I will pass this way but once if there’s any good that I can do Let me do it now for I’ll never pass this way again … Tomorrow may be too late my friend to do all the good that you planned … So reach out to those who need you and lend them [...]
Benefits of Therapeutic Riding
April 1, 2012 By
“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of man.” –Winston Churchill When JJ was in his elementary school years, he participated in therapeutic horse-back riding for several years which had many benefits. The value of horse-back riding has been recognized as therapeutic as early as 600 B.C [...]
Enhance Social Skills with Story Telling
March 1, 2012 By
JJ, my 22-year-old with ASD, was taught everyday social skills visually as a child through the form of story telling. In 1991, Carol Gray created “Social Stories” as a vehicle to teach social skills to children on the spectrum. Originally fueled by grassroots enthusiasm, she later confirmed this technique as an evidenced-base practice, and earned [...]
One Path to Find Spiritual Strength
February 1, 2012 By
I am going to take a different approach this month and focus on what got me through some very difficult and challenging times raising a child with special needs; my spiritual strength. “The Lord is close to the broken hearted, He rescues those who are crushed in Spirit,” Psalm 34:18. There were many times I [...]
Sharing OUR Mail: Tips for Pursuing the Arts
January 26, 2012 By
“Hi Lori! I love your documentary and work you have done in raising awareness on autism. Our 3rd son has a diagnosis of Aspergers. He is very artistic and smart. He attends a public charter school. He will most surely continue in his artistic abilities and his life work will probably be in animation and [...]
Ring in the New Year Successfully
January 1, 2012 By
“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” – Brian Littrell. With the ringing in of each New Year, we tend to make promises to accomplish goals turning over a new leaf. According to Gretchen Rubin author of best-seller The Happiness Project, “You hit a goal, you achieve a goal. [...]
A Dramatic Approach
December 1, 2011 By
By Lori Ciccarelli All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts… ..William Shakespeare Life is like a stage; for what comes naturally for the neurotypical person, must be learned and rehearsed for those on the spectrum. It’s [...]
Control Emotional Responses to Avoid Outbursts
November 1, 2011 By
by Lori Ciccarelli When my son, JJ, was 16 years old, he was suspended from high school for his impulsive behavior. His peers knew what buttons to push and it continually got him into trouble. The Incredible 5-Point Scale helped JJ regulate his feelings and behavior visually and cognitively. It took consistency with his entire [...]
To Stim or not to Stim?
October 15, 2011 By
According to the Autism Sourcebook by Karen Siff Exkorn, stimming or self stimulatory behavior is a repetitive behavior that releases opiate-like substances in the brain called beta-endorphins which can produce either a euphoric or anesthetic effect; it can cause a feeling of tranquility for those who are feeling over-stimulated. Stimming Behaviors Typical stimming behaviors include [...]
Avoid Outbursts by Controlling Emotional Responses
October 1, 2011 By
by Lori Ciccarelli When my son JJ was 16 years old, he was suspended from high school for his impulsive behavior. His peers knew what buttons to push and it continually got him into trouble. The Incredible 5-Point Scale helped JJ regulate his feelings and behavior visually and cognitively. It took consistency with his entire [...]
