Blog Posts
Helping Your Child Shine with Early Autism Intervention
Sep 14
By: Jasnielle Gonzalez
If your child is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), starting early intervention services right away is very important. Early intervention uses targeted therapies and support to build developmental skills in young children with ASD. Programs such as the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) excel in early intervention for autism. Let’s take a deeper look at how you can set your kiddo up for success!
Family Training
Comprehensive training gives families superpower skills for helping their child. You’ll learn all about autism, how to teach self-care and communication, reinforcing therapies at home, connecting with other parents, and celebrating each milestone. Ongoing involvement allows consistency and helps you become an expert advocate for your child!
Read more: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CM10BNiK346atfO2n8CAa-Nyh4MmV833h34g2qjzH2o/edit?usp=sharing
Understanding Autism in Children
SEP 14
By: Jasnielle Gonzalez
Autism is a different way of seeing and being in the world. Kids with autism have unique strengths and differences that make them special. Here's what parents need to know about supporting your one-of-a-kind kiddo.
What is Autism?
Autism is all about differences in the brain that lead to variations in thinking, communicating, relating and behaving. Autistic kids often excel in certain areas like attention to detail, rote memory, and focused interests, while struggling in other areas like social skills, flexibility, and communication. But these challenges absolutely can be supported with the right help!
Causes of Autism
While no definitive causes are known, autism likely stems from a combination of genetic and environmental factors influencing early brain development. Ongoing research is exploring genetic, environmental, biological, and neurological factors that may contribute to autism.
Read More here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12hHGBbkFvB8Ltt845OpU8CAkLQ3LX2Qht7n9G7ctCds/edit?usp=sharing
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Here is an article from US News and World Reports. Autism is now reported in 1 in 59 children, 1 in 36 children in the state of New Jersey. This likely due to more diligence and literacy among parents at an earlier date moving them towards earlier detection. However, the word still needs to get out sooner and more vocally to lower income and minority communities who are still lagging behind in both reported cases and the time frame where children are detected with ASD.
Again, in New York State, the Board of Health (BOH) provides FREE autism evaluation and remediation until age 3, at which time the Board of Ed (BOE) takes over and provides detection and remediation services from age 3 to age 5–free of charge. This information is found on our web site on the resources page or email us and we’ll be glad to point you in the right direction.
https://www.usnews.com/news/health-care-news/articles/2018-04-26/autism-rates-jump-among-us-children
Here are 10 tips that I’ve learned over the years
Posted by: admin Tags: There is no tags | Categories: Uncategorized
NOVEMBER 18
Here are 10 tips that I’ve learned over the years (appeared originally in a blog from a wonderful parent from Seattle WA). (It’s important to read articles on how other autism parents cope around the country and even the world.
I highly recommend everyone setup a daily Google Alert for “Autism” and you will receive 20 or more articles on autism from around the world.
Put on your oxygen mask first. As parents raising kids with significant needs, our own self-care really matters. When kids are diagnosed with autism, we parents begin a process of intensive therapy … but rarely is it mentioned that parents need to make space to take care of themselves, emotionally and physically. When my son was first diagnosed, I didn’t make time to get to the dentist for over two years — and ended up with a nasty cavity that could have been filled easily. We need to be strong for our kids and for ourselves. Prioritize time each day, whether it’s for a 10-minute meditation, a quick walk or whatever you can do to make yourself feel well.
Find your tribe. Whether online or in person, finding peers who can relate to your journey is essential for your sanity and growth. As your children grow up, it really helps to have a couple of friends on your speed dial who “just get it.” Look for parent support groups in your area, contact Parent to Parent, a national organization that matches parent mentors, or check out the Autism Moms of Seattle group on Facebook.
Nurture all of your kids. Autism can take over a family, but nurturing your child’s siblings is essential to your family well being. It helps to make special time for your child(ren) who doesn’t have identified “special needs” to just be with a parent. If your schedule is full, consider doing breakfast before school or work once a month or sneak out for an ice cream date on a Saturday night. Our calendars get packed with therapy appointments so setting a repeating event for time with your other kids can help!
Read More: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TCBmiuJztzoqMWzlkV_B6HxXEZ3U8DdwAM-PAlyTltM/edit?usp=sharing
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NYC Autism Community: Please Join Us on Our Journey to form a Community to Better Service our Children
NOVEMBER 14
Our Story
Co-Founder Richard Schreiber
Co-founding the NYC Autism Community is very personal for me. I am the proud father of an autistic 11 year old girl who is my pride and joy. My daughter has Asperger’s.
Our journey began early on in our daughter Katarina’s life. We knew she was different when she used to listen to a lyrical CD and dance and spin around like a top yet not get dizzy. Kat would also never complain about pain if she fell, hurt herself, she virtually never cried. She also wasn’t terribly verbal until 4th grade.
I tell this story because I want ALL parents to be aware that if they think their child exhibits even a few of the dozen or so autistic characteristics, even as early as a year old, get your child examined. They are FREE early intervention programs offered by the Department of Health (ages 1-3) and even the Board of Ed (ages 3-5). Yes it’s FREE folks—and even intervention services are free. As early intervention and remediation of Autism is so important—it can even reverse or reduce symptoms—and there are free services available out there, take advantage of them!!!
In spite of all the indicators and the whispers from some family members, no one uttered the dreaded “A” word for autism, at least that’s how we characterized it. It simply never dawned on us that our daughter was autistic. This was 2009-2010 when autism was not on everyone’s minds like today.
Read More: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1O7sAn3z4doaoBLj5fVRU-QkAdny-T1bXULfViJMQcJ0/edit?usp=sharing
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