Editor’s Letter
I
t’s a new year! A fresh start! A new journey!
It’s always an exciting time here at Autism Parenting Maga-
zine as we review our year and enthusiastically plan for the
future.
We are always thrilled to hear from you, our readers, as you
share both the struggles and the victories of your journeys.
Your questions help us define much of our focus: How can I
help someone with Asperger’s handle anxiety? Is there a way
to help my child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) better
communicate? How do I improve my child’s health? How can
I manage my health when I feel so overwhelmed? In response
to these tough questions, we are thrilled to share an impres-
sive selection of articles this month.
First, let’s take a look at James Guttman’s poignant piece called
Why Not Pledge to Cut Yourself Some Slack In The New Year? as
the father of a young, nonverbal boy with autism discourages
parents from making impractical resolutions for the future. His
perspective is always so fresh and inspiring.
We all know parenthood is a demanding occupation. How
would you say you manage the constant pressures and expec-
tations? Susan M. Taylor, JD, an educational and legal writer with
a family member on the spectrum, has some terrific advice you
don’t want to miss. In her piece, Ways to Use Mindful Parenting to
Overcome Frustration and Stress, Sus an discusses how utilizing
mindful parenting can help you reduce stress, depression, and
aggression while changing brain regions associated with emo-
tional regulation, introspection, and awareness. Do something
for yourself and take a look at her guidance.
Do you need some advice on constructive ways to handle ap-
prehension and angst with Asperger’s, or know someone who
does? We are happy to share Alan D.D.’s article called How to
Deal with Anxiety and Asperger’s Now as the college student
shares his tips on how to handle uncomfortable moments and
better process anxiety.
What about taking care of yourself? Do you tend to put your
own needs last? As the mother of three children, Emily David-
son used to be the same way. Emily said she felt like she was
constantly going in circles trying to please and finally realized
she needed to give both herself AND her special needs daugh-
ter a break. Please read When Loving Your Special Needs Child
Also Means Taking Care of Yourself as Emily shares why it’s es-
sential for families to research opportunities for quality respite.
Finding ways to stay in shape can be a huge topic for fami-
lies as extracurricular activities and team sports can be over-
whelming for some kids with autism. Finding new ways to
exercise is essential as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
estimates one in five children aged 6-19 years is considered
obese, and research indicates this number may be higher for
children with autism. Please take a look at Alescia Ford-Lan-
za’s article called Finding the Best Exercise To Fight Obesity with
Autism to learn about the long-term benefits of exercise as
well as activities you can modify or adapt to meet your child’s
personal needs. The whole family can enjoy and benefit from
many of Alescia’s ideas.
A large percentage of people with autism find communication a
challenge—that’s why we’re eager to introduce you to a couple
of important contributors this month. First, meet Rachel Madel,
a speech-language pathologist, parent coach, and autism ex-
pert who has written an article on great ways to integrate com-
munication supports into a child’s daily routine. Rachel does an
excellent job providing straightforward guidance in Easy Ways
to Add Simple Communication Strategies to a Kid’s Life.
Are you familiar with the benefits of augmentative and alterna-
tive communication (AAC)? We also want you to get to know Ewa
Omahen, a psychologist and mother to a young son with autism,
who has provided an article on ways AAC can enhance receptive
language and facilitate social interactions, as well as reduce be-
havior problems and support learning. Take a look at her piece
Amazing Ways AAC Can Improve Communication for Your Child, as
Ewa describes the value of communication partners and ways to
produce amazing opportunities for communication.
In addition to providing you with answers to your questions
concerning autism, we are proud to highlight our top 16 con-
tributors for 2017. Autism Parenting Magazine continues to
grow, and we are thankful for the hundreds of contributors,
including dedicated physicians, scientists, educators, families,
and writers who are on the spectrum. We are proud of the
strong autism community that has developed over the years,
and together we make a difference all around the world.
We are also thrilled to introduce you to our January Cover Con-
test winner, four-year-old Ryder, who has been diagnosed with
severe autism, speech disorder, and sensory processing disor-
der. His mother, Cassandra Bakker, describes him as an out-
door boy who loves playing in the dirt and swimming. When
indoors, he prefers music, books, trampolines, and his blan-
kets. She said Ryder is the hardest working boy she knows, but
also the happiest! Cassandra won back issues worth $239.
Wishing you a happy new year filled with kindness and un-
wavering support. Always reach for the stars and celebrate the
victories.
Best,
Amy KD Tobik
Editor-in-Chief
Disclaimer:
Autism Parenting Magazine tries its best to deliver honest, unbiased reviews, resources, and advice, but please note that due to the variety of
capabilities of people on the spectrum, these are recommendations and not guaranteed by Autism Parenting Magazine or its writers. Medical
information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained within Autism Parenting Magazine is for informational
purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician with any questions you may have regarding treatment.