It's summer time and also time to travel, enjoy, and have fun with our kids. Finding vacation spots that suit everyone can be challenging in all circumstances, and it may be thought that the task is even more complex for families with neurodivergent members. However, from the perspective of many families, vacationing with autistic (or neurodivergent) children can be a rewarding experience with the right preparation and planning.

This June, in celebration of Father’s Day, we have been motivated to reflect on the experience of fathering for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This is not a topic on which much information is available, however, some autistic parents have shared their experiences on various platforms, which, at first glance and once again, support the certainty that each individual is unique so that their perception of the parental role is also unique.

Parent involvement is a key factor in a child’s success with Applied Behavior Analysis therapy. While parents receive individual parent training at home, participating in group parent training offers additional benefits that can significantly impact both the child and family. These group sessions go beyond one-on-one instruction, providing a community-driven learning experience that enhances skills, support, and confidence.

A few days ago, I was reading an article about Paula C. Durbin-Westby, a disability rights activist who has Autism Spectrum Disorder. She writes articles on her blog and other media and participates in speaking engagements on autism and disability rights. In 2011, Paula founded Autism Acceptance Day and Month.

Part of our work as ABA providers includes conducting parent training sessions. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) practice highlights the critical role of parent trainings and its profound impact on the success of interventions for individuals with developmental disabilities or behavioral challenges. Part of the body of theoretical and practical knowledge of ABA.

Saying goodbye to a client and family we have worked with for a long time can be difficult. Often, our clients are very young, and we see them grow and develop thanks to our work as ABA providers. Other natural variables such as the client's initiation into school may influence the reduction of therapy hours, as well as events such as moving out of the service area or many other circumstances that determine the termination of services.

This post can be seen as a continuation of the one we did exactly one year ago, in which we talked about how to make Christmas a happy time for everyone. In particular, we described ways to ensure a merry season for those families whose members have special needs. The goal remains the same: to contribute to the happiness of our clients but this time, we bring therapeutic elements from the perspective of Applied Behavior Analysis.

This blog post is addressed to parents, and it is intended to cover some of the most used and basic concepts in ABA: Verbal Behavior and Verbal Operants. For parents, it is essential for them to understand and recognize these concepts for the proper management of their children's behaviors and for effectively supporting their children's language development, communication skills, and overall social and cognitive growth.

understand its importance: the schedule. Setting a schedule, and sticking to it, is critical to facilitating our children's education and for building a strong caregiver-child connection. For kids with autism, scheduling is particularly relevant, due to their repetitive patterns of behavior, activities, and hobbies. The adherence to an established routine can be a powerful tool in bringing stability and comfort to their lives.