My ASD Child

Has your child recently been diagnosed with Aspergers or High Functioning Autism (levels 1-2)? Are you shocked, worried, or concerned about what the future holds? Do you have a lot of unanswered questions? Then read on... Aspergers (high functioning autism) is a developmental disorder that is characterized by: clumsy and uncoordinated motor movements limited interests or an unusual preoccupation with a particular subject to the exclusion of other activities peculiarities in speech and language, such as speaking in an overly formal manner or in a monotone, or taking figures of speech literally problems with non-verbal communication, including the restricted use of gestures, limited or inappropriate facial expressions, or a peculiar, stiff gaze repetitive routines or rituals socially and emotionally inappropriate behavior and the inability to interact successfully with peers Aspergers is an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), one of a distinct group of neurological condition

"How can I help my autistic child move from one task or event to the next without meltdowns?" Autistic children thrive on routine and structure. As your child begins to recognize structure in his or her life, this may be the time to make a visual schedule to help your child recognize when certain events are happening in his or her day.    A visual schedule works better than a written schedule for obvious reasons as your child may not be able to read and thus may not get the benefit of the visual cue. To make such a visual schedule, you can use a white board on which you put the hours of the day and a space at the top for the day of the week. Purchase strips of Velcro that have a sticky back and place a small square of Velcro in each time slot.    Using thick card, draw the different aspects of your day in visual form. For example, you can draw pictures of food for the times of the day that you eat. You can also draw a picture of a bed for the times your child sleeps

Crisis events and explosive behaviors from kids with Aspergers and High-Functioning Autism are among the most challenging and stressful issues faced by parents and teachers. Explosive behaviors such as property destruction, physical aggression, self-injury, meltdowns and tantrums are major barriers to effective social and educational development. Click here for the full article...

"Our 8-year-old boy (newly diagnosed) refuses to eat anything ...and I mean "anything" ...other than chicken tenders, mac n' cheese, and watermelon. On rare occasion, he might nibble on an apple (emphasis on "nibble"). We are at our wits end and so tired of arguing that we have simply given in to his limited food preferences just to avoid conflict. It's much easier that way. Any advice on this frustrating issue would be greatly appreciated!!!" Click here for the answer...