The year is quickly coming to an end, and it is time again to enjoy the Holidays. 2011 was a good year for the Autism NOW center reaching over 1 million families, professionals, self-advocates, and the general public through our social media outlets, and we are expecting 2012 to be even better.
Hello my name is Amy Goodman and I joined the Autism NOW team last month as the new Co-Director. I live in Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, and I am on the Autism Spectrum. I was relieved to finally have a diagnosis and name for some issues I was having. With that diagnosis, I was finally able to put my life in perspective and focus on who I am.
These are the times when many families enjoy time together, and… time apart.
When winter comes, people often try to prepare themselves for the cold weather, snow, and any potential emergencies that can go along with bad weather.
Disasters and emergencies create challenges for all people; however, for people with autism and other developmental disabilities, emergencies may also present additional challenges to daily routines and to the ability to communicate with first responder teams.
In the United States, over 80 percent of people have religious affiliations. Popular religions practiced in the US include Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam, and Hinduism.
Many people ask me what it was like growing up with a brother with classic autism. Well, I tell them, “When I was younger the world was a very different place. Back then, very few people knew about autism and only a handful had any clue on how to treat it.”
When I was a young academic at Oxford University, I was lucky enough to work with several autistic students, helping them to negotiate the complexities of that ancient institution and of college life more generally. Every one of them touched my life – and influenced my work – in profound and distinct ways.
Every Memorial Day, families and communities across the nation take time to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation. It was originally known as “Decoration Day” as graves were often decorated. Today, the tradition continues by having parades, concerts, displaying a flag, or visiting the National Memorials.
Memorial Day is coming up and your child is invited to a cookout with lots of food; however, if he/she has certain dietary restrictions, this may be a source of stress and anxiety. If your child has special dietary needs, what do you do?
