Special Ed Rising

Bedtime and Sleep in ASD Individuals

7/6/22 It is not uncommon for children with ASD to have difficulty sleeping. Some of the reasons may be lack of routine, anxiety or sensory overload. I have worked with several clients who complain that their child is not going to bed at a regular hour or are waking up several times during the night causing them to have difficulty waking up in the morning or falling asleep during the day. Another common problem presents when the child wants to sleep with their parents; sometimes all night or at some

HOARDING

6/13/22 What I love about this profession is the myriad of issues that can arise and still challenge me in new ways. Because I was in the classroom for most of my career there were scenarios that parents had to deal with outside of school that didn’t cross my path. But now that I am dealing directly in homes or virtually with moms and dads like yourself, I am being presented with your daily challenges and some of them are obviously upsetting for you as you learn your child and

We Are All The Same, Just Different

4/25/22 When I spoke about my uncle in an earlier blog, I talked about how I both saw the obvious physical difference in his situation as a parapalegic in a wheelchair, and the person with abilities and talents that I didn’t have; a man with a unique personality like all people and a love for life. Fact: I could walk and he couldn’t. Fact: That fact didn’t make either of us better or worse. We were just ourselves. At the risk of oversimplifying, I’d like to make this point: Your

FEAR PARTY

2/12/22 BE LIKE A BISON “Bison do not run away and seek shelter from a storm like many other animals do. They go right through it and face the hardest parts so that they can come out on the other side of it much faster. – Jonna Jinton When it comes to feeling fears that keep you from moving forward in life, isn’t it terrific? Don’t you just want to hug your negative emotions and yell from the mountain tops, ‘I love you!!,’ so that the whole world knows it?

Something That Makes Me Feel Strong

1/24/22 The following is an blog installation in a creative communal action with WordPress called, Bloganuary There are many things that I do to feel strong physically, mentally and emotionally. I love creative outlets such as playing guitar and expression through painting. I love to eat a healthy diet. These are things that certainly feed me (one literally) and make me feel more confident due to the simple fact that I am an active participant in activities that move me forward; meaningful pursuits. Eight years ago, I made a life

Interview with Charlie Brown

1/23/22 I am fortunate today to be able to sit down for a rare interview with Charlie Brown. Mr. Brown is retired and living a quiet life in retreat. He is kind enough to make himself available and although generous, his time is limited. Me: Mr. Charlie Brown, how are you, Sir. CB: Good grief, thank you for asking. I am well. I once said, “Don’t worry about the world coming to an end today. It’s already tomorrow in Australia.” With that knowledge how could I be anything else? Me:

Favorite Quote

1/22/22 Viktor Frankl was a Holocaust survivor who penned the book, MAN’S SEARCH FOR MEANING. The story is a revelation as to the spirit of the individual to examine their life in the face of hardship and to continue to find meaning. “According to Frankl, “the meaning of life is to be discovered in the world rather than within man or his own psyche, as though it were a closed system. … The meaning of life always changes, but it never ceases to be. Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl “He who

KNOCK KNOCK

January 7, 2022 I have spoken in the past about the hesitations and fears of the unknown that can lead parents to miss out on receiving help from professionals when their child’s behavior impacts home life in a negative way. Help that can make huge positive changes in their lives. In this blog I want to address another factor that can cause you to put off seeking assistance from an outside entity. That factor is the sheer exhaustion that comes from even considering the degree of commitment it will take

Universal Behavior Management Tools

11/28/21 When dealing with the negative behaviors of a child possessing a neurodevelopmental disorder, there are core universal approaches and strategies that are adaptable to each situation. Only the degrees of their use and effectiveness will vary, child to child. Neurodevelopmental disorders come in several major groups: Intellectual Disabilities Communication Disorders including Speech Sound Disorder and Childhood-onset Fluency Disorder (stuttering) Autism Spectrum Disorder including the full range of autism handicaps, up to and including what was formerly called Asperger’s Syndrome Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder with several sub-types Motor Disorders including problems with