I am not sad because my kid has autism. You know what I'm sad about? It's all the other stuff that comes with the autism that can get bent. The crippling anxiety, the obsessive compulsive disorder, the sensory processing issues, the hyperactivity, and the one that makes life really freaking complicated, the intellectual disability. Ya see, this is the kind of autism that doesn't get talked …
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Orange Effect Foundation Awards More Than $20,000 In Grants for Speech Therapy & Devices
CLEVELAND - April 13, 2017 - PRLog -- The Orange Effect Foundation continues to change lives. With more than $60,000 awarded for 620 hours of speech therapy and 5 communication devices, 2016 was a very big year for the foundation. However, if the first quarter of 2017 is any indication, this year will be even bigger. The Orange Effect Foundation is pleased to announce that following the first …
Spring Break for Families of Children with Autism
Spring break means sun, warmth, and freedom, but for families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, it could mean unstructured time, regression of skills, and an increase in undesirable behaviors. If you're the parent of a child with autism, you know that the "break" in Spring break can be misleading; it's more like overtime for you. Children with autism often thrive in structured …
Books Are Best For Babies
Don’t know what to buy that special little one in your life? New research suggests you should keep it simple and save your money. No need to buy the flashy, expensive toy that’s touted as “educational.” According to the December 23, 2015 online edition of JAMA Pediatrics, researchers at Northern Arizona University found that electronic toys that light up, talk or play music might slow language …
To the Family Just Starting Out With An Apraxia Diagnosis
To the family just starting out with an apraxia diagnosis … breathe. I know it’s hard because I’ve been there. Try not to let your thoughts and fears consume you; remember your child is still your child despite the diagnosis. Many people are unaware of apraxia, which is a neurological motor planning disorder. A child with apraxia knows exactly what he wants to say, but the breakdown between the …
How Having a Son With Autism Changed My Life
Personal insight from an autism professional My son, Sean, was 2 years old when we first noticed something wasn’t quite right. He stopped pointing at things. He lost what little language he had been developing. Looking back, I realize his development hadn’t exactly been “neurotypical” up to that point. But my wife and I didn’t know that then. We also didn’t know our lives …
2017 OEF Golf for Autism
OEF Golf for Autism Announced for August 7th (Save the Date) The Orange Effect Foundation has one goal – to make sure those children who need speech therapy services get the funds or technology they need…to reach their full potential. For many families around the world, insurance or government grants don’t fund these activities. That’s why we have to step in and help. Our 11TH annual Golf …
How My Son’s Speech Therapy Ended Up Helping Me
It was an agonizing, gnawing fear. What if my son didn’t get the help he needed? For months my husband and I had been concerned about our toddler’s lack of speech. People kept telling us to give him time and he would magically start speaking one day. Everyone had a story to this effect about someone they knew who was once speech delayed, but suddenly, abruptly caught up. Other people told us …
Freeing Joey Summers
Joey Summers, the recent winner of a prestigious award for exemplary Ohio special education students, enjoys using his augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device to tell jokes and charm his teacher and therapy team. But communication hasn’t always come easy for this bright young man. It took a caring professional team, parental support, and the right AAC device to open up his …
How to Prevent Bullying of Children with Medical Conditions
Bullying can be a serious problem for any child, but for children with a medical challenge the risk is increased. Knowing the facts about bullying is the first step toward preventing victimization of children and teens with medical conditions, and keeping them safe. Aggressive behaviors What exactly is bullying, and how does it affect the children involved? Bullying consists of aggressive …
Children of Color with Autism Face Disparities
African-American children are often diagnosed with autism at older ages than white children, missing years of potential intervention and treatment. Special correspondent John Donvan and producer Karen Zucker meet a black family who struggled to find community and resources for their son with autism, but are now helping others who need answers and support. Source: PBS.org …
I Saw the Signs…
People often ask, and I have countlessly asked myself, if there were early signs that my son, Joshua, was on the autism spectrum. Almost since birth, Joshua was an arm flapper. That was probably one of the most outwardly visible signs looking back. Predominantly when he was excited he looked like a big bird ready to take flight. Joshua also had tremendous problems with eye contact. People now tell …
