There are hundreds of thousands of excellent teachers throughout this country.  They show up hungry to help students every day, and it is hard for them when they can’t help certain students.  Some of these teachers have chosen to be special education teachers, and are saddened and frustrated when they cannot reach one or some of their students. MEMBER ONLY CONTENT. Please Login or Register to Access this Content.

If you have a child who is almost college-age that has autism and you have thought about sending them to college, how do you go about it? What are the possibilities and would be an appropriate first step?

A decade ago, there would be very few answers and little hope regarding that question. Today, however, this isn’t the case. MEMBER ONLY CONTENT. Please Login or Register to Access this Content.

This is a tall order for all kids – whether they have autism or not. For a child with autism, it can be excruciating, if not impossible. On the other hand, Montessori classrooms work on the opposite premise.

MEMBER ONLY CONTENT. Please Login or Register to Access this Content.

In this guide, we discuss goal setting, the reasons behind behaviors, how to use reinforcements, how to activate your support network and much more.

MEMBER ONLY CONTENT. Please Login or Register to Access this Content.

I have worked with many children who have difficulty with car safety. They do not like to be strapped down in the car and do not understand the importance of wearing a seat belt. I developed this social story to help a child understand the importance of wearing a seat belt when in the car.

MEMBER ONLY CONTENT. Please Login or Register to Access this Content.

Autism has long been misunderstood, especially by those who have no experience with it. Even families who have a child with autism can have a difficult time dealing with the disorder and trying to figure out the best way to handle situations that arise when dealing with the symptoms of autism.

When a child has autism it can be very difficult for them to communicate. Sometimes they will yell or make loud noises trying to communicate, but others who are not familiar with autism misunderstand.

In fact, recently misconceptions were blown so out of proportion that a radio show host started some major problems and misunderstandings by stating something to the effect that autism was not a real disease, children with autism were “brats” and some other very ignorant, insensitive and irresponsible comments.

MEMBER ONLY CONTENT. Please Login or Register to Access this Content.

Another treatment for autism that has been on the horizon for a while is the hyperbaric chamber. This is treatment involving an oxygen chamber where an individual receives pure oxygen or more oxygen than normally breathed. Because it is provided in a chamber, the pressure is higher than when outside in a normal setting. The effect is that a higher amount of oxygen is absorbed into the body helping organs, blood vessels and the body function better.

The hyperbaric chamber has been used in individuals who had a stroke – reversing some of the symptoms. It has also been used for people who were brought in after an accident or other issue left them partially paralyzed. If used quickly enough, some patients are reported to have been able to walk out of the doctor’s office after the first treatment, which can last from a few minutes to a few hours.

A number of parents and doctors of children with autism have used the hyperbaric chamber with success. On couple reports that their three year old son did not interact at all. They heard about the hyperbaric chamber and a doctor who uses the chamber in treating children with autism. They have taken their son for treatment and the results, according to the father, “are no less than stunning.” So stunning, in fact, that the family has purchased their own home model of hyperbaric chamber. Their son used to have treatments in the chamber two or three times per day. Because of the rate of improvement, now it is only used occasionally.

Though there are critics to this treatment, families say their children are healthy again and interacting normally. Doctors who use the chamber say that in addition to other things, the chamber helps brain functioning, which, of course, helps autism. One doctor says that he has helped hundreds of children with autism and plans to publish the results involving the hyperbaric chamber soon.

For skeptics, the three year old’s father says, “If you doubt the results, I can tell you I have my son back now. I have a son who kisses me.”

Parents, educators and health professionals know that each child is different and each set of autism symptoms are different, as well, along with difference in treatment for each child who is struggling to overcome the struggle. It will continue to take time and research to find new ideas and new successes.

MEMBER ONLY CONTENT. Please Login or Register to Access this Content.

Many children with autism have difficulty modulating their voice. They either talk really loudly, or might talk in more of a whisper/quiet voice. We do not know the reason, but this is an area that challenges many individuals with autism. One strategy to use to teach children how to modulate their voice volume is a talking wheel. A talking wheel provides a visual representation for different noise volumes.

MEMBER ONLY CONTENT. Please Login or Register to Access this Content.

The diagnosis of autism could affect your child’s insurance so be very careful to research this before having your child assessed.

Insurance companies are denying services for children diagnosed with autism and you don’t want to join the group. Be sure that this diagnosis will not affect your child’s insurance coverage before going in for any assessments. MEMBER ONLY CONTENT. Please Login or Register to Access this Content.