What Does Autism Look Like?

What Does Autism Look Like?

One of the comments that parents of children with autism will sometimes hear is, “he/she doesn’t look autistic.” Personally, this bugs me and I’ll tell you why. At first glance, yes, maybe children with autism don’t look autistic. Maybe, for all intents and purposes, they look like “normal” children. And guess what? They are children. They are human beings… they eat, breathe, poop, sleep (mostly), get angry, get sad, laugh, cry.. you get the picture. They just also happen to have autism. So what does autism look like? What does Autism look like anyway? In all truth, if you want to know what an autistic child looks like, look at your own child or grandchild. Look at the children who live next door to you…

You’ve Got the Perfect Bedroom But Still Can’t Sleep, Why?

You’ve Got the Perfect Bedroom But Still Can’t Sleep, Why?

If you’re like most people reading this blog, you put a lot of thought and effort into your living environment. And so when a particular room doesn’t do its job, you feel a little lost.     You might think that you have the perfect bedroom, but if you find it impossible to get to sleep, then there could be a problem with the room itself. Granted, there are all kinds of reasons that you might not be able to sleep as well as you’d like (such as gnawing toothache, insomnia or loud neighbors), but that doesn’t mean that external factors are to blame for all your sleepless nights. Your bedroom could be a problem too. So what are the problems in your bedroom that…

How to Build a Support Network as a Special Needs Parent

How to Build a Support Network as a Special Needs Parent

Parenting an autistic child can be difficult, there’s no way around that. But, it doesn’t always have to be that way. Especially when you build a support network as a special needs parent.  But what if you have no support network? Then what can you do? I know it may sound almost impossible, especially with everything else that you face on a daily basis, but it is so important. Perhaps now more than ever. You need a support network. Even if it means building one yourself. What is special needs parent isolation? Parenting is tough. This gig does not come with a manual and even if it did, there is no one-size fits all guide to parenting. Add in parenting a child with special needs and…

Why Routines and Schedules are Important for Autistic Children
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Why Routines and Schedules are Important for Autistic Children

A little bit of structure is beneficial for anyone, I think. But when it comes to individuals with autism, I would argue that there is a need for routine and consistency. That’s why we’re talking about the importance of routine for autism in this post. Beyond that, we’re going to talk about how to establish routine and structure in small steps so that it becomes habit. This is important, not only for your child, but also for you so you can create a functional environment that works for your child and not against them. Why You Need Routine for Your Autistic Child There’s nothing wrong with a little structure and predictability in life. Personally, I prefer having a schedule or at least some sort of established…

Flexible and Faith Based Reading and Language for Grades 1-8

Flexible and Faith Based Reading and Language for Grades 1-8

As we are continuing to develop our homeschool plans for our youngest, the neurotypical child who just so happens to be my highly sensitive, strong-willed, and gifted child; we are looking for the foundational elements. My daughter loves to read and we are always looking for opportunities to utilize curriculum that develops her critical thinking skills. For our family, Pathways is such an ideal fit.  I was compensated for my time reviewing this product/service, writing this review, and hosting the giveaway. Easy to Use Homeschool Curriculum My youngest taught herself how to read and because of that, our homeschooling curriculum choices have been literacy rich. I wanted to find curriculum that was flexible for our homeschool day, and that was also engaging for her. Added perks…

Creating a Calming Environment for Your Autistic Child
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Creating a Calming Environment for Your Autistic Child

One of the things I’ve often wondered about in this journey of parenting an autistic child, was how to best set up our home. How could we best set up the environment to support the autism calming techniques that we’ve utilized over the years? Sure, we had to think about a few things when it came to using visual supports but what else could we do? It wasn’t just about the visual senses, but extended to all of the senses. I also had to be mindful about the fact that both my autistic daughter and I have a slew of seasonal allergies to deal with. My daughter, for example, is allergic to sunflowers and the scent of cloves. So how could we use essential oils…