Embracing Autism

Unsure about ABA? In this episode, we review what's considered the 'Golden Standard' therapy for Autism, Applied Behavioral Analysis, also known as ABA and discuss common goals for this form of therapy, how it is used to improve a child's quality of life and what makes it so controversial.

We take a deeper look into what you can expect at your child’s Speech Therapy (ST) sessions, what target areas Speech Therapy can help with, and some tools that may be provided to your child to include the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), sign language, and electronic communication devices (i.e. Augmentative and alternative communication/AACs).

Tune in as we explore Physical Therapy (PT) and what you can expect during sessions as we discuss common activities, potential benefits, and how Physical Therapy can help your child work on balance, core strength, or coordination among other key areas. We also explore how you can recreate physical therapy at home.

Considering Occupational Therapy (OT)? Learn more about what you can expect in OT and some common reasons your child may be referred. We discuss examples of activities your child may work on during sessions to include heavy work, feeding therapy, and sensory regulation while sharing our personal insights and experiences with OT.

In this episode, we discuss the various therapies your child may be referred to after receiving an Autism diagnosis and give tips on how to manage your schedule as well as what to do if your child appears to hate therapy.

In this episode, we will review a variety of financial resources and education programs to help support your autistic child that are available in the United States. From IEPs and IFSPs to SSDI, Medicaid, and the Autism Waiver, we discuss it all! It's important to note that each state has different government programs, so please check out our show notes to learn more about your specific state.

In this episode, we focus on why it's okay and even natural to go through a season of grief after an autism diagnosis and how to overcome it with a simple change of perspective.

Tune in as we discuss what to expect at your child's autism evaluation and compare the benefits and disadvantages of an in-person evaluation versus a telehealth or virtual assessment.

So your child is on the waitlist, now what? Autism Evaluation waitlists take forever (1-2 years!), but that doesn't mean you have to be stuck while you wait. Learn how to prepare for your child's autism diagnosis and what you can do in the meantime. From where to get your child evaluated, to how to get ahead of the waitlist, we make sure you have everything you need to know before Diagnosis Day.

What exactly is Autism Spectrum Disorder? Is my child showing red flags? Should I be concerned? Demystify Autism and learn about some common red flags, as we pull directly from our personal experience while tapping lightly into the science.

No matter where you are in your child's autism journey, we've got your back. Hi! We are Lia and Matthew McCabe, neurodiverse parents of autistic children and founders of AutismWish. Tune in as we discuss how our special needs girls inspired us to create our charity initiative and what we have in store for you on Embracing Autism. Shownotes This podcast episode features a married neurodivergent couple sharing their journey of raising autistic children and providing support and resources for parents. Brought to you by AutismWish. 2021 Chapters 0:00:00 Introducing Embracing Autism: A Journey with Autistic Children 0:01:30 Realizing Red Flags and Seeking Evaluation for First Child 0:04:31 Unexpected Autism Diagnosis for Second Child 0:08:35 Unnoticed Red Flags and Disconnecting 0:11:14 Coping with the Autism Diagnosis 0:16:06 Embracing the Diagnosis and Getting into Their World 0:18:32 Shifting Perspectives and Coming Together as a Family 0:20:18 Rethinking Autism and Embracing Neurodiversity 0:24:42 Expanding Resources for Parents of Autistic Children 0:26:35 Looking Forward to More Episodes and Information Long Summary In this episode, we discuss our personal journey as a married neurodiverse couple raising autistic children. Our goal is to provide support and resources to parents of autistic children while spreading awareness and acceptance of autism spectrum disorder. We share our own stories, tips, and guidance, hoping to create a sense of community among our listeners. We then dive into our personal journey with autism, starting with the red flags we noticed in our first child when she was about a year and a half old. We reached out to Infants & Toddlers for more information and started to learn about autism. It was a scary and uncertain time for us because we didn't have much knowledge about autism, and we had to quickly educate ourselves. We discovered that autism only affects a small percentage of the population, making it unlikely for us to personally know someone with autism. Our daughter's speech delay was one of the initial signs that led to her evaluation and subsequent autism diagnosis. We also noticed behaviors like lack of eye contact, playing in isolation, and stimming activities, such as arm flapping. Initially, we didn't think much of these behaviors, considering them normal for her age. However, as the evaluation process progressed, we became more aware of the possibility of autism. Eventually, our daughter received her formal autism diagnosis from a developmental pediatrician. Surprisingly, 11 months later, our second child was also diagnosed with autism, which was unexpected for us. This second diagnosis helped us understand the autism spectrum better and the varied ways it can present in individuals. We discuss how our second child is different from our first child, with unique traits and needs. We share the challenges we faced throughout this journey, including language regression and difficulty in socialization. We talk about our initial reaction to the diagnosis, the mixed emotions, and the fear of the unknown. We emphasize the importance of community support and acceptance in navigating the journey of autism. We also explain how we learned to overcome challenges and embrace our children's unique strengths. We discuss techniques to connect with our children on their level and understand their world. We urge parents to rethink their perception of autism and see it as part of their child's identity, learning a new language and opening themselves up to a whole new culture and understanding. In this episode, we also introduce our charity project, AutismWish, which aims to provide sensory therapeutic items to autistic children. We express our determination to create a support

Enjoy a teaser of the upcoming podcast, Embracing Autism launching Friday, June 18, 2021. This podcast is brought to you by AutismWish, granting wishes to children on the spectrum and providing parent resources. Follow us on Facebook @AutismWish or visit our website at www.autismwish.com.