Anecdote: The Upset Chair

This real story took place as I interacted with a ten-year-old student on the spectrum. He is known for being very sensitive and gets easily upset from people’s comments and criticism. He is very smart and hates to make mistakes and keeps blaming himself for his shortcomings. When that happens he refuses to participate in … Read more

Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) Will Be Replaced by Social Communication Disorder(SCD)

In the proposed Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) scheduled for publication in May 2013 (American Psychatric Association), Autism Spectrum Disorder has 2 core symptoms: social communication issues and fixated interests/repetitive behavior. This would make ASD an umbrella term that covers several different type of symptoms. Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) will be removed and … Read more

“Bandit” A Robot to Jump-Start Socialization

This is a great idea that can help take spectrum children out of their isolation and train them to decode human facial experession and social cues. Bandit, the robot, can be used as a transition for autistic children to interact and better understand the off-spectrum individuals. This is a very interesting article. Read more here: … Read more

Reward and Punishment, Agree or Disagree?

There are three different schools of thought regarding this matter. One category of people considers reward and punishment a futile short-term regimen to coach children. They argue that this system fails because it doesn’t teach children good habits, nor puts an end to bad behavior in the long term. This perspective presumes that the effectiveness … Read more

The Morgan Autism Conference

Three Valuable Things I Have Learned at The Morgan Autism Conference I was invited to attend the 11th Morgan Autism Center Conference, www.morgancenter.org, which took place on the 22nd of September. This conference focuses on social cognition, communication, and transitions from childhood to adulthood and is attended by parents, educators and professionals dealing with autism. … Read more

Morgan Autism Center, a Place for Hope!

What a marvelous event! The Morgan Autism Center http://morgancenter.org has organized and held an amazingly powerful, educational, informative, and heartening conference on September 22 at Santa Clara University, California. The Morgan Autism Center is located in San Jose, in the heart of the Silicon Valley, and caters to approximately 100 students with special needs. It is … Read more

A Useful Organizational Tool, “On-Task On-Time”

A mother with four kids (a triplets plus one) came up with a great invention that helped her have a more peaceful and disciplined life. She created a special timer-like device with 3 different routines to keep the kids “on-task on-time”. She had several parents of children with autism who have had success with her … Read more

Back–to-School! Is Your Child with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders) Ready?

Soon classrooms will open their doors to welcome their new and returning students. One of the most common traits of autism is the love for sameness and rigidity. Individuals with autism fear changing their routine and experiencing new situations. The outcome of a new experience is unpredictable. Routine activities, on the other hand is guaranteed … Read more