A Parent’s Perspective: Celebrating the Unique and Beautiful Things About Children with Autism April is Autism Awareness Month, a time dedicated to understanding and celebrating the incredible uniqueness of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Often, the conversation around autism focuses on the challenges. However, there’s an incredible array of strengths and awesome traits our […]
Exploring Sensory Processing in Children with Autism Aisling Hagan, MA, and Clinical Resident at Bright Behavior Inc. Have you ever noticed your child gag when eating certain textures? Or prefer for the lights to be off in the room? Or even cover their ears outside, even though you didn’t hear anything? Individuals impacted by Sensory […]
A Parent’s Perspective: 10 Things to Help Prepare Your Child for Camp Now is the time of year when parents begin chatting about how they will keep their kids entertained this summer. It’ll be here before you know it, even though the ground has just begun to thaw. Popular camps fill up fast, so you […]
A Parent’s Perspective: Tips for Sensory-Friendly Haircuts I used to cut my son’s hair. I knew if I took him somewhere for a haircut, he would freak out from the overwhelming sensory experience. But if I cut it, I could set the stage for success — cut it dry (no spritzing him with water), give […]
As parents of young children with autism, creating a supportive home environment is essential to promoting your child’s development, comfort, and well-being. A home that is tailored to meet the unique needs of your child can significantly and positively impact their daily routines and overall quality of life. In this blog post, we’ll explore tips […]
A Parent’s Perspective: The Importance of Self-Care (not Self-Comfort) Self-care has gotten a bad rap in recent years. I think it’s because there’s a focus on pampering yourself with bubble baths and pedicures that simply isn’t, nor can it be, the reality for many people. Those self-indulgent activities don’t care for you in a deep […]
As parents of children with autism, finding ways to foster your child’s development and learning is a top priority. One of the most effective and enjoyable ways to achieve this is through play-based learning. Play has a profound impact on a child’s development, especially for those on the autism spectrum. Play is a natural and […]
A Parent’s Perspective: Reflecting on special needs parenting and looking toward the new year For many of us raising children with autism, our goals for the new year may differ greatly from our parenting peers. Losing 10 pounds or striving for a promotion at work likely isn’t our primary focus. Even simple resolutions, such as […]
A Parent’s Perspective: No more holiday stress The holiday season is supposed to be a time of joy, celebration, and togetherness. However, for parents and caregivers of children with autism, it can also bring unique challenges as well as full-on stress. I think the pressures of the holiday season make special needs parenting ten times […]
A Parent’s Perspective: The awesome things about autism I’m most grateful for this Thanksgiving November is a season of thanksgiving and gratitude. If we’re honest, thankfulness is not typically our first response when parenting a child with autism. It takes intentionality to see the good and the beautiful in the midst of the hard, messy […]
A Parent’s Perspective: How to get an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis As a parent, you know your child better than anyone else. Yet your proximity to them may limit your ability to have an unbiased opinion of their development. If you suspect your child has autism, it can become a mind game of talking […]
A Parent’s Perspective: Sibling Relationships If you are a parent or caregiver of a child with autism, you understand the unique challenges and joys of raising a child with different abilities. One of the most worrisome aspects of parenting a child with autism may be how it affects their typically developing sibling(s). Nurturing this relationship […]