This Special Life

27/01/2024

27/01/2024

Parent training for families of children with autism often happens individually. However, sometimes your provider may offer group sessions as well.

How To Participate in Parent TrainingApril 29, 2020 by Courtney Gutierrez, M.Ed., BCBA, LBAIf you have a child with autism, you may be offered parent training at some point. Parent training can vital to a successful therapy program. Parent training may also be offered as part of educational services...

26/01/2024

The good news is that Telehealth is becoming more common in healthcare overall. This is also trickling down to the world of ABA.

Here is a quick guide on how to participate in Telehealth.

How to Participate in Telehealth for ABAJuly 3, 2020 by Courtney Gutierrez, M.Ed., BCBA, LBATelehealth can be overwhelming for many families. The technology may feel confusing. The process might not make sense to you. You might wonder how Telehealth could possibly meet your needs. Many families worr...

26/01/2024

Here are five ways to encourage language development at home.

5 Ways to Increase Language at HomeJuly 10, 2020 by Courtney Gutierrez, M.Ed., BCBA, LBALanguage is a critical part of childhood development. Language enables communication and social relationships. Language can be a difficult skill for children with autism. They might struggle with increasing their...

25/01/2024

Let’s take a moment to look at the bright side of autism and how these gifts can be used in everyday life. Here are the top 10 positive traits of autism!

Top 10 Positive Traits Of AutismJuly 8, 2020 by Elizabeth PurperoIf your child or loved one has autism it’s easy to focus on the negative things.  Extra challenges. Special education. Sensory issues. Social delays.It’s good to know about the issues your kid has and how to help them.  At the sa...

25/01/2024

Here are some practical tips on how to create positive chore routines for your child with autism.

Practical Tips for Teaching Kids with Autism How to Help with Household ChoresJuly 17, 2020 by Courtney Gutierrez, M.Ed., BCBA, LBAMany families value having their children help out around the house. This could be for a variety of different reasons. Families may want to teach their children the proc...

24/01/2024

Got bored kids at home? Keep them busy with items from around your house!

8 Easy To Make Sensory Activities At HomeJuly 15, 2020 by Elizabeth PurperoGot bored kids at home?  Keep them busy with items from around your house!Is your sensory seeking kid getting bored with things from around the house? They always turn to mom or dad for ideas.  Give them something new to tr...

24/01/2024

In this article, we’ll discuss 5 other concepts you may not have thought about yet. After reading, you’ll be able to add these to your toolbox of home teaching skills.

5 Concepts You Can Teach At HomeJuly 29, 2020 by Courtney Gutierrez, M.Ed., BCBA, LBAWhen you think about concepts you can teach your child with autism at home, what is the first thing that comes to mind? For many families and teachers, the answer is “colors.” There are a lot of reasons for this...

23/01/2024

By building in time to teach home routines, you can increase your child’s independence. You can also create more time in the day to help your child with new and more difficult activities.

Teaching Home Routines: Hand WashingJuly 22, 2020 by Courtney Gutierrez, M.Ed., BCBA, LBAChildren with autism sometimes struggle to learn daily routines. Taking the time to teach routines one by one can save you a lot of time in the future. Putting this time in can also decrease your future stress.....

23/01/2024

They are frustrated by the seemingly endless stream of forms to complete. This frustration is understandable! Here are some reasons why that boring paperwork is worth your time.

Why That Boring Paperwork From Your Provider is Actually Worth Filling OutJuly 31, 2020 by Courtney Gutierrez, M.Ed., BCBA, LBAIf you have a child with autism, you’re no stranger to forms. You’ve probably memorized more than your fair share of rote family details. At a certain point, you might q...

22/01/2024

So next time you want to plan a quick trip to the park with your autistic child, you can be “stuff free.” And you’ll also know you’re working on meaningful play and community skills.

5 Fun “Stuff Free” Outdoor ActivitiesAugust 26, 2020 by Courtney Gutierrez, M.Ed., BCBA, LBAOutside time is an important part of childhood development. Playing outside provides many opportunities to work on skills that might not happen inside. Outdoor spaces are places to practice following dire...

22/01/2024

Here are some tips on how to make sure technology is working for you and your family.

Technology and Your Autistic ChildAugust 28, 2020 by Courtney Gutierrez, M.Ed., BCBA, LBAWe live in the future. You may have heard that phrase recently. As a parent in the 2020s, you may remember a time before smartphones. You may remember a time before iPads and tablets were a common part of therap...

21/01/2024

In this article, we will discuss some strategies you can adapt to your own family meal time. You can use these strategies on a timeline that works for you.

Teaching Home Routines: Family MealsSeptember 4, 2020 by Courtney Gutierrez, M.Ed., BCBA, LBAIf you are a parent of a child with autism, you may be in “survival mode” when it comes to family meals. Many modern families do not have regular sit-down family dinners. Busy schedules and more than one...

20/01/2024

Thirteen-year-old Illiana Figueroa, an autistic girl from New Jersey, has recently reached over 100 thousand subscribers on her YouTube Channel, Toy Quest 101.

Autism-Inspired YouTube channel ‘Toy Quest 101’ Passes 100k subscribersMarch 19, 2021 by Chesley MaldonadoThirteen-year-old Illiana Figueroa, an autistic girl from New Jersey, has recently reached over 100 thousand subscribers on her YouTube Channel, Toy Quest 101. This milestone marks a great a...

19/01/2024

The key thing to remember is to be intentional about self-care. Here are some key ways to make sure that you are at your best.

Self-Care Tips for Parents of Special Needs ChildrenFebruary 12, 2021 by Chesley MaldonadoParenting special needs children can take a toll on one’s mental, emotional, and physical health. The financial burden of therapies and gadgets can also add to the stress. With the additional difficulties ...