When we talk about supporting autistic learners with change, we often focus on preparing them for what will happen next. Catching change starts somewhere slightly different. Years ago, I developed and ran a summer day camp for autistic campers, along with their siblings and friends. At the time, I did not have a word for … Read more
Over the years, I have heard parents, teachers, and therapists say: “We tried AAC, but she just threw it.”“I show him which picture to choose, but he pushes my hand away.”“He has the AAC device, but he says the same thing over and over and over.” These moments can be deeply discouraging. Families may have … Read more
Why constipation in neurodivergent kids is so often misread — and what their bodies actually need Some of the most chronic, exhausting, quietly distressing experiences in a neurodivergent child’s life happen in the bathroom — or don’t happen there, and that’s the problem. Constipation, withholding, irregular patterns, sensory distress around toileting — these are everywhere … Read more
What we miss when we mistake stillness for calm — and what neurodivergent learners need instead Some of the most anxious learners in our classrooms, therapy rooms, and homes don’t look anxious at all. They look composed. Quiet. Maybe even “good.” They turn in the worksheet. They nod when the teacher checks in. They sit … Read more