"There needs to be a lot more emphasis on what a child CAN do instead of what he cannot do." Temple Grandin
News
In honor of April being Autism Awareness month, we wanted to feature a family whose lives are directly touched by Autism. We had the honor of chatting with Elizabeth Tolis, mother to three boys, whose youngest son, Emmett, age 12, has a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Read more....
Emmett went to the hospital as an interim step on the way to finding residential treatment, his family said, but he is still there because there is nowhere else for him to go. Since he arrived at the hospital July 8 from his home in Jamison, Bucks County, a child who loves swimming and roller coasters has not stepped outside once. He has been put in restraints as frequently as once weekly through the course of his stay to cope with his aggression. His parents try to keep him active with art projects, an exercise bike, and walks around the hospital floor, which are marked by his insistence on greeting people he passes and touching specific objects. Most of his day he spends with headphones on, playing games on a smartphone. Read more....
Psychology Today: The Reverse Field of Dreams Fallacy in Disability Policy by Amy S. F. Lutz 11-8-21
I’m seeing this more and more recently. Many disability advocates argue that we should completely get rid of – and you can fill in the blank here....However, the truth is that intensive, disability-specific supports exist because they are desperately needed – particularly by those with the dangerous behaviors that are often associated with severe autism. Read more....
