Alee Behavioral Healthcare

 Navigating the services and therapies for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can sometimes feel overwhelming.  If your child has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) they may have a large team of interdisciplinary professionals (with a variety of different credentials) who contribute to their treatment.  This entry will briefly summarize the role of professionals and therapists and the services that they provide.   Speech-Language Pathology Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) and Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (SLPAs) often work with children with ASD to improve their ability to communicate.  SLPs work to assess, diagnose and treat speech disorders (for example when a person cannot produce speech sounds); language disorders (when a person has trouble understanding others); social communication (for example, asking questions or greeting a friend); and cognitive-communication (for example, organizing th...

 Whether your kids are attending online school or have already returned to the classroom, with the new school year underway, it’s likely that they are going to be spending a lot of their time learning. However, while their academic pursuits are important, you should also ensure that they have plenty of fun outside of the classroom. After all, studies suggest that children learn just as much at home as they do in class – and having fun is a great way to relieve feelings of stress and anxiety in children of all ages. With that in mind, here are some of the best after-school activities for children with autism and related disorders . Sports Activities.  As a parent, you are charged with the responsibility of ensuring that your children understand the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle. While there are various ways to achieve this goal, encouraging them to exercise regularly is a great way to get started. That being said, sometimes it can take a little whil...

  The new academic year can be challenging for any child. After all, entering a new grade (or school entirely) comes with a shift in responsibilities and expectations. They will also have to adjust to a new teaching style and re-integrate with their peers after spending a lot of time at home. Furthermore, due to school closures in 2020, these changes may feel even more intense as students transition from homeschooling to a classroom environment. However, the prospect of returning to school maybe even more difficult for children with Autism and related disorders. As such, it’s important that you find as many ways as possible to prepare your child to go back to school! Or you can help your children by providing additional support by visiting Occupational Therapy Clinic Rhode Island . But first, you have to try the following point with your children which possible prepared your child to go back to school.   Talk about going back to school ahead of time.  Children with...

 While many travel plans may have been put on hold as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the success of vaccination schemes and safety procedures means that we could very soon be traveling freely again. This means that it’s finally time to start planning your family vacation (or staycation, if you want to stay a little closer to home). However, while many view vacations as something exciting and relaxing, children with autism or related disorders may view them with a degree of apprehension. This is because vacations often signify a break in their daily routine – which for many is a cause of discomfort. Nevertheless, this does not mean that they don’t enjoy traveling and won’t have a good time on vacation; it just means you need to find a way to make it as fun and exciting as possible for them. With that in mind, here are some ways to help prepare your child for a fun family vacation. If this does not work consult with Involve them in the planning process as much as possible. ...

As COVID restrictions begin to reduce globally, we can start to make plans to spend time with our extended friends and family once again. This means that you’re bound to be receiving invites for large-scale events such as reunions, birthday parties, and even weddings. While a big event is enough to make anyone feel a little anxious from time to time, it can be even more daunting for those with Autism and other developmental disabilities .  This is because they are often crowded and noisy, leaving children feeling stressed or overstimulated, particularly if they deal with sensory issues. Furthermore, children with autism and related disorders may sometimes find it harder to respond to social cues, meaning they may find socializing within a formal setting particularly difficult. Despite this, it’s important that you do not exclude them from the event altogether by leaving them at home – after all, they are a member of the family, and their presence is just as important as anyone else...

 We all run into struggles in our day-to-day life. However, during adolescence, these problems often seem far worse than they actually are. This is due to the fact that during this period in our lives, we’ve yet to develop the appropriate coping mechanisms and skill sets that enable us to work towards a quick and easy solution to our problems. As a result, children and teenagers are more likely to feel overwhelmed when things get tough. Thankfully, as a parent, there are various steps you can take to make day-to-day life for your children with autism easier, and by extension, less overwhelming.  Doing so is particularly important for parents of children with autism and related disorders since they experience life a little differently to neurotypical children and, as a result, may require different kinds of support. With that in mind, here are four ways to make day-to-day life a little easier for your children.  Create a safe space for them.  Whenever things get over...

When we are young, we begin to develop a range of skills that we will then carry with us into adulthood. This includes skills in areas such as problem-solving, relationship-building, and communication. In fact, these skills are often the foundation upon which our future personalities are based upon. However, some children with autism find it harder than others to communicate with their peers and loved ones. This could be due to the fact that they find communication in general difficult or because they are non-verbal. In fact, it is estimated that 40% of people with autism are non-verbal. With that in mind, it is important that you help your child with autism develop their skills in communication so that they can find their voice and reach their full potential. Here are some simple ways in which you can get started and help them find their voice! Practice non-verbal communication.  It’s important to remember that not all forms of communication involve speaking aloud. For example, yo...