What Causes Autism? From Morgan Autism Center Conference

This is a summary of one of the sessions that I have attended at the Morgan Autism Center last September. The speaker, Jill Escher, narrates her own story of struggle and discoveries. She has 2 kids with “idiopathisc autism”. It is a very informative and eye-opening story that all parents should read. What causes autism … Read more

Don’t Worry! You Can Still Enjoy Holidays Gatherings

Family 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 … Read more

Individuals with Autism Think out of The Box

It is never enough to emphasize the importance of being specific when interacting with individuals with autism to avoid any confusion. However, I’ve always found everything they say, and which may appear illogical to certain people, to be absolutely rational. Here are some examples: Example 1 We were reading a story and we came across … Read more

How to Answer The Question: “Am I A Special Ed?”

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 … Read more

Acting Improves Social Skills

A recent research by the Vanderbilt University, October 2013, has released a new intervention program to help improve the social deficits in adolesents with autism. Researchers used the theater to teach reciprocal communication skills. The program is called Social Emotional Neuroscience & Endocrinology (SENSE). Techniques used in this program are: role-play, improvisation, and it culminates in … Read more

A Brain Scan That May Diagnose Autism with 95.9% Accuracy

A new research used fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) to identify and locate the weak parts of the brain that may be used to diagnose autism. We know that one of the most important traits of the autistic behavior is the poor social skills which leads to poor communication skills too. The research below explains … Read more

Positive Education

Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions. Dalai Lama Research shows that people are becoming less happy, less fulfilled and less satisfied over the last two generations. Fifty years ago depression was known to affect people over thirty; now even children in elementary schools and adolescents are suffering from depression. … Read more

A Message of Hope from Temple Grandin

Watch an interview with Temple Grandin that inspires “hope”. She briefly touches on most aspects of autism. templegrandin.com/ nadia shanab

Positive Psychology

You may have noticed that most of my articles are about trying to help parents and educators raise and educate kids with autism. So, most of  the tips I suggest are usually targeting the kids. But, how about parents and educators themselves? Can they always be in their greatest shape, best mood, and ready to provide … Read more