Music Therapy

Music Therapy is a research-based health care profession that uses music to help clients reach their therapeutic goals. Ok, that sounds interesting, but what exactly does that mean? Let’s take a closer look.

Grief and Bereavement

In this interview, Elizabeth Graham provides some additional information about bereavement and offers advice to family members and individuals with ASD.

A Parent’s Perspective: Housing

In this interview, Claudia Pringles shares her family’s experience with choosing a suitable living arrangement for her daughter and offers tips to other parents who are interested in exploring housing options.

Dream a Little Dream

On December 18th, 2013, I signed the closing papers for my new house. It has taken me a long time to be able to afford to purchase a home and the experience has been exhausting, yet wonderful.

Housing

As we know, people without disabilities live in all types of homes: single family, cooperatives and condominiums, multi-family, mobile and manufactured, foster, group and room and board homes. The picture for many people on the autism spectrum is quite different. As we know people who are un-employed or under-employed have limited housing options. And people who require assistance or accessible dwellings have even fewer options.

The Real Life Story of Charlie Threatt

The kid overpowered Charlie and slammed his face so hard to the ground it messed up his teeth structure. He was so terrified and thought he was going to die. This incident changed Charlie’s life forever.

Helping Individuals with Disabilities during Emergency Situations

Individuals with autism and other disabilities may act differently in an emergency situation due to sensory challenges; therefore, their behavior should not be interpreted as threatening.

Safety

Unfortunately, we’re learning though a number of reports and studies that people living with autism and other intellectual/developmental disabilities face more unsafe situations compared with their non-disabled peers. Ignoring discussions about safety issues will not serve us well.

Autism^2

I think some of the most important lessons learned will be the ones that I learned from Tony; how he grew and how he helped my son grow as well. He’s never met my son, but maybe one day they will meet. My son and I are very grateful for the lessons he taught him through me.

Self-Determination and Quality of Life

It took a lot of work to get to where I am today but because I was able to self-advocate and take some risks, I now have a career and a life of my own.