Does this sound familiar? Your child crawls into your bed every night. Your child wakes up and calls you to sleep in their tiny bed at 2:00 am. You can't remember the last time you felt energized and refreshed after sleeping...

As educators, we want our students to learn all they can in our classrooms. We make sure to have engaging activities and use incentives to encourage positive actions. But sometimes there are other things we should be doing to ensure that ALL students can access the activities and incentives we’ve incorporated. Many students have sensory needs that are overlooked, but supporting these sensory needs allows students to be as regulated as possible.

As the new school year approaches, things can become emotionally charged for many of our children. While some kids are excited to go back to school to see friends and get back into a routine, others feel apprehension at the thought of going back. The kids who have anxiety about this transition might even be neurodivergent and can certainly find success with starting a new school year. They simply require different kinds of supports to feel more comfortable going back to schoo

Teachers, you are some of the most underappreciated people in our kids’ lives. You put countless hours into creating a rich learning environment for your students. You are passionate and compassionate people who give more than most. But you often do not receive the support you need.

Ready to explore the gutsy side of autism? With over sixty million people affected globally, it's time to shed light on the gut-brain connection and its potential to manage symptoms of this neurodevelopmental diagnosis. From social difficulties to sleep and digestive issues, autism can come with various challenges. But did you know that the health of the gut may hold the key to reducing these symptoms?

Many of us use systems that allow us to successfully complete a series of tasks, whether it be a domestic chore, a crafting experience, or an on-the-job project. For some of us, this may be a system that visually indicates what work and how much work has to be done, how we will know when the work is finished, and what happens next.

Your home should be a sanctuary where everyone in your family can relax. Comfort is especially important when you have an autistic child. Having a safe space is important for autistic children to thrive. Using these five tips is a good way to start creating a calm home environment for your autistic children.

Sydney Edmond describes how using a letterboard changed her life, how being able to communicate her wishes and dreams opened up the world.

We all had trouble with the disruptions caused by the pandemic. We know that many children—neurotypical children included—regressed academically and socially; we know that many teens and adults experienced negative changes to their mental health. Even with all that, there have been upsides, and we are now at a place where we can make things better moving forward.

How to build a reserve of Halloween materials for your autism or special education classroom.

Traditionally, when people see an upset child crying, screaming, and falling on the ground, they call it a tantrum and assume the child is wanting their own way. They may label the child in negative ways—as a brat…spoiled…a problem. For autistic children, these same behaviors may indicate something quite different.

The first word to learn is “regulation.” Being emotionally regulated means being able to deal with big emotions. We emotionally regulate ourselves by using soothing repetitive mannerisms, timely strategies, and internal monitoring. But when the opposite, dysregulation, occurs, all of our strategies have failed.

Sensory overload happens when there is too much information and input being experienced. Too noisy, too crowded, too much activity, too bright; overwhelming smells, sounds, sights, tastes, or touch. Sensations like these are experienced by a child’s body but processed by their brain. When there is too much input, the brain can’t handle it.

You decide to go out to dinner as a special treat for your kids, but things start going wrong from the beginning. There is a wait at the restaurant and you know your three-year-old doesn’t do well with waiting. Once you are seated, you learn that they don’t serve chicken nuggets, your child’s favorite. Your child is getting agitated, and you know there are good reasons, but you are frustrated.

David Petrovic is an autistic teacher, author, and motivational speaker. As his mother, I have witnessed and shared in much of his journey to pursue his dreams. Together we have interacted with countless people through our writings and presentations. And our website has been central to our mission.

I've always wondered about the term “Autism Awareness.” To me, it's about more than understanding autism. Instead, we should share awareness that autistic individuals are people, just like anyone else. They are unique in their brain processes, but they deserve the same rights, treatment, and quality of life as others. Although schools promote “best practices” and quality education, are they really addressing the needs of the individual?