In the News and Events Calendar

It is scary to think of the day when you will finally need to have that hard conversation with your child/teen regarding their diagnosis. As a clinician, parents often ask, when is it okay to disclose to their child that they have ASD? How should they do it? They often ask, how did I do it? The reality is that it depends: some kids will realize that they are a bit different and will begin to question “why?”, while others will be completely unaware of their differences. What I often tell parents is to gauge their child’s maturity level and understanding. Read more…

I know that we all have questions about how to parent a teenager: how are we going to make it through these teenage years? Will we have our sanity at the end of the road? What can I do to set up my kids for success? What if my kid gets bullied? Will they have friends? And most importantly, will our kids end up being productive adults? Read more…

While having a child is one of the most magical and amazing times in a new parent’s life, having a child newly diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can lead to increased anxiety, stress, and a new set of fears and concerns. Although there is no blood test or medical test for a doctor to use to determine if a child has ASD, a child can receive a diagnosis from their doctor through observation, input from their parent, and various assessment or testing tools to make that determination. Read more…

Behavior Frontiers is happy to once again be celebrating World Autism Month. Though we can’t be together in our offices this year, that doesn’t mean we can’t still celebrate! From our annual office decoration contest being extended to home offices, to our team phone calls getting some much-loved World Autism Month backgrounds, we are continuing to find ways to celebrate the autism community and all that they offer. We aim to create a world without limits for the autism community, and not even a pandemic can stop us in that goal!

Using a token system is a great way to reward your child for engaging in behaviors that we want to see more often. A token system can be a sticker chart, have Velcro attachments, or even be hand-drawn. The idea is that the child engages in a wanted behavior or skill and they earn a certain number of tokens. Then once they earn all the tokens, they turn them in or trade them in for a “back-up reinforcer,” or the final prize or reward. Read more…

Children with disabilities such as Autism Spectrum Disorder are covered under the law titled Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (or IDEA). This law ensures individuals receive a free and appropriate education from any public school system across the nation. It helps to ensure children receive special education and any supportive services they need. In the wake of the COVID pandemic, many parents are left wondering how IDEA is affected by the COVID pandemic and if their children with disabilities are still entitled to receive a free and appropriate education from their local school. Read more…

Individuals diagnosed with Autism may struggle with sensory issues. Areas to consider include both an overreactive or under-reactive response to textures, sounds, lights, smells, spatial awareness, and tastes. Overactive responses to sensory items (i.e., the sound of a hairdryer) can result in problem behaviors including tantrums, screaming, and/or eloping as a means of escaping the sensory scenario. Under-reactive responses can be hazardous as well, given that our senses alert us of potential dangers. For example, the smell of smoke and the sounds of an alarm can indicate that a fire may be nearby. Read more…

Traveling can be an exciting venture for your family and yourself. Planning and preparation are keys for success for traveling with your child with Autism Spectrum Disorder and your family. When traveling, by plane or a planned road trip, planning and preparation can help everyone have a more successful and enjoyable experience. Read more…