Safety First: A Parents Guide on Planning Your Child’s Safety Skills
Safety First: A Parents Guide on Planning for Your Child’s Safety Skills Safety of your child is every parent’s first priority, and this is only truer when you have a child with a special need, like autism. Why then are safety skills so frequently left out of your child’s daily learning routines? Take a look […]
Nonverbal Communication Speaks Volumes
A smile. A laugh. A tear. A hit. A bite. A point. A hug. Despite no words being spoken, communication is being conveyed with each of those actions. We are always communicating through our actions, our gestures, our expressions, and in our touch. Think of how someone might say “I love you” with a hug, […]
Promoting Independence
Teaching a child to live and function independently in society – this is a common goal for parents and professionals in the field of special education. Although this is a common goal, most people have a different definition for independence. Is independence accomplished when someone lives by themselves? Does it mean maintaining a job? Can […]
Diploma or Certificate?
Diploma or Certificate? This question seems to be a hot button issue and bring up a lot of feelings. Is your child getting a diploma or are they on a certificate track? It is not a question that many parents of neuro-typical kids have to ask themselves. But it is absolutely a question that parents, […]
A Positive Experience with ‘Wings for Autism’
As we are experiencing bitter cold temperatures and numerous snow days this winter, I find myself counting down the days until spring and dreaming of a warm getaway. For individuals with autism, traveling using public transportation can be difficult and overwhelming. Specifically, traveling via airports requires an individual to exhibit several skills that may need […]
Talking to Siblings About Autism
Autism. A word that comes with many questions, concerns, doubts, fears of the unknown and the future. To parents with a child on the spectrum, it’s an ever evolving way of thinking of what the next steps will be and how will this effect their other children. Unfortunately, there is that side of Autism that […]
Extracurricular Activities for Children with Autism
It is hard to find extracurricular activities that our kids are interested in, and that understand our kids. With Autism awareness growing so are the opportunities for inclusion in extracurricular activities! If your kids are interested in sports, inclusive sports teams in the area include: Adapted Karate at Baltimore Martial Arts Academy in Catonsville. Adapted […]
Trick-or-Treat: Teaching Our Kiddos about Halloween
Halloween is really fun holiday that many children look forward to all year long. However, there can be a number of challenges for our kiddos, who are on the spectrum, during this holiday. One challenge (usually the biggest one) is wearing the costume. Costumes feel and look very different from what they usually wear. It […]
Functional Behavior Assessment VS Functional Analysis
Imagine your child just dropped cereal all over the kitchen floor. They look at you and you say, “don’t step on the cereal; it will make a mess!” They lift their foot while looking at you and stomp on it. “Ugh” you say as they laugh. Now, you are left with the question: why did my […]
The Shafer Center Commencement Speech
I’m so excited to see all of you here today. The graduation of your children from The Shafer Center is an important milestone that must be recognized and celebrated. Whenever these events occur, I do naturally think of when Hayden experienced them. I think about what I know now, and what I wish I knew […]