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 ‘schedule’

Before You Go To An IEP Meeting

Before You Go To An IEP Meeting

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

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

How To Create A Flexible Schedule

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

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

Parents & Educators, Get Ready For A New School Year Now

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

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

Mothers Of Children With Autism & Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Mothers Of Children With Autism & Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

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

Mothers of kids with autism suffer from the same disorder which combating soldiers suffer from “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder” (PTSD). But mothers of adolescent and adult children with autism in particular suffer the most. It is understandable that living under stress and being hyper vigilant and in a state of emergency for years can take

How To Handle A Temper Tantrum

How To Handle A Temper Tantrum

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

What Is A Temper Tantrum It is a negative attention seeking that the child resorts to, in order to communicate her/his frustration in a socially inappropriate way. Usually the child’s frustration arises when a need or a desire hasn’t been met. Temper tantrum is a form of meltdown among others, like aggression, running off, and

Compliance Is Attainable

Compliance Is Attainable

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

People tend to perceive noncompliance as stubbornness or misbehavior. Autistic kids do not always perceive our directions the way neurotypical kids do. Why? Because of their sensory integration issues or their condition in general. They see, hear, smell, feel and process (think) differently. When the child doesn’t comply or conform, she/he is trying to communicate

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

Autism And Nutrition

Autism And Nutrition

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

Studies found that individuals with autism, both kids and adults, frequently suffer from digestion disorders, or being underweight or overweight. We know that one of the most common traits of autism is rigidity and love for routine. This may results in sticking to the same type of food and limiting the kinds of nutrients the

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

High Perceptual Skill As Early Sign Of Autism

High Perceptual Skill As Early Sign Of Autism

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

One of the strengths that people with autism enjoy is their sharp visual skills. That’s why we call them “visual thinkers” versus “verbal thinkers” in the case of typically developed individuals. Consequently, one of the signs of autism to look for, is paying attention to small details. Read more about the signs of autism in