Individuals with ASD can sometimes exhibit a trait of social withdrawal from others. This can appear to be detachment in conjunction with a strong desire for a great deal of alone time.   In contrast, dissociation is marked by a separation of one’s thoughts or personality from a particular environment. All of us experience dissociation at one time or another, such as when we drive on autopilot on our daily commute or daydream during the day. However, dissociation and autism can present several unique challenges. One of these obstacles is catatonia, which is marked by withdrawal from ..read more

When was the last time you took a bite of food and paid attention to the skills you used? You use your lips, tongue, and cheeks to move the food to your teeth, chew it, and move it back to swallow. If this was a difficult experience that made you feel unsafe – would you take another bite? Autism and feeding difficulties are, unfortunately, a lot more common than you’d think. “Picky eating” is often used to describe children who are particular about their food. However, children diagnosed with ASD often present with symptoms more severe than the term suggests. Because of that, we need to unders ..read more

My eight-year-old son with autism still wears diapers or training pants, depending on what’s available. We have tried toilet training, and while he will sometimes go on the potty, it’s still one of the hardest struggles of his life. It can be hard to send him to school knowing how profound his needs are especially when it comes to potty training and diapers. While pushing for toilet training can be a difficult task, it’s important to find the right support system to help your autistic children. But there are things you can do to help your child understand toilet training as they grow into adul ..read more

Have you ever found yourself puzzled, trying to ignite that spark of motivation in your students, particularly when motivating students with autism? You’re certainly not in this alone.  The secret lies in deeply understanding what drives each child. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have a wide range of needs, interests, and developmental challenges, with each child presenting a unique set of challenges and passions.  Let’s explore nine effective strategies to fuel their interest and enhance their learning experience. 1. Understand individual challenges Each kid with autis ..read more

Many children love to cling to a parent. The parents are the first to show unconditional love, making the child feel safe with them. This can be heightened when the child has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. While it’s common for kids to favor parents over other adults, sometimes an autistic child will favor one parent over the other. That leads to some questions, like why the child prefers one parent and what can be done to help the child be more accepting of the other parent. Potential reasons child prefers one parent There are plenty of potential reasons that may affect an auti ..read more

When you are in a loud place, do you cover your ears to try to muffle the sound? Covering your ears can make a loud place more bearable. For children with autism, the need to cover their ears may be more prevalent as places that don’t seem loud to neurotypical people may sound loud to them. Children with autism are more inclined to experience sensory sensitivities, especially when it comes to sounds. Covering their ears can help them avoid sensory overload when a room is too loud for their liking. Understanding the reasons behind covering ears There may be many reasons why autistic children co ..read more

Have you ever walked by someone and heard them talking to themselves? Have you ever noticed self-talk more in children, especially those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder? Why do autistic people seem to talk to themselves more than others? There are many factors influencing self-talk, whether someone is on the autism spectrum or neurotypical. Let’s look at some of those factors and what parents of autistic children should know when their child talks to themselves. What is self-talk? In its simplest definition, self-talk is just how a person talks to themself. It’s their inner voice or in ..read more

The global Autism Parenting Summit is returning in May 2024. Imagine 25,000 attendees, 25+ world-class speakers, 4 informative days, and 1 global event – the Autism Parenting Summit is back! The Summit, hosted by Autism Parenting Magazine, is a free virtual event on May 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th. Doctors, psychologists, educators, advocates, and people on the spectrum will again cover the topics that matter most to autism parents and the larger autism community.  Speakers at the Autism Parenting Summit The lineup includes renowned autism experts such as Dr. Temple Grandin, Dr. Randal ..read more

I started my career as a teacher in a school for children with severe, profound, multiple, and additional needs and then became the Head of Autism for a London Borough. Yet before my own son started school, I had images of picking him up from school, getting a huge cuddle, and spending the afternoon chatting about what he had learned that day.  Utter nonsense! Our reality couldn’t be more different! On a good day, I may get a grunt when I pick him up. My sweet, happy, easy-going little boy turns into the Incredible Hulk after school, and I have a huge target on my back!   But I ..read more

Witnessing a child with autism spectrum disorder engaging in repetitive movements can be a common sight for many parents and caregivers. An autistic child spinning around in circles is a prime example. This behavior, often a form of self-stimulatory behavior or “autistic stimming,” is not a quirk but a meaningful way for the autistic child to regulate sensory input and manage sensory overload. Why do autistic children spin? Autistic people may spin as a way to interact with their environment uniquely, finding comfort and joy in the sensation and control it offers. This behavior is part of a br ..read more