Not Your Average Autism Mom

A new school year can be very stressful for our children with autism.  There are new people to meet, new routines to learn, and all the while having to navigate school and classes and noisy lunchrooms. Communicating with your child’s teacher is critical to your child’s success at school and in the classroom.  You can be a tremendous resource that can help ensure your child has a smooth t...

The majority of people with autism do use spoken language but few of them use it in the same way as individuals without autism.  The reason that this is so important for you to understand is that often our kids are often communicators rather than conversationalists and teaching conversation skills will likely be something that you will continually have to work on with your child if language i...

The death of a loved one, a tragedy in the world, someone we love getting diagnosed with a terminal illness, none of these our easy conversations. Our goal as Mom is to protect our children right, we want to shield them from the things that will be difficult for them, of course, that is normal, but you and I both know that it isn’t reality. Part of what makes it difficult to discuss a tragic situa...

So many of us, including me, struggle to figure out HOW to connect with our kids.  Feeling like we don't have a bond and sometimes even questioning if they are capable to "really" love us or if they would miss us if we weren't here tomorrow.  I know those thoughts, because I have had those thoughts so if you have had those thoughts, this episode is for you! Talk to them even if it doesn’...

Communication is the pathway to navigating the world we live in. We communicate our wants and needs and likes and dislikes. We communicate to share information and use it to build relationships. Children with autism often have difficulty developing language skills and understanding what others are communicating to them.  Not only do they struggle with verbal communication but also non-verbal...

Not every child who has autism needs to have a guardian when they become 18. Having a diagnosis of autism does not equal incompetence.   In most states, a parent is deemed to be the legal guardian of his or her child until the child turns 18. Until 18, parents have the legal authority to make decisions (medical, financial, etc.) for their child. As soon as your child turns 18, your parental a...

As a parent of a child with autism, we have many challenges along the way that can affect not only our mental well-being but often our physical and social well-being are impacted too. Parents who don’t learn healthy coping strategies are at increased risk of higher anxiety and even depression. In today's episode, I discuss practical things that you can do to lessen your stress levels and show up b...

For most people, context is just a known thing. I mean it's like it is just inherent for us to know that everything is relative and depends on the context, situation, or setting which determines how we act or react or what we say or don’t say, right? Well, imagine, if you are only able to take in one piece of information at a time. This is a daily struggle for people with autism. There are so many...

Most people know or think they know and/or understand Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) but have you ever heard of Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)?  The differences may just surprise you and there may be a lightbulb moment or two in this episode. Many behavioral symptoms of autism and OCD actually overlap with each other.  The reality is that the symptoms are similar b...

Emotions are difficult to understand and interpret for all of us, and each of us demonstrates our emotions differently but for our kids on the spectrum, it is so much more challenging.  For most of our kids, these intense emotions are very unpredictable, scary, and overwhelming. We have to teach them how to appropriately respond to their emotions and this isn’t an easy task and won’t happen o...

How often can you have an IEP meeting?  Should I get a meeting notice?  Can I request a specific staff member not be part of my child's IEP meeting?  Can I record the meeting?  What if I can't attend the day the school scheduled the meeting? Does my child have to attend the meeting?  What if I don't sign the IEP?  My school said they don't provide the service my child...

This is a HOT topic in the autism world today.  Autism diagnosis or being autistic.   Puzzle piece or no puzzle piece.   Our company name, Not Your Average Autism Mom, and what our values and beliefs are. Who we are and what we do and do not do as a growing company in the autism community.   Do you believe that the medical professionals and certain autism organizations are harm...

If you are concerned about your child’s development or suspect that your little one may have a disability, this episode is for you! There is actually so much to know about early intervention. HOW your child would qualify for an IFSP? Each state has specific guidelines for the IFSP What can you expect to be included in an IFSP? The differences between an IFSP and an IEP What types of services can b...

This is actually one of the biggest questions moms have after getting their child’s autism diagnosis. Who should know and why? In this episode, I am talking about why, when, how, and with who you should share the diagnosis? Autism is something that more and more people are aware of, but there is still a lot of misleading information out there. Your family and friends may not know what it means or...

In today's episode, I give you some insight into having "the talk" with your child about their autism diagnosis.  I give you some of the signs that you may see that will tell you, it might be time.   These conversations are as individual as your child but the most important thing is to assure them that getting a diagnosis does not change who they are, everyone loves them the same, all it...

If your student's behaviors are interfering with their success in the educational setting, an FBA might be just what they need.  An FBA is a behavioral assessment used to track data to figure out why a student acts a certain way. In the assessment, the goal is to determine what is behind the behavior which you might hear referred to as the “function of the behavior” and what purpose that beha...

In this episode, I talk about all things behavior.  You are not alone.   Behavior challenges are among the biggest struggles reported by parents raising a child with autism.  If you're like me and maybe have never heard of anger rumination, I'll explain what it is and how it might be impacting your child.   I'll also give you strategies that you can use when you are in the mome...

The requested evaluations are completed and the school calls you to schedule the meeting.  What Now?     In this episode, I walk you through the things you need to know about this process.  What your expectations should and should not be. I review the purpose and explanation of both a 504 Plan and an IEP and tell you things that you may hear and what you should always do.&...

In today's episode, I walk you through the process of getting your child evaluated for Special Education services.  No, your child does not have to be school-age before getting evaluated.   I talk in detail about what to expect as well as going into detail into the available evaluations, what they are specifically for, and the importance of requesting them.   In addition, I give you...

This week, we are giving our moms of girls some extra well-deserved attention and talking all things autism in girls.  I address some of the reasons why they are oftentimes under-diagnosed and how their brains may actually differ.   I talk about things to look for early on as well as what to be mindful of as they grow into their teenage years and beyond. We want to give our moms of girls...

Special Education is a great unknown for so many parents.  Years ago, special education meant a separate classroom for special students of varying physical, emotional, and intellectual needs. But now, special education is integrated more than ever before and it is constantly changing. I want you to know is that Special Education is for any student who requires additional support and services...

You are not alone! In this episode, I talk about things that you may be dealing with when it comes to getting your little one (or bigger one) to fall asleep or stay asleep.  Things that you may be doing or not doing that could be impacting them getting a good night's sleep.   Want to know more: www.notyouraverageautismmom.com

In this episode, I talk in detail about echolalia.  The two different ways echolalia presents itself and when it should become a concern.   Figuring out the meaning behind echolalia can be tricky but with a little detective work, it is possible.  

In this episode, I talk about the fact that you have the choice to believe or not believe anyone else's opinion.  Along your autism journey, you will likely come in contact with people who will have an opinion, or who will do or say something that you don't agree with.  When that happens, you have a choice to believe them or not.  Your thoughts about what they do or say are what cre...

In this episode, I talk about all of the judgments we place on ourselves about being a Mom.  How we never feel like we measure up and other moms are doing so much better than we are.  Why your thoughts of feeling overwhelmed and that you simply just can't do it are not serving you and what you can do to change those thoughts.   Just imagine what it would feel like if you actually to...