School is a demanding, busy, stimulating, and noisy place. While in school, the constant demands on the nervous system can leave an autistic child feeling mentally and emotionally drained from everything they’ve had to deal with throughout the day – in other words, dysregulated. When the nervous system is regulated, the brain and body are more in harmony, in control,…
Therapists such as occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, physiotherapists, psychologists and other specialists can be a big part of an autistic individual’s life. In order for sessions to work well, the therapist has to build a trusting, respectful relationship with the person and understand who they are. Because each person is an individual, one strategy won’t fit all nor will…
Co-regulation is defined as warm and responsive interactions that provide the support, coaching, and modeling that young children need to understand, express, and module their thoughts, feelings and behaviors (Murray et al 2015, 14). In order for an autistic child to be able to self-regulate, co-regulation has to occur. It is the bridge to self-regulation. Kelly Mahler, OT, explains co-regulation…