Autism Resources and Support for Parents and Caregivers | myHana Autism | Autism Parent and Caregiver Support Community
Autism Resources and Support Community for Parents and Caregivers of autistic loved ones. myHana Autism experts know that family health means it's about you too
Adjusting to our new norm: Each morning, I wake up to see if I can make an appointment for the COVID-19 vaccine. I am 67 and have heart related issues, but all I find when I try to book an appointment online is that appointments aren’t available. While I wonder when appointments for a vaccine […]
Heading into a new year The other day, I read a Facebook post that said, “I am returning 2021 since I had a seven day grace period to return it without any questions asked.” I laughed when I read that, but it also got me thinking about how much daily stress people experience; and how […]
The processing funnel Oftentimes, as parents, our knee jerk reaction may be to address processing related “symptoms” instead of the root issue. When it comes to processing deficits, it can be important to take a step back and address sensory the issues your child is experiencing and learning to work through. Understanding sensory sensitivity: When […]
Appropriate Expectations Setting the right expectations for your children in light of their unique circumstance is so important. We want your child to function optimally, just like you do. It’s our hope, that through the use of expert tools and resources your child can progress towards independence. Expectations have the ability to dictate our emotional […]
Slowing it Down Today’s autism-related processing approach is known as “slowing it down.” This processing approach is similar to “breaking it down,” which we covered previously. Remember, it may be difficult to rush your son or daughter through things like chores, or the morning routine. However, one possible solution to help prevent your child from […]
Breaking-It-Down Sometimes, tasks and chores need to be broken down into individual steps or pieces. Remember, the processing funnel of your child is susceptible to getting stuck when overwhelmed with too much information. For example, avoid assigning vague or unclear tasks like, “Clean your room up and then you can go play with your friends.” […]
Frontloading Today’s processing friendly tool is known as frontloading. Similar to forecasting, this tool is used to help remind your child of past behavior patterns before setting expectations with them. For example, if your son or daughter gets very hyper when they go to a particular friend of family members house, you might say, “Sarah, […]
Forecasting The processing friendly tool we’d like to share with you today is known as “forecasting.” If you’re like me, when you make plans to go to the lake or on a hike, you check the weather forecast. Why? That way you know what to expect and can plan accordingly. Now, think about how this […]
The 80/20 principle is a powerful tool for working with your child when he or she is stuck in rigid thinking. Compromising might just be the key you’ve been looking for to make a lot of tough situations go more smoothly.
One effective approach that parents can use to avoid sticky situations and help their child feel supported as they move towards independence is the “arm around the shoulder approach.” By putting this simple approach into practice, you can help make overwhelming situations not so daunting for your child with autism.