As an educator, I try to keep the following two main goals as a top priority when working with spectrum kids. 1-TEACHING INDEPENDENCE 2- DEVELOPING/ IMPROVING SOCIAL SKILLS Academics are very important to be taught. But life skills are most important. Children grow up very quickly. Time flies, and soon the elementary grader becomes a … Read more
According to “Autistica”, 24% of autistic children are non-verbal or minimally verbal. Researchers at the University of Bermingham, UK, supported by “Autistica” found that: 1- The learning of a language is tightly related to motor behaviors (like knocking a toy), and the imitation of facial experssions or gestures. The imitation of gestures and facial expressions … Read more
Children with autism don’t respond to the games, like peek-a-boo, the way neurotypically developed kids do. They avoid the interaction with people or tune them out altogether. Remember that the poor social skills are one of the autism’s main traits. Researchers found that parents should rather play with their kids the games they like. In … Read more
Three recent studies show the benefits of an early diagnosis of autism. The new studies confirm what I have mentioned in my article autism-tips.com/?p=1251 based on my experience from working with kids with autism. Scientists can detect brain anomalies as early as six months old. At this young age the brain is still malleable and … Read more
Summer is around the corner! You are probably wondering what should you do with your child with ASD for two months or more! You are torn between two temptations: Should I let her rest, relax and forget about her daily routine? Or should I keep the strict school schedule going? This is what I think … Read more
What should you do if your child is bored in her/his school? Do you know why is she/he bored? Is the program too easy for her/him? In this case your child needs to change the current placement which needs to be discussed in the IEP meeting seriously with no delay. You definitely want your child … Read more
Here is one bright side of autism. Anecdote A student has difficulty spacing her words and numbers when writing. I keep telling her that her sentences and paragraphs looks like one single word of a string of letters. She also does the same with number. Her handwriting becomes almost illegible when all the letters and … Read more
The reason of defining autism by a “spectrum” is based on the fact that the condition can be manifested through diverse signs or behaviors and hundreds of combinations of these signs. We always say that there is no two autistic kids alike. We also say that if you have seen one autistic child you have … Read more
One of the common traits of autism is the inability or having difficulty imitating people. Training children with autism to imitate or copy is very important from an early age. Many children with autism can learn this skill. Learning to imitate improves social skills and enhances communication and human interaction. But How do they imitate? … Read more
Beginning April, Dr. Landa at The Kennedy Krieger Institute is offering a FREE developmental assessments for infants between ages 5 to 10 months who have an older sibling with autism and live within the Mid-Atalntic five-state region (Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Verginia) or District of Colombia. The risk or likelihood of having a subsequent … Read more
