Strategies and Tools
Helping Children with Autism Communicate: Practical Steps for Families and Professionals
The Core Challenge Children with autism often have difficulty communicating. This can lead to frustration for both the child and those around them. Communication may be verbal or nonverbal, and the struggles can affect everything from daily routines at home to participation in school or church settings. Supporting communication is a concrete way we can…
Read MoreChoosing Healthy Videos: Helping Children Build Kindness Over Aggression
The Power of Video Content Many parents and teachers ask: “How do I get my child to watch videos that don’t include violence, and encourage appropriate emotional responses instead of aggression?” It’s an important question. Children learn from what they watch. If most videos show characters solving problems by yelling, teasing, or hitting, those patterns…
Read MoreSupporting Communication for Children with Autism: Practical Strategies
Understanding Communication Challenges Many children with autism face significant communication challenges. These difficulties can make it hard for them to express their wants, needs, or feelings, which often leads to frustration. As a behavior analyst and educator, I've seen how small, thoughtful changes can make a major difference for both children and the adults supporting…
Read MoreTeaching Children to Request: The Power of Withholding
One of the most powerful ways to help a child develop language—whether through speech, signs, or a communication device—is also one of the most challenging: withholding. Yes, withholding. It might sound harsh at first, but let’s break it down. Children learn to communicate when they experience a need to communicate. And that need is clearest…
Read MoreParent Support Meetings: You Are Not Alone
At Accessible Hope, we understand that parenting a child with challenging behaviors can sometimes feel overwhelming. You are not alone, and you don’t have to do this without expert support. That’s why we strongly encourage you to regularly schedule Parent Support Meetings with your child’s Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). What Are Parent Support Meetings?…
Read MoreConsistency in Times of Disruption (Part 7 of 7): Transition Warnings
This post is the last of a series for parents on dealing with times of inconsistency, change, and disruption – such as we’re experiencing with the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and around the world. Each post contains a strategy or concept that families may find useful as they navigate these strange times. By…
Read MoreConsistency in Times of Disruption (Part 6 of 7): Waypoints
This post is part 6 of 7 in a series for parents on dealing with times of inconsistency, change, and disruption – such as we’re experiencing with the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and around the world. Each post contains a strategy or concept that families may find useful as they navigate these strange…
Read MoreConsistency in Times of Disruption (Part 5 of 7): Anchors
This post is part 5 of 7 in a series for parents on dealing with times of inconsistency, change, and disruption – such as we’re experiencing with the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and around the world. Each post contains a strategy or concept that families may find useful as they navigate these strange…
Read MoreConsistency in Times of Disruption (Part 4 of 7): Bookends
This post is part 4 of 7 in a series for parents on dealing with times of inconsistency, change, and disruption – such as we’re experiencing with the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and around the world. Each post contains a strategy or concept that families may find useful as they navigate these strange…
Read MoreConsistency in Times of Disruption (Part 3 of 7): Sharing Time
This post is part of 3 of 7 in series for parents on dealing with times of inconsistency, change, and disruption – such as we’re experiencing with the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and around the world. Each post contains a strategy or concept that families may find useful as they navigate these strange…
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