Why does early diagnosis for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) matter? Dr. Genevieve Marshall explains early signs of autism, how to receive an evaluation, and what to do after a diagnosis. Be sure to subscribe for more helpful tips and discover more resources by checking out our blog here: https://lrnbvr.com/Blogs
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Our Heart Goes Out to Texas
Resources for families in the wake of Tuesday’s tragedy in Uvalde, Texas
We all have been impacted by yesterday’s devastating tragedy in Uvalde, Texas. In times like these, we are often feeling many things like anger, anxiety, fear, grief, and sadness. It can be incredibly difficult as a parent or caregiver to know how to support your young loved ones and how to explain such a terrifying situation to them. We wanted to provide you with some resources to help your family navigate this difficult time.
Websites
Visit the links below to learn how you can support your child when tragedy happens:
How to talk to children about shootings: An age-by-age guide
How to talk to your kids about the Uvalde school shooting
Texas school shooting: How to help kids get through unspeakable horror
15 Tips for Talking with Children About Violence
Helping children cope: Tips for talking about tragedy
How To Talk To Kids About Tragedies in the Media
5 tips for talking about violence and tragedy with your young child
How to Comfort Your Child After a School Shooting
COPING IN THE AFTERMATH OF A SHOOTING
Helping Children and Adolescents Cope With Traumatic Events
Books (available on Amazon)
The following stories aren’t related specifically to mass or school shootings but can help children see that they can take proactive steps to confront something terrifying.
The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld
Social Stories
Social Story About Safety Drills in School
Social Story About Death and Dying by Autism Little Learners
Why We’re Embracing Acceptance this April—and Beyond
As you know, April has been Autism Awareness Month for several decades now. This year, after careful consideration, we are shifting our focus for the month from Autism Awareness to Autism Acceptance. Why Acceptance, instead of Awareness?
For one, leading disability groups nationwide, including the Autism Society of America, Easter Seals, The Arc, and the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, are shifting to Acceptance—and urging the media and other organizations and outlets to do the same. “The shift in the use of terminology aims to foster acceptance to ignite change through improved support and opportunities in education, employment, accessible housing, affordable health care, and comprehensive long-term services,” the Autism Society release explains.
“While we will always work to spread awareness, words matter as we strive for autistic individuals to live fully in all areas of life,” says Christopher Banks, President and CEO of the Autism Society, in the release. “As many individuals and families affected by autism know, acceptance is often one of the biggest barriers to finding and developing a strong support system.”
Here, Banks echoes feedback from a growing number of individuals with autism—namely, that they have been left out of conversations during Autism Awareness Month and presented as a “problem” that needs to be fixed, instead of as individuals with unique ways of processing and existing in the world. Perhaps Kassiane S., an autistic activist, says it best in her widely circulated essay, “Acceptance vs. Awareness,” written nearly a decade ago, in 2012:
The gulf between awareness and understanding is as wide as any ocean. Awareness is all about creating a sense of urgency and fear. Awareness efforts present us as a problem to be solved, and yesterday. Awareness operates in stereotypes and soundbites, not real people. Awareness has no substance; it is but a tool to earn more money to fix us and to promote yet more awareness.
Awareness is easy. Acceptance requires actual work.
Acceptance comes from a place of understanding. Understanding isn’t generated by soundbites and posterchildren. Understanding takes work. To accept us, people first need to acknowledge us as individuals-as three dimensional, growing, developed characters. We are not all the same, and we are not but a collection of deficits. Acceptance is seeing that — and seeing that one’s distaste for an autistic person is more likely than not because of “autism.” Awareness tells you that anything objectionable about us is “autism,” but that explanation is clear, simple, and wrong.
The discussions around awareness and acceptance are part of the larger debate about ABA and neurodiversity, and whether ABA seeks to rid children and young adults of their core identity—and replace it with a socially-accepted, robot version of personhood. This is in no way reflects the aspirations of LEARN, and we consider it an enormously misguided perception, with potentially dangerous consequences. That said, we do realize the debate about ABA and neurodiversity continues. Across our communities, there are those who believe that any use of ABA is harmful to autistic individuals. We obviously disagree, but at the same time, we understand the historical perspective of ABA treatment as a rigid and structured therapy, which many individuals experienced. For these reasons, we view the criticism as part of a larger voice of concern about the rights of individuals with autism.
We bring this up now, as we embark on Autism Acceptance Month, because we consider our direction taken on the matter an opportunity to respond to the critics of ABA and reaffirm how and why we are an organization dedicated to nurturing, and certainly not harming, every individual with autism in our care. In fact, we design our services in a way that accepts, honors, and fosters individuality.
Throughout April and continuing far beyond, we will share stories and information about our use of contemporary ABA therapy and how we tailor treatment to the unique needs, interests, and values of every child and family in our care. Simultaneously, we will publish and give voice to the thoughts and experiences of a diverse range of people in the autism community, from autistic adolescents and adults to parents, advocates, and leading professionals in the field of autism.
Of course, acceptance cannot happen in a single month. Instead, it will take time and, as Kassiane S. says—hard work. Acceptance, too, is a first step toward the other critical goal: full inclusion.
We hope you will join us in this important endeavor as we work collectively to make a difference in the lives of children and families, and the millions of individuals with autism worldwide.
#togetherwecan
Justin & Hanna
Justin Funches, President, Autism Services, LEARN Behavioral
Hanna Rue, PhD, BCBA-D, Chief Clinical Officer, LEARN Behavioral
LEARN Behavioral specializes in using contemporary applied behavior analysis (ABA) to personalize treatment for children and young adults with autism. With clinical insights refined through decades of service to the autism community, we support more than 5,000 clients across 15 states and the District of Columbia through brands that include AST, BACA, WEAP, BCI, Total Spectrum, Trellis, and SPARKS. Our team consists of more than 30 doctoral-level clinicians, 450 Board Certified Behavior Analysts®, and 4,000 behavior technicians who share a common mission: to find success for every child in our care.
Time Outside
It’s July, and we have all spent more than our fair share of time inside over the past four months. In this time of cautious re-opening and nicer weather everywhere, we are all enjoying the outdoors and appreciating it more than usual. By following the CDC guidelines to stay socially distant from others, wear masks when feasible, and wash our hands often, it can be safe to be out and about in nature. Let’s take a look at the benefits of getting our kids outside to enjoy some fresh air and sunshine, while considering ways to do so away from crowds. We need it more now than ever!
The Benefits: Stress reduction, improved attention, motor skills
A pandemic is a stressful time. Disrupting routines (not only school, but after-school activities, therapies, and playdates) has intensified existing anxiety issues for many kids, so it’s a good reminder that being outside and being in nature is a great stress reducer. Studies show that even small amounts of time in nature (10-20 minutes) can help alleviate stress and make us feel happier-1. Time outside decreases cortisol, the “stress hormone,” that plays a role in anxiety and depression. In one study, pediatricians actually prescribed nature visits to families, and saw a decrease in parental stress-2.
Too much exposure to electronics can exacerbate attentional issues; with school closed this spring, many children have had more access to electronics than they typically would. Spending time outdoors can improve attention and may even lessen the symptoms of ADHD, which many children with autism also exhibit. Research has consistently shown that exposure to nature can improve concentration and even help impulse control-3.
Many of our kids have not had in-person occupational therapy, physical therapy, sports activities, or physical education in months. Spending time outdoors can improve motor skills by motivating children to engage in more and different types of activities, ultimately supporting their motor development-4. To be clear, it is not a substitute for therapy needs, but playing outdoors can give children more opportunities to improve their strength and balance than staying inside.
In addition to the above health factors, the risk of contracting COVID-19 appears to be lower outside than in-5.
1 Meredith, G.R., Rakow, D.A., Eldermire, E.R.B., Madsen, C.G., Shelley, S.P., Sachs, N.A., (2020). Minimum time dose in nature to positively impact the mental health of college-aged students, and how to measure it: A scoping review. Frontiers in Psychology, 14.
2 Razani, N., Marshed, S, Kohn, M. A., Wells, N. M., Thompson, D., Alqassai, M., Agodi, A, Rutherford, G. W. Effect of park prescriptions with and without group visits to parks on stress reduction in low-income parents: SHINE randomized trial. PLOS ONE 13(2): e0192921.
3 Andrea Faber Taylor, Frances E. Ming Kuo. Could Exposure to Everyday Green Spaces Help Treat ADHD? Evidence from Children’s Play Settings. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 2011; DOI: 10.1111/j.1758-0854.2011.01052.x
4 Niemistö, D., Finni, T., Haapala, E.A., Cantell, M., Korhonen, E., Saakslahti, A., (2019). Environmental correlates of motor competence in children—The Skilled Kids study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16
5 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/03/well/live/coronavirus-spread-outdoors-party.html
NOW TURN OFF THE COMPUTER AND GO OUTSIDE! IDEAS ON HOW TO GET OUTDOORS SAFELY.
The benefits of spending time outside or being in nature do not require a specific activity or a lot of preparation. Just being outside can be the goal. Some parents have the energy and inclination to run around and play with their kids, but if you do not, or if you have to be working on your laptop, don’t let that stop you. Just getting out in the fresh air is enough – even if you are sitting down with an iced coffee and your work laptop and allowing the kids to explore and play. Here is some inspiration for your outdoor adventures, be they goal-oriented or simply a place to wander.
LOW-KEY IDEAS FOR GETTING OUT IN NATURE
THE REGULAR STOPS: PLAYGROUNDS, POOLS, AND BEACHES.
Obviously, there are the regular summer go-tos. The internet can help you find the least busy spots: town websites, Facebook groups, and twitter can give you real-time information on which spaces are empty enough to truly practice safe social distancing. For instance, you may find that certain beaches in your area are practically empty in the evenings or on cloudy days. Even though it’s not your typical beach-day, kids can dig in the sand, run, and explore. Some places may even have you register for a parking spot in advance, assuring you that it will not become overcrowded.
OPEN-AIR MUSEUMS
Collections displaying buildings, sculptures, airplanes, ships, and other artifacts outside are known as Open Air Museums. Many of these organizations are limiting crowds by requiring online reservations and taking other proper precautions, in addition to the fact that they are already naturally well-ventilated. Learn about World War II at the Palm Springs Air Museum in California. Explore the kid-friendly trails on the acres of outdoor space at the Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, Massachusetts, where a group of transcendentalists lived in the 1840’s, attempting to create a utopian community. Walk amongst log cabins and stores from the fur trade era at the Pioneer Park Historical Complex in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, or visit the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Maryland, which houses the world’s largest collection of Chesapeake Bay boats. Before jumping in your car, be sure to check online to see if reservations are required.
FORESTS AND FIELDS
This can be a go-to for working parents who need an outing with zero prep-time. There are plenty of outdoor spaces that don’t have playgrounds, water features, or any other bells and whistles, and so aren’t typical destinations. Nevertheless, where there are sticks, rocks, bugs, and dirt, most kids will find something to explore. The fact that there isn’t a featured element like a playground or a splash park keeps the crowds away, but there is just as much sun and fresh air as anywhere else. Working parents can take a lawn chair and a hotspot and work under a tree while kids explore nature or even play with their favorite indoor toys while getting a Vitamin D bath.
SUNSHINE IN YOUR OWN BACK YARD
For families in areas where outdoor spaces are largely closed, or parents who don’t want to risk going into public outdoor spaces at all, simply spending time in their own backyard or garden is enough to connect with nature and reap some benefits. No access to a backyard or garden? Planting flowers or growing vegetable seeds on a porch or a windowsill with your kids still puts you all in the sunshine and may even bring in some interesting six-legged wildlife. And one study, conducted last year by the Detroit Zoological Society and Michigan State University, showed that even viewing animals on a screen might decrease stress.
For those of us who have been on electronics overload, having binge-watched every show on Netflix and allowed our kids to get lost in the worlds of Minecraft, Roblox, and other video games, the ability to go out again is more than welcome. Following the guidelines to keep a safe distance between non-household members, wearing masks when necessary, and washing hands frequently keeps being outdoors a healthy way to relieve stress and anxiety. We all feel a little better when we increase our physical activity, and get a little change of scenery, so put down your device and go spend some valuable time in the fresh air.