If you’re traveling with an individual with autism, here are some tips from the experts to make the trip more enjoyable for all concerned.
Plan in advance. Call ahead and inform the airline, hotel, resort and cruise line of the individual’s situation and inquire what special accommodations – fridge, inside room – are available.
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| May 15, 2010 | ||
| 11:00 am | to | 1:00 pm |
MAY 15. Take a well deserved break at Cupini’s at 1809 Westport Road in Westport. It’s a wonderful way to spend time enjoying the company of other moms, sharing ideas and resources, and reflecting on special moments with our children. Sponsored by Autism Society of the Heartland. Click here for more information.
By Toni Lapp
As I leaf through the 164 pages of Missouri’s new autism guidelines (written about here), a thought occurs to me:
The typical well-child visit with a primary-care physician is not rigorous enough to detect signs of moderate or high-functioning autism in toddlers. At least not the well-child visits I remember, but then my oldest son was born in 1993, and nary a pediatrician had heard of Asperger’s syndrome then.
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| May 15, 2010 | ||
| 8:00 am |
MAY 15. Join others in the autism community at CommunityAmerica ballpark, 1800 Village West Parkway, Kansas City, Kan., for a 5K to raise money for Autism Speaks. Early bird registration (by April 18) for the race is $25 and includes an event T-shirt and a general admission ticket to that evening’s Wizards game against the Chicago Fire. A Family Fun Package is available for those who want to attend but do not want to race. Click here to register. (Online registration closes May 13.)
| May 6, 2010 | ||
| 8:30 am | to | 4:00 pm |
MAY 6. Howard Green and Jennifer McDonald of Virginia Commonwealth University will present workshop sponsored by the Kansas Center for Autism Research and Training (KCART). From 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at KU Edwards Campus, 12600 Quivira, Overland Park, Kan. Cost, $60. Click here for registration information.
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By Jeanne Holverstott, M.S.
Question: It seems like summer can be full of pitfalls for my son with Asperger’s — the structure has gone away, and he’s no longer in contact with classmates. He is content to play on the computer all day, but seems to get moody more easily. Should we treat summer vacation as a long break from school-year stress, or what?
Answer: Summer vacation presents a contradiction: Children with autism spectrum disorders thrive on structure, routine, consistency. Summer vacation throws these principles of ASD parenting and behavior management in flux.
» READ MOREBy Kate Duffy
A while back, Toni, the SpectrumConnection editor, asked me to write about how far parents should go to help their teens on the spectrum land a job. Since then, several of our Hot Topics parents have shared their kids’ job search stories with me, and I realized there was no easy answer to her question. For the most part, though, their stories revolved around the kids’ inability to accurately read situations, to remember instructions and to multitask to make a deadline. Looking at that list, it sounds like business as usual on the job for most of us — which is why it is so very important that our kids start learning about the world of work as soon as they can.
That’s why the short answer to Toni’s question is this: do what you need to do.
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