Table of Contents
Cover photo by Anders Hellberg
7 HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS ON THE PLAYGROUND
WITH ASD 23 HOW TO HELP KIDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS AVOID
THE SCARIES THIS HALLOWEEN
Discover why many children with autism struggle
with applying play skills taught in 1:1 environments
to the playground and what you can do to help.
Annette Nuñez, PhD, LMFT Find out the steps you can take to make Halloween
festivities less stressful for your child with sensory needs.
Dana Reinhardt, MEd
10 GRETA THUNBERG: MAKING THE MOST OF
YOUR DIFFERENCES
Meet Greta Thunberg, a teen who views her autism
diagnosis as a gift that has helped her open her eyes to
the climate crisis and make a difference on a global level.
Margo Marie McManus
27 HOW TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES
BY TEACHING LIFE SKILLS WITH AUTISM
Find out how to create excellent opportunities for a
child to learn and build on his/her abilities.
Sandra L. Thompson
30 FINDING JOY AND HUMOR IN RAISING A CHILD
ON THE SPECTRUM
13 ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN STUDENTS WITH
LEARNING DIFFERENCES AND ASD
Find out many possible contributing factors of and
strategies for counteracting anxiety and depression
in students with learning differences from someone
who has lived with both.
Dr. Michael McManmon
17 PRACTICAL STRATEGIES TO HELP MAKE
TRANSITIONS EASIER FOR ALL
Learn simple ways to help a child with autism make
those most challenging transitions.
Kelly Pilkie BA, BEd, MACP
20 THE AMAZING RESULTS ARE IN ON VIRTUAL
SOCIAL LEARNING
Learn how one teen embraced his love of video
games to boost social skills and, in turn, develop
independence.
Maria Johnson, MA, CCC-SLP
4 | Autism Parenting Magazine | Issue 93
A mom shares how thankful she is for her daughter
with autism who brings so much love and laughter
into her life.
Carol Tatom
32 EXPERT ADVICE WHEN YOU THINK YOU MIGHT
HAVE AUTISM
Learn why it’s advantageous to consider a diagnostic
assessment as an adult if you think you may have
autism.
Prof. Tony Attwood, PhD and Dr. Michelle Garnett, PhD
35 AUTISM WARRIOR:
MARSHALYN YEARGIN-ALLSOPP, MD
SPECIAL NEEDS PIONEER PROMOTES RESEARCH
AND A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF AUTISM
Meet a medical officer and developmental pediatrician
at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and
learn about her most significant accomplishments and
her goals.
Amy KD Tobik
38 BEING BRAVE WITH AUTISM
Meet autism advocate, writer, and speaker Louis
Scarantino and find out how the art of bravery has
shaped his life.
Louis Scarantino