“For those of us with children with special needs, watching their struggle with 'distance learning' is a daily battle.”
Read More“The regression and the behavior that our children are going through are things I haven’t seen in years.”
Read More“We can’t let the program go. Families are suffering. The children are suffering. They have been doing it since before March break. If you have breaks, you can make it through. If you don’t, it’s tough.”
Read More“They desperately, desperately need the one-on-one interaction. When we’ve already had three months to show this is not working, to extend it another three months is simply sacrificing our kids.”
Read More“I’m very fearful of long periods of breaks throughout the year. He becomes isolated, he becomes more in his box, it will lessen his communication skills and socialization.”
Read More“I have a lot of concerns, you know, especially at this critical age in his development, that he isn’t going to be able to get the skills that he needs. Social skills has been an area that I think is especially challenging to address remotely.”
Read MoreNow, as we all are physically distant from one another, we have less opportunities to practice our communication skills. Many educators (and parents) fear that COVID-19 shutdowns and service suspensions will lead to social skills regression in their neurodivergent students and might not know what they can do to help.
Read MoreFrom anxieties over your safety and that of loved ones to concerns about your child’s educational needs and more, I know that many of you are frustrated, overwhelmed, and stressed with the uncertainties of today and tomorrow. Remember: we will get through this — together.
Read MoreFor individuals who are already struggling with adjusting to new routines, abrupt schedule changes, and fears of the unknown, these new anxieties have only compounded existing problems.
Read MoreWe have been encouraged to practice social distancing and told to stay at home as much as possible — but that should not keep you from improving your communication skills. 85% percent of a person’s success in life is based on their ability to communicate; and, like many skills, communication is a skill you can lose if you fail to practice regularly.
Read MoreOverall, students in the general population have a 52.4 percent chance of completing their degree, whereas autistic students have a much lower likelihood (38.8 percent). Despite this, college enrollment for autistic students is on the rise, expected to increase by at least 114 percent in the next few years.
Read MoreForbes magazine recently partnered with Statista to figure out who are the best employers for diversity in the U.S. — what did they learn?
Read MoreDuring his PhD research, Dr. Craig Goodall, a special needs education teacher, autism spectrum disorder coordinator, and author, discovered that mainstream education for autistic students was a “place they came to dread.” From rigid teaching approaches to social and sensory overload, many autistic students do not perform to their capabilities simply because simple accommodations are not being met.
Read MoreOn the first day of the new year, Marcia Scheiner, President and Founder of Integrate Autism Employment Advisors, released a comprehensive and revealing report in Autism Spectrum News analyzing the impact of top Fortune 500 companies’ efforts to employ and engage neurodivergent talent. The results were eye opening.
Read MoreSea change is defined as a “profound or notable transformation,” and many are skeptical as to whether or not companies, despite their talk, are actually prepared or equipped to make that kind of change in their workplace this year.
Read MoreIf you have not yet made neurodiversity a priority, let’s highlight a few reasons why you are missing out on an incredible opportunity.
Read MoreIf our students are struggling in the classroom, having a hard time connecting with their peers, and growing frustrated with communication limitations, there are simple ways that we can get involved to support them on their journey to better communication.
Read MoreThe following are just a few of the many great books recommended by the autism community — check out the entire Twitter thread for more suggestions! If you want to better understand your autistic students and how to best support their needs in the classroom or lecture hall, consider adding these to your reading list this fall.
Read MoreThe use of questioning skills is an important area of verbal communication. By asking questions, you gain answers, understanding, and potentially acceptance for the message sender. If you want to become a more skilled communicator, ask open-ended questions.
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