You think you know your child well. Absolutely you know her/him well in certain settings. School is a highly structured setting compared to any other setting. School setting puts some pressure on the child because there are a minimum requirements of discipline expected from each student. Ask for an in-class observation as well as play

In a previous entry I explained the importance of a daily schedule. Now I will show you how to build your own magnetic schedule, which will look like this: Before I explain how to make a physical magnetic schedule (the most effective I’ve ever used), here are some rules that I would like to talk

A new school year is around the corner and about to start! Parents and educators are you ready? Here are some tips to help you get off on the right foot. Bear in mind, there are three main goals in raising and educating children with autism that we are working on: Independence Improve Social Skills Improve Communication

The proverb says: The dog is man’s best friend. Dogs are loyal and they love their masters unconditionally (I prefer to use the word masters over owners). They communicate without language, and understand the body language. If your child doesn’t talk or has poor verbal skills she/he can still have a social life. A dog

Here are 31 tips for teachers, educators, aides, and parents to work more effectively with children on the autism spectrum. General tips Always think SAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY! This is the top priority when working with children, and especially special needs kids. Greet the student first by saying her/his name when she/he comes in. “Johnny! Good

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

A UMass pediatrician in Boston, U.S. has developed a new test to diagnose autism in children as young as 18 months. It is a game-like test that takes only 10 minutes. Eye contact, social skills, and communication skills are some of the factors to be tested. It is never enough to emphasize the importance of

Dr. Karen Parker: “Autistic children who had the lowest levels of the  hormone vasopressin (similar to oxytocin) in their blood also had the greatest social impairment.” This research was  published July 22, 2015 in PLOS ONE. This finding gives hope that treating low levels of vasopressin in kids with autism, may improve social impairment and

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

“When you intervene early in a child’s life, you can make a big difference. We hope this translates to a higher quality of life for people with autism spectrum disorder,” said lead author, Annette Estes, of the new study, and director of the University of Washington Autism Center. The study is about Early Start Denver