Posts by Michelle Ibarra
Holiday Tips For Families in The Spectrum
December is here, and with it, the holiday season. Lots of celebration, lights, and fun. For most families, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. However, for families in the spectrum, this can represent a lot of changes, stimuli, and unwanted meltdowns. Today we will share with you a few helpful tips that…
Read More5 Tips for an Autism-Friendly Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is finally here! All the excitement, food, and family gatherings can make these celebrations one of the most anticipated ones of the year. However, for families on the spectrum, all these schedule changes, new meals, and visits can represent a huge challenge. Thankfully, it is possible to have fun and ease these issues, and today we will share a few…
Read MoreThanksgiving Hacks For Autistic Parents
Thanksgiving is finally here! All the excitement, food, and family gatherings can make these celebrations one of the most anticipated ones of the year. However, for families on the spectrum, all these schedule changes, new meals, and visits can represent a huge challenge. Thankfully, it is possible to have fun and ease these issues, and today we will share a few…
Read MoreTrick or Treat: Safe Halloween Alternatives for ASD Families
Spooky season is here and with it lots of celebrations and festivities. Although Halloween is considered by most children as one of the happiest seasons of the year, it can represent a challenge for parents and families on the spectrum. People, noises, lights, candies, and many sensory stimuli can end up in sensory overload and…
Read MoreHelping ASD Children Transition Back To In-Person School
Transitions are tough, especially for children in the Spectrum. Since in-person school return just happened a few weeks ago, we have had many parents asking the same question…“How can I help my ASD son cope better with school return?”. Today, our medical team shares their best tips for a better school transition: Tip 1) Help…
Read MoreEFT Tapping For Autistic Emotional Regulation
Although emotional dysregulation is not a specific criterion for diagnosing a child with autism, those who are on the spectrum tend to be more likely to lack emotional self-regulation skills. However, ASD children can learn to self-regulate! Today we will analyze a self-soothing method that is becoming widely known and is used by professionals to…
Read MoreBest Summer Activities for Autism
Virtual school is over and summer is here! This is an exciting time for children but can be a stressful few months for parents who have to create new ways to fill the long days. This time off from school and daily routines can be especially challenging for a parent who has a child on…
Read MoreHelping Autistic Children Understand Consent
Autistic children are much more likely to be victims of sexual assault. According to recent data “People with intellectual disabilities are the victims of sexual assault at a rate seven times higher than those without disabilities”. This is the very reason why we need to teach children in the spectrum how to protect themselves. We understand that this can be a conversation hard…
Read MoreDiarrhea and Constipation in Autism
For children in the spectrum, is well known that GI issues go hand to hand. Episodes of constipation and diarrhea can be normal for ASD children. Studies published by the Journal of Pediatrics estimate that “the odds of GI symptoms in children with ASD are four times more prevalent than for children without ASD.” Today…
Read MoreDe-Escalation Strategies: Calming Strategies for Autism Meltdowns
Sometimes, when autistic children become extremely overwhelmed or they’re experiencing sensory overload, they have a meltdown where they lose control over their behaviors. These situations are stressful for everyone involved and potentially dangerous for both bystanders and your child. Knowing some de-escalation strategies will help you avoid a potential crisis. Understanding The Escalation Cycle …
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