Hands have fingers, thumbs, nails, joints, skin, bones, muscles, and tendons. They are flexible and can be molded, folded, and wrapped. Use yours. I learned early in my career that one of the most meaningful things one person can do to assure sincerity, acceptance, and understanding is through the power of touch. Not a slap. Not a high-five. A ...

My son, Doug, drives slowly around our city of Las Vegas. He drives to work on the Las Vegas Strip, to the athletic club, and to go shopping. He has a blue ruler in his car at all times to measure the exact distance from his stomach to the steering wheel before he ever places the key in the ignition. People with ASD adhere to sameness, rules, and ...

''Kathie, what's the number one strategy you use with children on the autism spectrum?'' I get asked that question a lot and I always reply with the same response. Any item I can hold in one hand comes up by my face.   That's so simple. But it's not so obvious.   That's so easy. But most people don't do it ...

During the month of April, Autism Awareness Month, I have focused on a variety of topics. I have written about the characteristics of autism, the significance of the autism puzzle ribbon, and my own family and personal feelings. I hope you have enjoyed the journey. This week, I have a special poem, ''I Believe in Blue,'' that I wrote for my son ...

Continuing with Autism Awareness Month: ''Light It Up Blue is observed April 1 and 2 each year in North America. It is dedicated to raising awareness of autism. Autism Speaks, the world's largest autism science and advocacy organization, announced the launch of the inaugural Light It Up Blue campaign in 2010. This initiative is ...

In honor of April as Autism Awareness Month, I thought it appropriate to inform all SLPs about the colors of the Autism Awareness Ribbon. This ribbon is unique, and there is meaning behind the puzzle and colors that represent the autism syndrome. The Autism Society of America describes the ribbon as follows: The Autism Awareness Ribbon The ...

Autism Awareness Month began on Sunday, April 1. My son Doug's birthday is April 1. The fifth annual World Autism Awareness Day was April 2. World Autism Awareness Day ''aims to increase people's awareness about people, especially children, with autism. The day often features educational events for teachers, health care workers and parents, as ...

When do you elicit a language sample? Certainly when you first see a child you would want to take a language sample. However, if the child is not comfortable on the initial assessment, there is nothing written in stone that says that it has to be completed the first time around. That in itself should tell you something. I feel that ...

Dear Kathie: ''Chad is 5 years old and ‘very' autistic and non-verbal. He covers his ears with his hands when there is a loud noise, such as a fire alarm, or even when he anticipates a loud noise, like a balloon that he thinks may pop. How can I help him, his classroom teacher, and his parents? - Payton, speech-language pathologist My ...

Dear Kathie: ''Larry speaks so loudly. I can hear him coming from way down the hall in school. No one wants to sit by him in the lunchroom and his teacher is pulling her hair out. I've talked to Larry's mother and it's the same at home, in the library and at McDonald's. Any suggestions? And is this really in the realm of speech therapy for a ...