Last week, Sam asked a great question: if I could give one single word that best describes what autism is or how it feels to have autism, what would it be? That single word is anxiety. This week, I want to give you some techniques to use with people with autism to ease that high anxiety level they suffer. And I do mean suffer. Anxiety ...

This time of year, especially in the Northeast, it can seem like everyone is struggling with Seasonal Affective Disorder, including our students. It's cold, it's dark, and the smallest thing can set us off! As SLPs, we can be good counselors to our students and encourage positive self-talk for all sorts of occasions.  Self-talk ...

Last year I wrote a post, a la Oprah, about my favorite (speech therapy) things! Since it is that time of year again, I am going to discuss one favorite, recycled item! In the clinic I do some work for over the summer, there is an amazing long, transparent tube. I cannot tell you how much I have coveted this tube and wanted to take it ...

I love to hug children Hugs feel so good I'd hug them every day If only I should. But hugs are for parents Grandparents and such Professionals should go with High fives, knuckles and thumbs up. Today, on Thanksgiving Give your family your best Squeeze them with hugs Save high fives for the rest. ...

I'm working with several young, bright children on the autism spectrum and I need a new, creative way to teach the alphabet. I want to take them beyond rote memory skills and into conversational speech. What kind of ideas do you have for me? Shannon, SLP Kathie's Tips:  Have I got a great, new, techie, alphabet chart to share ...

I love my Humpty Dumpty. He's right here by me To wish you a happy Halloween With Halloween letters In support of ASD. I always think of ASD With courage and with grace. Autism has its thunder And its mask is spooky too. But underneath's a loving face. This Halloween message from Humpty and ...

With Halloween coming next week, Pumpkin Circle is a picture book you might want to consider using in your therapy. Pumpkins are a surprisingly rich context for eliciting language! Kids love them, and in a way, they are fruit, an activity (carving jack o'lanterns), a scary symbol, and a link to the curriculum, all at the same ...

It scares me to think that a child with ASD could have a tantrum on my watch. My knees -- they are a-shakin' at the thought. It will happen, and when it does, what will I do?   Children with ASD have tantrums. They hit and pound. They flail. They scream. They may bang their heads against a wall or throw items. They may spit or ...

I have always enjoyed children's literature, and enjoy using children's books in my therapy sessions. I always hope that I'm doing the books, and my students' goals, justice. Because of this, I really enjoyed the ADVANCE Webinar  Narrative Development: Beyond Story Grammar  presented by Maryellen Rooney Moreau, MEd, CCC-SLP. ...

Part III-A, posted last week, my blog presented some fun strategies for targeting humor/ laughter and attention/focus for the very young autistic mind. The purpose of these two blogs is to mesh the right side of the brain with the left side of the brain and to help a person with ASD ''dance'' in a more synchronized fashion. Here are two ...