The holidays are only a few weeks away so gift buying is in full swing. Today we are joined by a few special needs parents that are discussing gift giving. Which toys are a hit with their kiddos, which are a miss, and how to make the holidays special on a budget.
References:
Famous Joe’s Vendor Emporium, 9126 E Sprague Ave, Spokane Valley, WA 99206
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More
On today’s episode we discuss the ISAAC Foundation Station Visit program. We are joined by Lt. Matt Cowles of the Spokane Police Department, and Lt. John Goodman of the Spokane Fire Department. Joined by Holly of the The ISAAC Foundation, this group helped to create the Station Visit program that generally takes place every other month at both a Spokane, and Spokane Valley fire station (big thanks to the Spokane AMR first responders for their contributions as well!).
We discuss why the program was invented, the curriculum that is covered, and we share some fun anecdotes from past visits. If you have a loved one impacted with autism or other special needs this program is pivotal in creating safe perceptions of emergency personnel in case the day comes where they need to interact.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More
After receiving an autism diagnosis one of the “go-to” therapy interventions that will be suggested for your child will likely be ABA therapy. But what is ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis)? How does it work? What benefits will it have for your child? These are a few of the questions we discuss in this episode of ISAAC’s Autism in the Wild today while chatting with Jeff Kalles of Lilac City Behavioral.
Center of Excellence Providers by county in Washington State: https://www.hca.wa.gov/assets/billers-and-providers/index-coe-applied-behavioral-analysis.pdf
Provider List: https://theisaacfoundation.configio.com/ShoppingCart.aspx?com=detailview&iid=487
Lilac City Behavior Services, PLLC
318 E Rowan Ave STE 201
Spokane, WA 99207
Phone: (509) 844–2429
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More
This week we have a great panel of parents discussing the ins and outs of friendship as it relates to their kiddos with autism. There is a common myth that children with autism generally do not crave the attention of peers and will not seek out friendship. Although that may be true to some capacity for some of our children, it is most definitely not the case for all children with autism. Many of our children still enjoy and seek meaningful friendship with their peers, it just may not always look the same as it does with our neurotypical children.
Listen in to hear us discuss the Friendship Algorithm which was brought to us through the TV sitcom “The Big Bang Theory.” Although this algorithm was written to be comical, it is actually a great tool to approach friendship and learning the boundaries and intent of your actions to make and maintain friends.
Finally we share stories of friendships gone well…and not so well, and how these particular parents handled these situations.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More
Extra-curricular activities are often an important outlet for all children to take part in during their school year. These opportunities bring about the benefit of physical activity, social and emotional communication with peers, a sense of community and more. But are all special needs extra curricular activities created equal? And how do we find activities our kiddos are actually interested in participating in? Today we discuss with a few autism parents what activities they have tried, which were successful, and which were duds!
Contact Info for some of the programs we discussed:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More
In this week’s episode, I was able to interview three amazing local first responders: 911 dispatcher Raegan Hays, Lt. Matt Cowles of the Spokane Police Department and Lt. John Goodman of the Spokane Fire Department. John and Raegan are not only first responders, they are also parents of wandering children with autism. In this episode our first responders walk us through a call reporting an eloping child from the time the call is placed to the time a child is located and reunited with their family. Lt. Matt Cowles also lets us know how and when CPS becomes involved.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More
In this podcast, we discuss the language and symbols most commonly used within our autism community and how it relates to our loved ones touched by autism. We discuss why parents choose certain language and how it can help and, at times, hinder our ability to effectively communicate information about our loved ones; specifically when engaging in discussions with individuals in our community who may have less knowledge of the disorder.
We discuss:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More
In this episode of ISAAC’s Autism in the Wild, a group of autism parents join me to discuss this very emotionally charged topic: if you could cure your child from autism, would you? It was a fantastic discussion of parents respectfully sharing their thoughts and feelings on this sensitive topic. Our hope is that this podcast sheds light on both sides of this discussion and may help individuals who sit at one end of these two extremes to hopefully see the perspectives of those who live in the middle or even the other end of this debate. Our hope is that we can all grow in empathy and compassion of others within our autism tribe.
*This podcast is intended to be a respectful discussion. Rude and hurtful comments will be removed out of respect for our guests who were brave enough to openly share their perspective in this podcast.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More
On this podcast, a group of autism parents join me to discuss personal pet peeves related to the public’s perception of autism and different myths and stereotypes that we hope to change.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More
This week we discussed where parents would like to see more community inclusion and, in an ideal world, what would that look like.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More