The Benefits of Visual Supports for Children with Autism

Visual supports offer a variety of benefits for children with autism. The Picture Exchange Communication System helps children communicate wants and needs. Visual schedules help children understand the flow of the day and have input in daily activities. Most importantly, visual supports can open the door to two-way communication between a parent and his/her nonverbal child.

The experience of expressing one’s self through art has widely been practiced as a form of therapy, as it’s no surprise that art brings a sense of calmness and serenity. This type of therapy is known as ‘art therapy,’ and it is a treatment widely used by therapists in meeting the challenges often faced by people with autism. Unfortunately, not all countries (including Malaysia) utilize this important form of interaction to treat sensory processing disorder (SPD).

As a parent, it’s natural to approach life’s tasks in familiar sequences. We hold our toddlers’ hands during those wobbly first steps, stand close by during ventures onto the playground, sit in the bleachers watching our children run on the soccer field, then wave goodbye when they run the local 10K. We walk our children into preschool and kindergarten, drive them to elementary school, drop off in middle school (a block away), and then hold our breath when they drive to high school (unless we still get to drive them to school, but drop off TWO blocks away).

Question:  I heard that government benefits are something we should be considering for my daughter, but I have also been told that our family will not qualify.  Should we apply, and if so, how?

Are you intimidated by the “failure to launch” syndrome for your young adult with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)? For most parents, the term translates into a fear factor, restraining them from helping their young adults with Asperger’s syndrome to transition into the adult world.

Parents, families, and adults have the same burning question, “What happens when school is over?”  In the past, the answer was for the child to continue to live at home with parents or in a group home setting, possibly work part-time at a fast food restaurant, grocery store, pet store or maybe just be able to volunteer a few hours per week. The rest of the time was spent sitting at home. We are beginning to see innovation invade the special needs community in which private enterprises and families are working together with government entities, and service providers to offer more!

Almost all parents, including those who are actively involved in their child’s special education plan, feel unprepared to navigate the transition from high school to adult life. This article highlights important findings about outcomes for adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from several new studies.  (Warning: You may not like what you read). The discussion continues with specific things you can do to improve your child’s chances of becoming a successful adult.

Incorporating sensory play into your child’s summertime routine may help retain the skills learned during the school year. This downloadable guide will provide a variety of ideas for fun sensory play activities for children with autism.

New research indicates that autism in girls is more common than previously thought as more is learned about the signs of autism in girls.

There are many different methods of therapy that can be useful for helping children cope with the symptoms of autism. Since there are different types of autism and a wide variety of environments that autistic children may be raised in, it’s a good idea to figure out which type of therapy will best suit the child in question.