Editor’s Letter
T
here’s no doubt about it—change is hard. Whether
you’ve moved, been promoted at work, or even en-
tered a promising relationship, new beginnings can
generate stress. For some people, especially those di-
agnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), new life chap-
ters can create high levels of anxiety. This is particularly true
when it comes to transitioning from the calm days of sum-
mer to the often-hectic school year. Different faces, routines,
sights, sounds…the expectation to prosper in a changed en-
vironment can be overwhelming for kids with autism.
Knowing this is an immense challenge for many, we connect-
ed with doctors, teachers, autism experts, and parents for
guidance on ways to make positive transitions. Whether your
child is headed to daycare, primary, middle/high school, or
college, this is definitely an issue you will want to read!
First, we reached out to Marisa Goudy, BCBA, of the Nation-
al Speech/Language Therapy Center for some simple strate-
gies to help kids with autism make the vital transition back to
school. Take a look at her piece Successful Transitioning: The
Back to School Blues, as Marisa lays out an approach you and
your child can use to help prepare for the week leading up to
school, the nerve-wracking night before, and the momentous
first day.
Another way to help the academic year go more smoothly is to
make solid connections with your child’s school. Angela Con-
rad, a former special education teacher turned autism mom,
has provided us with her sage advice on ways both parents
and teachers can come together to help children on the spec-
trum. In her piece A New Autism Perspective: The Other Side of
the Table, Angela reiterates the importance of being patient,
understanding, and respectful in order reach long-term goals.
For many people with autism, the very thought of exams can
create high levels of anxiety. If your child experiences this type
of stress, take a look at Ways to Prepare for Exams in the New
School Year with Autism, provided by Kirsty Maher, BA, PGDip,
SEN. Kirsty, who has Asperger’s syndrome, offers excellent
advice on exam preparation and concessions, and she shares
the importance of providing your child with reassurance.
The ability to secure healthy relationships is another key con-
cern for many children with autism. A survey conducted by a
charity in 2015 revealed 80 percent of respondents over the
age of 16 reported to have been bullied by someone they
thought was a friend. Social situations are often confusing for
people with autism, making it difficult to know who to trust
sometimes. Please take a look at Catherine Sarginson’s piece
Ways to Help Someone With Special Needs Spot a Fake Friend-
ship, as the Head of Learning Support at Sedbergh School,
Cumbria, England, provides questions you can ask as a con-
versation prompt to establish whether a child or young per-
son with autism is at risk for mate crime. This a relatively new
term used to describe when people gain friendship and trust
with the aim to mistreat.
We tend to focus on kids when we talk about heading back
to school. But what about parents and caregivers? It’s not just
students who experience trepidation and worry. Please take a
look at Bussing My Son to The World, as James Guttman shares
his very personal experience placing his nonverbal son with
autism on the school bus and his warm advice for other par-
ents when handling the big day.
We also have an enlightening piece written by Colleen Hittle,
the mother of a recent college graduate, who shares informa-
tion she wished she had known when her son with Asperger’s
syndrome went away to college.
This month, we are thrilled to introduce a new regular column
called Autism Warrior, which has been formed to celebrate
people in the autism community who work tirelessly to pave
the way for autism awareness and acceptance. We chose Er-
nie Els as our first warrior, the professional golfer whose son
with autism inspired the establishment of the Els for Autism
Foundation and the Els Center of Excellence. Take a look at
the piece Professional Golfer a Game Changer for Autism Com-
munity, as Ernie shares his inspiration and goals.
This issue touches on so many interesting topics, from ways
music intervention can support social interaction to steps you
can take to encourage personal thought and verbal sharing
with your child with autism. If you’re in search of fresh thera-
pies, we have an article on the benefits of service dogs and a
personal narrative written by a mother who has successfully
used art therapy with her young boy with autism.
We would like to thank all of the families who participated
in our first cover photo contest. Congratulations to Natalya
Smith whose 16-year old son, Isaiah Noah Williams, is featured
this month on our cover. We recently learned more about Isa-
iah’s miraculous journey from his mother, as he was born at
23 weeks and weighed in at only 1 pound 1.5 ounces. He lost
his right eye from too much oxygen, which detached his ret-
ina and required surgery. Isaiah is visually impaired and non-
verbal, but he understands everything and is very indepen-
dent. He was diagnosed with autism at age four. Natalya will
receive all of our back issues, worth $239!
We also want to congratulate three additional families whose
photos were so charming we requested to use them through-
out this issue. Be sure to look for Asher Hufton (5), Jason Coo-
per (6), and Chalom Lee Pittman III (9). If you missed our con-
test, be sure to be on the lookout for our next one!
Wishing you happiness as summer ends and a peaceful tran-
sition to your next journey.
Kind regards,
Amy KD Tobik
Editor-in-Chief
Disclaimer:
Autism Parenting Magazine tries its best to deliver honest, unbiased reviews, resources, and advice, but please note that due to the variety of
capabilities of people on the spectrum, these are recommendations and not guaranteed by Autism Parenting Magazine or its writers. Medical
information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained within Autism Parenting Magazine is for informational
purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician with any questions you may have regarding treatment.