Editor’s Letter
I
received an email the other day from a woman whose pre-
teen daughter had been diagnosed with autism spectrum
disorder (ASD) after a long struggle. While the mom was
relieved to leave a doctor’s office with a diagnosis in hand,
she said she suddenly felt isolated and overwhelmed. How
would she find autism therapies and strategies that worked
for her daughter? How would her family move forward with this
new information?
Unfortunately, this seems to be a common dilemma for many
families affected by autism. While there are a multitude of effec-
tive therapies available, such as applied behavior analysis (ABA),
speech therapy, and occupational therapy, finding just the right
balance can be a challenge. One therapy or strategy that may
work well for one child, for example, may be ineffective for an-
other. That’s why we reached out to several doctors, therapists,
and parents of young people with autism in search of strategies
that complement therapies implemented most frequently.
One challenge we consistently hear about from our readers re-
volves around tantrums and meltdowns. If this is an issue that
affects you or someone you love, please take a look at Alescia
Ford-Lanza’s article called Expert Ways to Help Tame Tantrums
and Manage Meltdowns as the occupational therapist explains
how these reactions differ from one another and how they each
warrant unique management strategies. It’s an article that will
bring better understanding for families affected by autism, as
well as people in the community who don’t understand a child’s
behavior.
Another concern parents often share with us revolves around
the bedtime routine. A child with autism may find it harder to get
to sleep and to stay asleep, which can take its toll on an entire
household. Caroline Preston, the managing director at Therapy
Animals, believes the successful integration of assistance dogs
can provide young people with autism much needed and im-
mediate therapeutic an swers. Please read 10 Ways an Assistance
Dog Can Help Your ASD Child Sleep as Caroline describes how as-
sistance dogs can use their emotional instincts and learned social
skills to bring people emotional benefits and sensory interven-
tions. It’s amazing the comfort and consistency pets can provide.
We recently connected with Lindsay Diamond, the mother of two
boys with Asperger’s and ADHD who describes how music inter-
vention has positively affected her family. Take a look at her piece,
Music Therapy Can Create Amazing Results for People with Autism,
as Lindsay explains how music intervention can help social be-
haviors, improve focus and attention, increase verbalizations, re-
duce anxiety, and improve body awareness and coordination.
Dr. Joyce Show, a physician-mom of seven children and author
of the book Teaching Your Child with Love and Skill: A Guide for
Parents and Other Educators of Children with Autism, including
Moderate to Severe Autism, shared a similar success story with us.
Learn how her autistic son Peter, a nonverbal typer, has devel-
oped greater emotional regulation and self control through cre-
ative writing in her article, Amazing Ways the Arts Can Help People
with ASD Develop Regulation. Their commitment to finding new
ways to connect is inspirational.
We are also excited to share some thoughtful guidance from the
mom of eight-year-old twins with autism who manages multiple
in-home therapies including 30 hours of ABA therapy a week. If
you can use some advice on ways to make your child’s therapy
sessions successful, take a look at Caroline Mitchell’s Survival Tips
for In-Home Therapy You Need to Know. It’s important to make the
most of the time your child has with a therapist, and Caroline
knows how to make it a positive experience for everyone.
Autism advocacy is an important topic here at Autism Parent-
ing Magazine (APM). It’s humbling to witness so many parents,
teachers, doctors, and young people, including those on the
spectrum, come together to make the change they want to see.
A few months ago we launched a new column called Autism
Warrior in an effort to highlight notable advocates. This month
we would like to introduce you to Southeast Psych cofounder
Dr. Frank Gaskill who helped create the program called Aspire
in order to provide a space for families on the autism spectrum
to thrive, find joy, and aspire toward their dreams. Under the
program, a team of psychologists, therapists, educational con-
sultants, and parenting coaches who specialize on the lifespan
of the spectrum provide a continuum of services and experienc-
es across the lifespan of their patients and clients. Gaskill’s work
includes two books, and he is also the host of the Dr. G. Aspie
show, “Asperger’s is Awesome!” Please sure to read Asperger’s Ex-
pert Wants a World Where People with Autism Fulfill Their Dreams
as the therapist shares his inspiration and goals.
Regular APM columnist Derrick Hayes introduces us to another
remarkable advocate this month in his piece, An Exclusive Look at
AUTISM with Nancy Wells. Take a look as Derrick shares his exclu-
sive interview with the founder of AbleTalks, a new approach to
education, career development, and independent therapies for
adults with autism and other intellectual disabilities. The single
mother of two adult women on the spectrum, Nancy became
a licensed mental health therapist who now works to make a
difference every day with families affected by autism in very re-
mote areas.
Our team is honored to connect with so many extraordinary peo-
ple who dedicate their lives to helping families affected by au-
tism. Their talents and motivation are contagious and inspiring.
Wishing our families the best as they seek therapies and new
ways to connect.
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.