If you're planning a vacation with your autistic child, you already know how intimidating the thought can be. Here are my must have items for traveling with an autistic child. What are yours?

My Must Have Items for Traveling with an Autistic Child

When it comes to making vacation plans with an autistic child, you may be a little overwhelmed! Fear not. Here are my best tips & must have items for how to travel with an autistic child.  Traveling with an autistic child can be difficult, especially if you’re on the road for a long period of time or facing a layover on a cross-country flight. It’s not something that I ever entered into lightly and not without plenty of planning and research beforehand. With thanks to The Network Niche Influencer Agency and Fun and Function for sponsoring this conversation; we’re sharing our list of must have items for traveling with an autistic child and including a free printable check list for you! Be sure to chime in…

The Benefits of Visual Supports for Autistic Children
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The Benefits of Visual Supports for Autistic Children

Whether you are using them as a visual schedule or to support a child in the classroom, you’re likely familiar with the benefits of visual supports for autistic children. These free printable resources for autistic children and their families are invaluable when it comes to the day-to-day. What are Visual Supports and How Do You Use Them? A visual support simply refers to using a picture or other item to communicate with a child who has difficulty understanding or using language. Visual supports can be: When it comes to children on the autism spectrum, visual supports often serve one of two purposes: Visual supports can be used with any age and can be used by teachers, parents, or other caregivers as well.  Why are visual supports so…

30 Days of Self Care Ideas for Busy Moms

30 Days of Self Care Ideas for Busy Moms

Sometimes we think self-care is being selfish. But, let’s face it– as moms? We need to make time for self-care. Here are 30 days of self-care ideas for busy moms to use. Follow the suggestions or switch them out for your own ideas. How to Create a Self-Care Plan that Works for You as a Busy Mom Self-care isn’t a one-size-fits-all type of deal. Just as each person is unique, self-care plans should be individualized as well. When pursuing a plan for self-care, it’s necessary to analyze your current lifestyle, answer a few questions and make a few decisions. Know your why The first step to developing your self-care plan, is to know why you need to have this plan in the first place. What…

How to Silence the Nagging Mom Guilt after an Autism Diagnosis
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How to Silence the Nagging Mom Guilt after an Autism Diagnosis

One of the main things that I struggled with after my daughter was diagnosed was mom guilt after the autism diagnosis. To be perfectly honest? There are still days that I struggle with this. It wasn’t just limited to the initial autism diagnosis, as I’ve come to learn. Did I Cause My Child’s Autism? I can’t tell you the number of times I asked myself this question and I can tell you this:  You did not cause your child’s autism. Autism is a developmental disability and a neurological disorder.  In the 1950s and 1960s, the term “refrigerator mothers” was used. Parents, and in particular moms, were accused of causing their child’s autism. Child psychologist, Bruno Bettelheim came up the term to describe moms who are emotionally unavailable….

How to Use a Weighted Blanket For Calming an Autism Meltdown

How to Use a Weighted Blanket For Calming an Autism Meltdown

There has been a lot of buzz around using weighted blankets for soothing anxiety or getting a better night’s rest. As a mom of an autistic child, I can tell you– believe the hype! Here’s how to use a weighted blanket for calming an autism meltdown. Incorporate this or add it on to one of these calming strategies for autism meltdowns. How a Weighted Blanket is Beneficial for Calming Meltdowns First, let’s talk about those weighted blankets. A weighted blanket is a blanket that is filled or lined with evenly distributed weight. The weight will vary depending on the intended user and the size of the blanket. The blanket’s purpose is to mimic a feeling of being held or applying needed pressure. One of the biggest benefits…

How Do You Handle Special Needs Parent Isolation?

How Do You Handle Special Needs Parent Isolation?

Before I had two children with disabilities, I had it all figured out. We would do playdates at the local parks, host birthday parties at home, I would be on the PTA.. I had it all figured out. But then, things changed and my plans didn’t exactly line up with how I envisioned they would. Instead, I started to wonder how to handle the isolation of parenting disabled children.  Because, dear friends, that is one thing they really don’t tell you when your child receives their diagnosis: how to handle special needs parent isolation. What They Don’t Tell You About Special Needs Parent Isolation When my daughter was diagnosed, I had some inkling of what to expect. We would go through a series of evaluations…