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Pamela Bryson-Weaver is the author of Living Autism Day by Day: Daily Reflections and Strategies to Give You Hope and Courage, a #1 BESTSELLER on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca. A staunch advocate for autism, she is also the mind behind the powerful website—www.livingautismnow.com—an online portal for parents, caregivers, individuals with ASD, service providers, and experts to interact with each other, to raise awareness, and locate the best possible services for them. Bryson-Weaver is uniquely qualified to speak on autism as she is the past president of the Autism Society in New Brunswick, and has promoted a resolution on Autism that was presented locally, provincially, and was passed nationally in Canada 2004. To date, all children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders in her province receive $20k per year for treatment. Married with 3 children, the main driving force in this advocacy is her youngest son, John, who has autism.

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Life Skills for Autism: Preparing Your Child For Life

May 5, 2015 Pamela Bryson-Weaver Leave a comment

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), or simply “autism”, is a wide-ranging spectrum of disorders affecting cognitive, social, communication and developmental aspects. For autism parents, managing ages 2 to 10 years can be handy.

However, this may not be the case as they enter adolescence, and then, adulthood. It is our moral obligation as parents to prepare them to a life where they can stand on their own feet—fully or even, partially. This process can require huge sacrifice and efforts, but embracing the inevitable with an open heart and mind will enable children who are living in the spectrum to live a life they want.

Individualized Approach

Teaching life skills to individuals with autism is difficult. Apart from varying manifestations of the disorders across individuals, it can be strenuous and often requires professional support. We as family members or as parents can only do so much to arm them with the right skills in facing life amid their frailties. We need all the help we can get from people who have the experience and expertise in handling ASDs. These professionals are geared with the right knowledge and familiarity of various skills needed to prepare them in living as independent adults. The key, however, in teaching life skills is to focus on an individual’s core deficits and strengths to bring out the best in them.

Facing the Inevitable Head-on

When you have decided to engage your loved one with autism on developing life skills, it is also important that you know what to expect from individualized programs. Though, experienced professionals will be at hand to teach these skills to your growing child, we are bound to continue such at home to ensure success. So, what life skills are considered critical to individuals with autism?

1. Sensory Integration

Autism is a world where metaphors are nonexistent, where everything seems to be confusing. Teaching a loved one living on the spectrum how to process his senses can help him develop communication, social connections, self-awareness, and safety.

2. Communication Skills

One hugely affected skill of individuals living on the spectrum is communication. Verbal communication, metaphors, implied meanings, and other means of communication are limited, if not non-existent, to all those living on the spectrum. Speech, proper eye contact, and interaction with peers, however, can be taught when done accordingly.

3. Strong Self-Worth

Often, children with developmental needs have low self-esteem, and this does not exclude those who have ASDs. For a happier adult life while living on the spectrum, it is imperative that self-confidence and a sense of self-respect be instilled in the minds of an autistic for them to reach their potential.

4. Interests Engagement

Individuals with ASDs are often discouraged to indulge in their obsessions. Instead, let them pursue these passions and use these to their advantage. An obsession on art or engineering or math can be harnessed proactively leading into job skills later on.

5. Safety

Safety is one concern that never goes away when you have a child with autism. With sensory difficulties, these individuals can have a hard time identifying hazards. This “ignorance” or lack of knowledge and hands-on training can make them subject to abuse later on. Teaching them safety measures will make them be more aware about abuse or harassment, certain precautions and defense should they face unsafe situations, and knowledge on how to seek help when they need it.

6. Self-Control

For someone who has a hard time understanding the world, establishing self-control can be daunting but—take note—doable. By teaching sensory, communication and social integration to an individual on ASDs, guiding him to identify certain triggers and allowing them to discover their own “coping” method, this will enable him to develop self-control.

7. Social Integration

Depending on the severity of the symptoms, developing social relationships can be tough to an individual with autism. This, however, can be improved. An individual with autism can be taught certain concepts to understand about some of the different type of relationships that he will encounter in his daily life. Like family and relatives, asking a police for direction, finding a handyman, or even making contacts to find a job.

8. Self-Sufficiency

One of the most arduous tasks in developing life skills among individuals with autism, self-sufficiency or independence can take the hard and rough road for everyone. As parents, being optimistic, patient and persevering can prove to be rewarding later on. With the help of professionals, teaching them how to be organized, responsibilities like doing household chores, setting and sticking to routines, and self-care will develop a sense of self-sufficiency for the later years in life.

9. Self-Advocacy

Keeping your child “informed” about what is going on with him and his needs is essential when preparing them for life. Encourage discovery of their developmental needs, and make them recognize their strengths, needs and weaknesses. By knowing themselves, they can better handle difficulties and, in the long run, be of help to others who are also like them.

10. Financial Independence

Getting a job and be able to keep it can be quite challenging to individuals with autism. Today more and more multi-national corporations are actually hiring individuals with ASDs making it more lucrative for them to learn about nurturing their talents and how to seek opportunities to earn a living.

Indeed, there is a lot in store for individuals with autism. By finding a sturdy support system of professionals and experts, building up their life skills at a young age will definitely result in lasting and rewarding developments to individuals with autism—and make them live a life they choose.

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AUTISM & WANDERING – Ways to Evade Tragic Circumstances

April 14, 2015 Pamela Bryson-Weaver 6 Comments

It is a known fact that nearly half of children with autism will wander from safe environments. May it be in school, at home or in a day care center, the issue of wandering or elopement always generates a deep level of fear among parents, caregivers, teachers and anyone directly involved with them. One common denominator among wandering cases is that most of these kids are considered nonverbal. They can slip through a crowd unnoticed. This makes the ordeal even more frightening as these kids often do not sense danger.

Likely Causes of Wandering

Children with autism go missing under a variety of situations and circumstances. Some seek places familiar to them or places that pique their curiosity. Places of special interest are bodies of water, a park, and a secluded or enclosed space. Kids on the spectrum may try escaping from overwhelming stimuli such as loud sounds, unusual sights, unfamiliar surroundings, and rowdy activities with other children involved. Sometimes, it can also be triggered with a disruption in their usual routine. There are a thousand and one reasons why these kids wander. As parents and guardians, it is imperative that we find ways to guarantee their safety.

Life-Saving Tips for Parents and Guardians

It is important to assume that your child can go missing. You need to accept the fact that whether you are in the comfort of your own homes or he may be in a seemingly secured school ground, the probability of an autistic child wandering is always there. Your first course of action, however, should be to identify certain risks for your child. Does he or she have a particular interest like a pool or a lake? Does he love vehicles? Do fire trucks and trains make him excited? Bodies of water like lakes, rivers, swimming holes, waterfalls, and so on can easily caught the attention of children as well as teens on the spectrum. As a parent or guardian, you often have first-hand information on certain “risks” that could draw out your child. Identify certain areas in your community particularly those nearest to the places where he is always billeted. This is of utmost importance especially when moving to a new neighborhood where everything can be interesting and trigger overstimulation of his sensory perception.

Inform and Engage

Create an information drive starting from your closest circle of family members, relatives, friends, teachers, and caregivers. Make sure that these people are alerted on your child’s potential interests and attractions. Sharing this knowledge to the people directly involved in his or her activities can be of great help in identifying places and spaces proven to be hazardous to their well-being. In most cases, this will also prove to be the most effective in search and recovery situations.

Reach out to the local law enforcement agency. Ask if they have any program that helps track a child with autism in case of a wandering or elopement incident. Some communities also offer programs concerning safety of children and teens on the spectrum. In some cases, the local law enforcement or a community provides a GPS tracker. Buying one from radio shack or any electronic retailer near you can also be of big help. Charm bracelets or any “wearables” for your child where you can place an identification badge complete with your contact details is also important. Place one also on his or her backpack or pocket for easy identification should they go out and about. Dead-bolts, inside digi-locks, and placing a STOP sign on the inside of your doorways can also help prevent kids with autism from wandering outside your home. If allowed, getting your child a service dog can also prove to be helpful. Be wary of allergies and underlying health conditions though.

In everything else, try putting yourself in your child’s shoes. What you consider the sneakiest idea might have also crossed his or her mind. Fill in the gaps before it happens—and the time is now!

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Autism & Wandering – Tips for Community Members

April 12, 2015 Pamela Bryson-Weaver Leave a comment

Wandering or elopement is common in individuals with autism. This is more prevalent in non-verbal kids. If you happen to live in a community where autism is present, it is imperative to know precautionary measures should you come across a wandering individual with autism. Unlike atypical kids and teens (or even adults), individuals with autism who wanders are often nonverbal making the ordeal even more challenging. Here are some important tips should you come across one:

If you live in a closely-knit community, identify individuals particularly children who have autism. A local autism group often has awareness campaign in the area. You do not have to make yourself a member but, the least you can offer is a considerate and concerned heart.
Be reminded that an individual on the spectrum can be resilient and tenacious. They can walk for miles and miles without a care for any impending danger. If you notice a child or teen walking alone, may it be in a secluded place or in a busy street, try asking where he or she is going. If you are disregarded as if nonexistent, try to get someone else’s attention.
Your smartphone is a significant tool in helping out. If you come across an individual with autism wandering, take a picture to easily give the law enforcement agency a visual. This will prove to be a great help when looking for missing persons. Instead of blabbering about physical description and outfit worn, you can simply show the picture for the parents or guardians to identify with.
Individuals with autism who wander are often non-verbal and non-responsive when being called. They also fear close contact with people they are not familiar with. They can either run or bolt from uncomfortable situations.
Talking to others can scare them, too. No matter how dangerous the situation, they can easily bolt to evade you. Be gentle when asking and avoid physical contact at first. Keep him or her in your line of sight.
Try to gain their trust first by introducing yourself and then, asking his or her whereabouts. The words “I am here to help you” might do the trick.
Again, your phone will prove to be a great help in wandering situations. Whether a child is with autism or not, when alone, it is imperative that you report it immediately to a law enforcement agency. Wait with the child or do not lose the child out of your sight while waiting for the help to arrive.

It takes a lot of courage and compassion not to walk away and ignore warning signs from individuals we meet on the streets. Even more so when we are busy tinkering with our own lives. However, as community members, it is our obligation to at least manifest a sense of concern especially to children with autism. We can divest tragic circumstances from occurring should we at least reach out a helping hand in trying times like this.

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Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders

March 13, 2015 Pamela Bryson-Weaver 7 Comments

Autism is a wide spectrum of disorders that overlap among each other yet, has distinct characteristics making each case unique even among siblings. Collectively, they are called Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Any of these disorders can affect both children and adults. Currently, it has NO known cures. They are also genetic in nature. According to recent data from CDC, this developmental disorder affects 1 out of every 68 children in the US alone. Though it is known to affect more boys than girls, grouping together a child’s symptoms can be tough. To understand ASD better, here are some basic markers to consider:

Autistic Disorder

Simply referred to as “autism,” it is also recently being described as “mind-blindness” or the lack of Theory of Mind creating major barriers in communication and socialization. This collection of neurological and developmental disorders is usually diagnosed in the first 3 years of life. A child with autistic disorder engages in repetitive behaviors, appears to have a world of his own, shows little or no interest in others, and has obvious lack of social awareness. A child with autism is often focused on consistent routine with interest transfixed in repetitively odd or peculiar behavior. Almost always, children with autism have communication issues, avoid direct eye contact, and manifests limited attachment to others.

Regressive Autism Spectrum Disorder

Regressive ASD is sometimes referred to as autistic regression or autism with regression, or acquired autistic syndrome and setback-type autism. It usually occurs when a seemingly normal child starts to lose speech and social skills from 15-30 months of age. Amid researches and studies done over the years, however, there is still no definite distinction between autism with- and without regression. Some believe that this type of autism is just an early-onset autism diagnosed at a later date. Some features early delays while others are diagnosed after later losses. This is believed to affect approximately 20-30% of children in the spectrum.

Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS)

Called PDD-NOS or atypical personality development, this type of autism refers to the “sub-threshold” condition wherein some, but not all, features of ASD or other explicitly identified PDD are identified in a child. PDD-NOS is a diagnosis which covers cases marking impairment of communication, social interaction, stereotyped behavioral patterns and interest—but does not include autism’s full features or explicitly defined pervasive personality disorder/PDD. Take note that most of those in PDD-NOS have less impaired social skills than those in “classical” autism.

Asperger’s Syndrome

Also known simply as Asperger’s or Asperger Disorder, this ASD is usually diagnosed between the ages 2-6. A child with Asperger’s manifests good verbal skills and good cognitive skills but is rather clumsy, socially awkward, and often engages in odd, repetitive behaviors and interests. This is named after Austrian pediatrician, Hans Asperger, who conducted a study on a group of children in 1944.

Childhood Disintegrative Disorder

Known as Heller’s syndrome or disintegrative psychosis, this type of ASD is very rare. Children with seemingly normal development suddenly lose motor, social, and language skills around the ages 2 to 4. This severe regression usually presents a dramatic loss of skills and can develop later than autism does.

Rett Syndrome

Coined after Dr. Andreas Rett’s study, Rett’s Syndrome or Rett’s Disorder is a condition that used to be called cerebroatrophic hyperammonemia. This is an extreme form of ASD characterized by zero verbal skills with 50% not being able to walk. Most of those who have Rett’s have small hands and feet, with notable deceleration of head growth, repetitive stereotypical hand movements, and some 80% experience seizures. Scoliosis, growth failure, and other gastrointestinal disorders are also common for children with Rett’s Syndrome. Almost all of the cases reported under this spectrum occur in girls, but studies reveal that this can also affect boys.

As more and more research is being conducted on Autism Spectrum Disorders, we can only surmise that more type of autism will come out soon. Geneticists recently pointed out that the right term to be used is “autisms”(plural) rather than “autism” due to the variety of genetic forms the developmental disorder represents.

When diagnosing Autism, parents should seek professional diagnoses from specially trained professional, including pediatricians, psychologists, and others. List can be found at http://livingautismnow.com/directory/ for Canada, http://www.autism.org.uk/directory.aspx for the UK, and http://www.autism-society.org/ for the US.

Pamela Bryson-Weaver is the author of Living Autism Day by Day: Daily Reflections and Strategies to Give You Hope and Courage, a #1 bestseller on amazon.com. A staunch advocate for autism, she is also the mind behind the powerful website—www.livingautismnow.com—an online portal for parents, caregivers, individuals with ASD, service providers, and experts to interact with each other, to raise awareness, and locate the best possible services for them. Bryson-Weaver is uniquely qualified to speak on autism as she is the past president of the Autism Society in New Brunswick, and has promoted a resolution on autism that was presented locally, provincially and nationally, and was passed nationally in Canada 2004. To date, all children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in her province receive S20k per year for treatment. Married with 3 children, the main driving force in this advocacy is her youngest son, John, who has autism.

Sources:
Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin
WebMD
Livestrong
Yale School of Medicine

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7 Ways to Choose the Right School for Your ASD Child

March 5, 2015 Pamela Bryson-Weaver 2 Comments

Choosing a school for your child with Autism Spectrum Disorder can be overwhelming. Not only will you be choosing a school that will make your child thrive, you need also to look into its educational values and the overall school’s reputation on how well it accepts Autism. You need to accept the fact that not all schools are as welcoming as they seem to be, no matter how they promote their campuses as such. As a parent to a child who is on the spectrum, it takes a lot of efforts and research to finally found one. To get you started, here are a few things to take note when shopping for a new haven for your child.

Scrutinize the different schooling options available. Every child on the spectrum has a different requirement and needs. You need to remember that what could work for another child on ASD might not exactly work for yours.
Try to browse the net for schools in or near your area. Most schools nowadays are listed online and researching for those located near you can be such a breeze. Make a list of your preferred schools and schedule an appointment.
Take time to sit and discuss with the school’s representative. During your visit, have a feel on whether the school staff is welcoming and how knowledgeable they are about ASD. It is also important to know if the school has a separate program for students with special needs or if they treat them as equals. Do not forget to check the schools extra-curricular programs. Some schools, especially with active Autism communities, have after-school programs specifically created to cater to children with developmental disorders. This is one great way to hone your kid’s abilities and to improve his social skills.
If possible, do your visits on a typical school day where kids are abuzz with activities. School “open house” may prove to be welcoming because it is designed to be so. Try to come on “normal” school days to get the actual picture. When visiting, however, do not take your child with you. You will only be adding to his or her confusion that might become a prelude a dislike of schools.
If you have done transitioning activities with your autistic child, ask the school staff or the principal if it is okay for him or her to do a “visit.” A few minutes of integration with other kids his age can be helpful but, do not overdo it. Limit it in as much as five to ten minutes. Be keenly observant to avoid any meltdown.
Schools for kids with developmental disorders can be costly. There are schools though which proactively process application for additional funding to help families living with Autism. Check how their enrollment is usually processed.
Check the school’s security system. Kids on the spectrum need to be in a secure environment due to their different level of vulnerability. Make sure the school has an iron-clad security system to protect your child with autism from harm, and even from bullying.
Indeed, finding a school with a positive vibe in it, and where children with autism are most welcome can be an arduous task. However, hope springs eternal as more and more schools in Canada are opening up to those living with Autism Spectrum Disorder. In all things else, choose one which you believe will make your child happy.

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Teaching Your Community About Autism The Positive Way

February 27, 2015 Pamela Bryson-Weaver Leave a comment

Ever experienced having someone’s eyebrows raised over your autistic child?
Do you feel insulted or hurt?

It is a common occurrence among many communities across the globe for people to not instantly understand what your child is going through with this ordeal. However, you, as one who has direct knowledge about Autism Spectrum Disorders, have all the power in your hand to make people understand about it. The challenge is how to do it nicely without offending the other party.

As we all know, some people that those living in the spectrum are dysfunctional and live in their own world. These observations, however, are but a minute part of the spectrum of disorders that the autism genome carries. If your child or a sibling has ASD, educating those around you can be done in a positive manner. You can start talking to neighbors about it. If you have community forums, joining in one and making your intentions known can also elicit awareness among those who surround your loved one with Autism.

Start by educating them on the nature of the disorder, that is, Autism is neurological and not psychological as what others believe it to be. Add the fact that it is a spectrum of disorders meaning, ASDs have different levels of severity and not necessarily like Simon Lynch on Mercury Rising or Dustin Hoffman in Rain Main. Before you do this, it is imperative that you harness your knowledge about the spectrum of disorders that Autism carries to ensure that you get your point across as factually as possible. This could mean researching about your child’s diagnosis, interacting with medical professionals assessing his or her cognitive, language, developmental and social skills, and so on.

It is important to point out the challenging ways like making eye contact, showing appropriate emotions, and other manifestations affecting their social skills. Most kids with autism also has trouble accepting change and when faced with such, they can easily feel stressed and agitated making it hard for them to reach out and be understood. It is like being in the South of France with nary any idea about the language. It is how their brain works and they cannot help it, one puzzle no one has the obvious answer as to why. It is important to let people understand that an autistic’s reaction or lack thereof to certain stimuli is part and parcel of the disorder. Some manifests differently than others but, all the same, this neurological condition can bring in different reactions.

Be as factual as possible in your points. If talking to neighbors or friends, make them understand the diagnosis provided by your child’s doctor and the observations you have gathered over time. Along with facts, your attitude also plays a big role in making people that surrounds your child or sibling with autism understand what you and your child/sibling is going through. Not will this improve their interaction to people with ASDs, this will also increase their awareness and be able to relay this to others. Besides, word of mouth has always been an effective manner of raising awareness.

Photo credit: http://www.4-roads.com/Social/Blog/social-networks-vs-online-communities

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Autism ABA Insurance Coverage: A Matter of Time

February 24, 2015 Pamela Bryson-Weaver Leave a comment

It has been known that Canada had led the northern pack in terms of finding appropriate treatment and therapy for Autistic Spectrum Disorders. Not only due to strong parental advocacies, the prevalence of tight-based community support systems also make Autism programs across many Canadian provinces to widen the scope of Autism health insurance coverage over the years. Yet, many insurance companies continually refuse to cover for ABA (applied behavior analysis) on the basis that it is “educational” or, in some cases filed, “experimental.”

As we all know, the effectiveness of ABA-based intervention on children with ASDs has been well documented for the last 5 decades or so. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children receiving early intensive ABA treatment have greatly shown substantial and sustainable gains not just in language and ID but also on academic performance, adaptive behavior and social conduct. Children with ASDs treated with ABA are also significantly better than those in control groups.

In a nutshell, ABA is a behavioral intervention to proactively treat ASDs and it is widely used by medical practitioners and caregivers directly involved in the pursuit to manage, if not to treat, autism. Most of us who have family members with Autism are not that unfamiliar with this therapy. Over the years, however, the insurance industry continually gives ABA the cold treatment as some of us might have also experienced with our private medical insurance. Well, there is hope that such could change nowadays.

With the recent statistics of 1 in 68 children having ASDs publicly declared and current declaration of Dr. Vera Tait, associate executive director of the American Academy of Pediatrics, debunking the “experimental” claims only on ABA, there is hope after all for families dealing with Autism Spectrum Disorder to enjoy a far wider coverage on their medical insurance for Applied Behavioral Analysis. According to Dr. Tait’s testimony before a subcommittee of the Senate Armed Services, a more flexible insurance coverage covering ABA should be afforded to families affected with ASD as the effectiveness of the treatment becomes more prevalent. All one needs is an appropriate diagnosis by a certified physician and declaration of ABA as a medical therapy for the individual with ASDs.

With this breakthrough, the autism communities across the US and, maybe, Canada in the near future will enjoy its positive impact. Not that it can cure ASD but mainly because it can be of great help in providing a more effective habilitative progress among kids with autism leading them to live a life they so rightfully deserve.

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Autism At Home: Fun and Educational Activities For Kids On the Spectrum

February 16, 2015 Pamela Bryson-Weaver Leave a comment

Autism is a wide-ranging spectrum of disorders that can affect kids from all walks of life. Symptoms can vary from one individual to another but sometimes overlap making each autism spectrum unique. Often, parents have to work alongside developmental and behavioral needs specialists to address the symptoms and to prepare the individual for what lies ahead of them. To maximize results, however, certain home activities can be infused to the procedures and exercises done during therapy.

Responsible Parenting

As responsible parents, continuing the activities being taught and done during formal therapy sessions can be of great help. This requires a certain degree of keen observation and focus on the child’s core deficits. Three of the most common sources of frustration among children with autism are language impairment, over-sensitivity or lack thereof, and behavioral dilemmas. Learning what “triggers” their meltdowns and what makes them “happy” and calm can tremendously enhance his progress. The key is to work closely with professionals and keeping your line of communication open with them to open up the highway of possibilities for your child.

So, how to engage them in delightful and educational activities? Here’s how:

Let’s Get Physical

Gross motor skills development is essential to children with autism. Some fun activities that will help them develop such skills are: playing in the pool, simple obstacle course, disco party, sandbox playing, working out or children aerobics, and many more. The key here is for you (and perhaps, other siblings) to join in the foray to keep them safe as well as develop social integration.

Unleashing the Artist Within

Some kids with autism possess latent artistic talents waiting to be tapped. Your “little fidgety worm” might be the next Michelangelo or Van Gogh. Engaging him in activities like finger painting, clay sculpting, drawing on dry-erase markers, photography, collage, mosaic, and many more will help learn about colors, textures, and other art elements encouraging a more active sensory integration development.

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Sex Education and Autism: Keeping Things in Perspective for Children With Autism

January 14, 2015 Pamela Bryson-Weaver Leave a comment

Sexuality has always been a taboo topic in society especially when kids are concern, so much more so when it comes to kids and teens with autism. Today, however, teaching about sexuality is considered a must to develop and enhance personal values with respect upon self and others as a basis. Sexual education is usually infused in school curriculum to teach children as early as 7 to understand and value themselves and others. This is one way of teaching them how to develop meaningful and respectful relationships later on.

To kids and teens with autism, the preparation and method can be quite comprehensive. Kids with autism are known to be socially challenged and often, have a hard time co-mingling with other, but this condition does not exempt them from being subjected to sexual harassment or abuse. By laying the foundation for them like correctly identifying body parts, clear understanding of human reproduction, learning about safety, and discovering family and interpersonal relationships will eventually develop their awareness and confidence.

The key in teaching children with autism about sexuality is by doing it gradually and according to their age and development. Be reminded that sexual education is not merely about sexuality per se but more on raising awareness and recognizing their own capabilities to better understand their bodies, relationship with others, and feelings deep within.

School Agenda on Sex Education for Autism

Sexual education is compulsory to most, if not all, school curriculum. The most fundamental aspect in educating children with autism about human sexuality is the literacy skill bestowed upon them. Amid their developmental needs, these children (most especially the teens) can now understand, interpret and assess outside and imagery messages (especially those coming from the media and the internet) correlated to relationships, sexuality, and gender.

Teachers usually raise awareness to students with autism about their body and to better understand the changes that come with it especially during puberty. It is important that they infuse key learning in a positive environment without discriminating gender. Often, raising awareness is inclined to dispel certain myths that students might hear or learned from outside influences especially from peer pressure. Often, this particular school curriculum provides a venue or forum to generate open communication between students with autism and parents.

Your Role As A Responsible Parent

Raising a child with autism can be tough. No doubt about it. However, we are tasked to make our kids independent and be confident enough to be able to sustain their needs and wants amid living in the wide-ranging spectrum of autism. It is our obligation to provide them information and knowledge consistent to what has been taught in school. It is understandable that it can be hard to some levels of autism severity but, when kids ultimately grow up, and the least we can do is to openly and honestly discuss with them issues on sexuality to better gear them when they reach puberty.

Aside from social issues, the most important aspect of sex education to children with autism is for their safety. Prevention of abuse must be foremost in the minds of parents, teachers and caregivers. From learning about themselves to personal hygiene, bathroom and locker room independence and safety, drawing the line between “good touching” and “bad touching”, proactively teaching our kids the right way about their sexuality can make them understand better about privacy thereby preventing them from becoming likely victims to predators prying on innocent kids.

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How to Manage Autism Meltdowns

January 6, 2015 Pamela Bryson-Weaver Leave a comment

There is no boring day to parents with autism kids. The worst days, however, are those that involve a meltdown. Now, that’s what you call a nightmare! One moment your child is perfectly settled on his routine and the next minute, he turns into a Godzilla with no one to block his path. The scary part is that, you have no idea what upsets him or what triggered the reaction.

Not to be confused for temper tantrums, meltdowns can easily turn from bad to worse when parents do not know what to do or how to deal with it. This could be tough to a first-time parent. Thus, equipping oneself with the necessary preparation for that eventual meltdown will help prevent unnecessary circumstances inimical to the welfare of the child and the people surrounding him.

Dissecting Likely Causes

Not to be mistaken for a temper tantrum, children with autism when facing a meltdown can be much tougher to handle. One of most likely causes is sensory, information, and emotional overload. Take note of the word: OVERLOAD. Kids with ASD can only take so much and all things in excess can push their panic button. This overly sensitive characteristics usually trigger their brain to be overwhelmed resulting in panic. Another common cause is sudden changes. Living in the spectrum often makes children live a life filled with routines. They love basking in a life that is filled with predictability. Sudden changes in their environment or in their expectations can easily jolt and tear them apart. Some parents also mentioned that fatigue is another likely cause in some children’s meltdown. As the brain cannot process fatigue or its consequences, this can be intensely frustrating leading to turmoil deep in their core.

Preventing and Managing Meltdowns

As meltdowns can come and go freely to any child with autism, it is imperative for parents to proactively learn how to handle and manage such before it even manifests in actuality. You can discuss management techniques with your paediatrician, caregiver, SpEd teacher, or counselor to give you handy information on how to best approach when this occurs. Be sensitive to their needs. Many said that parents to kids with autism need special powers to know when and what causes a meltdown. Paying special attention to your child won’t hurt. Keeping a timetable and be always on the close guard on what makes them comfortable/uncomfortable to prevent frustration leading to panic.

It is also important to set boundaries with your child. In the same way as toddlers, children living on the spectrum often have meltdowns because they can’t have their own way. If you believe the answer is a “no”, be firm and stand by it. You can choose to ignore it, redirect him to another activity, or infuse discipline by way of simple “punishments” like timeouts or withholding of special treats. Most kids living on the spectrum have high intelligence level. They do understand more than you expect them to be.

Some children, however, are prone to hurting themselves or those around them. Learn the proper way to restrain them and make sure to eliminate possible hazards in your home. You might be surprised how strong or violent these little kids can be up until you have a blackened eye or a bruised leg. For their safety and yours, learn how to address possible hazards ahead of time.