If you work in EI in any capacity, check out this new video from the Kennedy Krieger Institute.  Entitled Bringing The Early Signs of Autism Spectrum Disorders into Focus, it is the work of Rebecca Landa, Ph.D, CCC-SLP the Director of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD).  In this 9 minute clip, several simple ...

In this entry from the archives, I share some of my concerns about A.'s relationship with her peers, and demonstrate that sometimes this whole parenting thing can be difficult for me, too. December 5th, 2006:I know I make it look easy to be a parent of an autistic child. I know I seem to always focus on the positive, to fill my life with fun, ...

I know, I know -- it's been well over a week now since I last posted anything to this blog. But, for once, I really have had a good excuse. My daughter spent two weeks with her grandmother and just returned this past Sunday, so my household hasn't been full of the usual laughter and noise. As such, the muse hasn't really been with me. It seems ...

I am so excited about the Apple Worldwide Development Conference (WWDC), taking place June 10-14 in San Francisco! Why? As an educational technology consultant and pediatric speech-language pathologist specializing in iPad apps and autism, people frequently ask me why I am so tech-oriented, especially toward Apple products. New upgrades to ...

In these snippets from the archives, I share conversations with my daughter on hairstyles, conversations with her teacher on science fiction, and insights about child psychology. September 18, 2006:Last night, when I tucked A. in to bed, she said, “Mom, I need to talk to you.”“What is it sweetie?”She ran her hands through my hair, tugging on the ...

Well, it’s like it or not it’s official. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) was released earlier this month.  This edition has been controversial because of the changes made in the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and what it includes and omits. See my earlier blog on entitled More Updates on the DSM-5 for a recap of the ...

This summer, my husband and I will start trying for a baby. That, in itself, is a bit of a misnomer, however. What we'll actually be doing is stopping NOT trying for a baby, and then, after that, we'll see what happens. Either way, our hopes are to expand the sum of our family unit by a measure of one within the next year or so. As such, I've ...

In this entry from the archives, I explore my daughter's creative mind, and share some of her artistic creations. September 9th, 2006: In some ways, the similarities between my daughter and my own lonely seven-year-old self frighten me to no end. In others, I am continuously amazed at how very different my daughter is from anything I have known, ...

Has anyone else out there downloaded Disney's free app ''Story?'' Essentially, this app uses your photo stream from your iPad or iPhone, and you can easily create albums and stories in minutes. I was able to throw together a social story in less than 10 minutes! The possibilities are endless. Yes, you can even insert video! Videos are a ...

A.'s last day of school was this past week, and we've been able to watch her transition into summer life. It's always interesting, because, as much as A. complains about going to school, in the summer she always complains about being bored. Summer is also the time that A. begins to get interested in being extremely interactive with Thomas and I -- ...