Articles for Parents
Plain-language, evidence-labelled writing for parents, professionals, educators, and autistic people.
← Clear audience filterScreen Time and Autistic Kids: A Nuanced Take
Blanket screen-time limits rarely fit autistic families. How to think about content, context, and co-viewing instead of just clock time.
Autism and Driving: What Families Should Consider
Many autistic teens can drive safely — with the right prep. What research shows about risk, when to start, and how to build skills.
Transition to Adulthood: Planning the Years Before 22
A step-by-step roadmap for families and autistic teens moving from high school to adult life — legal, medical, financial, and daily-living pieces to line up before age 22.
Wandering and Elopement: A Safety Plan for Families
Nearly half of autistic children wander from safe settings at some point. A concrete safety plan, based on AWAARE Collaboration guidance.
Feeding, Nutrition, and Selective Eating
Why food selectivity is so common in autism, when to worry, and how to expand a limited diet without turning meals into a battle.
Toilet Training the Autistic Child
Why standard toilet-training advice often stalls with autistic kids, and a structured, low-pressure approach that works better.
Sleep and Autism: Why It's Harder and What Helps
Between 50–80% of autistic children have chronic sleep problems. Evidence-based strategies from the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network sleep toolkit.
Social Skills Groups: What Works and What to Watch For
Social skills programs can help — but the wrong kind can teach masking. What to look for, what to avoid, and evidence-based programs.
Bullying and the Autistic Student
Autistic students are bullied at more than twice the rate of their peers. How schools and families can spot it, stop it, and support recovery.
Puberty and Autism: What Families Should Know
Puberty can be harder and start earlier for autistic kids. A calm, concrete guide to hygiene, privacy, mood changes, and how to talk about bodies.
Anxiety in Autistic Children and Teens
Anxiety affects roughly 40% of autistic youth. How to recognize it (it often looks different), and evidence-based treatment options.
How to Choose (or Vet) an ABA Provider
A practical checklist for parents evaluating ABA clinics: red flags, green flags, and the questions that separate quality providers from harmful ones.
Floortime and the DIR Model
DIR/Floortime is a developmental, relationship-based therapy that meets children where they are through play. What it is, evidence, and how to try it at home.
Occupational Therapy for Autistic Children
OTs help with sensory regulation, motor skills, and daily living. What to expect, what works, and how to find a good one.
Navigating Insurance for Autism Services (US)
ABA, speech, OT, evaluations — what's usually covered, how to appeal denials, and how to use Medicaid, private insurance, and school services together.
Supporting Siblings of Autistic Children
How to talk to siblings, share attention fairly, and raise kids who are close — not resentful.
Speech Therapy for Autistic Children: A Parent's Guide
What SLPs actually do, what to look for, and how to tell if therapy is working — beyond word counts.
Building Your Child's Support Team
Who does what: pediatrician, developmental pediatrician, BCBA, SLP, OT, school team, and you. How they fit together.
Meltdowns vs Tantrums: What's Really Happening
Why the difference matters, what triggers meltdowns, and what actually helps in the moment and after.
How to Get an Autism Evaluation for Your Child
The step-by-step process: from first concern to diagnostic report. What to expect, how long it takes, and how to reduce the wait.
What is ABA Therapy? A Balanced Overview
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the most commonly funded autism therapy in the US. Here's what it is, what the research says, and what parents should weigh before starting.
Autism-Friendly Parenting Strategies That Actually Work
Low-demand parenting, predictability, sensory accommodations, and the shifts that reduce daily conflict.
Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBI)
ESDM, JASPER, PRT, and other NDBIs blend behavioral science with child-led play. Here's what they are and how they differ from traditional ABA.
Respite Care and Parent Self-Care
You cannot pour from an empty cup. How to find respite, ask for help, and take care of yourself without guilt.
What is Autism?
A comprehensive, respectful, evidence-based guide to autism: what it is, how it is diagnosed, how it shows up across the lifespan, the neurodiversity paradigm, co-occurring conditions, and how to actually support autistic people.
The First Year After Our Son's Diagnosis
A composite parent testimonial from published interviews — the grief, the early mistakes, and what we wish we'd known.
Early Signs of Autism in Young Children
A plain-language summary of the developmental signs the CDC and AAP recommend watching for in the first three years.
Autism in Girls and Women
Why autistic girls and women are under-diagnosed, what presentation often looks like, and what to ask for.
Introduction to AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication)
What AAC is, who benefits, and why early access matters — even for kids who can sometimes speak.
Executive Function: What It Is and How to Support It
Executive function differences explain many "won't do it" struggles. A practical guide for autistic people, parents, and educators.
IEPs and 504 Plans: A Parent's Starter Guide
The difference between IEPs and 504 plans, what your child is entitled to under US law, and how to prepare for meetings.
Identity-First vs Person-First Language
Why most autistic adults prefer "autistic person" over "person with autism" — and why language matters.
Co-Occurring Conditions in Autism
Autism rarely travels alone. An overview of the conditions most frequently diagnosed alongside it, and why screening matters.