Advice For Parents And Caregivers

Celebrating Autism Acceptance Month: 8 Ways to Support and Empower Autistic Individuals

The chirping of birds in the morning, the budding flowers on the trees, and the influx of tax forms can only mean one thing: April is on its way. There are so many reasons to look forward to April—warm weather, blossoming gardens, and celebrations of our planet, including Earth

Communication Difficulties: The Silent Barrier

This article is the first in our series on Key Root Causes of Disruptive Classroom Behaviors and How to Help

When Love Is Tested: Embracing the Challenges and Triumphs of Autism

I lost it today! Really lost it! My usually happy, kind, and amazing autistic teenage grandson, whom I raised most of his life, talked rudely and loudly to me over breakfast. As I reminded him to watch his tone, he laid into me even more.

How Can I Get Funding for Homeschooling My Autistic Child?

The financial burden of homeschooling special needs or autistic children can be a significant challenge for many families. The cost of educational materials, extracurricular activities, field trips, and membership fees can add up quickly, even more so now with the rising costs o

Top 10 Blogs on Homeschooling Autistic or Special Needs Students

Looking for informative and helpful resources and blogs for homeschooling your autistic or special needs child? We’ve got you covered.

Sensory Breaks for Your Autistic Child

Strategies for Homeschooling Are there moments during your homeschooling day when you find your autistic child is seeking a sensory break to organize their body and mind? You’re not alone. According to the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, up to 95% of autistic children

How Autism Kids is Working to Increase Autism Acceptance

Nonprofit is Donating 500 Autism Books to Classrooms When I started Autism Kids, I knew that I wanted our organization to be different. Founded in 2023 in Charlotte, N.C., Autism Kids has found ways to challenge what autism means for children and how society provides support for

How to Set Up a Homeschool Classroom for Your Autistic Child: 10 Key Strategies

Setting up space in your home to homeschool your autistic child is where your own creativity can come into play. Even in a small home and on a tight budget there are ways to design your space that can have an enormous impact on how well your autistic child can focus and learn. T

Homeschool Co-ops for Autistic Children: Creating Connection

Homeschool co-ops are regularly scheduled structured gatherings of families educating their children together in a group setting. The purpose of co-ops is to share the load of teaching, combine resources, and collaborate with individuals who are working towards the same goal.

7 Best Homeschool Curricula for Autistic Children

Over 10% of families homeschool at least one child, and during the pandemic, the homeschool enrollment rate increased by 30%. [1] For families who have an autistic child or other special needs, that percentage is even higher: 38% of homeschooled children have special needs. If y

Unified Sports: Getting Autistic Children Back in the Game

How can unified sports help autistic children, parents, and communities, given the lingering developmental effects of the pandemic?

How Autism and/or ADHD Can Destroy Motivation

Why Is Motivation Different for Autistic Individuals? Motivation is something we all struggle with, occasionally. Most people can eventually pull through and do what they need to do. For some autistic and/or ADHD kids, motivation affects them differently. At a younger age, autis

Acceptance and Commitment Training: New Tools to Help Parents Support Autism Treatment

Acceptance & Commitment Training (ACT) is an area grounded in behavior analysis that is bringing a more compassionate, values-based approach to behavioral treatment and skill development for autistic children.

How to Help Your Autistic Child Cope With Their Parents’ Divorce

What can divorcing parents do to support their autistic child or teenager through these common challenge areas?

Hygiene vs. Autism: Common Challenges and Possible Adaptations

How can caregivers identify and mitigate autism-related challenges to promote hygiene adherence in youth?

Autistic Vs. Having Autism:* The Importance of Labels

Meanings we attach to words can have a huge impact, influence, and change the attitudes and tones of conversations. “Autistic person” and “person with autism” may have the same definition theoretically, but their meanings are significantly different. Self-advocates and allies of

4 Things I Wish Parents Knew About Autism

As a person on the autism spectrum, there are a few things I wish parents of children on the spectrum knew. Please note that I am just one individual, and other people on the spectrum may have different experiences and opinions on these topics. I hope that this article will broa

IEP MEETINGS: What Can I Request for My Autistic Child?

An Individual Education Plan (IEP) is a legal document that is developed during a meeting between parents and school staff for every child eligible for special education. This plan includes a child’s strengths and weaknesses, educational needs, goals, and the services needed to

From Disorder to Divergence: Charting the Progress of Perceptions of Autism

The dramatic shifts in societal views of autism from being a moral failing to a celebrated part of neurodiversity have not been linear or binary. These views have been mixed throughout time and can be divided into three main categories: the Moral Model, the Medical Model, and th

Ask an Autistic*: What Do Meltdowns Feel Like?

And How Can I Help? When I was young I would lose all control if I accidentally touched a seat belt strap, if I heard certain sounds, if someone entered my room, or if my mom put sweaters on me. And tights? Completely out of the question. Meltdowns are not tantrums. An autistic

Autism Service Disparities for People of Color

Changing Our Practices to Catch Missed Diagnoses and Gaps in Treatment How do service disparities impact neurodivergent people and what can we do to provide wider and more inclusive care?

What Does It Mean to Be on the Spectrum?

Explaining Autism to Neurotypical Children

9 Tips for Helping Autistic* Children Transition to a New School

Can you imagine starting at a new school in an entirely unfamiliar environment? Coping with a schedule change and new teachers, staff members, and peers is often nerve-racking for many students, but those with autism tend to have an especially hard time making changes and adapti

Romaine Calm: Getting Picky Eaters to Eat the Rainbow

How the Magic of Gardening Can Help Picky Eaters I’ll never forget my first garden. I was five and had just finished reading The Gardener by Sarah Stewart. It left me with this lasting impression of a romantic vision of giant beautiful gardens on rooftops in the city. My mom and

8 Tips for Helping Autistic* Children Prepare for a New Baby

Preparing for the arrival of a new baby often involves a significant adjustment period as the family acclimates to schedule changes and reallocates some of their time, attention, and resources to get ready for the logistical and emotional challenges that adding a new family memb

What is Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)?

PCIT is an evidence-based treatment for young children with behavioral problems and can be an effective intervention for children with autism.

Equity for Serving Our Rural Students

I’m from a small town in rural Kansas with no stoplights and the nearest Walmart is 30 minutes away. My father was a rancher with 200 head of cattle and my mom was a teacher at the nearby—and only—school.

7 Strategies for Supporting Individuals With Autism During Times of Transition and Change

Providing the proper support and interventions to children and adults with ASD can be a game changer in helping successfully manage changes in routines.

Happy International Left Handers’ Day! Is There a Connection Between Handedness and Autism?

Roughly 90% of the entire population is right-handed, and this can place an unnecessary burden on those with autism who are much less likely to be right-handed than the general population. 1&2 When it comes to fitting in with peers in an environment that is not well-suited, attu

Support Groups for Autistic* Children, Teens, Young Adults and Parents

Support groups and social clubs for children, teens, and young adults with autism provide a safe environment for people with shared experiences to connect and participate in a supportive, understanding community. No matter what your child's or student’s needs are, there are simi

Autism, COVID-19, and Mental Health: Ways to Cope with Trauma and Change

The COVID-19 pandemic is undoubtedly hard on everyone, but a recent study indicates that it may disproportionately affect autistic individuals. Considering this, it is important to recognize that those with autism often face significant challenges when:

Show Love to Your Autistic Child… and Yourself!

Work Smarter, Not Harder Did you know that we all have primary ways in which we tend to show love and affection to others around us? We also have preferences on how we like to have others reciprocate and show their love to us. However, autistic children may struggle with social

Autism: It Does Get Better!

The Top 6 Interventions for Positive Progress

Safety Considerations for Caregivers of Autistic Children

Safety is an important topic when caring for autistic children. We covered how to keep autistic children out of harm’s way in Safety First! 8 Ways to Keep Autistic Children Safe , but there is another side to the story. Safety can also be an issue for the parents and caregivers

Moving to a New House With an Autistic Child

12 Tips for Supporting Autistic Children During a Move

Air Travel with Autistic Children: 8 Ways to Prepare

Taking a plane trip can be taxing for anyone, especially when traveling with children. Adding an autistic child with unique sensory challenges into the mix can make air travel even more difficult.

Happy Father's Day to All Awesome Autism Dads

And a Special Shout-Out to Five Autism Dad Heroes! In researching material for this Father’s Day article to appreciate dads of children on the autism spectrum, one thing was clear: fathers don’t get nearly as much credit as they deserve when it comes to their role in raising the

Planning a Celebration for Your Child With Autism

Imagine a party with music that’s just too loud –or a concert that keeps shining the same bright spotlight directly into your eyes . What if you felt trapped inside an overcrowded venue with people you don’t know surrounding you on every side? This is how children with autism ca

A Mother's Day Tribute to Autism Moms

Happy Mother’s Day! A tribute to all mothers, but especially to the mothers of children on the autism spectrum Most every mom looks forward to that one day of the year when they may get to sleep in, eat breakfast in bed, receive lovely cards and flowers from their spouse and chi

Start Planning Your Summer Vacation Today!

6 Ways to Prepare Your Autistic Child for a Successful Vacation Summer can be a fun time to plan vacations, but – for many on the autism spectrum – new environments, different locations, and sensory sensitivities can present a challenge when making travel plans.

Conquering Negative Thoughts When Parenting Autistic* Children

Every parent thinks negatively from time to time, but the negative and often fear-filled thoughts parents of autistic children struggle with can be off the charts because they are so different from the typical worries of other parents. Conquering these negative thoughts is not e

Parents and the Autism Diagnosis: How to Accept Your Autistic* Child

Receiving a diagnosis of any kind is difficult for parents, and an autism diagnosis can be particularly frightening. The uncertainty about how to best support your child, and the confusion that can follow conflicting treatment advice, can be very unsettling. Hearing that autism

What Autistic* Teenagers Need to Thrive

When our autistic children grow up and enter the preteen and teen years, their needs change. They will require a new approach and different interventions to help them thrive. What may have worked for them when they were younger, may suddenly not work anymore and even annoy them.

The Pros and Cons of Using Teletherapy for Autism Evaluations and Diagnoses

Using teletherapy to assess and/or diagnose autism is becoming increasingly common. In recent years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have adjusted our way of life to what we now refer to as the “new normal.” Many events, routines, structures, and normal daily activities have tr

A Special Request: Help Us Support Refugee Families Who Have Children With Autism

These days, not a day goes by without a refugee crisis in the headlines. From the fall of the Afghan government to the war in Ukraine to the protracted conflict in Syria, the number of refugees is growing every day. Losing our homes, livelihoods, and communities all at once is u

World Autism Acceptance Month: From Autism Awareness to Autism Action

April 2 is the start of the internationally recognized World Autism Awareness Month. In recent years, many have advocated, and some changed the name to World Autism Acceptance Month, citing that awareness is simply not enough. I could not agree more, and if it were up to me, I’d

Celebrating Pi Day: Is There a Special Connection Between Math Skills and Autism?

Happy Pi Day! (March 14 th ) Many children with autism have special skills, talents, and abilities… memorization, art and music, computer capabilities, athletics, and more! Math skills are one area where children with autism often demonstrate superior skills, but is there a spec

What Is Theory of Mind?

...And How Do You Teach an Autistic Child to Develop This Crucial Skill? Most of us have a theory of mind in that we can guess what others are thinking and how that might differ from what we are thinking. [However, many] with autism can be thought of as mindblind in that they ca

Five Great Ways to Improve Parent Teacher Communication to Support Children With Autism

With new technologies, ways to communicate or share information have become instant, workloads have increased while deadlines have shrunk, and expectations for students continue to rise. Teachers and parents have expanded their ways of communication by sharing information at any

How to Help a Talkative Autistic* Child to Talk Less and Listen More

Many children with autism develop special interests and become so entranced with them that they spend much of their time talking about them with great enthusiasm. Initially, it can be astounding to hear autistic individuals share their knowledge and expertise on topics such as d

Always Presume Competence (Part 2)

Teaching Language and Communication to Autistic Children This is the second part of a two-part series. Start with part 1!

Always Presume Competence (Part 1)

Teaching Language and Communication to Autistic Children Teaching language and communication to autistic children who are non-verbal, can be extremely challenging. When it appears that all our efforts to teach them to speak are in vain and no progress is noted, we can be tempted

Valentine’s Day and Autism: Six Ways to Help Your Child Prepare for and Enjoy the Holiday

Download Our Free Social Narrative: Giving and Getting Valentines

A Former Job Coach Shares Her Experience Working With Autistic Children

What Is a Job Coach? A job coach can provide guidance and initial support for a child when they begin to reach that transitional age and think about getting a job. Entering the workforce can be an intimidating yet exciting new prospect for anyone. For children with ASD, taking s

The Power of Optimism When Raising a Child on the Autism Spectrum

Without a doubt, raising an autistic child can be extremely stressful and challenging. Learning to embrace a more optimistic mindset, focusing on the strengths and abilities of your autistic child while also pursuing helpful new information and practicing self-care can make an e

Setting Meaningful and Achievable New Year's Goals for Autism Parents and Caregivers

As a grandparent and full-time caregiver of a teenager on the autism spectrum, setting personal goals for the New Year isn’t something at the top of my to-do list anymore. In years past, I used to make resolutions that focused on self-improvement, such as losing weight or gettin

Three Must-Haves for BCBAs to Create Effective Family Collaboration

As BCBAs we need to include three must-have areas in our family collaboration models, to make real progress in therapy.

Practical Strategies for BCBAs to Make ABA Financially Accessible to Families

Therapy can be an expensive journey to helping your autistic loved one succeed and grow. BCBAs need to dive into practical strategies now more than ever to help their clients and families access ABA services financially. No matter what the barriers might be for your clients’ fam

Language Delays: How to Rule out Hearing Loss for Autistic Children

Language delays in children can occur for many reasons including cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, or autism. If a child has a language delay ruling out hearing loss is an important first step, because if there is some deficit in hearing it needs to be addressed quickly

Does My Autistic Child Need Occupational Therapy?

Assessing Fine and Gross Motor Skills Can Provide the Answer Motor skills are essential for children to explore, interact, and learn from their environment in order to develop cognitive and language skills. Because motor skills develop early in young children, deficits in these

Pushing the Envelope: Autism Rates are Increasing

A Letter from the CEO: 1 in 44 Children are Now Being Diagnosed with Autism So Why is this Good News?

Fun in the Kitchen! Teaching Developmentally Appropriate Cooking Processes to Autistic Learners

Using Task Analyses and Imitation Strategies

11 Ways to Prepare for Happy Holidays With an Autistic Child

The end-of-the-year holidays are supposed to be happy occasions, filled with joyful traditions such as family gatherings, elaborately home-cooked meals, the exchanging of gifts, parties, fireworks, and other festive activities. They’re supposed to be a time to look forward to an

Tricks for Making Halloween Enjoyable for Your Autistic Child

Many children love Halloween, but some autistic children find Halloween to be stressful and unenjoyable. The holiday boosts traditions that may be worry-invoking for some neurodivergent children. On Halloween, children often dress up in costumes. For autistic individuals, dressi

Taking the Sting out of Discipline for Autistic Kids

The benefits of setting clear boundaries for autistic children All children need rules and boundaries to help them know how to act appropriately in different settings and situations, and autistic children are no exception. Rules and boundaries will teach them skills they will ne

Cut Yourself Some Slack: Parenting and Autism

The Importance of Self-Care for Parents and Caregivers of Autistic Children For parents and caregivers, and especially when caring for an autistic child, it can be very difficult to find time for self-care. The demands and needs are many, and in our desire to provide our childre

My Sister and Me – Both Autistic

One of my older sisters, Shaylin, was born in September 1995, in Knoxville, Tennessee, a lovely, blue-eyed infant, the second daughter of my happy parents. From the time my parents took her home to Jefferson City, to about her first birthday, everything seemed normal. By twelve

How to Shape Homework Behavior With Autistic Children

Let’s talk homework! If you are a parent to a school-aged autistic child, you may find it challenging to encourage your child to complete homework assignments. Autistic children will often engage in undesired behaviors, such as noncompliance, aggression, or full-blown tantrums.

How Grandparents Can Support Their Autistic Grandchild

Grandparents can have a unique role in the lives of their autistic grandchild. They can be a source of support, guidance, connection, encouragement, and love.

10 Myths About Autism

What are some of the myths about autism, where do these myths come from, and how do they affect children, families, teachers, and therapists? By identifying the myths, we can challenge them through accurate information and education, as well as public policy.

A Teachers Guide to Toilet Training Autistic Children: Five Key Steps

Toilet training autistic children can be a daunting task. It requires patience, time, and a team effort. Toilet training is a necessity to develop a more self-sufficient and independent child.

Ways to Develop a Strong Parent-Teacher Relationship

A Teacher’s Guide for Communicating Effectively With Families Who Have Autistic Children Effective communication with families is a significant piece of being a good teacher. It can be challenging for us teachers to find time in our day to communicate with the families of our st

10 Things a Grandmother of an Autistic Child Would Like Other Children to Know

Autism Awareness and Acceptance to Prevent Bullying There has been a lot of talk about Autism Awareness and Acceptance through the years, and while we still have a ways to go, much has improved since my grandson was first diagnosed as autistic in 2009. At that time, I knew next

The Simple Guide to Prevent Autism Caregiver Burnout

I was an exhausted Mom, nervous and beyond overwhelmed with my toddler sitting (bouncing) wildly on my lap on his knees, singing inaudibly while playing with my earrings as I tended to the cries and wiggles of my infant of 11 months in his baby carrier on the airplane seat next

Under- and Over-diagnosis of ASD: Do Race and Social Class Matter?

Many research studies indicate that contextual factors play a role in who gets diagnosed, the type of diagnosis, who gets treatment, and the type of treatment provided. 1

Growing Up in a Deaf and Autism Household

The Story of My Brother Tommy Growing up is never easy. Growing up in a hearing household with a brother who is deaf and autistic brings unexpected challenges, to say the least. Picture a rural family in the 1990s with no past interactions with people who are deaf or autistic an

3 Gifts of Grief from the COVID-19 Pandemic

A Special Education Teacher Reflects on a Challenging Time It has been over three years since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down school districts nationwide. The U.S. shifted into a state of loss and then grief. Loss of what we thought was stable, including income, job security, an

8 Tips for Tackling the Grocery Store With Your Autistic Child

Working in early intervention, I am always checking in with parents regarding their triumphs and their struggles, and one struggle that comes up frequently is that intimidating trip to the grocery store. In general, any parent worries about being looked upon with judgment when a

Early Action Is Key to Getting Support for Your Autistic Child

New Research on Autism Spectrum Disorder

Exciting new research on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is helping us all learn more about autism. Researchers are investigating causal factors in autism, identifying early biomarkers, better understanding the social, physical, and psychological implications of autism, and sugge

Delaying Gratification: An Essential Skill for Autistic Children to Learn

Delaying gratification is an essential skill for autistic children to learn in order to help them learn new skills.

Autism, Art, Music and One Father’s Connection to his Autistic Son

Justin Morell is a composer and guitarist whose work crosses genres between classical and jazz styles and is featured on several acclaimed recordings including the recent Concerto for Guitar and Jazz Orchestra. He is an associate professor of composition at Lebanon Valley Colleg

How to Run a Special Needs Daycare

My path from teenage helper to “nanny share” to ABA therapist to opening my own Special Needs Daycare. Special needs daycares provide a wonderful way to provide specialized support for your autistic child. Whether you want to go down this path yourself as a career option or want

9 Ways to Celebrate World Autism Day!

World Autism Day is celebrated each year on April 2. The United Nations member states recognize it as a day to acknowledge and advocate for the rights of autistic individuals around the world. The goal of World Autism Day is to increase awareness about Autism signs, symptoms, an

Is College Right for My Autistic Child?

How can a family best take advantage of available resources and avoid obstacles, to plot a successful post-high-school experience for an autistic child? As Steven Covey wrote in The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People , “Begin with the end in mind.”

Kid Friendly Household Chores For Developing Gross Motor Skills for Autistic Children

Household work or chores are great for developing motor skills, motor planning, coordination, work ethic, responsibility, and well-being for autistic children. You might not be a big fan of household chores, but we therapists like to think of those activities that require bendin

My Autistic Child is Thinking of Dating and--Gasp!--Sex?!!

Most parents are understandably anxious about the thought of their child eventually dating and becoming sexually active. That anxiety may be even greater for the parents of an autistic child. What’s a parent to do? The goal is to support every young person in healthy, optimal hu

Teletherapy for Autistic Children: Research-Based Best Practices

STAGES® Learning worked hard at building an online distance learning platform designed specifically to provide teletherapy to autistic children. Distance Learning, also called remote learning for autistic children, has been proven to be effective as a therapeutic intervention fo

Devil or Angel? The Process of Diagnosis for Autistic Children

What is ‘diagnosis’ anyway? Why have a diagnosis? How do I know if my child’s autism diagnosis is accurate? Could it be something else? Where do I go for answers? These are some of the questions that parents, therapists, and teachers ask about an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) d

Six Strategies for Strengthening Your Marriage for Parents of Autistic Children

My Marriage Is Floundering! Help! Often couples look towards parenthood with great joy and love. Shockingly, that same bundle of joy can create problems in the marital (or other committed) relationship that may lead to divorce or at the very least, tremendous dissatisfaction. Ma

Autism Influencers: Who to Follow

Interested in connecting with people in the autism community? Check out our list of influencers to follow on social media. Social Media is a powerful tool in the way it allows us to connect with friends and family, celebrities, and strangers with common interests from around the

Keeping Fit at Home: Exercise and Autistic Children

Benefits, Best Practices, Home Equipment Choices, and the Top Online Exercise Videos and Gaming Resources for Your Autistic Child Exercise for autistic children can have both physical and psychological benefits. For many autistic children who have sensory integration issues, gym

Social Camouflaging in Autistic Girls and Women

Social camouflaging means hiding behavior that may be less socially acceptable and putting extra effort into appearing neurotypical: It has negative consequences in terms of recognizing and diagnosing autistic girls. It is not uncommon for adolescents to want to fit in with thei

10 Ways to Teach Your Autistic Child to Have a Growth Mindset

Helping autistic children develop a growth mindset can foster greater learning, confidence, and success in school.

Teaching Kindness: The Kindness Rock Project

How to Teach Your Autistic Child the Art of Caring and Kindness Teaching caring and kindness to autistic children is an important part of social-emotional development. Having empathy and kindness towards others improves the quality of everyone's life. It also allows us to unders

Social Narratives: Helping Autistic Children Understand Social Situations

This resource was created as a supplement for the ARIS® Academic Readiness Intervention System Language Builder complete early autism curriculum. Learn more about the ARIS curriculum . Social narratives (often referred to as Social Stories TM ) are carefully designed short stori

How to Spot and Prevent Cyberbullying Against Autistic Students

In the digital age, there are many opportunities for online bullying to occur, especially for autistic children

7 Tips to Get Your Child Back into the School Routine

Summer is near the end and it’s almost time to head back to school! Gearing your child up for a normal school routine after summer fun is no easy feat. However, practice makes perfect! We know autistic children thrive with consistency and previewing, so these seven tips should p

Service Dogs and Therapy Dogs for Autistic Children

There can be many benefits to having a service or therapy dog, such as an autism assistance dog, for autistic children. The following article provides information to help you decide if a dog is right for your autistic child.

20 Best Sight Word Books for Autistic Students

This resource was created as a supplement for the ARIS® Academic Readiness Intervention System Language Builder: A complete early autism curriculum, Lesson #158, Reading Sight Words in Simple Sentences, and Lesson #159, Reading Sight Words in Simple Books. Download a free copy o

Finding Fun and Fitness: Exercise for Autistic Children and Young Adults

A growing community of inclusive exercise programs promises that fitness can be a source of fun, rather than one of frustration, for autistic children. By choosing activities that will have a greater likelihood of success for your child, by adapting exercise programs for your ch

What Is Stimming?

What is stimming?

From Sleeping in to Prepping for School: Strategies for Avoiding Wake-up Wars

One mother’s tried and true recommendations for helping your autistic child get ready for an early wake-up time once school starts. Are you dreading your "au-some" child's first week back to school because they are used to sleeping in now? Are you wondering how they will shift t

5 Ways Sesame Street’s Character Julia Teaches People About Autism Spectrum Disorder

Julia, the new character on Sesame Street can help all children better understand autism. Sesame Street is a treasured TV show that has educated children worldwide for more than 50 years. It has brought characters like Elmo, Big Bird, Abby, and Cookie Monster into children’s liv

Coping Strategies: Find What Works Best For Your Autistic Child

Use zones of regulation and occupational therapy insight to find the best coping strategies for your autistic child. The phrase “coping strategy” can be thrown around often in the autism (ASD) community. But what are they? How do we find the best ones for our children? How do ea

What Is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and How Can It Help My Autistic Student?

Two Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) explain Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and how to determine the level of support needed to ensure success for each autistic child. ABA is a common practice used with Level 1 autistic individuals. The practice of ABA mainly focuses o

Girls and Autism: The Impact of Gender Bias in Research on Autism

What we know about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is largely based on research on autistic boys. New studies are telling us how different autistic girls are from their male counterparts. The issue of gender bias is as antiquated as it is familiar to women around the globe. Despi

Pushing the Envelope: Girls and Autism?

A Letter from the CEO: Girls and Autism? We’ve wanted to do an article about girls and autism for some time now. There is so much to say: under-diagnosis, different presenting characteristics, treatment options… where to start?

10 Best Practices for Providing Teletherapy for Autistic Children

How to Provide the Most Effective Teletherapy Possible for Autistic Children For special education teachers and therapists of autistic students, teletherapy, also called E-therapy or remote learning for autism, provides a great alternative to in-person sessions, but also present

Tell Me a Story: How to Teach Narrative and Comprehension Strategies to Autistic Children

In K-12 education, no one disputes that developing reading skills is fundamental. Research suggests that early literacy instruction for students with and without disabilities is essential for future literacy development. 3 Teachers across the world are constantly utilizing vario

Pushing the Envelope: Autistic Black Lives Matter

A Letter from the CEO: Autistic Black Lives Matter Our hearts go out to the family and friends of George Floyd and to the many other people of color who have been subjected to the insidious racism that continues to plague our country.

Professional Hope: One Mother’s Story of Gratitude for the Specialists that Support Parents of Autistic Children

"I have assessed and treated a great number of families affected by ASD...What I can say is this: When parents can move through the emotion and identify...the strengths in their child and themselves, they are then able to consider the numerous options they have to support their

Six Proactive Solutions for Challenging Behaviors at Home: Advice from a Behavioral Counselor

These six tips will help you create a proactive environment in your home to foster task productivity and offer solutions to address undesired behaviors before they arise. By adopting a proactive approach, you are creating a structured and consistent environment that will help yo

The 12 Best Picture Books for Teaching Nouns to Autistic Children

This resource was created as a supplement for the ARIS® Academic Readiness Intervention System L anguage Builder complete early autism curriculum, Lesson #23 Receptive Labeling - in Books, Lesson 33 Expressive Labeling - In Books, Lesson #98 Listing Members of a Set, and Lesson

Teacher Tips: Using Expressive Labeling to Teach Autistic Children Language Skills

This resource was created as a supplement for the ARIS® Academic Readiness Intervention System Language Builder complete early autism curriculum, Lesson #33, Expressive Labeling in Books. Download a free copy of the lesson and learn more about the ARIS curriculum . For autistic

Teacher Tips: Using Receptive Labeling to Teach Autistic Children Language Skills

This resource was created as a supplement for the ARIS® Academic Readiness Intervention System Language Bui lder complete early autism curriculum, Lesson #23, Receptive Learning in Books. Download a free copy of the lesson and learn more about the ARIS curriculum. Beginning at a

4 Activities and 3 Tips to Help Support Emotional Awareness for Your Autistic Child

Recognizing and understanding emotions is a key part of development. Emotional awareness allows individuals to identify what they are feeling and why. This is a critical step towards building emotional intelligence, a key life skill. Being able to identify our emotions and under

Teaching Autistic Children to Follow Simple Directions

Teaching autistic children to follow simple directions is an important skill for them to learn. The ability to follow simple directions allows opportunities for your child to gain independence, regulation skills, communication skills, productivity in daily routine tasks, and pra

A New Curriculum for All Children with Autism

The new Language Builder: ARIS (Academic Readiness Intervention System) was developed to provide a curriculum to any teacher or parent interested in helping a child with autism develop to their full potential. ARIS was designed so that even school districts that cannot afford to

Coronavirus: Keeping a Routine Schedule at Home

Ways to Help Your Child with Autism Feel Safe and Secure: Best Practices for Setting Up a Routine Schedule in Your Home The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has forced schools, offices, stores, care centers, and other businesses to close suddenly. While these closures are importa

Best Free Resources for Homeschooling Your Autistic Child

Benefits and Strategies for Teaching Art to Children with Autism: Help for Art Challenged Adults Why Art?

Art therapy provides many benefits for children with autism because it promotes emotional and mental growth as well as independence and collaboration skills. As an outlet for self-expression, imagination, and creativity, art can contribute deeply to improving a child’s fine moto

Cabin Fever? 5 Effective Activities for Students with Autism During Social Isolation or Quarantine

Note: These 5 activities can be done every day, and we recommend that parents create a schedule so that each of these activities takes place at the same time very day when possible. Having a schedule helps keep children with autism feel more secure and reduces anxiety. We also r

Tips for Implementing Language Builder ARIS Emergency at-Home Lessons

I truly hope that the downloadable Language Builder ARIS lessons have been helpful as you endeavor to set up your child's at-home education program. In 2020, we made available 34 downloadable lessons from our Language Builder ARIS curriculum. We worked hard to include a variety

A New Curriculum for Autism: ARIS

Teachers, parents and Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs) have been asking for an “all in one” autism education curriculum for years. Language Builder: ARIS (Academic Readiness Intervention System) is now available to support teachers and parents helping children with autism lea

Do-It-Yourself Materials for ABA-based Lessons

For the free lessons we provided in our ARIS Emergency Home Autism Education Program we have included a variety of photo cards that you can download, print and get started with, including: Nouns , Occupations , Emotions , Sequencing and Verbs . You can see that many lessons refe

Teaching Healthy Eating Choices to Children with Autism

This resource was created as a supplement for the Language Builder: Academic Readiness Intervention System (ARIS) complete early autism curriculum, Lesson #129, A Healthy Plate. Download a free copy of the lesson and learn more about the ARIS curriculum . For children with autis

Strategies for Homeschooling Children with Autism: You Can do This!

Teaching children with autism even the most basic skills can feel daunting to a home schooling parent or even, at times, an autism professional. For instance, we may attempt to teach a child for the hundredth time to wipe her mouth with a napkin, but then… drum roll ...She goes

8 Ways to Promote Socialization Skills in Students with Autism

Socialization is an important skill for all children to learn and develop. Research suggests that by supporting a child’s socialization, children are more likely to develop self-confidence, problem solving skills, and key language skills, all of which are vital skills that they

Classroom Routines: Preparing Your Child with Autism

This resource was created as a supplement for the Language Builder: Academic Readiness Intervention System (ARIS) complete early autism curriculum, Lesson #79, Following a Schedule. Download a free copy of the lesson and learn more about the ARIS curriculum . Preparing your chil

Strengths-based Approaches to Autism for Teachers, SLPs, and Parents

Celebrating Strengths and Shifting Away from Deficit-Based Thinking Far too often, society’s bias towards students with autism focuses on the autism, rather than the whole child. Students with autism are more often perceived as “lacking” in some area, rather than celebrated for

Recommended Children’s Books About Autism

Children’s books featuring children with autism are an easy and entertaining way to introduce the topic of autism to your children, family members, friends, and your child’s peers. Children’s books offer simple, accessible explanations and illustrations that can help children an

How ARIS Supports Social Emotional Learning and Whole Child Development for Students with Autism

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and the whole child approach have huge implications for child development and successful learning for all children of all ages, but SEL and whole child are especially critical for teaching children with autism. SEL is defined by the Collaborative

Four Ways to Make Your Backyard More Autism Friendly

Playing outdoors has huge implications for all children. Many researchers cite outdoor play as being a conduit for decreased stress levels, emotional resilience, increased cognitive functioning, increased attention, as well as a host of other sensory-motor, emotional, and social

11 Strategies to Help Your Child with Autism Develop Fine Motor Skills

Fine Motor Skill Milestones Fine motor skills are the coordination of small muscle movements. Fine motor skills are the ability to make movements in our eyes, wrists, hands, and fingers. Many everyday tasks require strength, dexterity, and fine motor skills. Fine motor skills ne

Pushing the Envelope: Are Women CEO’s Different?

A Letter from the CEO: Are Women CEO’s Different? Well… the short answer is yes.

Starting a Childcare Center for Children With Autism or other Special Needs

For countless American families, finding the right childcare provider for their little ones can be a real challenge. This is especially true for parents and guardians who are navigating available childcare options for their child with autism or other special needs. While many pa

How to Prepare for an IEP Meeting – For Teachers of Students with Autism

As a teacher, it is likely that you have either held or participated in an IEP meeting. Often times, you have likely interacted with family members who may be nervous or anxious about the process. Some parents may come in to IEP meetings feeling intimidated by the many people si

Autism and Anxiety: 10 Strategies to Help Your Child

For children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the prevalence of anxiety is shown to be greater than for their peers. Some studies indicate that anxiety disorders are present 40% of the time for children with autism. The good news about taking this into consideration is that

Reconocer los Signos y Sintomas del Autismo

Saber qué Buscar con el Autismo ¿Alguna vez se ha preocupado de que su hijo muestre síntomas de autismo, pero no tenía a quién acudir y no entendía cómo obtener un diagnóstico y asegurarse de que su hijo reciba la ayuda que necesita? No hay necesidad de preocuparse, porque con t

12 Popular Games Adapted for Children with Autism

This resource was created as a supplement for the Language Builder: Academic Readiness Intervention System (ARIS) complete early autism curriculum, Lesson #73, Playing Games with an Adult. Download a free copy of lesson 73 and learn more about the ARIS curriculum . Play is often

Strategies for Promoting Sensory Integration in Writing

Sensory struggles in a child with autism can hinder his or her ability to grasp a writing implement and to use it correctly. But some marvelous strategies exist that can help children learn to write: countering “floppy” muscle tone, varying implement thickness, trying different

Creating a Yoga Practice for Children With Autism

Yoga, an ancient practice that originated in India, is today a term familiar across most of the world. Those who’ve experienced the practice may be familiar with its benefits of relaxation and overall improved physical health. Did you know, however, that exploring yoga with a ch

Top Safety Risks for Children with Autism and How to Communicate with First Responders

Safety and preparation for emergency situations is a concern for any child, but especially for children with autism, who may be unable to communicate or respond correctly in emergency situations.

World Autism Awareness Day 2019: A Look Back and a Look Forward

Tracing the journey of improved diagnoses, treatment and educational outcomes for children with autism April 2, 2019 marks the twelfth annual observation of World Autism Awareness Day. As described by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, World Autism Awareness Day exists to

Pushing the Envelope: Rebuilding Paradise

A Letter from the CEO: Rebuilding Paradise Growing up just outside of Paradise – Paradise, California that is – we always knew that wildfire season was a natural part of the landscape. But even with that knowledge, no one ever expected that the most devastating wildfire in Calif

Autism and Inclusive Sports

Special Olympics and Unified Sports for Children with Autism Sports are a unifying, fun way for individuals and communities to connect. For individuals with autism, participation in athletic events may be difficult due to the loud, chaotic environments or exclusion from particip

Autism and Dental Care

Going to the dentist can be a cause for anxiety for most of us, but it’s a very different feeling for those with autism. Patients with autism often have difficulty staying still and allowing the dentist to do what’s needed, which is why a loved one should always be present. Ever

Choosing iPad Apps for Children with Autism

The explosion of apps available on tablets like the iPad has been an exciting opportunity for children with autism. It may come as no shock to parents and educators that in general, children with autism prefer and are more engaged during app-based interventions than traditional

Inclusion Toolkit: Top Ten Products to Accommodate Students with Autism in the Classroom

The beginning of a new school year can be a difficult time for some children with autism. Shifting from the comfort of home to an environment packed with loud voices, stiff chairs, slamming doors, and a new structure can trigger anything from distraction and discomfort to full m

Does My Student Have Autism? A Guide for Teachers

It’s a couple months into the school year. The kids in your class know where to put unsharpened pencils, how to ask to go to the bathroom, and what to expect day to day. You have a strong sense of each child’s personality, strengths, and weaknesses. And you’ve noticed which stud

Positive Pedagogy: How to Bring Positive Psychology into Special Education and Inclusive Classrooms for Students with Autism

How can you help your students discover stillness? joy? authenticity? Positive psychology is the science of well-being, which applied, can bring more positivity and happiness into your classroom. Try investing in these easy “rituals,” or habits, to transform your classroom into

Parent Strategies for Helping Children with Autism Cope with Transitions and Changing Routines

Transitions from one activity to the next can be difficult for any child, especially if they are being asked to leave a preferred activity to instead do something they need to do. While some behaviors in response to transitions may look similar between neurotypical children and

Parent Strategies to Help Children with Autism Cope with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)

In this article, we explore Sensory Processing Disorder (also called sensory integration or sensory sensitivity), and how these issues can be alleviated and treated, and strategies parents and caregivers can use at home and school to help ease day to day life. Stages Learning Ma

5 Positive Play Therapies to Help Your Child with Autism

Despite being riddled with its own challenges and stressors, childhood can often be idealized as a time of magic and freedom. What often makes childhood so uniquely sacred is the acceptance and endorsement of play. While play can often seem like a time of rest and rejuvenation u

Celebrate Autism Awareness & Acceptance Month With STAGES® Learning!

The chirping of birds in the morning, the budding flowers on the trees, and the influx of tax forms to be completed can only mean one thing: April is on its way. There are so many reasons to look forward to April – the warm weather, the blossoming gardens, and the celebrations o

How to Bring Positive Psychology into Special Education and Inclusive Classrooms for Students with Autism

How can you help your students discover stillness? joy? authenticity? Positive psychology is the science of well-being, which applied, can bring more positivity and happiness into your classroom. Try investing in these easy “rituals,” or habits, to transform your classroom into

How to Prepare For Your IEP Meeting - For Parents of Children with Autism

Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) are defined as written plans outlining a program designed to meet the unique needs of one child. Walking into an IEP meeting prepared will help you and the school design the best plan for your child. Children with autism have distinctive nee

Five Principles of Positive Psychology to Transform Your Parenting with Your Child with Autism

Positive Psychology is a novel and accessible science that focuses on cultivating well-being, positivity, and happiness in the lives of individuals and families. Positive Psychology can help transform the way you parent your child with autism. Change can be created by investing

Music Therapy for Children with Autism

Choosing the Best Program for Your Child Benefits Overview Music has been an enriching and meaningful way for people to engage with each other throughout time, and music can provide powerful, multi-sensory experiences for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It is espec

How to Choose a Summer Camp for Your Child with Autism

Summer camp can be a positive and enriching experience for children on the autism spectrum, providing an alternative to the rigorous school year routine and opportunities for peer interactions. However, finding the right fit for your child can be intimidating and does require re

Top 10 Tips for Traveling with Kids with Autism

Travel can be a beautiful way to explore a new environment, bond as a family, and learn together. For children on the autism spectrum, travel can also mean venturing through unfamiliar routines and adjusting to stressful, chaotic situations. However, with thoughtful preparation,

Ten Holiday Gifts for Children with Autism

Whether you’re shopping for Christmas, Hanukkah, or any other holiday, finding the “perfect” gift for a child with autism can be hard, given the range of sensitivities and needs a child may have. Because autism spectrum disorder (ASD) includes a wide list of symptoms and affects

Ten Tips for Visiting Family When Your Child Has Autism

With the holiday season comes family gatherings, cozy meals, vacation plans, and yes — a dash of festive chaos. Traveling to visit family can be stressful even when everything goes as expected. However, a bit of planning and preparation can help keep your holiday season the most

First Person Autism: Review of Netflix Series Atypical

About two weeks ago, I began to watch the show Atypical on Netflix. This is a program that was of great interest to me, as it is about an 18-year-old high school senior who is living with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The plot revolves around this young man (Sam) as he tries to find

Tips and Strategies for Helping Children with Autism Develop New Routines

With difficulty making sense of their surroundings and feelings of anxiety, children with autism often develop routines and rituals to have some form of order and structure to their lives. Everyday routines such as washing and teeth brushing are generally consistent. There are t

A Parent’s Guide to Supporting Siblings Of Children With Autism

A family's bond is one of the strongest, purest forms of love. Each component is essential - parents, siblings, and extended family. When we consider a family consisting of a child with autism, the familial ties become increasingly vital. Parents and caregivers definitely become

Helping Children with Autism Develop Friendships

5 guidelines for the class or the home Friendships can have a major impact on wellbeing and personal growth, yet building new relationships can be anxiety provoking for adults and children alike. So, imagine how hard it can be for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), w

Can Horseback Riding Help Children with Autism?

The Benefits of Equine Therapy What is Equine Therapy?

10 Tips for Teaching Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Top Tips to Help You Get Started All children have unique learning needs, but children with Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD require a little extra guidance and support. Whether you’re a parent or teacher, it’s essential to understand what a child with autism needs and how you ca

Wandering and Autism: 6 Strategies to Prevent Wandering Behavior

Wandering or “elopement,” a common behavioral occurrence among children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), refers to the tendency to leave a safe, supervised space or caregiver and subsequently expose oneself to potential danger. Wandering is both tragic and terrifying for par

School Support for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Guide for Parents

This article was originally published on the Speech@NYU blog . Speech@NYU is the online master ’ s program in speech-language pathology from NYU Steinhardt. 1 in 68 children have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which is roughly 1 percent to 2 percent of students in the United St

Helping Children with Autism to Communicate & Recognize Emotions

Recognizing, Showing, and Regulating Emotions Think about the different ways that you recognize the emotions of others in your daily life. Do you focus on their facial expression? Their body language? Or their tone of voice? While some of us may do these things in our daily live

Research White Paper: Vocabulary Cards for Early Word Learning

Link4Fun Cards are new language-learning tools designed to scaffold preschool language development by synchronizing traditional manipulatives with digital media. Children tap flashcards against the screen of an iPad to display interactive digital content that engages them sensor

How to Help Young Children with Autism Avoid Behavior Problems

Linda Hodgdon has been a long-time friend of Stages Learning and is author of the best-selling book, " Visual Strategies for Improving Communication ." We have invited her to impart some of her wisdom and experience in a guest blog and she discusses an important topic that comes

It Takes a Team: 4 Steps to Building a Stronger Therapy Team

For students on the Autism spectrum, having a strong and reliable therapy team to support individual needs can be an important factor in student success. When members of a therapy team are collaborating seamlessly, a student is more likely to have high quality support across all

5 Ways to Help Reduce Anxiety in Children with Autism

Download FREE Autism Behavior Intervention Technique {{cta('4be34b8e-fbdf-462d-b166-928e9953dd40','justifycenter')}} It’s likely that we all know someone who experiences anxiety, and there’s no doubt that anxiety can be exhausting and can interfere with daily life. For children

The Twitter Accounts Every School SLP Must Follow

Twitter is a valuable tool for professional development (PD) and community building, especially for members of the education community. The platform is a must-have for digitally literate teachers who use their timelines, followers, and hashtags to inform and improve their PD and

Six Simple Mindfulness Practices for Kids with Autism

The practice of quieting the mind, otherwise known as mindfulness, is increasingly being practiced across the board – from Google executives to classrooms as a replacement to detention (Bloom, 2016). Mindfulness specifically refers to the practice of paying attention to the pres

7 Tips for Teaching Your Child with Autism to Cook

I can still remember when I was a child watching my mother cook. Her face always beamed with a smile so big that everyone could tell how much joy she had in preparing a great meal for my family. It seemed cooking was not only a hobby that she enjoyed, but also one of her passion

Best Sports for Autistic Children

5 Tips for Helping Your Child Succeed in Sports It is no secret that sports are a big part of most people’s lives. More than 100 million people in the United States alone tune in to watch the Super Bowl every year. However, being a sports fan and playing a sport are two complete

Autism Magazines and Journals

Magazines The following are some of the leading magazines geared towards families, therapists, educators and researchers interested in staying on top of the news and scientific developments in the field of autism.

Schools Warned On Speech Services For Kids With Autism

According to The U.S. Department of Education an increasing number of kids on the autism spectrum may not be receiving services from speech-language pathologists at school, ( Disability Scoop July 28, 2015 ) and they are reminding schools not to skimp on needed speech and langua

Social Thinking: 6 Strategies for Teaching Children with Autism

What is Social Thinking? Social Thinking is a flexible teaching framework that is designed to help individuals ages four and up with autism spectrum disorder and other social and communication difficulties. The framework helps these individuals better understand the process by w

Leveraging Special Interests to Help Children with Autism: An Autistic Person* Shares Her Experiences

Having a special interest in something is a major part of the repetitive behavior that comes with autism. In fact, researcher Tony Attwood (2003) found that special interests seem “to be a dominant characteristic, occurring in over 90% of children and adults with Asperger’s synd

Interviews from the Field: Kristy Johnson

Kristy Johnson is a mother of a child with significant special needs, as well as a researcher in the field of neurodevelopmental disorders. While she has always been very involved in science and engineering, her son greatly influenced her decision to pursue research in this fiel

How to Foster Social Skills Development at School: A Guide for Teachers and School Counselors

Social Skills & Autism Autism Spectrum Disorder is characterized by deficits in social communication and interaction. This can include challenges in social-emotional reciprocity and non-verbal communication used in social interactions. This can often lead to children with autism

In the News: Autism Research

This current news release is provided by Stages Learning. Stages Learning provides award winning learning tools and other resources for children with autism for parents , teachers , and therapists .

Autism and the Holidays: Advice from the Front Lines

Navigating the holidays with autism The time has come for families and friends to get together and celebrate. This particular time of the year means many things: inviting extended family over, wrapping presents, pie, singing, joy, worshipping, and making cookies! However, holida

Interviews from the Field: Sarah Scruton

Sarah Scruton is an English teacher at Triton Regional High School in Byfield, MA. Although Sarah is a general education teacher, she provides excellent insight into how to make accommodations for students with special needs within an inclusive classroom, the pros and cons of be

Interviews from the Field: Timothy Jepson

Timothy Jepson teaches chemistry to sophomores at Triton Regional High School in Byfield, Massachusetts. Although he teaches general education, it is imperative that he make accommodations within his classroom for students who have special needs. Additionally, Timothy has a stro

Interviews from the Field: Stephanie Hicks

As a behavior analyst, Stephanie Hicks experiences the field of special education through multiple lenses. Stephanie works mainly with classroom teachers, parents and a variety of therapists on how to manage and teach behaviors to children with autism. In addition to observing b

Parents Guide to Bullying for Children with Autism

What is bullying? Stopbullying.gov defines bullying as: “Unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children. It involves a real or perceived power imbalance and the behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time.” There are three types of bullying: ve

How To Make Life Easier for a Person Who Uses Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

As an autistic person, I am very familiar with AAC. I use it, and I am around others who use it too. Because it is AAC awareness month, I thought this was a good opportunity to write about it.

Book Review: The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida

Whenever I sit down to write a new blog entry, I mentally acknowledge the importance of self-advocacy in the lives of people with autism. It is vital that we tell others how we are feeling and what we are thinking, so that the community can understand our needs. I write these bl

Strategies for Responding to Rude Comments About Your Child’s Behavior

* Print out our Free Card to give to a stranger when your child is having a difficult time in public. The “Five W’s”: Choosing when to be an ambassador for autism and when to walk away Children with autism and their families often find themselves in uncomfortable situations duri

Cool Down Spaces: Best Practices for Managing Challenging Behaviors in the Classroom or the Home

Parents and teachers can feel confused and uncomfortable when students shout, cry, or act in ways that appear developmentally or culturally inappropriate. It’s helpful to learn who you can turn to for training or advice on behavior management and it’s equally useful to learn a f

Janet Sauer: Parent, Professional and Educator

Interviews from the field As a Special Education Associate Professor at Lesley University, a parent of a child with special needs, and a previous K-12 educator, Janet Sauer has many insights into the field of special education. Janet has a passion for social justice, as well as

A Special Thank You to a Special Teacher

A Former Student with Autism Shares his Gratitude for a Teacher that Helped Him Succeed When I was growing up, school was very rough for me. I struggled with many of the same social and emotional challenges that many others on the spectrum had, and each day I am thankful for the

Stages Learning Top Resources for Autism

Our favorite resources around the web Stages Learning has compiled a selective list of high quality resources and support information for parents, teachers, and families. Please contact us by filling out the form at the bottom of the page if you would like to suggest a resource

Interviews from the Field: Casey Bryn McCarthy

Interviews from the field As a speech-language pathologist working in Early Intervention, Casey Bryn McCarthy has a passion for communication and expression. Her passion for communication developed at an early age after working with children who have special needs. At fourteen y

Strong Start: Back to School Tips

Tips for getting back into gear for the school year Summer is an important time to take a break from school routines, spend time with the family, and explore extracurricular interests. However, the transition from the more laid-back schedule of the summer to that of the school y

6 Strategies to Prepare Your Child for Back to School, Haircuts, Hospital Visits, And More!

Preparing Your Child with Autism for the New Year Activities that are comforting, thrilling, or intolerable to people with autism can vary considerably from what a neuro-typical child or adult may experience in the same situation. For example, haircuts or birthday parties can be

The Positive Side of Autism

Note: Nathan Hughes is a writer who works for Stages Learning. He provides an inside view of his experiences living with autism. Stages Learning is dedicated to providing our community with useful articles relating to autism. For more about our products and resources for childre

Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of Autism

Knowing What to Look for with Autism Have you ever worried that your child is exhibiting symptoms of autism, but had no one to go to and no understanding of how to acquire a diagnosis and ensure that your child will receive the help they need?

“What Happens Next?”: Strategies for Teaching Your Child Sequencing Skills

Sequencing is the ability to logically order events, images, thoughts, and actions. Why is sequencing important for children? FREE Download: Sequencing Cards Lesson Plan {{cta('b8f89277-aabd-4cc7-8dc3-58a90e65d5bd')}}

Top Blogs by People with Autism

Nathan Hughes has curated a collection of the most useful and interesting blogs that are written by people like himself: People with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Nathan’s selections reflect a variety of experiences and provide advice, wisdom, experiences, poetry and art from people

Transition: A Guide to College Readiness and Applications for Students with Autism

Tips and Strategies for Transitioning to College with Autism Of the roughly 50,000 young Americans with autism who graduate from high school each year, less than 7,000 end up with a college degree (Wei et al 2015). This discouraging statistic has given rise to countless transiti

The Talk: Speaking with Your Child About Autism

Approaching the discussion with your child Many parents are unsure about how to speak to their child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) about the diagnosis. Parents may fear a number of reactions: that their child will not understand, become angry or depressed, or use ASD as an

Raising Money for Autism? Find Out Where Your Dollars Go

Guidance on Raising Money for Autism Support If you are helping raise money for autism research, advocacy, or other programs related to autism, it is wise to follow the advice of Charity Navigator: Your Guide to Intelligent Giving. They recommend, at minimum, that at least 50% o

Spreading the Word in Pakistan: Global Autism Awareness Project

Stages Learning is committed to helping people with autism around the world. In 2016 we founded the Global Autism Awareness Project (GAAP) in collaboration with students from the Harvard Graduate School of Education .

Syrian Refugees with Autism Are Given a Second Chance

For Our Readers: Stages Learning started a new service project in January of 2016: The Global Autism Awareness Project (GAAP). Partnering with students at the Harvard Graduate School of Education we are working to destigmatize autism around the world and provide information to h

Autism Goes to Hollywood: Our Favorite Documentaries, Movies and TV Shows Depicting Characters with Autism

And…action! As there is growing awareness about autism, the media is also increasingly portraying characters with autism and those who are on the spectrum. How autism is portrayed in entertainment can have a significant impact on how our society understands people with au

Pushing the Envelope: Global Autism Awareness

Global Autism Awareness: Three Students Got Us Started In 2016, three Harvard Graduate School of Education students approached us about internships. They were interested in autism in their home countries: China and Pakistan. All three had personal connections to autistic individ

5 Ways We Can Make the World More Autism Friendly

What it Means to be Autism Friendly and How You Can Help An exciting and fast moving effort is under way to create “Autism Friendly” spaces so that children and adults with autism can feel more supported and families can better enjoy visits to the theater, restaurants, and even

Help Spread the Word about Autism in China

Before I came to study in the US seven months ago, “autism” was just a word I memorized when I prepared for standardized tests. I seldom encountered the word in a contextualized situation in my life, and I never concerned myself with people who lived with this word.

Pushing the Envelope: The Importance of First-Person Autism Accounts

Autistic Adults: The Importance of First-Person Accounts Many parents of autistic children wonder what will happen when their children grow up – what will their adult lives be like? This is true of all parents, but likely more so for parents of autistic children. And just like n

Grandparent's Guide to Shopping for a Grandchild who has Autism

As a grandparent it can be a struggle to find presents for a granddaughter or grandson who has autism. Sometimes traditional gifts can backfire for the child with autism.

How to Enjoy the Holidays with a Loved One Who Has Autism

Holidays can be a time of great joy and excitement, but they can also be stressful and disruptive. For families who have children with autism, extra planning is essential to keep everyone on an even keel. Managing expectations about what a holiday “should” be like, and minimizin

New Tools to Help Your Child Sleep

Research [i] confirms what many parents of children with autism already know: children with autism have a higher incidence of sleep challenges, and the more severe the autism symptoms the more severe the sleep challenges. Research, [ii] as well as common sense, also tells us tha

Autism Parents: How Do You Rate on Self-Care?

As a parent our needs are often the first to be postponed or set aside. Sometimes there is no choice: we have to attend to the immediate needs of our children. But in the long run we could be doing significant damage to our physical and emotional health by not attending to our o

Using Sensory Tools to Help Kids Focus and Concentrate

Using sensory tools in your practice can provide a more focused, content and alert individual. Whether you are a specialist using ABA, speech and language techniques, occupational therapy interventions or teaching lessons, keeping the sensory needs of your children in mind while

Effective Treatment for Autism: It’s Never Too Early to Start

There are many promising treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Decades of research and a recent synthesis of 6 major research reviews indicate that the therapies listed below are all based on solid research.

Talking about Puberty with Children with Autism

All bodies go through puberty, regardless of the developmental "age" of a child or the level of their cognitive or academic skills. It can be startling for parents to see their child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) begin to develop an adult body and characteristics when t

Teaching Stranger Safety to Kids with Autism

Teaching young children about safety around strangers is nothing new. In fact, most adults can remember their own parents and teachers talking to them about the dangers of “taking candy from a stranger” or “getting in a car with someone you don’t know” at an early age. For today

3 Ways to Build Skills for Transition Now!

Planning for a young adult with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) or other special needs to transition from special education to adult services can be overwhelming for children and their parents alike! Many parents are so intimidated by the transition process that they refuse to t

Grief and Loss: Helping Children with Autism Cope

Coping with the death of a loved one is difficult for everyone. The idea of death can be particularly scary for kids, and the thought of not being able to see or talk to a loved one again may be confusing and overwhelming. Download FREE Language Builder Emotion Cards! {{cta('c5b

Autism is on the Rise

Autism – you see it on the news and hear about it from advocacy campaigns and you likely know someone whose life is affected by someone with the diagnosis. Undoubtedly, there are students with autism in your local public schools. Simply put, autism is more prevalent than ever, a

Choosing Meaningful Gifts for People on the Autism Spectrum

These days nearly everyone knows a friend or family member who is touched by autism. Perhaps it’s your own child or your sister’s child. Perhaps it’s the child of your neighbor, your dentist, your mail carrier, or hair dresser. With the holidays fast approaching, you may be aski

How to Modify Chores for your Child with Autism

When you have a child with autism or other special needs, chores are often overlooked or parents don’t consider it a possibility for their child. Just as modifications are needed in the classroom, small modification or supports can be developed to not only make chores a possibil

Using Apps to Support Fine Motor Development

Most early childhood classrooms are stocked with blocks, crayons, puzzles, and many other tools that support fine motor development. With the iPad becoming ubiquitous across all subject areas in the classroom, does this mean that the manipulatives and toys we once loved no longe

Favorite Autism Stories of 2013

As 2013 comes to a close, we look back at some of the news articles that had the biggest impact on our thinking this year. Telling your child about autism should not be the “Big Talk.” Saying that it's big makes it seem like it's bad. Read more of Brenda Rothman’s article at Huf

Blending Hands-on and Digital Learning: Holiday Edition

Building on our theme of blending hands-on and digital learning, the holidays are a great time to utilize technology to help kids understand tradition and explore not only the world around them, but also beyond their own communities. No need to stress about how to keep your kids

SXSWedu Special Education Overview

This past week Stages Learning Materials fled the arctic tundra of Boston and Cincinnati to ( what we thought would be) the warmer weather of Austin, Texas and SXSWedu. What is SXSWedu? It is an annual conference filled with panels and discussions focusing on technology innovati

Teaching Kids with Autism about Emotions

Parents and educators often struggle to help children with autism communicate their feelings. When children with autism have trouble recognizing and communicating how they feel, it may contribute to inappropriate behaviors such as tantruming and aggression, or even increased soc

Eating Healthy at an Early Age

Our first experiences with food have a large effect on our eating habits for the rest of our lives, so the best time to teach good dietary habits is during the early years. Think about some of your best and worst food habits... don't you wish you had started better habits at age

Using Games to Promote Peer Interaction

This resource was created as a supplement for the Language Builder: Academic Readiness Intervention System (ARIS) complete early autism curriculum, Lesson #74, Playing Games with a Peer and Lesson #126, Playing Games with Multiple Peers. Download a free copy of lesson 74 and les

Blending Hands-On and Digital Learning Part 3

Are you still on the fence about letting your child use an iPad or other mobile technologies? The latest survey by Common Sense Media shows that even since their last survey two years ago, media habits of children have changed significantly. One large difference includes the ave

Blending Hands-On and Digital Learning Part 2

Continuing with our series on blending digital and hands-on learning, we are going to switch focus today from one-on-one activities to ways to blend hands-on and digital learning in a whole group (classroom) setting. Keeping in mind Beth Holland’s questions regarding appropriate

Autism Technology

Over approximately the past 2 decades, with the rise in the prevalence of autism, an entire industry has grown up around treating and teaching children and adults with autism, as well as easing the challenges and improving the quality of day-to-day life for individuals on the au

What is Autism?

Rise in Autism Diagnosis 20 years ago most people had never heard the term autism, much less met anyone who had a child with autism. Today the Center for Disease Control estimates that rates of autism are as high as 1 in 88 children, and 1 in 54 boys (Center for Disease Control,

Language Milestones

How many professionals have been asked: “How do I know if my child is behind in language development?” How many parents have asked the question, or at l east w ondered to themselves? Language development varies from child to child, and there are wide ranges of expected “normal”