A Parent Of A Child Recently Diagnosed With Autism?
By Nadia Shanab | autism, general advice, parenting, tipsYou 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.
The Three Major Goals: Independence, Communication, Socialization
By Nadia Shanab | autism, general advice, parenting, tipsParents and educators, there are many goals you wish you could achieve all at once, as you raise or educate a child with autism. This is a forceful positive attitude! I am not asking you to abandon your dreams and wishes. All I am saying is, prioritize your dreams and wishes. Most importantly, know that
Have You Planned For Your Child’s Summer break Yet? (Part 1)
By Nadia Shanab | autism, general advice, parenting, tipsIn the two posts Home-Schooling and A Special Interest Is Power I talked about the importance of encouraging individuals with autism, and special needs in general, to practice and develop their special interests and talents. The summer break, in particular, is a great time to do so. First, it is the longest break of the
10 Tips For An Enjoyable Summer Vacation
By Nadia Shanab | autism, general advice, parenting, tipsThere are some important factors to be considered in order to assure a successful summer vaction for the entire family. Sensory integration issues can probably cause the most serious inconvenience. A sensory overload can needlessly ruin the vacation. Noises, smells/odors, incessent objects and people in motion, high temperature, brightness, lack of personal space, major change
How To Plan For Life After High School
By Nadia Shanab | autism, general advice, parenting, tipsYou’re so proud your child is in high school and keeps progressing! Thanks to all you’ve done in cooperation with schools’ staff and the valuable services she has received. Now, what’s next? Planning should start at least two years prior to graduating high school. Continue setting goals and objectives by involving your child in the
Independence is The Most Important Quality to Teach
By Nadia Shanab | UncategorizedThe fundamnetal requirement for an individual with an autism spectrum disorder to be successful in life after high school is independenc. As repeatedly mentioned before, poor communication and social skills are the two most common traits of autism. Consequently, high school students with autism exhibit difficulty asking questions and expressing themselves. Additionally, their rigidity and
End-of-Year Checklist
By Nadia Shanab | UncategorizedMy New Article in The San Jose Mercury News This Week
By Nadia Shanab | Uncategorized“There’s no reason to miss out on holiday gatherings” Here are some tips to help parents of special needs kids to enjoy the holiday season and be part of their community and stay connected to their family and friends. Don’t turn down any invitations. You’ll be pleasantly surprised how interesting your experience was. Read the
Don’t Worry! You Can Still Enjoy Holidays Gatherings
By Nadia Shanab | UncategorizedFamily gatherings are around the corner! Most people love to celebrate traditions and keep cultures. Soon you’ll receive many invitations to join lunches, dinners, parties with your family and friends. Parents with kids on the autism spectrum, tend to decline these invitations and find an excuse to escape all kinds of gatherings. As much as