Among the bleakest aspects of autism spectrum disorder is engagement in self-injurious behavior (SIB). Self-injurious behaviors are not the norm for children on the spectrum, but they may be more common than you might realize and are agonizing for children and parents alike. These damaging indulgences are incredibly difficult for parents to observe, let a...

Last week, National Autism Network published an article  detailing how anxiety impacts individuals on the autism spectrum. Regardless of whether or not you’re on the spectrum, anxiety can be physically, mentally, and socially damaging. Anxiety seems to affect individuals with autism to a larger degree and is considered one of the disorder’s most common co...

Your world suddenly becomes very disorienting. Sounds become more pronounced while your ability to focus diminishes on them and your surroundings quickly diminishes. You become very tense all over your body, and you feel compelled to take deep breaths as your heart and pulse races.  These feelings last for minutes, although it can feel like an eternity....

Whether you are a parent to a child on the spectrum, a family member or even a provider working with the community, we have no doubt that you have sought information about the disorder either online or through one of the thousands of books that have been published.  The resources and information available is vast and the sheer number can overwhelming.  To...

Almost on a daily basis, we at National Autism Network come across or are asked to support various fundraising efforts being made by parents with children affected by autism who are struggling to either make ends meet or pay for much needed treatments. Stories of parents quitting their jobs to care for their children, moving to other states with insurance...

A man’s whole life changes the instant his son is born. That little bundle of joy means a new journey and adventure in life. His birth conjures new hopes and dreams for what your son may accomplish, and you begin to work towards achieving the goal of every father: to provide his son with a life greater than his own. You think about all the possibilities t...

As a parent of a child on the spectrum, you probably understand the difficulties in providing proper diet and nutrition when eating habits ranging from quirky to truly   bizarre    is not uncommon. While at first these difficulties with eating may seem like a normal phase, over time eating issues can become a detriment to not only the child themselves, bu...

When it comes to moving it seems that Murphy’s Law, which states that if anything can go wrong, it will go wrong, seems to be in full effect. This is especially true when moving with a child on the autism spectrum.  Whether your moving across the nation or across the county line, problems will almost certainly arise along your journey.  However, you can t...

Special needs life coach is a burgeoning profession working to fulfill the needs of a growing market of individuals affect by autism spectrum disorders who could benefit from guidance and professional assistance to improve their overall independence. Life coaches can help individuals with day-to-day matters such as self-care or help strategize for big pic...

National Autism Network offers an abundance of unique features and resources, the most prominent of which is our HIPAA-Secure Social Network. You may have seen us mention the social network on Facebook or within our weekly newsletter or maybe even seen a link to a video on it, and thought to yourself-- 'Great, another social network'.  We are bomb...