Articles & Blog - Page 25 of 30

The Death of James Delorey, Child with Autism

Our autism community was in the headlines again last week over the tragic death of James Delorey in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. James, a non-verbal 7 year old with autism, ran from his house into the woods to chase the family dog. He was miraculously found alive 2 days later but had severe hypothermia from being out in the winter weather with no proper winter clothing on. He died the following day.

The DSM-V Quandary

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV), published by the American Psychiatric Association, is used by medical professionals world wide to diagnose mental disorders. The revised manual, the DSM V, is due out in 2012.

Creating Predictablility

I have a friend in the UK, John, who is 22 years old with Asperger Syndrome. He has taught me a great deal when it comes to helping my children effectively. John has never liked the triad of impairments used to define autism. He has his own triad which is the need for predictability, motivation and the uneven cognitive profile.

Adulthood on the Autism Spectrum

This past week Adult Life with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Self-Help Guide was published by the Autism Calgary Association. I was one of six authors who wrote this guide. Being involved in the research for this guide was a real eye-opener because I was unaware of the issues that needed to be addressed when facing adulthood.

Choosing a Treatment/Therapy for Individuals with ASD

When a family receives an ASD diagnosis, the first question that often comes to mind is what treatment or therapy would work best for their child? Are some therapies more effective than others?

Making School a Success for Students with Autism: The Parent’s Role

The start of the school year is an anxious time for parents, especially if their child on the spectrum is attending a new school. Even if a child is returning to the same school there may be changes such as a new teacher, aide or classroom or program adjustments.

Taking Time For Yourself

Setting aside time just for yourself is not something any mother does readily. We know we’re supposed to look after ourselves but that usually comes after childcare, a job outside of the home, housecleaning, grocery shopping, meal preparation and running errands.

A Curriculum for Teaching Hygiene

Some of my most frequently asked questions by both parents and professionals are on the topic of hygiene. Questions like, “How do I get my son to brush his teeth in the morning?” or “How do we teach our students to flush the toilet or wash their hands after using the washroom?” are commonly asked.

Learning Potential in People with Autism

I read an interesting article in today’s Globe and Mail about the learning potential in people with autism. Scientists used a brain scanner to find out what parts of the brain were at work when performing an intelligence test that measures reasoning.

Introducing Autism to Elementary Students

I went to my daughter Julia’s grade 4 class last week to give a presentation about autism. My main goal was to give the students a basic understanding of what autism is, what the strengths and difficulties are, and how they can be a friend to Julia.

A Bicycle Built For Two – Cycling with Autistic Children

My husband and I have been cycling with our children since they were babies. We used the chariot carts attached to our bikes for years to take them safely riding with us. We tried for several years to get them to ride their own bikes independently.

Toileting – When To Start

I am often asked the question when is the best time to start toilet training and how does a parent know when their child is ready to be trained. Personally, I think the summer can be a great time to start because school is finished and there are fewer day to day demands on the child. The less people involved in the toileting process, the easier it is. If you are a family that stays at home for the summer or just takes a short holiday, the summer break can be an ideal time to start. Both of my children were toilet trained over the summer – Julia at age 6 and Marc at age 9.

Reading with Dogs

I recently enrolled my 10 year daughter, Julia, in a program called Story Pals at our local public library. The premise of the program was for struggling readers to practice reading aloud to a dog. Dogs are not judgmental nor do they correct a person when they read aloud so it seemed like the perfect situation to lessen Julia’s anxiety around reading. My biggest concern, though, was Julia’s intense fear of dogs. Would she even come into a room with dogs?

Improving Speech and Eating Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Oral Motor Program

Maureen Flanagan’s new book Improving Speech and Eating Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders shows how to implement a program at home or school. Ms. Flanagan states, “Working on oral motor skills will help expand the child’s diet, accept oral input from a toothbrush, increase the number of sounds that are produced, and assist with imitation and initiation of speech production.” Written for parents and teachers, this book details techniques and activities to work on oral motor skills and explains the reasons for working on these skills.