A bright grocery store may seem normal to one child, but for an autistic child, it can feel like walking into a room full of flashing signs, loud colors, moving people, and lights that will not turn off. Research shows that sensory differences are very common in autism. It is very common for 90 percent of autistic people to have
Parenting can feel beautiful, exhausting, confusing, and deeply emotional all at once. Many parents want a close, healthy bond with their child, but stress, conflict, and daily pressure can get in the way. In a recent report, 41% of parents reported that stress led to them not being able to fully perform most of the days and 48% reported that
Introduction: Why Toy Messes Can Mean More Than “Messy Play” Does your child dump toys, spread them across the floor, line them up, or move quickly from one toy to the next? There is increased interest from many families for more information about play, behavior, communication and daily routines. There are many reasons that toy messes occur. A child might
Introduction: Compassionate, Evidence-Based Support for Your Child’s Growth Have you ever wondered what your child is trying to communicate through behaviors, frustration, or difficulty expressing needs? Children may have communication, social interaction or daily living difficulties and families can benefit from compassionate and evidence-based support. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is a highly studied method to assist children in learning
RBT Vs. BCBA: Understanding the Key Differences If you are looking into ABA therapy for your child or exploring a career in applied behavior analysis, you have probably come across the terms RBT and BCBA. While both play important roles in ABA services, they have different responsibilities. An RBT (Registered Behavior Technician) supports clients and implements treatment plans within therapy
What would help you feel confident about the people supporting your child through ABA therapy? As families start ABA, they may be seeking assurance that professionals are qualified, respectful and ethical in their care of their child. In many ways, questions around issues of trust, privacy, communication and professional conduct are as significant as questions about treatment goals and progress.
Introduction: Understanding Autism Scripting as Meaningful Communication A child repeats a movie line during dinner. Another of them says the same cartoon saying when worried. Parents might think, “Is it a question or is he ignoring me?” Repeated words and familiar phrases for many autistic kids are more than a repetition. They can serve as means of communicating, expressing emotions,
No. Not all autistic children are nonverbal. Some autistic children speak in full sentences. Some use short phrases. Some repeat words or scripts. Some use gestures, pictures, signs or communication devices. Some do not use words to express themselves, but communicate nonetheless. Speech is just one part of communication and autism is a spectrum. One kid might be very verbal,
When Silence Does Not Mean Ignoring Did you ask your child to put on shoes, clean up toys, or answer a simple question, only to get silence back? That’s when many parents start to feel anxious. Some wonder, “Did my child hear me?” Others may think their child is ignoring them. Actually, in many instances, the actual problem is much