Dear Readers,
It’s finally summer! A time to relax under the warm sun, catch
up on the latest best seller, sleep in late...
Wait, who really does that? Summertime with children generally means changes in schedules, disruptions in routines
and a surplus of free time. And for families with children on
the spectrum, these kind of changes can create new daily
challenges. But, it doesn’t have to be that way.
This month we are proud to offer a collection of summer-themed articles from doctors, autism specialists as well
as fellow parents to help guide your family on new ways to
enjoy summer break. It’s time for summer fun and safety on
the spectrum.
First, we are thrilled to feature the advice of Dr. Esther Hess,
developmental psychologist and executive director of Center for the Developing Mind. In her piece, Top 5 Ways to Transition ASD Kids Smoothly into Summer, Dr. Hess shares how to
create a transitioning plan that offers stability and certainty for youngsters with special needs during the lazy days of
summer.
With the changes in everyday schedules also comes the opportunity for new anxieties and the possibility of new safety
risks. Alison Schmeer shares with us some transitional tools
that can help ASD children make that transition to summer
schedules and activities in Tips for Making the Adjustment to
Summer. And since much of summer is spent outdoors, special attention has been paid in the article to keeping your
child protected to include pedestrian, bicycle, and water
safety.
While every child with autism is different and has varying
needs, there are many activities you and your family can
modify this summer so everyone is included. From heading
to the playground together, hiking or gardening as a family to doing arts and crafts with friends, there are so many
opportunities to grow. Maintaining daily activities not only
brings families together — it keeps everyone healthy.
That’s why we are especially excited to share Eric Chessen’s
piece, Summertime Fitness Fun — The Actually Usable Guide
to a Summer of Physical Activity. An exercise physiologist with
an extensive clinical and educational background in Applied
Behavior Analysis, Eric explains the importance of ensuring a
child on the spectrum has the opportunity to participate in
physical activities along with advice on managing expectations and providing time for open-ended activities. He also
includes specific go-to activities for developing the general
strength and stability that are necessary for everyone.
One activity families can enjoy together this summer is
swimming. In the article, Swimming—A Lifesaving Skill and
So Much More, Tammy Anderson-Lee and Cathy Ball provide
tips to help parents of children on the spectrum reduce the
risk of drowning as well as appreciate the therapeutic and
physical benefits of learning to swim. Authors of the book
Swimming with Autism, Lee and Ball also include a network
of swim schools committed to providing access and quality
instruction for those with autism.
In his article Making Waves: Surfers for Autism, sports writer
Cash Lambert introduces readers to the amazing Fuentes
family who volunteers for Surfers for Autism with their ASD
son Lucas, an enthusiastic participant. Each year the not-forprofit group, founded by Don Ryan and a handful of other
people in 2008, introduces children on the spectrum to the
exhilarating and therapeutic sport of surfing. It’s sure to inspire.
Summer also provides new opportunities for families to
come together. We are happy to share with you a personal narrative written by Carissa Garabedian, the mother of a
12-year-old son on the spectrum. In Top 10 Tips For Preventing
Neurotypical Siblings From Getting Lost In The Shuffle, Carissa
shares tips on things families can do to help “typical” siblings
not feel lost. A special addition: The boy’s two sisters included their touching thoughts on growing up with a sibling on
the spectrum.
Dealing with autism challenges can become an isolating experience for some families. Be sure to take time this summer
to reach out to and connect with other families affected by
autism. You may find the personal support and guidance you
need right in your own community. Or maybe you are at the
point where you can share your own expertise with other
families in search of advice. Be sure to check out Kimberlee
McCafferty’s article, Top 10 Ways to Reach Out to the Autism
Community, as the former educator and mom of two sons
with autism shares ways to connect.
With summer often comes day trips and outings. Be sure to
read Applied Behavior Analyst Sarah Kupferschmidt’s piece,
Top 5 Tips for Keeping Your ASD Child Safe on Outings as she
shares her summer excursion advice. It will surely help you
plan an