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By: Linda Andron-Ostrow
Autism and Aspergers Awareness and Action
The Los Angeles Times recently published a four part series that discussed various issues related to Autism Spectrum Disorders. As part of our new Blog feature, we are embarking on further exploration of the content of this series and the questions it raises. This blog is intended to raise the issues and ask the questions that we hope to pursue through interactive discussion and community and client outreach. We will bring to our readers the insights, opinions, questions, and commentaries of various professionals and service providers, parents, individuals, and most importantly families who are and who continue to be affected by ASD.
Questions behind the influx of the ASD diagnoses in recent years have long been a topic of debate. Part 1 of the Discovering Autism Series...
Eating: The Elements
My son has always had a small appetite and has been a somewhat picky eater. There are certain tastes and textures he cannot stand, especially dairy products. He doesn’t like milk or cheese or yogurt- I’m not sure why. There are certain foods he will eat, though he doesn’t like them, especially if you tell him they’ll make him healthy or tall (like some vegetables and fruit) but he’s always been stiffly resistant to milk and dairy.
It was while ago on a trip to Griffith Observatory that I had a lightbulb moment about how to get him to eat more varied foods, especially ones he had an aversion to. Inside the building there is a large free-standing structure depicting the periodic table of elements. He was fascinated when he first saw this, since he loves anything...
Adulthood And Community Involvement
By Irene Campos
UCLA Public Health Intern
Guest Blogger
High functioning adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) face a myriad of unique challenges. Many young adults, for example, struggle to feel integrated into their surrounding communities. For this reason, professionals working with this population must keep in mind the importance of addressing and facilitating a successful transition into communities during treatment, so that these young adults with ASD can become active and contributing members. Unfortunately, there is a lack of research, services, and community supports that are designed specifically to address these specific transition needs for ASD adults. In recognizing this gap and the implications it has on young adults with ASD, FACT developed a...
Tools for Transition – Avoiding the Abyss
A blog for those with students finishing high school and all those who want to begin preparing for this from the earliest age.
The word transition strikes fear in the hearts of many on the autism spectrum. For their families, it is tempting to keep everything static to avoid stress and the inevitable meltdowns.
And then there are those transitions over which we have little control. These are the transitions that happen as kids on the spectrum move through the various stages of the service and educational system.
The Free Lunch is Over
I do not mean the delightful school lunches, but the wonderful social-recreation programs and camps that have been funded at state expense for so many years. All of us know the value of these programs for both the children and their families. They have provided a needed respite for parents and a chance to give siblings special time with their parents that are so often taken up in therapy appointments for their brothers and sisters. For the children, they have provided a chance to develop self-confidence and self-esteem. Lasting friendships have been formed. They have developed many life skills such as showering on their own, choosing what foods they will eat, and sharing a room. Many have grown from being campers to take on the responsibility of being “coaches” as they move...