My ASD Child

Question How can I help my 14-year-old child with high functioning autism to handle disappointments? Almost on a daily basis, he feels mistreated by one of his friends, or something at school doesn’t go just right, or he gets into trouble here at home and receives an undesirable consequence. I don’t want to send him into a depression – but at the same time, I want him to be more resilient and responsible. Also, I’ve heard you talk about how we, as parents of autistic children, tend to be over-protective – and the damage that we do as a result of this kind of parenting. Is there some way I can help him without being over-protective? Answer If there is one lesson that no parent enjoys teaching their youngster, it is “the art of getting over disappointment.” This is partly because no one likes to be disappointed or have their hopes shattered—but it is a raw and honest part of life. Figuring out how to teach our High-Functioning Autistic (HFA) and Asperger's kids this les

“Would there be a list of traits associated with ASD [high functioning autism] that I could share with my son’s teacher to help her understand him more? Also, some helpful tips in dealing with my son’s challenges would be greatly appreciated as well.”  Below are some of the most prevalent features of ASD or High-Functioning Autism (HFA) observed in the classroom and other group settings, along with a few strategies that the teacher can use to help your son cope better. Common Features—   failure to comprehend that the eyes convey information on a person’s mental state or feelings strong preference to interact with adults who are far more interesting, knowledgeable and more tolerant and accommodating of their lack of social awareness tendency to interrupt; have difficulty identifying the cues for when to start talking tendency to make irrelevant comments less aware of the concept of personal space often aware of the poor quality of their handwriting and may be reluctant to e

As parents of kids on the autism spectrum, we've all heard about weighted blankets. But do they actually work? Listen to what this grandmother has to say about the Snuggle Pro weighted blanket: "I bought this blanket for our 6 y.o. granddaughter (who is high functioning on the autism spectrum). After just one night, my daughter told me it really does the job. My little girl is absolutely in love with her new blanket, so much so that she tried to take it to school (LOL). She gave up her other worn out blanket without a tantrum. Super soft and hypoallergenic. Easy to clean since it's machine washable. Very thoughtful packaging. Comes with a free storage bag. Bamboo fabric too!!! When she’s over to visit, it’s been hard to keep my granddaughter down for naps – until now! She recently said "Nonnie, that was THE BEST NAP EVER" :) ...and she woke up super relaxed (rather than her usual grouchy self). Not only does she sleep longer, but she also likes to have i