My son Joshua recently turned 18 and is now formally applying to colleges and universities. It’s hard to believe. He (and his mother) worked so hard to get him to this point. I remember when he was diagnosed on the autism spectrum at age two. The doctor said that Joshua would never go to a regular school. We are all so excited for him to begin his college experience. Like most high …
autism spectrum disorder
My New Year’s Resolution This Year is Simple
This article was featured on the Autism Speaks blog in January 2019. It’s only the first week of January, and I’m already wavering on my “reduce chocolate” resolution. Maybe some things are for the best. Generally I am a person who takes New Year’s Resolutions seriously. The holiday reminds me of my teaching days, when the end of August usually found me setting up my classroom, excited …
Don’t Always Listen to the Professionals
When she was about 16 months old, we noticed that our daughter’s language was not developing in the same way that her older sister’s had. We were concerned, but were told not to worry as she was so young at the time. As time passed and her language still was not emerging as one would expect, our pediatrician recommended early intervention services through our local Board of Developmental …
For Some Children with Autism, Dance is a Form of Expression
Researchers are studying how movement helps children with special needs improve social communication and motor skills. Learn more in this recent New York Times article. …
Rolling Out the Welcome Mat for Travelers with Autism
Travel just became a bit easier for many families. A growing number of theme parks, hotels and special attractions are introducing autism training and sensory guides, providing resources in times of need, and assuring families they won’t be judged. Learn more in this recent New York Times article. …
Autism and Baseball: Why Baseball Can Be a Great Sport for People on the Autism Spectrum
America’s Favorite Past-Time Autism and baseball are a good fit for a number of reasons, starting with the slower paced team atmosphere, the plethora of numbers and statistics, and the open air setting. Baseball has been known as America’s favorite past-time for decades. As one of the most popular sports in the nation, there’s nothing quite like the experience of catching a game at your …
Life: An Unpredictable Journey
The following is a guest post from 15-year-old Joshua Pulizzi. Joshua is the son of co-founders Pam and Joe, and the inspiration behind the Orange Effect Foundation. At age two, Joshua was diagnosed with Autism. For a high school writing assignment, Joshua wrote a self-comparison to the character, Odysseus, from The Odyssey. We think his response provides insight into how some of his thinking …
At Airports, Making Travel Easier for Autistic Passengers
For Gearoid Mannion and his wife, Michelle, who live in County Clare, Ireland, air travel with their two autistic sons, Conor, 9, and Darragh, 7, is usually nothing short of a nightmare. The noise level, crowds and announcements at airports overwhelm the boys, and waiting in security and boarding lines is a concept that they don’t understand, Mr. Mannion said. “They get red in the face and start …
Walk In Her Shoes
A simple trip to the grocery store with a mom and her child who has autism. Walk in her shoes for just a moment. Have you seen her? Is this you? Tell us about your experiences in the comments section below. Source: TODAY Parents …
Animating Owen
Pulitzer prize-winning journalist and author Ron Suskind wrote about his son's fascination with Disney movies in his book, Life, Animated. Suskind describes how he used dialogue from these classic movies, particularly the Disney sidekicks, to communicate and ultimately reconnect with his autistic son. That story appeared in the New York Times Magazine in 2014. You can read it here: Reaching My …
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 …
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 …
