“I want my adolescent to improve his social skills. Can we please schedule an appointment?” I receive this type of request about 5 times a week from parents, seeking a solution for their child. While I might receive bold inquiries from parents, I receive more subtle requests from my adults; adults will admit the desire […]
I find myself referring families to CAYAC about 5-10 times a week these days. Rather than try to explain what CAYAC is, I asked CAYAC to explain their services directly. Below is a guest blog from the Connections team: As Fort Collins is growing, it can be difficult to find the right mental health […]
Feeling alone in anxiety or grief? Feeling like you might be rejected for being who you are? This is the book for you! In her recent book In Your Shoes, Donna Gephart nails the adolescent experience once more, masterfully weaving together the potentially isolating experiences of grief, physical difference, being new to town, and being […]
Assertiveness at its core is about respect. Self-respect and respect for others. It is a necessary social skill that needs to be taught and reinforced to those on the spectrum. Think of assertiveness on a continuum between passive behavior and aggressive behavior. A passive interpersonal style is respectful to others but leaves no room for […]
Planning for the transition from high school to the next milestone in a teen’s life (college, work, gap year) is likely to be exciting and anxiety provoking for both parent and child. Successful entry into young adulthood requires direction and intentionality for most individuals with ASD. Parents are often challenged with providing the right amount […]
Gamers take notice! Want to improve your social skills? Need clear directions regarding how to improve your skills? This is the book for you! Level Up Your Social Life is accessible, practical, and grounded in life experience. You want this book. But first, the story of how I found the book is pretty cool, too. […]
Witness the bravery (and cruelty) of 8th graders. Feel inspired. Make the hard choices. Make the world a better place. Read Lily and Dunkin by Donna Gephart. Teen fiction has grown up, and Donna Gephart is leading the charge. Lily and Dunkin is a delightful novel about several characters making difficult choices, wrestling with their […]
On Wed June 4th my crew hosted a panel at the Colorado Department of Education’s Autism Conference. A huge thank you to Clara, John, Kyle, and Cassidy! These panel members shared their experiences, suggested ways to improve education for students with Autism, and responded to questions from the audience. They were graceful under pressure, poised, […]
The big Colorado Department of Education conference is NEXT WEEK! If you haven’t already registered, you can do so the day of the event. Registration includes 2 meals, so for my food motivated folks… For more information about the conference, visit https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdesped/sd-autism-asdconference A snapshot: The conference is June 4-6, 2019 at the Lory Student Center […]
Did you really just roll your eyes at me? Of course I want to talk about summer goals! And you know you want to write some. Remember the end of last summer, when you casually mentioned, “What DID I do with my summer? So much free time, and I have no idea where it all […]