A Message to Parents

Dear Parents, I am finally back after a long silence for almost two years. It is very hard to disengage myself from thinking and writing about...

Posts Tagged ‘flexibility’

How To Deal With Stubborness Or Oppositional Defiant Behavior

How To Deal With Stubborness Or Oppositional Defiant Behavior

By Nadia Shanab | autism, general advice, parenting, tips

If you are expecting your child or students to consistently comply, obey, agree, and follow your directions every time you ask her, you must be dreaming. This is just so unrealistic. Whether your child/student is on the autism spectrum or not, it is unlikely that you’ll to be listened to all the time. Parents and

How To Respond To The Question: Am I A Special Ed Student?

How To Respond To The Question: Am I A Special Ed Student?

By Nadia Shanab | autism, general advice, parenting, tips

Anecdote I was shadowing a student with autism from a Special Day Class (SDC) in a mainstream class for Math subject. The student looked around scanning the faces of all the students surrounding her. With confused and lost eyes the student looked at me and asked: “Am I a special ed student?” She was loud enough

Simple Tips To Make Your Child Enjoy School

Simple Tips To Make Your Child Enjoy School

By Nadia Shanab | autism, general advice, parenting, tips

Your child spends a good part of her day in school. To maximize the benefits from this time in school here are some simple tips to be shared with your child’s teacher. Parents and school’s staff’s cooperation will achieve best results. Sensory integration issues can be overwhelming. If your child have very sensitive ears to

More Traveling Tips

More Traveling Tips

By Nadia Shanab | autism, general advice, parenting, tips

In addition to the tips you can find in the posts Traveling Tips and Traveling By Plane With A Child With Autism here are some more. If noise is your child’s main problem remember to get her noise canceling headphones. If your child has a sensitive nose take some masks to cover her nose. If

A New Tool To Help Police Tailor A Response To Those With Special Needs

By Nadia Shanab | autism, general advice, parenting, tips

If you have a child with autism or other developmental disability make sure to find out if your community has this tool available. This amazing resource is already at people’s service in Brunswick, Maine, since three years ago. Call your local police department to find out. How to deal with a temper tantrum? It is

8 Tips For Moving A Child With Autism To A New Home

By Nadia Shanab | autism, general advice, parenting, tips

Moving during summer breaks is very common!  Summer is the longest break from school. It is actually great for transitions. Kids move from one classroom to another and move from one grade to another. That implies having new neighbors, classmates, teachers, transportation system, maybe weather, and many more… So, if parents have to move, it

Traveling Tips

Traveling Tips

By Nadia Shanab | autism, general advice, parenting, tips

Make sure your child has some interest in the destination you have decided to spend your vacation at. Museums and scientific sites can be too boring for your 3 or 4 years old. Choose age appropriate activities. Sensory integration issues and allergies are very important factors to be taken into consideration. Too hot, too humid,

Traveling By Plane With A Child With Autism

By Nadia Shanab | autism, general advice, parenting, tips

Traveling with a child with autism by plane can be very challenging. If you have decided to fly for your summer vacation, make sure you are well-prepared. Try to make the experience of traveling by airplane a positive and memorable one for your child with ASD. Airline companies are now competing and making more effort

A Parent Of A Child Recently Diagnosed With Autism?

By Nadia Shanab | autism, general advice, parenting, tips

You have just been told the final word: “your child has autism”.  Now all the doubts have vanished, suspicions are confirmed, and confusion took over to rule your mind. You are probably shocked, mad, you have tens of questions chasing you, you are simply feeling lost. Now sadness, depression, and anxiety will follow in line.

Handwriting vs. Keyboarding

Handwriting vs. Keyboarding

By Nadia Shanab | autism, general advice, parenting, tips

When was the last time you had to turn in a handwritten assignment at school, college or at work, or even a personal letter? I don’t recall where else do we use a pen other than to write a greeting card or a birthday card? People walk around with their mobile phones, mini tablets, and