lovin' adoptin' & autism

how to make tele-therapy work for your special needs family

By: Tracy Dee Whitt November 22, 2020November 28, 2020

Autism, special needsAutism, occupational therapy for Autism, special needs, special needs therapy, speech therapy, telehealth, teletherapy, therapy, video conferencing with therapistsLeave a Comment

When parents are told they’re switching to Teletherapy, most are reluctant, I mean, isn’t therapy all about in-person therapy? How will the therapist “work” with my child if they aren’t physical near them? And what will I do without the hour by myself sitting in a waiting room, it’s almost as good as a babysitter,…

routine + activities: autism at home

By: Tracy Dee Whitt April 27, 2020April 27, 2020

UncategorizedAutism, autism routine, covid-19, special needs, special needs at homeLeave a Comment

Today I’m here to share ideas on how to create a routine with your autistic children. In this video, I share ideas for creating a routine, discuss how routine is different than a schedule, and how to meet your child’s SENSORY needs. If you missed my last video on creating peace and calm at home…

peace + calm: at home with autism + special needs

By: Tracy Dee Whitt April 14, 2020April 27, 2020

UncategorizedAutism, covid-19, pandemic, special needsLeave a Comment

For all of you who are stuck at home amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, I’m here with some ideas to help you and your children who have autism and other special needs. Be sure to look for my follow-up video for more useful tips.

how will the paramedics know my child…has autism, can’t talk, has severe allergies, has a serious illness?

By: Tracy Dee Whitt June 23, 2016September 14, 2019

Autism, special needsAutism, emergencies and autism, How will paramedics know my child has autism, nonverbal autism emergencies2 Comments

When you have a kiddo with autism, one who’s nonverbal or one who doesn’t have fluent language, it can be really scary at times. One of those situations I worry about occasionally is what would happen if we were in a car accident and Justin and I were hurt. What if we were so incapacitated…

nonverbal autistic children have something to say

By: Tracy Dee Whitt March 1, 2016November 20, 2020

Autism, special needsAutism, autistic child can't talk, autistic kids, nonverbal autistic kids, understanding the autistic child4 Comments

(This post can also be applied to nonverbal adults. In this article I refer to my son, Jeremiah. He’s six-years-old, has autism, and can’t speak, however he can make limited sounds.) We talk for them, we assume what they want. We don’t listen to the their nonverbal cues, we move on without concern for the…

PERFECTION and peoples pervasive disrespect for the autistic person

By: Tracy Dee Whitt October 20, 2015April 27, 2020

adoption, Autism, special needsAutism judgement, family members not understanding autism, famous people who have autism and aspergers, peoples comments on autismLeave a Comment

It’s amazing the places we find encouragement and the places we find criticism. Are you surprised by the comments you hear about your child who has a disABILITY, about others who have disABILITIES? It’s especially gut-wrenching when those comments come from a family member who should know better. Particularly one who’s been around your child…

the adopted and foster child’s ability to adapt

By: Tracy Dee Whitt October 1, 2015November 20, 2020

adoption, foster careadopted & foster child's ability to adapt, adopted child's behaviors, adoption, behaviors in adopted and foster children, child trauma, foster care, trauma2 Comments

Adaptation. It can take a long time for humans and animals to adapt to a new situation or new lifestyle. However, many adopted and foster children who come from traumatic backgrounds adapt very quickly to new surroundings. This is also true for some children who are adopted when they’re infants. Even after healing took place…

school and what it means for the autistic child

By: Tracy Dee Whitt August 26, 2015

Autism, special needsautism and school, how school affects the autistic child, Invisible Strings, M. KelterLeave a Comment

For many of you school has started, and I really hope your child is having a great year. It’s scary sending your child off to a new year, especially if they’re going to a new school, a new class, or have a new teacher or aid. So many factors play into our children’s lives. Think…

what to communicate with your child’s teacher: Autism in the classroom

By: Tracy Dee Whitt August 11, 2015August 11, 2015

adoption, Autism, special needsAutism, autism in school, special education, special needs, special needs adoption2 Comments

Originally posted on lovin' adoptin' & autism:
School is starting soon. I think I just heard YIPEEES!!! from several of you. 🙂 Autism parents might be a tad more excited than the average parent for their child to go back to school after summer break, as that routine and consistency can make a night and…

the many benefits of swimming for autistic children

By: Tracy Dee Whitt July 14, 2015

Autism, special needsbenefits of swimming for autistic children, teaching autistic children to swim, why should autistic kids learn to swim2 Comments

Teaching autistic children to swim has numerous benefits, first being that drowning in the NUMBER ONE KILLER of kids who have autism. I’ve written these two posts on swimming and the autistic child: The first I highly recommend reading, 4 Reasons Why You Should Teach Your Autistic Child to Swim. Also check out, How to…