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 spectrum disorder
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 …
Choosing Gifts for Autistic Children
Selecting the perfect gifts for loved ones is difficult, but selecting the perfect present for an autistic child poses a particular set of challenges. One father has taken the time to compile a set of great gift ideas that may help you when choosing the perfect gift for the young boy or girl on your list. You may also want to check out this Special Needs Holiday Gift Guide for more ideas. Do …
Thanksgiving and Autism: Coping with the Chaos of the Annual Feast
Thanksgiving Day can be a true ordeal for a child with autism and their parents. Visiting relatives' homes, or hosting a multitude of guests may be a challenge for most of us, but for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and their parents, the added stress can be unbearable. Eileen Bailey, writing for Healthcentral.com, offers several tips for making Thanksgiving a day that both …
Using Shakespeare for Intervention
Study: Shakespeare Play Helps Children With Autism Communicate Researchers say social interaction, language and facial expression skills improve COLUMBUS, Ohio – A new study showed improvement in the social and communication skills of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using a signature approach pairing the recitation of Shakespeare’s rhythmic language with physical …
Orange Effect Foundation Empowers Children and Young Adults
CLEVELAND - Oct. 3, 2016 -- Strengthened by the tremendously successful annual Golf for Autism event held in August, the Orange Effect Foundation announced today that it has awarded five grants for speech therapy and assistive technology. These grants will empower five more children and young adults, helping them to transform their lives. One eighteen-year-old recipient received funds to …