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Trellis provides ABA therapy to help children with autism.

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Autism

Understanding the Autistic and ADHD Nervous System

May 27, 2025 by trellisservice


Dr. Megan Anna Neff, a neurodivergent psychologist (autistic & ADHD) and founder of Neurodivergent Insights, returns to discuss the complexities of the nervous system, particularly autism and ADHD. She helps us understand the difference between sympathetic and parasympathetic responses, the concept of flooding, and the various triggers that can lead to stress responses. Dr. Neff also offers helpful strategies for nervous system regulation and the concept of the ‘window of tolerance’ and how it affects emotional regulation. This discussion is fascinating and valuable for caregivers and anyone with a nervous system.

View the transcript, show notes, and previous episodes at: https://www.allautismtalk.com/episodes/understanding-the-autistic-and-adhd-nervous-system

All Autism Talk is sponsored by LEARN Behavioral.

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: ADHD, Autism, Autistic-ADHD, caregivers, Emotional regulation, Flooding, Nervous system, Nervous system regulation, neurodivergent, Neurodivergent Insights, Parasympathetic response, Psychologist, Stress responses, Sympathetic response, Window of tolerance

Autism Diagnosis Without Bias: Eye Gaze Technology and Equity in Action

May 7, 2025 by trellisservice

Dr. Hanna Rue and Jonathan Lehmann join us to discuss the importance of early diagnosis and the potential of a new tool aimed at addressing health disparities, particularly for families from diverse backgrounds. In this episode, we explore the application of the EarliPoint device, which uses eye gaze tracking technology to diagnose autism in children aged 16 to 30 months. Dr. Hanna Rue emphasizes, “We all know that access to diagnostics can be extremely challenging. Within the Boston area, some families are waiting three years. Research supports that the earlier you start with services, the better outcomes you have.”

View the transcript, show notes, and previous episodes on https://www.allautismtalk.com/episodes/eye-gaze-technology-and-equity-in-action

All Autism Talk is sponsored by LEARN Behavioral.

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: ABA Therapy, All Autism Talk, Autism, Autism Diagnosis, Autism Podcast, Podcast

The Importance of Fitness to Support Life Skills

February 27, 2025 by trellisservice

Eric Chessen, founder of Autism Fitness, shares his journey to create effective fitness programs for neurodivergent individuals. He emphasizes the importance of understanding their unique needs and challenges as well as the role of fitness as a life skill. He states, “It’s not just for sports or body composition. A lot of our focus is to support activities in daily living.” Eric also discusses the need to raise the standard of practice in the fitness industry to better serve the autism community.

To watch the interview or read the transcription, visit: https://www.allautismtalk.com/episodes/the-importance-of-fitness-to-support-life-skills

All Autism Talk is sponsored by LEARN Behavioral.

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: Adaptive Fitness, All Autism Talk, Autism, Autism and Movement, Autism Fitness, Autism Independence, Daily Living Skills, Disability Fitness Programs, Exercise, Exercise for Autism, Fitness for Independence, Founder, Functional Fitness, LEARN Behavioral, movement, Neurodivergent Exercise, Neurodiversity Advocacy, Podcast, Special Education, Strength

Growing Up With Autism And Finding Belonging and Purpose

December 12, 2024 by trellisservice

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: adult, All Autism Talk, Autism, autistic minds, belonging, charisty, Community, connection, discovery, educational, employment, friends, Greak Britain, life story, mentors, neurodivergent, Podcast, support, United Kingdom

8 Tips for Planning for a Successful Holiday for Your Child with Autism

December 7, 2022 by trellisservice

The holidays are an exciting time as we share traditions, spend time with family, and navigate the different gatherings and celebrations. Holiday spirit can also bring holiday stress. We want to help you and your family have the most successful (and least stressful) season by offering our best practices and tips.

BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS

Start with Expectations

Having a positive and realistic mindset about what you want to create can make a big difference. What could go right this season? Keep an optimistic view of the possibilities for special moments you want to share. A winning holiday doesn’t have to mean extravagant plans. Consider what would be ideal, be prepared to accept when flexibility is needed, and look for the wins along the way.

Consider Comfort and Safety Needs

When visiting events or other homes, bring items you know will bring comfort for your child—things like earplugs (or headphones), fidgets, and soft clothes. When traveling, ask for needed accommodations from your airline and hotel. Make sure you are aware of possible water nearby and review crisis plans with loved ones.

Practice Before Events

Now is a great time to discuss upcoming changes to schedules and routines. Involve your child in the process whenever possible. Playing memory games with photos of those you will see this holiday season allows your child to identify matching names and faces. Establish a phrase or code word with your child to practice using when they need to take a break from events to calm down and relax.

DURING THE HOLIDAYS

Maintain Routines

During the holidays, change is inevitable but find ways to create or maintain routines for your child. What are things you can build into every day? Perhaps it’s something you do together each morning, afternoon, and evening (regardless of location). Utilizing visual supports like calendars and independent activity schedules can be helpful too.

Build in Fun!

Whether days are filled with errands or time at home, consider letting your child choose a couple of activities each morning for the day ahead. Here are some suggestions that might work for your family:

  • Bake something together
  • Do holiday arts and crafts
  • Take a drive to see holiday lights in your neighborhood, zoo, or garden
  • Help with decorations or gift wrapping
  • Sing along with holiday music

Consider Sensory Needs

Holiday meals can be tricky for some. Plan ahead for alternative foods that you know your child will eat. As we mentioned earlier, being mindful of dressing in (or packing extra) comfortable clothing can be helpful. Preferred items, such as toys or other objects that help promote calm for your child, are a good idea too. Consider making a sensory box that includes things to stimulate your child’s touch/sight/sound/taste/smell. Finally, establish a quiet “break space” that your child can utilize when needed.

WRAPPING UP THE HOLIDAYS

Plan for Rest and Recovery

After each scheduled big event or outing, try to allow time for a quiet evening that follows. Start a list or document on your computer of things that went well that you want to repeat and ideas about what would make it easier next time.

Transition Back to School

Packing holiday decorations and unpacking clothes can be helpful signals to your child that things are moving back to the normal routine. Other visual cues like a countdown calendar for back to school can help prepare them. Show them when school starts and have them mark off the days. Leave extra time the first morning back to school so you can have a nice breakfast and move with ease into the day. If possible, organize a nice, calm activity after school and focus on what went well at the end of the day.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: ASD, Autism, Autism family, Autism spectrum disorder, Comfort, Fidgets, Holiday season, Holiday success, Holidays, Maintain routines, Plan, Safety, Sensory needs, Stress, Stressful, Successful holiday, Transitions

5 Holiday Blogs Every Parent of a Child with Autism Should Read 

September 27, 2024 by trellisservice

The holidays are a time of joyous celebrations, filled with family gatherings and festive traditions. However, for some families with children on the autism spectrum, these changes in routines and schedules can present unique challenges.   

Navigating this season requires thoughtful planning and understanding. To support you, we’ve curated our top holiday-themed blogs, offering tips from calming activities to successful holiday planning. Discover more below and check out our All Autism Talk podcast episode “Creating a Successful Holiday for Children with Autism” for additional ideas.  

Here are summaries of our top holiday blogs: 

1. 6 Calming Activities for the Hectic Holiday Season 

Discover practical solutions to help children with autism enjoy the holidays. This blog suggests creating a calm-down kit, using quiet spaces, and engaging in activities like yoga or meditation to manage sensory overload. 

2. 5 Tips for Selecting the Best Holiday Gifts for Kids with Autism 

Gift-giving can be tricky, but this blog provides tips to choose the perfect gifts for children with autism. It emphasizes focusing on the child’s interests, strengths, and safety needs to ensure a joyful holiday experience. 

3. 8 Tips for Planning for a Successful Holiday for Your Autistic Child 

Planning is key to a stress-free holiday. This blog advises on maintaining routines, considering sensory needs, and practicing before events to allow for a smooth holiday season. 

4. Make the Holidays Successful for Kids on the Autism Spectrum 

Adaptability is crucial for holiday success. This blog highlights the importance of adjusting expectations and choosing traditions that work for your child. 

5. Why Gratitude Matters, and How to Foster It in Kids with ASD 

Gratitude can transform holiday experiences. This blog explores how fostering gratitude in children with autism can enhance their social and emotional well-being. 

Incorporating these strategies can lead to a more joyful and stress-free holiday season for your family. By tailoring these tips to fit your child’s unique needs, you can create an environment where they can thrive during festive celebrations. 

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Autism, autism spectrum, Calming activities, family traditions, gratitude, holiday gifts, holiday planning, Sensory needs, stress-free holidays

5 Tips for Selecting the Best Holiday Gifts for Kids with Autism

November 23, 2022 by trellisservice

Buying the perfect gift for kids and other loved ones can be challenging, and this can also be true when buying gifts for kids with autism. To help make your gift-giving easier, here are a few helpful tips to keep in mind when purchasing gifts for autistic children.

Focus on what brings the person joy.

Research shows that incorporating interests and preferences into the learning and play environment of kids with autism can increase positive behaviors and aid in skill acquisition (1). With that said, we can capitalize on what someone already likes. For example, if a child likes dogs, shop for games, activities, or toys that are dog-related. If a child enjoys swimming, activities that involve water play may be a hit (e.g., water tables, sprinkler toys, water beads, grow capsules). Alternatively, if a child is sensitive to loud noises, a toy fire truck with a siren may not be appropriate. Ask friends and family of the person for whom you are buying the gift what that person generally likes and/or dislikes.

Focus on the person’s strengths and abilities.

Many toys come with age recommendations, and while these recommendations are helpful, they might not always lead you to the perfect gift. A good rule of thumb when purchasing a gift is to consider the age and the development of the person for whom you are buying a gift. For example, the game “Apples to Apples” would not be developmentally appropriate for a non-verbal teen, even if it is an age-appropriate game. When looking for the right gift, focus on the person’s strengths. For instance, if the non-verbal teen mentioned above is great at drawing, then a sketch pad or an adult coloring book could be a more appropriate gift. If you are unsure about the child or teen’s strengths, ask a friend or family member of the person for whom you are buying the gift about their specialty areas and abilities.

Note: Be sensitive to how family and friends of a child and teen with autism may feel when being asked questions about the skills of their loved one. When asking questions, always frame them from the perspective of accomplishment (e.g., what skills have they mastered) and not deficit (e.g., in what areas are they delayed) to be supportive and respectful of their growth and development.

Be mindful of behavior triggers and safety risks.

Some children with autism engage in behaviors that put them or their loved ones at risk of harm. For example, if a child engages in pica (e.g., eating nonfood items), gifts containing small objects may pose as a choking hazard. Another example is if a child engages in aggression towards others, gifts with violent content may not be appropriate, as additional exposure to violence may interfere with their goals. Alternatively, a sensory-seeking child may benefit from gifts that allow them to stim. For example, if a child rocks back and forth, a swing may be a great way to meet their sensory needs. Additionally, certain objects can elicit sensory sensitivities which can trigger behaviors in some children and teens with autism (e.g., loud noises, highly preferred items, phobias, etc.). Ask friends and family of the person you are buying the gift for if there are any behaviors that possess a safety risk that need to be considered before purchasing a gift.

Focus on toys that encourage interaction with others.

Social deficits are a defining characteristic of autism. When gift-giving, try to purchase gifts that encourage social interaction. While almost any toy or game can be turned into a group play, certain activities may be more conducive to social interactions than others. For example, instead of buying a computer game, consider purchasing “Bop It,” which is an electronic interactive game that can be played among a group of friends or family.

Focus on finding new things they will love.

Children and teens with autism sometimes have restricted or limited interests (e.g., only talking about trucks or only playing with dinosaurs). To help build upon their current interests to introduce them to a wider range of activities, try finding new activities similar to their current interests. For example, if a child’s favorite activity is playing with “Play-Doh,” kinetic sand or slime may be an appropriate gift to help expand their interest due to its similarity in form of play. Ultimately, gifts that will provide new experiences may act as potential new reinforcers (e.g., stimuli that increase behaviors) and could significantly enrich the child or teen’s learning environment.

Resources

Increasing Task Engagement Using Preference or Choice-Making
Some Behavioral and Methodological Factors Affecting Their Efficacy as Classroom Interventions

For more holiday tips, check out Reducing Holiday Stress for Families of Children with Autism and Preparing for Holiday Meals.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: ASD, Autism, Autism family, Autism Gift Guide, Autism Gifts, Autism resources, Autism Support, Autistic Child, Autistic Teen, Black Friday, Child with Autism, Christmas Shopping, Gift Giving, Holiday Shopping, Interests, Preferences, Teen with Autism

Sensory Overload at School

November 4, 2024 by trellisservice

Sensory overload happens when the brain receives more sensory input than it can process. For children on the autism spectrum, this sensory overload often stems from perceptual or biological experiences, but can also be triggered by changes to their routine or learning environment.

Explore what contributes to sensory issues, how this might manifest in your child, and ways to support children in developing coping strategies or supporting their preferences. Subscribe to stay in the loop about helpful tips for your child with sensory sensitivities!

Filed Under: Video Tagged With: ADD, ADHD, ASD, Autism, children, coping, coping strategies, IEP, Inclusive, meltdown, Neurodiversity, overload, Quiet spaces, School, School Accomodations, sensitivity, Sensory, Sensory Friendly, Sensory overload, Sensory Processing, sensory sensitivity, Sensory Tips, Tips, Wellbeing, what is sensory overload

Immediate Needs

September 16, 2020 by Dawn Andrews

Anne Arundel County  

DBAA—18 year old male needs an instructor Monday through Friday 9:00am-5:00pm in Pasadena.

GDAA—13 year old male needs an instructor Monday through Friday 4:00pm-8:00pm and Saturday 10:00am-3:00pm in

Baltimore City

ECBC–12 year old male needs an instructor Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 3:00pm-7:00pm, Thursday and Friday 6:00pm-9:00pm and a flexible four hour Saturday shift and a flexible four hour Sunday afternoon shift in 21209. 

Baltimore County

BMBA—13 year old male needs an instructor Saturday and Sunday 1:00pm-4:00pm in Towson

BWBA—15 year old male needs an instructor for a flexible Sunday shift in Randallstown

CMBA—19 year old male needs an instructor Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 3:00pm-7:00pm and Saturday and Sunday 11:00am-3:00pm in Perry Hall.

JPSBA—13 year old male needs an instructor Monday through Friday 4:00-7:00 in Reisterstown.

JWBA—21 year old male needs an instructor Monday through Friday 9:00am-3:00pm in White Marsh

KGBA—15 year old male needs an instructor Monday through Friday 12:00pm-5:00pm and Saturday 12:00pm-4:00pm in Phoenix

MMBA—13 year old male needs an instructor Monday through Friday 5:00pm-8:00pm in Hunt Valley/Towson

MZBA—16 year old male needs a instructor Monday and Wednesday 4:00pm-9:00pm in Parkville.

SEBA–14 year old male needs an instructor Tuesday and Thursday 4:00pm-6:30pm and Sunday 4:00-7:00 in Reisterstown.

TWBA—12 year old male needs an instructor Monday, Wednesday and Friday either 9:00am-2:00pm or 2:00pm-6:00pm in Towson

XBBA—12 year old male needs an instructor Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 3:00pm-6:00pm and Saturday 1:00pm-4:00pm in Randallstown.

Carroll County 

CGCC—14 year old male needs an instructor Monday, Wednesday and Friday 4:00pm-7:00pm and Saturday and Sunday 12:00pm-4:00pm in Manchester

RGCC—17 year old male needs an instructor every other Saturday and Sunday 12:00pm-3:00pm in Hampstead

Cecil County 

JMCE—12 year old male needs an instructor Monday through Friday 3:30pm-6:00pm and Saturday 10:00am-2:00pm in Rising Sun

MOCE—18 year old male needs an instructor for a flexible every other weekend shift in Northeast

Harford County 

CFHA—19 year old male needs an instructor for a flexible 3-5 hour shift between the hours of 9:00am-2:00pm any three days per week Monday through Friday in Bel Air.

CLHA—18 year old male needs an instructor Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 9:00am-2:00pm and Friday 7:00am-10:00am in Bel Air.

GFHA—12 year old male needs an instructor Thursday and Friday 9:00am-12:00pm and Saturday and Sunday 4:00pm-8:00pm in Bel Air

HMHA—18 year old male needs an instructor Monday through Thursday 7:30am-5:30pm in Bel Air

IBHA—18 year old male needs an instructor Monday, Wednesday and Friday 12:00pm-3:00pm in Abingdon.

Howard County 

CBHO—18 year old male needs an instructor Monday through Friday 8:00am-6:00pm in Columbia

GOHO 19 year old male needs an instructor Monday through Friday 10:00am-6:00pm in Columbia

KPHO—17 year old male needs an instructor Monday through Thursday 2:00pm-5:00pm in Columbia

MHHO—16 year old male needs an instructor Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 8:00am-1:00pm in Sykesville

MTHO—20 year old male needs an instructor Monday, Thursday and Friday 12:30-4:30pm in Columbia **this schedule may change weekly with shift times including 8:30am-12:30pm and/or 4:30pm-8:30pm

SHHO—19 year old male needs an instructor Monday through Friday anytime between 9:00am-8:00pm in Marriottsville

TKHO—13 year old male needs an instructor Saturday or Sunday 10:00am-2:00pm in Clarksville

ZGHO—18 year old female needs an instructor Monday, Tuesday and Friday 8:15am-3:15pm and a possible flexible Wednesday shift in West Ellicott City.

Talbot County 

BKTC—16 year old male needs an instructor Monday through Friday 3:00pm-6:00pm in Easton

Filed Under: Waiver Tagged With: Anne Arundel, Autism, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Careers, Immediate Needs, Maryland

Living a Full Life with Autism with Martin Slyngstad

July 24, 2024 by trellisservice

Martin Slyngstad a Behavior Specialist, and currently in school to become a Speech Pathologist, joins us to discuss his multitude of interests and accomplishments as a young autistic adult. Martin is the author of Chatter Box: My Life with Autism A Mother and Sons Perspective, founder Spire Autism, and Special Olympics gold medal winner. Martin’s warmth and sincerity are contagious as he shares his passionate belief that everyone should celebrate their authentic life.

For more information:

www.spireautism.com

www.youtube.com/@martinsautismjourney7397

All Autism Talk is sponsored by Learn Behavioral (www.Learnbehavioral.com).

Filed Under: Podcast Tagged With: All Autism Talk, Author, Autism, inspire, mother and son, neurodivergent, perspective, Podcast, SLP, special olympics, spire, spire autism

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