For the past year and a half, we have become hyper focused on ourselves and have interacted with fewer people than ever before. As we re-enter our places of work, education, and social gatherings some extra steps for smooth transition may be required. Here are a few reminders and tips as you emerge from social […]
“There’s not enough time in the day to get everything done. ” Most of us never get to all the items on our to-do lists, with or without the executive functioning (EF) difficulties associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Therefore, it’s critical to get the most important things done first! […]
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 […]
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 […]
by Lorna Hecker, Ph.D., RP Can we become addicted to technology? Excessive use of technology can certainly become problematic and impair one’s life. Technology is so well weaved into our everyday lives, it is difficult to know how much is too much. But addictive qualities can emerge, including an escalating amount of time spent interfacing […]
As graduation season nears, I’ve been reflecting on the role of parenting and the goals of adulting. This year I have a disproportionate number of folks transitioning in some formal way (middle school to high school, graduating from high school or college) and a number of folks who continue to transition toward adulthood in general […]
Parenting is hard. Parenting a child on the autism spectrum is even harder. Studies show that parents with children who have autism report clinical levels of stress due to ongoing therapies, doctor appointments, special education issues, and social needs of their children (Davis & Carter, 2008). High levels of parental stress are notably concerning as […]
The diagnosis was a complete surprise for all of us. My son is now 14 years old. How did we all miss the signs? CC was diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety disorder when he was 6 years old. He was in first grade. Since then, we have visited several psychiatrists and psychologists. After several years […]