The Power of Collaborative Autism Therapy
Individuals with autism often present with unique strengths, needs, and challenges. Because no two people with an autism diagnosis are the same, a one-size-fits-all approach to treatment is not effective. This is where collaborative autism therapy can make a meaningful difference—by bringing multiple evidence-based services together to support the whole child. Research consistently shows that […]
Top Gifts for Autistic Kids and Teens
Do you enjoy shopping for gifts for the holidays? Some relish the hunt for the “perfect gift”, while others stress over what to get their family and friends. And when you have a child or loved one on the autism spectrum, you may think finding a gift is even more challenging. However, it doesn’t have […]
Halloween and Autism: 6 Tips to Prepare Your Child
Halloween is a favorite for many kids–costumes, candy, and festive fun. But for children with autism, the unpredictability and sensory overload can make it challenging. At Healing Haven, we integrate holiday prep into therapy to help our clients enjoy the season. Here are six practical tips to help your child have a fun and stress-free […]
AAC: What It Is and Why It’s Important for Children with Autism
There are many means of communication used in our world. The most common ones used today are spoken words, gestures, eye gaze, facial expressions, print, sign language, and even GIFs. When it comes to individuals with speech and language delays, it is possible to augment and provide alternative options for them to efficiently communicate with […]
6 Ways to Build a Positive Relationship With Your Child’s Teacher
As a parent of a child with autism, you want to know your child will be cared for at school. You want to send them to a quality learning environment and for their educators to know and understand your child. In order for your child to be successful, a positive relationship with your child’s teacher […]
Eating Issues and Autism: 5 Tips to Help
Parents of children with autism know eating issues all too well. From mealtime tantrums to picky food preferences, dealing with the eating issues that may come with autism can be a major stressor. However, be assured that these issues can be solved by seeking support, establishing routine, and practicing a lot of patience. Eating Issues […]
Understanding Gestalt Language Processing and How it Impacts Your Child’s Communication
As speech-language sciences progress, many are learning about how speech processes correlate with how autistic adults and children communicate with others. A term that is becoming better understood in the speech-language community is Gestalt Language Processing (GLP), or Natural Language Acquisition. In turn, this term has become increasingly used in the autism community. You may […]
Never Underestimate Individuals with Autism
Every individual with autism has unique strengths, potential, and a future worth believing in. As autism diagnoses have increased over the years, so has our understanding of what meaningful support, high expectations, and opportunity can make possible. This story is a reminder of why it is so important to never underestimate individuals with autism, and […]
5 Ways to Express Love to Your Child with Autism
This post originally appeared in the February 2020 issue of the Autism Alliance of Michigan MiNavigator Newsletter. Written by former Healing Haven BCBA Carita Niemann, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA. Valentine’s Day is a special time of the year. We often pause and express love to those who are close to us. However, communicating this love to […]
Developing Relationships on the Autism Spectrum
In the United States, our culture has predetermined ideas of what love “should” look like. As most of us have experienced, relationships can be complicated, autism or not. And developing relationships when you have autism is just as important as it is for those who don’t. Autism can cause differences in communication, understanding of context […]