Routines and Autism
Routines and Autism Sticking to routines can be important for autistic people. I mean, I’ve always been a stickler for routines and still am to this day. Even in an…
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Masking: Benefits & Burnouts
Masking: Benefits & Burnouts Masking is hiding self-soothing behaviors that others may find “weird.” This involves such things as stimming or intense interests. Stimming is usually self-soothing techniques that involve…
What I’ve Gained by Working at Commonwealth Autism
What I’ve Gained by Working at Commonwealth Autism Working at a small company is amazing. There are benefits that go beyond what anyone could imagine. To be around people who…
Sensory Inputs
Sensory Inputs Sensory inputs are an everyday thing for anyone around us. Whether that’s the neighbor or the stranger on the bus, they all deal with inputs around them. While…
“Curing” Autism
“Curing” Autism For years I have wondered why people wanted to “cure” autism as if that was a possibility. It is a lifelong, genetic disability with no cure. I feel…
Coping Skills: Healthy v Unhealthy
Coping Skills: Healthy v Unhealthy Coping skills are things people learn over time on how to manage their lives in ways that are either good or bad for them in…
It’s a Spectrum
It’s a Spectrum My mom always used to tell me how everyone would try to give her advice on how to raise me because they would have someone they knew…
Learning Independence from CA
Learning Independence from CA There’s so much I have grasped over the years of being in the Transitional program at CA and a few that I still need to improve…
What it is like Living in the CA House
Living in the CA house has been an experience I don’t want to forget. While some might wonder what goes on behind closed doors is nothing out of the ordinary.
How to connect
When we look at taking care of our minds and bodies, spending time with others may not be the first thing we think of. It is easy in our busy…
Finding safe ways to stretch
A common theme voiced from parents in our discussions centered around finding safe ways to stretch when transitioning into adulthood and increasing autonomy.
Tools for Time Management
Do you struggle to remember when to do your household chores? Do you experience time-blindness when trying to manage your morning routine and be on time for work/school? When learning to manage your time/schedule in relation to your responsibilities at…
Living in the CA House
I have been a resident of the CA Adult Programs for several years. In my time there, I have met people who have been lifelong friends and people who I don’t see any longer. Staff as well as residents have…
Listening vs. Hearing
As a Counselor at CA Human Services and an individual entering the field of social work, I have formed my career around listening. I am reminded of a client I worked
What can we start doing now?
What can we start doing now, at home to prepare our adolescent or young adult for independence? This is a question I am frequently asked by parents and supportive parties who have a neurodiverse adolescent or adult living at home.
Changes and ASD
I am one step closer to my own independence, which is what the Adult programs at CA helped me to do. However, changing from something familiar to something new and different is a challenge.
Kitchen Skills and Independence
Often when we think of kitchen skills, we think of cooking. While cooking is an important tool for us to be able to meet our basic need of nourishment, there are many aspects of cooking and kitchen management that are…
Using Social Work Practices
One of my favorite ethical principles included in the Code of Ethics is the importance of acknowledging and fostering the dignity and worth of everyone.
A Tremendous Journey
How I Chose to be in the CA Residential Program. I recall in the first blog I wrote, it ended up being about my residential experience and the steps my family and I took to get me there.
Community Collaboration Boosts Community Impact
At CA we believe our community is best served when disability service providers collaborate to address the services gaps and needs for community members. We devote time and resources to this collaborative effort through daily outreach to community partners, virtual…
It’s Not Lazy: What is Demand Avoidance and Executive Functioning?
Demand avoidance or what I prefer: Persistent Drive for Autonomy is an avoidance of tasks for daily living and even avoidance of preferred tasks when asked to do so by another.
Autism Stigmas and Me
A stigma is, by definition, “a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality or person.” As research for this blog, I asked for feedback from the autism community, both on social media and from those I know. I…
Finding Purpose
Human beings thrive when they have a sense of purpose. This feeling of purpose comes from many different aspects of our lives – family, hobbies, work, etc. We often struggle when an area of our life feels unfulfilled if that’s…
College Living Experience Program
What is the difference between college capable and college ready? For families of young adults on the Autism Spectrum, it often boils down to executive function skills, independent living skills and social skills. In order to be successful in college,…
Evening at the Adult Programs Residence
Communication is a key skill needed to be independent. Sit in on an evening shift with a CA Adult Programs counselor as she integrates communication skill building into day-to-day with our residents in the Adult Programs house located in Richmond,…
My Brother, My Friend
“Family is not about blood. It is about who is willing to hold your hand when you need it most.” While reading this quote from Arjun Sathwara, I thought about…
New Year’s Resolutions
Similar to resolution setting, CA Adult Programs’ counselors and clients work together to set goals (“resolutions” if you will) on a consistent basis while working towards increasing adulthood autonomy. We are pros at supporting of our clients in progressing towards…
my story with autism
I have the habit of writing a diary. When I review my diaries at the end of a year, I am so surprised by how many times I expressed my dedication and passion for autism to myself in the diary.…
This Explains Everything
In the past two years, in true autistic style, I have researched, taken classes, read, listened to, and gathered every bit of information I possibly could. I still do this. I am always sure I don’t know enough. (Yup, that’s…
5 money saving tips for adults with autism
Just like neurotypical folks, adults with autism can struggle financially to meet their needs and goals. This is especially true as autistics are often under and unemployed. The following is a blog shared with CA by a regular contributor. She…
Challenge Accepted
As a kid, I always had a difficult time with challenges even before I was diagnosed with autism. . Challenges are all over the place and can come in various forms, from big to small. I often remember what my…
Autism: 6 ways to build self-esteem
Low self-esteem occurs across all genders, ages, income levels, and disABILITIES. Nuerodivergent adults with autism have a higher occurrence of struggling with self-worth than their neurotypical peers. CA Human Services works with neurodiverse Virginians – typically our clients are adults…
Help for the Holidays
The holidays can be a stressful time of year, especially for those with developmental disabilities or autism spectrum disorder. That’s why we at CA Human Services have developed our help…
My Autism Diagnosis Story
When it comes to getting diagnosed, make sure you’re finding the person that is as in depth as you want them to be. Learn how to help yourself and find what works for you.
Uplifting Differently Abled Individuals
I’ve found that, in addition to being patient, validating my clients’ feelings really helps them better cope with those feelings and better control their reactions. This is a lesson that all of us could benefit from in our lives. When…
Successfully Independent
We all want our young adults to be “successfully independent” as they launch into adulthood. CA is serious about helping the adults we serve to achieve their goals while doing so.
Books on Autism Worth Reading
These 3 e books concerning-older autistic adults, autistic women & how neurotypicals can better Interact with them were published in years 2020 & 2021. As an older adult female with…
Stop Trying to “Fix” My Brother’s Autism
I knew my brother was different by the time he entered kindergarten. When I was ten, it became my responsibility to walk him home every day after school. I would…
Childcare in Crisis
CA’s Preschool Inclusion Program concept is to provide support and consultation to preschools across the Commonwealth of Virginia, enabling them to run these services independently and sustainably once the consultation period ends.
6 Steps to Entrepreneurship for Parents With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Sometimes, it can be difficult for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder to figure out their ideal career path. This is especially true for parents with ASD – finding an employer who understands your personal needs and your responsibilities as a…
20 Questions with Sarah S.
Sarah says, “I love working with our adults and families. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness their successes and to be a part of that progress”.
20 Questions with Tammy
It is because of people like Tammy that we are able to do the work we do. Today our focus at CA is on the gaps for neurodiverse individuals aged 14 to 35, their caregivers and those providers who serve…
You Don’t Look Autistic
“You don’t look autistic.” I never figured out how I’m supposed to appear to someone that says that. It is like telling someone they are passing for something they are not or would rather not be.
Balance for the Neurodiverse
Do you ever find yourself trying to balance work, exercise, household cleanliness, a budget, and other daily tasks that can sometimes feel overwhelming to complete? For many neurotypical individuals, it can be difficult to keep track of every aspect of…
Residential Experience
I’ve changed a lot since I was first started as a resident at CA Adult Programs. Here is a short story about my residential experience at CA.
FAQ: Preparing for Independence
In working with many families to support adolescents and young adults with autism in reaching their desired level of independence or living situation, Sarah Sheppard, CA’s Manager of Adult Programs shares some common concerns and FAQ’s.
20 Questions with Claudette
It is because of people like Claudette that we are able to do the work we do. Today our focus at CA is on the gaps for neurodiverse individuals aged 14 to 35, their caregivers and those providers who serve…
Coping with autism as an adult
About 6 years, ago, I finally decided to get tested for a possible learning disability by a psychologist. I knew something was holding me back from successful interviews for higher paying jobs and a quality social life. I also had…
Autism-Friendly Home
Approximately one in 54 children in the US are on the spectrum. We have learned a great deal about autism spectrum disorders (ASD) over the last couple of decades, including how our homes can impact those with sensory and other…
Bicycle Commuting as an Adult with High Functioning Autism
I am an adult woman with high functioning autism. The goal of this blog is to tell you how I went about bicycle commuting as an adult with high functioning autism. And, to show you how you can bicycle commute…
Early signs of autism
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental disability that appears in the first few years of a child’s life. While people with ASD don’t look different, they often communicate, interact, behave and learn in ways that are very different…
Your child with autism can go to college
Is college an option for my child with autism? Often, the answer is yes, your child with autism can go to college. Whether they are looking at a two-year associate’s program or a four-year bachelor’s program, or even a trade school…
Aged out of early intervention services
When you have a child who is older than 36 months, they are too old to receive the early intervention services provided by the Infant and Toddler Connection. However, do
Online dating and friendships for autism
Written by: Briana Judd, MS, BCBA, LBA Hi friends! Have you heard about Uneepi yet? Uneepi is an exciting new website for Online dating and friendships for autism and…
What is Your Gift?
What is Your Gift? About 5 years ago, I was fortunate enough to find my dad after 30 years of searching. As I sat alone at the airport, waiting to…
I’ll Never Be As Successful As Those Girls
A task analysis is a written and/or pictorial list of steps that make up a complex skill. The sequence of steps written in a task analysis indicate the order in which steps should be completed. Task analyses are used every…
Task Analysis: Analyzing Complex Skills
A task analysis is a written and/or pictorial list of steps that make up a complex skill. The sequence of steps written in a task analysis indicate the order in which steps should be completed. Task analyses are used every…
Teaching outside of the table: Natural Environment Teaching (NET) and its benefits
Many times, people see ABA therapy and think Discrete Trial Instruction (DTI). This style of teaching is usually characterized by seated table work, quick repeated questions, and candy or another similar treat as a reinforcer…
Think About This
Amid reports of surges, peaks and severe shortages in testing kits, personal protective equipment (PPE), patient ventilators, and ICU beds, states are drafting crisis standards of care to guide clinical decision-making during the Covid-19 pandemic
Supporting Families in the Transition to Adulthood
Many professionals who work with transition-aged young adults understand the joys and challenges that young people on the autism spectrum and their families face as and they wrap up high school and prepare for the open-ended expanse of adulthood.
CA Staff Spotlight – Briana
Meet Briana. She’s one of our amazing BCBAs impacting Region 1. Learn more about this unique program and the importance of systems change work in this Q&A. Q: What training…
Claims of High SIS Satisfaction?
We put together this article to explain some terminology when looking for a viable intervention…
Interdisciplinary Collaboration as a Behavior Analyst in the Treatment of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Comorbid Psychiatric Disorders
Like many people on the autism spectrum, I seem to be incapable of letting go…
Autism and Post-Traumatic Stress
Like many people on the autism spectrum, I seem to be incapable of letting go…
The Importance of Evidence-Based Treatments and Qualified Professionals for ASD
We put together this article to explain some terminology when looking for a viable intervention…
Autism Insurance Age Cap Lift
As of January 1, 2020, more people with autism will be able to access benefits through their primary insurance…
The Importance of Implementing Evidence-Based Practices within the Educational Setting
On April 26, 2018, the CDC issued a report on the prevalence of children diagnosed with autism and found a 15% increase in the diagnostic prevalence since the last report published in 2016.
CA Staff Spotlight – Danya
Meet Danya. She’s one of CA’s amazing Counselors in our Adult Programs. Learn more about this unique program and the importance of early intervention in this Q&A. Or call us…
No Wrong Door Virginia
When searching for resources, supports and services, people with disabilities often have to tell their story over and over and over and over…….You get the idea. But what if there…
CA Staff Spotlight – Erin
Meet Erin. She’s one of our amazing ABA Therapist at our Children’s Program at All Saints. Learn more about this unique program and the importance of early intervention in this…
Managing Challenging Behaviors
Written by: Danielle Kessinger, M.Ed, BCBA, LBA Challenging behavior can be described as an individual’s solution to a problem and a form of communication. In order for a behavior to…
Public Resources & Systems for Children under 5
Public Resources & Systems for Children under 5 Curious about the public resources and systems for children under the age of five in Virginia for early education and care? Check…
Sleep Disorders and Treatment in Children with ASD
Sleep Disorders and Treatment in Children with ASD written by: Craig Marrer, M.S., BCBA, LBA Children and adolescents with ASD struggle with sleep problems, particularly insomnia, at a higher…
Alternative to the Standard Functional Analysis
Alternative to the Standard Functional Analysis Written by: Brooke Ozz, MS, BCBA, LBA Functional behavior assessments that include descriptive assessments (e.g. FAST, MAS, or QABF), indirect assessments (e.g. interviews, observations,…
Bullying Resources for Individuals Diagnosed with Disabilities
Written by: Briana Judd, MS, BCBA, LBA Bullying Resources for Individuals Diagnosed with Disabilities. What is bullying? According to stopbullying.gov, “Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children. It…
Replacement Behaviors
Written by: Danielle Kessinger, M.Ed, BCBA, LBA In Applied Behavior Analysis, we help individuals decrease challenging behaviors by implementing a variety of interventions. The challenging behavior an individual might display,…
Adapting Games
Adapting Games written by: Stacey Guzowski As teachers, service providers and caretakers of individuals with learning differences, we are constantly searching for innovative ways to enhance the learning of the…
Embracing Mindfulness Meditation
No one is “bad at meditating”: Embracing Mindfulness Meditation to Improve Health. There is a large body of research supporting the fact that mindfulness meditation reduces many negative health outcomes, such as heart disease, chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and cognitive…
Simple Steps to Functional Communication
Simple Steps to Functional Communication. A key factor of many Developmental Disabilities is a deficit in communication skills. These deficits may include difficulty with expressive language, receptive language, or a combination of both. Expressive language is the ability of an…
Trauma Informed Care for Behavior Analysts — Buzzword or Just Good Practice?
Trauma Informed Care for Behavior Analysts — Buzzword or Just Good Practice? What Defines a Trauma Informed Organization or System? “A program, organization, or system that is trauma-informed: Realizes the widespread impact of trauma and understands potential paths for recovery;
The Token Economy
The Token Economy Token economies can be an effective way to manage contingencies in schools, home and the community. They are systems in which a child earns “tokens” that can…
Evidence Based Interventions
Evidence Based Interventions. There are many interventions in existence claiming to be beneficial for individuals with autism. However, the field itself seems to be a magnet for interventions and therapies that are based in pseudo-science and have no research to…
Challenging Behaviors as Indicators of Pain or Illness
There is a widely held belief that individuals with developmental disabilities (DDs) are insensitive to pain/discomfort or have a high-threshold for pain. Thankfully, recent research has begun to challenge this…
Antecedent Based Interventions (ABI)
Antecedent Based Interventions (ABI) are a type of behavioral intervention designed to prevent challenging behavior. With ABI, we assess conditions of an environment, such as the location, materials, noise level,…
Motor Development and ASD
In 2012 Flanagan and colleagues presented evidence that infants’ head lag during a pull-to-sit task at age six months was significantly associated with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder at…
Teaching Safety Skills Using Behavioral Skills Training
By Christine Holland, BCBA, LBA In 2016, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children assisted law enforcement and families with approximately 20,500 cases of missing children. Many families and…
Commonwealth Autism Names New CEO
The Board of Directors of Commonwealth Autism is proud to announce that Jessica Gainous Philips, MA, BCBA, LBA, has been named the new President and CEO of Commonwealth Autism effective…
True Inclusion
True Inclusion. As a service provider for individuals with development disabilities we are sometimes asked by businesses and community organizations outside the field how they can be more inclusive of individuals with developmental disabilities.
John Toscano, President & CEO, Announces Retirement
After more than 16 years of service to Commonwealth Autism (CA), John Toscano, President & CEO announces his retirement effective June 30, 2018. His career in autism began in 1981…
Tips for New Families
Families of children who have just received a diagnosis of autism can be overwhelmed thinking about what to do next. They have a lot of information to sift through, including…
Fire Safety Tips
Fire safety is important for everyone, but particularly important for individuals with disabilities and those with limited communication skills. Here are some tips and resources to support people with disabilities.
Commonwealth Autism accredited by Standards for Excellence Institute
Commonwealth Autism recently received the Standards for Excellence Institute’s Seal of Excellence for successfully completing their rigorous accreditation program. Commonwealth Autism voluntarily opened itself to analysis by a peer review…
Creating Engaging Trainings
By Christine Holland, M.S., BCBA, LBA Training events are one of the main ways we can provide professional development to service provider and caregivers. But how can you make sure…
Toddlers and the ADOS
There are indications that the emphasis on early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder has produced important positive changes in screening and diagnostic practices. Universal autism screening leads to earlier referral…
Building Partnerships: A primer
By John A. Toscano, MSW, MBA President and Chief Executive Officer In the wide-ranging field of human services, we have a positive bias towards partnering. Our field is replete with…
New Partnership with Northstar Academy
Local Educational Programs Announce Partnership The Founders Center and Northstar Academy collaborating to serve children with special education needs. For Immediate Release Two Richmond-based educational programs began a collaborative partnership…
Encouraging Communication
By Rachel Reynolds, MA, CCC-SLP, BCaBA, LaBA For children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities, oral communication skills are often delayed. When a child is unable…
RBT Supervision Success
By Amanda Buchmeier, M.S., BCBA, LBA Registered Behavior Technicians are required to be supervised for 5% of the hours spent providing behavior-analytic services per month. Here are five strategies for…
Building Rapport With Staff
By Amanda Buchmeier, M.S., BCBA, LBA As behavior analysts, much of our time is spent providing coaching and training to the staff responsible for implementing behavioral interventions. Direct care staff…
Epidemiology of Autism: Current Research
A recent paper published in the Annual Review of Public Health (Lyall et al., 2017) offers a summary of the state of the science with respect to the epidemiology (i.e.,…
ASD in Multilingual Families
In an increasingly multicultural country, clinicians and educators in the US are often confronted with autism spectrum disorder in children from bilingual or multilingual families. A persistent concern has been…
Has a doctor ever told you…?
A report in the Washington Post dated November 13, 2015 had the headline “Autism cases in U.S. jump to 1 in 45.” The story opened with the paragraph: “The number…
Re-examining a Breakthrough
A recent report published on-line by Lancet (Pickles et al., 2016) maintains that a parent-mediated intervention for children with autism has produced the first “long-term symptom reduction after a randomized…
TMS and Autism
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a relatively recent technology that has been FDA-approved for the treatment of depression and migraine with aura. TMS uses a magnetic field to stimulate specific…
Avoiding Unintended and Tragic Events
The recent police-involved shooting in North Miami hits close to home for those of us who know, love, or support someone with autism. As more details emerge about this unfortunate…
ASD and Antidepressant Use
A recent paper (Boukhris et al., 2015) raised once again the concern that women who take antidepressants during pregnancy are at increased risk for giving birth to a child who…
Asperger’s Lost Tribe
Hans Asperger is a forgotten genius whose rightful place in the history of autism was pre-empted by the wrong-headed, self-serving plagiarist, Leo Kanner. So goes the alternative narrative put forward…
What Causes Autism?
The etiology of autism has been an open question since the identification of the syndrome over 70 years ago. Leo Kanner (1943) wrote: “We must, then, assume that these children…
“It don’t mean a thing”
A popular business program airing daily on public radio plays different intro music for the segment on the stock market, depending on how the markets have fared that day. On…
The Autism Mental Status Examination
Recently, the parent of a young adult with ASD brought to my attention a diagnostic instrument that has received some attention in the press, following a presentation at the American…
What is Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder?
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DSM-5 is Here!
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) appeared in bookstores last week and pre-ordered copies arrived in the mail. For those who followed the DSM draft versions over…
News Flash: Females have better social skills
While those of us afflicted by maleness have long been aware that we are, sadly, the weaker sex with respect to sociability and emotional acumen, only relatively recently have clinicians…
Recovery from Autism
In 1987 Ivar Lovaas published the first comprehensive report of the outcomes of his intensive behavioral intervention for young children with autism (<46 months of age). Lovaas reported that, at…
Sensory Differences in Autism
The presence of sensory differences is often included in the description of features related to autism spectrum disorders. Such differences are now included in the DSM-5 criteria for a diagnosis…
A Revised M-CHAT
A paper by Robins et al. appeared in the January 2014 issue of the journal Pediatrics, reporting the first published data for a revised version of the Modified Checklist for…
Evidence Based Intervention Practices for ASD: A new report
Just released this month is a new report on evidence-based intervention practices for individuals with ASD, compiled by a group from the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at the…
DSM-5 is Coming!
Parents, educators, and clinicians interested in people with autism have faced the upcoming release of DSM 5 (in May 2013) with a variety of reactions ranging from apathy to outrage.…