Verbal behavior seems like the newest buzz word in the world of Autism. Parents ask me almost every day what it is and how it is different from applied behavior analysis (ABA). Truthfully, it is usually used interchangeably. Technically speaking though, it is the part of ABA that teaches children how to use language to communicate. Verbal behavior was developed…
It is so hard to believe that the holiday season is already upon us. This year just flew by. If you are anything like me, standing in long lines at the mall fighting for the best deals is not how you want to spend your holiday. While some people enjoy holiday shopping, for busy moms like yourself who have…
Halloween is many children’s favorite day of the year. However, for children with Autism it can be more spooky than a treat. They are being forced to communicate with potentially dozens of unknown strangers which can be both challenging and stressful. Children with Autism often like routines, may have sensory preferences that make costumes difficult and may not fully understand…
What is food selectivity disorder? A child has food selectivity disorder when they have a very limited selection of foods that they are willing to eat. Having food selectivity disorder is not the same as a child being a picky eater. Usually children with food selectivity wind up being underweight and/or malnourished as a result of eating such limited foods.…
Congratulations! Your child is about to start school. It is exciting, but it can also be scary. Sending any child to school for the first time is hard for any parent, sending a child with special needs to school, especially one that has a difficult time communicating can be even scarier. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to…
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is the most well researched and scientifically validated methods for teaching children with Autism new skills. It is based upon the behavior principle that what happens before a behavior and what happens after a behavior will determine if it happens again. If a person engages in a behavior and they do not get what they want,…
Last week, my dog Lucky got sick. I figured he ate something he shouldn’t have and didn’t think too much of it. So I curled into bed and fell fast asleep. A couple of hours later I woke up when I heard him getting sick again. I went to get a towel to clean it up and to my horror,…
Does it feel like every time your child takes a step forward in one area, he takes a step backwards in another? Do you find yourself time and time again being confronted with old behavior problems you thought you had gotten past? Have the strategies that were effective before seemed to stop working? Are you wondering what you are doing…
This week’s blog post is based upon a conversation I had this week with a friend who has a young child with Autism. With her permission, I will share a bit of her story. Her son has been fully potty trained for almost six months but recently started having accidents again. It is definitely not a medical issue. It is…
Finding the right therapist for your family is one of the most important decisions you will make as a parent. You are trusting your child’s progress, education and future in the hands of the person that will be working for them. The good news is– there are a lot of really great providers out there. There are a lot of…