Challenging Behaviors
Have No Soft Deal
Story of My Life (#3) by Jake McClintick - October 19, 2018 Not happy my deal in life. Most not mean to be hard, angry, and so aggressive. I hate so much God making me have autism. Hate having so much bad thoughts. Not sure really is a God. Get not so mad because...
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Killer Baby Powder vs. Immaculate Vaccines? (Product Safety Logic Fail)
I had a not so itty bitty disagreement with a nurse practitioner at Children’s Hospital. My husband and I made an appointment with our youngest adult son in attendance to go over his prescribed medications used to manage his intermittent explosive disorder....
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WANTED: Hope in Action Throughout the Special Needs Community
Parents of a child who has special needs will almost surely hear at one time or another, “Now you know your child will never [fill in blank.]” These gloom and doom forecasts are meant to be helpful, I know. They are meant to prepare us for REALITY. I used to get...
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A Fun “Make the Sound” Game for Preverbal Individuals with Special Needs
Persuading a child on the severe end of the autism spectrum to engage in verbal exchanges can be quite a challenge, and I’ve found that ENJOYMENT works better than anything else. I’m super grateful for the Dr. Seuss classic Mr.Brown Can Moo, Can You? My son, Jake,...
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My Kid is Smearing Feces! HELP!
The Challenge When you are saying these words, what you want most desperately is for someone, ANYONE, to help you figure out how to get your kid to stop smearing poo. Stop touching it, playing in it, smearing it, eating it, and so forth – how can I get my child to...
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Shift Your Focus During a Tantrum: God Spoke to Me
Full version of this story entitled "Overcoming my 'Autism'" is published in When God Spoke To Me by DavidPaul Doyle It was a beautiful day as I cheerily loaded my kids in the car to take my youngest son, Jake, to Occupational Therapy. He eagerly climbed his...
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Prevent Holiday Meltdowns for You and Your Child
Published on Special-ism Holiday gatherings have led to some of the most humungous meltdowns we’ve experienced with my youngest son Jake, who is diagnosed on the severe end of the autism spectrum. I can’t say I haven’t joined him a time or two either! ...
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6 Tips to Teach How to Throw and Catch
To throw and catch a ball may seem like such a basic skill, but for a child with motor isms, it may seem more challenging than going for an Olympic gold medal! It is amazing the amount of skills involved that are typically taken for granted. For instance:...
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Six Steps for Handling Aggression and Meltdowns
Do you remember the horrific story of Alex Spourdalakis with his severe aggression and meltdowns? The full story has now been made into a documentary. Alex’s story really hit home because our family has experienced a hell similar to the one they were living....
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Choose to Celebrate
One of the most wonderful gifts a special child offers the world is a new level of appreciation. Learning, growth, and development are so miraculous, and yet we often do not think twice about what is happening. We take it all for granted. We assume that it is the same...
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