Topic: Parenting

This collection of articles and webinars provides a wide range of perspectives from researchers, clinicians, and parents on how to guide children with autism to help them find their way in the world. It also provides guidance on how parents can take care of themselves along the way.

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Caregiver Stress in Families of Children with Autism

In this webinar, Amy Keefer, Ph.D., ABPP, discusses parental stress and coping strategies in families of children with autism. This is a joint webinar with SSC@IAN (Simons Simplex Collection at the Interactive Autism Network). This webinar is 60 minutes long.

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Supersized Research

To understand the genetics of autism, scientists have to study a lot of people. Pamela Feliciano, Ph.D., SPARK’s scientific director, discusses the challenges of engaging a large group in research.

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What Is The ABLE Act?

In this webinar, Stuart Spielman, J.D. discusses the history of the ABLE Act, how many states have implemented ABLE and how ABLE accounts work. This webinar is 60 minutes long.

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Helping Students with Autism Navigate Back-to-School Time

Returning to school after summer vacation can be hard for any child. For a student with autism, this time of year can be especially stressful. Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have trouble adjusting to change. In fact, “insistence on sameness” and “difficulties with transition” are symptoms of ASD. A new classroom, schedule, teachers, classmates, or new school can trigger distress far beyond the typical back-to-school blues.

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A Father’s Tale

John Smigle says that participating in typical activities, like boy scouts and baseball, has helped his son Christopher, who has autism, develop social skills.

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Autism Heroes: Ann Palmer

Over the last 20 years, Ann Palmer has helped hundreds, if not thousands, of families get the autism services and support that they need. Palmer has an adult son with autism. She began working in the field when her son, now 33, was about 9 years old.

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Partnering for Autism

Our fifth webinar, moderated by Alison Singer, MBA, features Ann Palmer of the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities and Patricia Manning, M.D. of the Kelly O’Leary Center. In this webinar, our speakers discuss different approaches to partnering in the autism community. Each speaker brings a different perspective about how developing relationships from within the community enhance program outcomes. This webinar is 45 minutes long.

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