Editor’s Letter

I try to avoid making sweeping statements, but

SUBSCRIBE TO Autism Parenting Magazine

for the price of one cafe latte per month

Social Behavior and Autism: Can Social Skills Be Taught?

SOCIAL BEHAVIOR CAN OFTEN BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN PEOPLE ON THE SPECTRUM COMPARED TO NEUROTYPICALS, BUT CAN, AND SHOULD, MORE ACCEPTED SOCIAL SKILLS BE ADAPTED AND TAUGHT?

Eye Contact: it’s not Easy for ASD Kids

EYE CONTACT AVOIDANCE IS AN ISSUE THAT TROUBLES MANY PARENTS WITH CHILDREN ON THE SPECTRUM. SHOULD YOUR CHILD WITH AUTISM BE ENCOURAGED TO MAKE EYE CONTACT; AND HOW SHOULD THE CHILD’S AVOIDANCE BE MANAGED WITHOUT INDUCING ANXIETY OR STRESS? THESE AND OTHER CONTROVERSIAL QUESTIONS ARE SOMETIMES ANSWERED WITH A NARROW, NEUROTYPICAL VIEW

Social Skills: The Reason Behind the Lesson

A PSYCHOLOGIST AND THERAPIST EXPLAIN THE BENEFITS OF TEACHING YOUR CHILD THE REASON FOR SOCIAL SKILLS AND CONCEPTS, IN AN INTEREST-BASED MANNER

Social Hacks from a “Neurodiverse” Mom

AN UNDIAGNOSED NEURODIVERGENT MOM SHARES HER TOP TIPS FOR NAVIGATING SOCIAL SKILLS AND BEHAVIORS IN A NEUROTYPICAL WORLD

Managing Your Child’s Incontinence

CHILDREN WITH AUTISM OFTEN EXPERIENCE INCONTINENCE, DUE TO COMMON DELAYS IN POTTY TRAINING. HERE ARE SOME TIPS AND IDEAS TO HELP PARENTS MANAGE INCONTINENCE IN THEIR LITTLE ONES

Helping Children on the Spectrum with Bedwetting

MANY CHILDREN ARE PRONE TO WETTING THE BED, BUT IT CAN BE PARTICULARLY CHALLENGING FOR KIDS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM. HERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS TO HELP TACKLE THE ISSUE

Eight Years Old Going on Two

AN AUTISM MOM REFLECTS ON HER SON’S PROGRESS AND JOURNEY THROUGH SENSORY, COMMUNICATION, AND SOCIAL CHALLENGES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS

There’s No Comparison Between Combat Stress and Autism Parenting Stress

A RETIRED U.S. ARMY COMBAT VETERAN AND AUTISM DAD COMPARES HIS EXPE- RIENCES IN THE MILITARY WITH RAISING HIS CHILD

Finding a Teacher to Thank

A FATHER SHARES A MESSAGE OF THANKS TO A TEACHER WHO HAD A VERY SPECIAL IMPACT ON HIS AUTISTIC SON

How to Ask Clearer Questions and Give Better Instructions to Autistic Children

CAREGIVERS OFTEN FOCUS ON BUILDING THEIR CHILDREN’S COMMUNICATION SKILLS, BUT HERE’S WHY IT’S ALSO VITAL FOR PARENTS TO ENSURE THEIR OWN INSTRUCTIONS ARE CLEAR

Autism Teaching Strategies for Home and in the Classroom

CHILDREN ON THE SPECTRUM HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO LEARNING. TEACHING LIFE AND SOCIAL SKILLS MAY NEED AN APPROACH TAILORED TO THE NEURODIVERGENT MIND. WHETHER YOUR CHILD IS BEING TAUGHT AT HOME OR SCHOOL, TEACHING STRATEGIES FOR AUTISTIC KIDS MAY LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT…

Five Things Parents Can Do to Help Their Child’s IEP

AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST OFFERS ADVICE TO HELP PARENTS NAVIGATE THE CONFUSING WORLD OF INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Preschool for Children with Autism: Questions to Consider

TWO EDUCATORS SHARE ADVICE FOR PARENTS OF KIDS ON THE SPECTRUM FOR CHOOSING THE BEST PRESCHOOL PROGRAM TO FIT THEIR NEEDS

Scientific Underpinnings of Kinesthetic Learning

READ ON TO DISCOVER HOW THEMATIC MATHEMATICAL AND LANGUAGE LEARNING INVOLVING KINESTHETIC AND TACTILE STIMULATION CAN WORK WONDERS FOR KIDS ON THE SPECTRUM

Autistic Children and Their Special Interests

MANY AUTISTIC CHILDREN HAVE INTENSE PASSIONS OR HOBBIES, SO LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT SPECIAL INTERESTS TRULY ARE, AND HOW THEY CAN BE UTILIZED TO A CHILD’S ADVANTAGE

How Important is the Right Environment for People on the Spectrum?

AN AUTISM EXPERT LOOKS AT THE PROCESS OF ASSESSING AND CREATING THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM

Here’s to the Children Who Don’t Quite Fit

Here’s to the children who don’t quite fit

What is Relationship Development Intervention (RDI)?

FOR SOME FAMILIES, AT-HOME THERAPY, LED BY PARENTS AS PRIMARY THERAPISTS, BECAME A NECESSITY DURING LOCKDOWN. RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT INTER- VENTION IS A HOME-BASED, POTENTIALLY EFFECTIVE TREATMENT THAT MAY HELP PARENTS PROMOTE DYNAMIC INTELLIGENCE, SOCIAL SKILLS, AND FLEXIBILITY IN THEIR AUTISTIC CHILDREN

How Internal Fear May Affect Behavior

A DOCTOR’S DISCUSSION OF HOW FEAR WITHIN THE BRAIN CAN HAVE A VISIBLE IM- PACT ON A CHILD’S BEHAVIOR

Is it Time to Reevaluate Standards of Care for Children With Autism?

A BEHAVIOR ANALYST SHARES HIS VIEW THAT THE PANDEMIC REVEALED LONGSTANDING LIMITATIONS TO APPLIED BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS (ABA) THERAPY FOR CHILDREN ON THE SPECTRUM

Michael Tanzer: Believe in Your Child

MEET MICHAEL TANZER, A YOUNG MAN ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM INSPIRING OTHERS TO ACCEPT AUTISM AS PART OF WHO THEY ARE, AND LOVE THEMSELVES FULLY

Consider a Trust to Ensure Financial Security for Your Child with Autism

PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH AN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD) SHARE A UNI- VERSAL CONCERN FROM THE DAY THEIR CHILD IS DIAGNOSED… HOW WILL THEIR CHILD BE CARED FOR WHEN THEY ARE UNABLE OR CAN NO LONGER PROVIDE SUCH CARE?