, many parents feel overwhelmed by the prospect of finding appropriate education or associated programs for their children. However, with a little help, choosing the right school for your child can be easy.

If your child is aged three years or younger, it’s best to contact a local Early Intervention Agency. They’ll be able to provide you with all of the appropriate information on getting your child into a program, in addition to a list of various support services that you and your child can take advantage of.

If your child is older than three years, then contact your local school district for information on special education services. Before special education services can be provided for your child, it may be necessary for your child to go through a series of evaluations or assessments. These may range from a parent interview to a unstructured diagnostic play session. Work closely with your school district during this time of assessment and look to gain further insight into your child’s symptoms, strengths, and needs throughout the process. While waiting for results can be frustrating, the assessments can actually be very helpful in planning for other support services.

No matter what your child’s age, remember that he or she is entitled to school and an education. Work closely with support services to determine which school or program will work best for your child’s needs. Moreover, don’t be afraid to ask questions throughout the process! Remember, there are going to be many people around you to help.

In a home where there is an autistic child, love still grows. There’s still a family. There’s still laughter and struggles. And sometimes, there’s also brothers and sisters. If you are the parent of an autistic child and need help dealing with the child’s other siblings when it comes to the challenges presented by autism, try considering some of these strategies.

First of all, remind your children that they are not alone and that every family faces challenges. Autism is a very real challenge for some families in a variety of ways, sometimes financially, other times physically. Challenges associated with autism will vary and can change as time goes on. Make sure that your children are aware that they are not alone on this journey.

Also, encourage your children to be proud of an autistic sibling! Talk to your children openly and make questions about autism feel comfortable. Discuss different matters and try to help your family understand the way that autism works and how it impacts your family. Keep the conversation open and flowing. Explain the nature of what is going on within your family. Moreover, empower your children to discuss autism openly and to not feel embarrassed. Love comes in all shapes in sizes, especially within a family.

Let your child know that it’s okay to feel sad or angry sometimes over the situation, however, remind your child that feeling upset over having an autistic brother or sister doesn’t change the situation; it only makes things feel unhappier. Seek out professional counseling if you feel your child needs something more to deal with the challenge of autism within the home. It’s okay to seek out help when you or your child needs it.

Finally, above all things, encourage love and understanding within your home. Spend time with all of your children both together and individually. Your bonds will only strengthen!

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the symptoms of autism usually improve with treatment, as well as with age. Moreover, it is very common for some autistic children to become more independent as time goes on. Many people with autism will take advantage of various support services as they get older, in order to work successfully and live independently or within a supportive environment.

If you are the parent of an autistic child, do expect for there to be changes in the symptoms of your child’s autism as time goes on. Additionally, expect for there to be changes in the way that you treat and deal with your child’s development. There may be different strategies that may come along as your child grows, not to mention, adjustments will have to be made to suit your child’s specific symptoms. With the right intervention therapies, treatment options, and support, your child can have an incredibly rich life.

The holidays are coming up fast, and chances are, you and your family are going to have to do a bit of traveling. Don’t worry. You can travel with your special needs child without worrying, as long as you prepare yourself before hand. Educate your friends and family members on these important things to consider when traveling with a special needs child:

Routine

Children with autism often respond best to change when it feels like there is no change. Try to adapt your travel plans so that you can stick to some of your everyday routines. Bring along familiar items such as toys, books, pillows or their favorite blanket. It’ll make everyone on the trip feel more comfortable.

Activities

Plan ahead for down time because you never know – you may be stuck with some delays in traveling and you’ll need to entertain your child. Think about what toys or activities you can enjoy with your child should you get caught with a lot of down time.

Practice

Work with your child on practicing different activities that he or she may encounter during traveling. Things like waiting in lines, showing tickets, or getting on and off a bus or plane are just some of the things you can consider. Remember, preparation and practice can help make the transition easier for both you and your child.

Regrouping

Traveling with a special needs child can be challenging for everyone, so plan some time throughout your trip to regroup. If possible find a quiet place to rest. Keep track of how much time you spend in crowded, busy, or noisy places throughout your travel plans. Pace yourself and don’t rush. If you find yourself or your child becoming over stimulated, take the time to settle yourselves before continuing on the next part of your travel plan.

For a child with autism, the world is a fascinating and amazing place filled with a ton of sensations. It’s no wonder that when meal times come, it can be very difficult to ignore all of the other interesting sensations. From the taste of the food to the feeling of the chair he or she is sitting in, there’s just so much to experience. However, this can prove to be frustrating for both parents and children. If you’re having trouble getting your child to sit still at the dinner table, here are a few ways that you can get your child interested in the meal.

First of all, determine the reason why your child isn’t able to sit at the table. Some children may need to do a little physical activity before hand to feel more comfortable at the table. (Trampoline jump, anyone?!) Others may need to do a specific activity before sitting at the table. Using a seating disc or placing a rubber exercise band on the chair legs can provide some sensory input to help restless kids stay seated. Think about what variables are in play when your child refuses to sit at the table during mealtimes and figure out how those variables can be adapted so that you and your child can have a more successful meal time.

Also, remember to reinforce routine with your child during meal times by setting timers or eating meals at the same time every day. This will help both you and your child feel more comfortable and settled. Finally, consider giving your child an activity or a special waiting toy at the table to ensure that he or she can remain occupied and entertained while other at the tables enjoy the meal.

Depending on your child’s place on the spectrum, he or she may have different expectations and experiences during meal time. Work with your child on reinforcing good behavior at the table while still keeping in mind his or her needs. Remember, there’s so much to experience!

A child with autism has a very unique way of seeing the world, and during meal times, it can be easy for your child to feel overwhelmed. Just think about all of the senses that are involved in eating. There’s the taste of the meal, the smells of each dish, the colors of each food, the texture of each bite, the sound of conversation, the feel of the tablecloth…the list goes on and on. When your child sits down to eat, he or she will be experiencing all of these sensations and more – and many times, it can be difficult for him or her to concentrate on eating when there is so much to experience all around him.

These sensory issues are just one of the ways that autism manifests itself, and because autism is a spectrum disorder, sensory experience are going to be different for everyone. Don’t think that your child just doesn’t want to eat or is being fussy. It may just be that he or she is having a hard time sorting out what’s going on in the environment. After all, with so many sensory experiences going on at once, who wouldn’t be overwhelmed?

If your autistic child is having issues with eating, it could be caused by his or her sensory reactions to the environment, the food, and all of the other things that he or she is experiencing during a meal time. The best thing to do is to gather information about your child’s eating habits. What does he or she eat successfully? How, when, and where does this success occur? Consider the sensory variables that are involved in your child’s diet and take a specific look at what foods, with whom, where, when, and how your child eats. Usually, you’ll find that there is some sort of pattern – with either the external environment or the food itself. Finding patterns may ensure that eating is easier for both you and your child.

Your son or daughter has autism and consistently pushes for the same foods at every meal time. Cereal for breakfast. Macaroni and cheese for lunch. Chicken nuggets for dinner. Every day. While a parent may at first interpret this as a child’s personal preference, it’s actually a typical behavior associated with autism often referred to as a food jag.

For children with autism, food jags are incredibly common, however, the circumstances surrounding the jag are different for everyone. Typically, food jags will involve factors like the same foods, same plate, same cup, same fork, or the same way the food is on the plate. Food jags can become incredibly costly and frustrating, and can even sometimes become a serious nutritional issue for a child. As a parent, it’s best to not support your child’s food jags, as in many cases, it’ll eventually lead to the child never going back to that food again.

The best thing that you can do if your child develops a food jag is not to ride it out. Depending on where your child is on the autism spectrum, he or she may develop a jag for weeks, months or even years. It’s important to start exposing your child to small changes immediately. Try changing up the brand of food or the bowl that’s used. Add a little bit of texture to the food, use food color to introduce your child to something different without altering the taste. Switch from chicken to turkey. Add sauces. Anything you can do to change things up, try.

Remember for long term success make the changes gentle and be consistent in introducing changes.