Editor’s Letter
T
akiwātanga—what a brilliant new word. It is the Māori
term for autism, which, when translated, means, “In his
or her own time and space.” It was coined by Keri Opai,
a New Zealand government official in search of positive,
non-judgmental vocabulary to replace English words when
talking about mental health, disability, and addiction. This sin-
gle word envelops all that we commemorate during World Au-
tism Awareness Month: knowledge, understanding, and accep-
tance.
Do you receive the support you need as a special needs parent?
Do you worry about your child’s actions and safety when commu-
nication and social skills are challenges? Well, you are not alone as
you seek advice and therapies that will work well for your child and
family. Take a peek at this month’s issue, and you’ll find the excel-
lent strategies and solutions you need for daily life.
Whether you connect online or in person, embracing an au-
tism support group benefits the entire family. Deanna Picon,
the founder of Your Autism Coach, LLC, said she and her hus-
band were reluctant at first to reach out when their now-adult
child was diagnosed with autism. What they found, much to
their delight, was a dynamic group of pediatricians, teachers,
therapists, and other professionals who wanted to help families
reach their goals. Take a look at Welcome to The Special Needs
Parent Club as Deanna shares eight excellent ways you can ad-
just to this special membership.
Protecting a child with autism can seem overwhelming at
times. Depending on a child’s challenges, behavior can be mis-
interpreted easily, and limited communication skills can hinder
safety. With reports indicating a rise in criminal offenders with
autism, we connected with Carol S. Weinman, Esq., CAS, an au-
tism legal consultant and parent of a son with autism, for pro-
fessional advice. Take a look at Could My Child With Autism Be Ar-
rested? What Parents Need to Know as she explains ways a child’s
behavior can be easily misinterpreted and how to help avert
triggers and manage meltdowns. The piece includes common
offenses and scenarios as well as measures recommended to
reduce misunderstandings and arrests.
Marcia Eckerd, PhD, agrees in the value of teaching social me-
dia and communication skills in an effort to avoid misunder-
standings. With the increase in inclusion in schools, colleges,
and the workforce combined with an increased awareness of
sexual harassment and enforcement of Title IX, Marcia said the
risk for school discipline and legal actions have increased over
the years. Please take a look at Harassment: Ways to Reduce Risk
Situations for People With Autism as Marcia explains why people
with autism behave in ways that can put them at risk and how
to teach important skills to protect them.
It’s easy to suggest you seek therapies and solutions to man-
age the challenges of autism, but do you know how to navi-
gate therapy services to find the right provider for your child?
For great tips on determining that ideal match, take a look at
The Therapeutic Connection With ASD – How to Know When It’s
a Good Fit! provided by speech-language pathologist Mallory
Griffith, MA, CCC-SLP. Her list of questions to ask yourself when
evaluating a therapist is valuable.
Continuing to apply the concepts your child has worked on
after a therapy session can be key to progress. Miguel Flores,
MS, BCBA, said remembering all the strategies after the thera-
pist has left a session can often be a challenge for parents and
caregivers. As a behavior analyst consultant and instructor, Mi-
guel has made it his mission to make these concepts easy to
remember using a clever metaphorical caregiver toolbox. Take
a look at his piece How to Help a Special Needs Child With Behav-
ior Challenges to learn simple ways to recall the recommended
strategies.
If you are in search of information on applied behavior analysis
(ABA) therapy, Vanessa Beibide-Zanetich, MA, SpEd, BCBA, has
written a piece called Which Is Best for My Child - ABA Therapy in
the Home or Clinical Setting? in which she describes this popu-
lar therapy and the different settings available for children with
autism.
Many children with autism have delays in speech and commu-
nication skills. Dr. May Ng, MBBS (Hons), FHEA, FRCPCH, MSc,
LLM, PhD, a pediatrician and mother to a child on the spectrum,
believes visual supports such as Picture Exchange Communi-
cation System (PECS) and augmentative and alternative com-
munication (AAC) aids can provide excellent opportunities for
children to connect with the world. For professional guidance,
take a look at Quick Tips on Communications for Children With
Autism and Special Needs as she explains how visual aids can
make a difference in your child’s life.
Play is an important tool for learning, especially for a child on the
spectrum. As a former Autism Advisory Teacher trained to use
Lego® blocks in therapy, Amy Eleftheriades, PGCE, MEd in SEND,
said they encourage and develop creativity, improve language
and communication, and teach team-building skills. For advice
on how Lego-therapy can help develop social and communica-
tion skills in children with autism, take a look at her piece, Top
Ways to Use Lego® Blocks for Purposeful Play With Autism.
This issue is packed full of articles covering a multitude of sub-
jects—from steps you can take to help someone on the spec-
trum get back to a good routine to understanding hyperlexia
and comprehension. There is something for everyone. And of
course, we are always moved by the compassion and honesty
ingrained in our personal narratives.
We wish our readers a lovely spring filled with understanding,
inclusion, and dreams for tomorrow.
Amy KD Tobik
Editor-in-Chief
Disclaimer:
Autism Parenting Magazine tries to deliver honest, unbiased reviews, resources, and advice, but please note that due to the variety of capabilities
of people on the spectrum, information cannot be guaranteed by the magazine or its writers. Medical content, including but not limited to text,
graphics, images, and other material contained within, is never intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Always seek the advice of a physician with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical
advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read within.