The end of November is near, and while there’s still a few weeks left until Christmas, preparing for the holidays make take some time and planning. One of our regular contributors, Kevin Hanly, shares his advice for celebrating Christmas based on his experiences. We’re gearing up for that special time of the year where we …
Kevin Hanly: Living With Autism at Christmas TimeRead More »
AsIAm is hosting twenty four Community Support Seminar talks around the country over the next twelve months. These events are for the autism community, on issues important to the community, informed by the community. All of these events will be free to attend, but places must be booked on our Eventbrite page (see below). All …
Community Support – Autism in the Home, University College Cork, CorkRead More »
AsIAm would like to thank Dr Emer Ring and her colleagues from Mary Immaculate College (MIC)’s Department of Reflective Pedagogy and Early Childhood Studies for their contributions to our #BackToRoutine series this month. We would also like to thank them for their considerable generosity in donating all proceeds from their new book, ‘Autism from the Inside …
Research continues to tell us that we must view ‘challenging behaviour’ as a way in which the child is trying to communicate their needs with us. It has been suggested that we must move away from using the term ‘challenging behaviour’ and instead view the child’s responses as reactions to the environment. If we begin …
How can My Child Be Supported if They’re Having a Meltdown?Read More »
Your child’s teacher may already be aware of autistic children’s sensory needs. However, if your child does have exceptional needs, then it is important that you discuss these with their teacher. Sharing the information and resources below with your child’s teacher will help them understand the importance of allowing them to stim. Among the differences …
How can I Explain My Child’s Sensory Needs to their New Teacher?Read More »
Returning to routine after a break can be a tough one to get your head around, especially after a lengthy one like the summer holidays. Routine is a common source of structure for autistic people. Every person will have their own, but by simply having one in place for day-to-day activities is an important guide …
Starting college is a huge change for everyone. The transition, from the application to accepting an offer, is both exciting and nerve-wrecking at the same time. It’s important to know what supports and strategies are in place, but it’s equally crucial that people know how an autistic individual may feel throughout this whole process. Mia …
Some autism families worry about the challenge of taking an overseas holiday. Here are some ideas from my experience to make the holidays more enjoyable for the whole family. If you’ve never travelled by air before, some families find that taking a short flight is good way to prepare for a longer overseas flight. It’s …
Stimming (short for self-stimulatory behaviour) is a repetitive series of actions which an autistic person may do when they are excited, anxious or stimulated. Almost everyone engages in stimming to some degree in their own way. They might crack their knuckles, tap their feet, or even just hum and whistle. Autistic people are usually more …
Sensory rooms or quiet spaces are designated areas where autistic people can use to stim or retreat to when feeling overstimulated. The space itself is designed to aid in a person’s key life skills, chiefly with their communication, coordination, self-organisation and sensory-management. Autistic children often make use of such facilities in their schools, but they …
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