What Does Autism Look Like?

What Does Autism Look Like?

ByKori
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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…

How to Build a Support Network as a Special Needs Parent

How to Build a Support Network as a Special Needs Parent

ByKori
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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

ByKori
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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…

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

ByKori
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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…

What are the Childhood Signs of Autism?

ByKori
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Autism spectrum disorder presents early in life and it is important for parents to know what the initial signs of autism are. There are many areas to to watch, including: communication, social skills, and other areas of development. Some may be more obvious than others. So how do parents really know? How can parents be fully prepared? I’m sharing some tips on how to recognize some of the more common childhood signs of autism. Please note, however, this is not an extensive list. Common Childhood Signs of Autism At present, there is no medical or genetic test available that is specific to autism. There are diagnostic evaluations and tests, depending on the part of the world that you live in. But the actual diagnosis is determined by…

Coping Skills for Parents of Special Needs Kids

Coping Skills for Parents of Special Needs Kids

ByKori
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Parental stress is a very real thing. To help against it, we need to develop coping skills like the ones suggested in this post. From one parent to another, here are essential coping skills for parents of special needs kids. I’ve been on the journey of special needs parenting since my son was an infant. He was born three months premature and with that early birth came a few health complications. A few years later, my daughter would be diagnosed with autism as a toddler. I won’t lie and say that this has always been easy. I’m not perfect and over time, I’ve had to develop coping skills. So today I’m talking about coping as a special needs parent. This is something that I’ve touched on…