20 OCT 2020 · It's so rare to have a father join us on the podcast, but today we have a special guest, Luis Bayardo. He is the author of Autism: A Dad's Journey and the father of two sons who have autism. Join us on this episode as he pulls back the curtain on the life of raising children on the spectrum.

7 OCT 2020 · Join me for an insightful conversation with Dr. Bergina Isbell, a psychiatrist and a mother of two children with Autism. This woman is a library of resources. There are a number of resources as well as strategies that are mentioned in this episode to help parents deal with those in law enforcement. Come gain strategies on how to allow community events to work for you. Gain insight on how the ABA therapist can also play a role in assisting families with teaching individuals on the spectrum how to respond to the police. And let’s not forget about the IEP’s. Resources mentioned: Pathfinders for Autism https://www.pathfindersforautism.org/ Connect with Dr. Bergina www.drbergina.com Hope for Autism: 10 Practical Solutions to Everyday Challenges http://tyneiseseaborough.com/podcast/ Faith Based Consultation http://tyneiseseaborough.com/consultation/

7 OCT 2020 · According to the research, 40% – 80% of children with autism have problems with sleep. In this episode we cover the benefits, the recommended sleep guidelines from the National Sleep Foundation, theories centered around sleep, the importance of lighting and its role in sleep. And of course we have a variety of practical tips that you can use. Make sure to grab our worksheet that compliments this episode. It will help you to assess your environment and craft a plan for you and your family. Autism-and-Sleep-WorksheetDownload

7 OCT 2020 · How many times have we heard the phrase, “he doesn’t look like he’s autistic?" But what does that really mean? For those of us who serve kiddos on the spectrum and their families, this is something that we hear a lot. And to shine light on this even the more, once a family receives the diagnosis for their child, they often become subject to hearing the same phrase from the extended family members and those in the community. Today’s podcast is an interview with Jennifer Oglesby, a mother, entrepreneur, and advocate for her son Brice, who is now 16. Tune in today to hear a word of hope. Gain tips on how to get the family on the same page once you receive the diagnosis. And digest these nuggets of wisdom on dealing with tantrums and various behaviors.

7 OCT 2020 · Life has enough challenges all by itself! However, the worst thing that anyone could do is lose their faith in something that they’ve once had trust or confidence in. When I was in the 5th grade, I endured such embarrassment, that the only way that I could make it was to laugh with everyone else who were laughing at me. Bummer! My chair fell apart in a cafeteria, with hundreds of people witnessing. There I was on the floor in front of everybody! I didn’t lose faith in chairs that day but I did become a little suspect before sitting in a chair. But your girl is good now! LOL! Today’s episode will encourage you to not give up on systems (schools, medical, insurance, faith based organizations, etc) that have seemed to fail you or frustrate you. Make sure to tune in to hear this mother’s story when dealing with a daycare. Oh the brokenness that she….well we experienced. Eventually, it will all work out! Just don’t lose your faith. Show notes: Get a copy of the book Hope for Autism: 10 Practical Solutions to Everyday Challenges: http://tyneiseseaborough.com/resource-page/ Train your faith based organization: http://tyneiseseaborough.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Autism-Consultation-and-Trainings.pd Follow Our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Tyneise-Seaborough-OTRL-530202461106322/?ref=page_internal Begin occupational therapy: https://kidzrustherapy.wordpress.com/

7 OCT 2020 · Let’s face it, Halloween can be a bit scary for anyone! It’s quite scary for Me!! How many times have we seen those videos circulating on social media where the parent runs and leaves the kids because they were frightened by a prop sitting in a yard? I’m guilty as charged! I usually laugh until I cry. But on a serious note, our children, not just those with autism or SPD (sensory processing disorder), are often scared by the costumes, blood, weapons, creepy ghosts, and the animated candy bowls that have hands. Not to mention, that according to Indiana University, 40% of children with Autism had at least 1 comorbid diagnosis of anxiety disorder. This podcast includes 6 tips to help fail proof your Halloween! Take a listen.

7 OCT 2020 · Sensory Processing, as defined by Dr. Lucy Jane Miller, is a term that refers to the way the nervous system receives sensory messages and turns them into responses. We are constantly taking in sensory information from our environment on a daily basis. We take in this information, organize it, and respond accordingly. Typically, we do this without thinking about it. However, this is not the case for everyone. Individuals on the spectrum also have a Sensory processing disorder (SPD). Per Dr. Miller, SPD exists when signals don’t get organized into appropriate responses and a child’s daily routines and activities are disrupted as a result. For example, a child who touches a hot stove but doesn’t respond is a great concern! An individual who hears the humming of lights and it is very aversive to them. So what do I mean by the term, “sensory integration”? According to occupational therapy for children, it is the process of the brain organizing and interpreting the sensory experiences. For the past 14 years, I have witnessed first hand, stories of breakthrough and transformation that took place while on a swing, a trampoline, or a yoga ball. Children who uttered their first words while swinging….aahh. So is there a link between Sensory integration and language skills? According to Sarah Perkins, a speech therapist at the Koomar Center, a review of 16 articles published between 1981 and 2011 supports the view that speech-language difficulties frequently co-occur with sensory integration difficulties, and that SI treatment can support speech and language gains. In conclusion, Sarah states in her write-up, “Our clinical experience has shown that not only does a child’s improvement in sensory integrative functions improve the course of his or her speech-language acquisition, but the child’s ability to respond adaptively in the areas of speech and language also positively affects his or her sensory integrative processes” (Windeck and Laurel, p. 1). Thus, SI treatment and speech and language treatment reinforce each other, resulting in positive gains for children with sensory integration challenges as well as speech and language difficulties. To view the article in details, check out the writing here: http://www.otawatertown.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/SI_therapy_speech.pdf

7 OCT 2020 · Communication is so vital for every aspect of our lives. When we walk in stores we are greeted by the person at the entrance of the store. When a baby cries, they are communicating to us that they are hungry, sleepy, not feeling well, or in need of a diaper change. As a new mom, we seek those precious moments of our babies smiling at us, babbling, and engaging in back and forth communication. And don’t forget about hearing them say, “mama” or “dada”…..because that rocks our very world right? But how does one handle not hearing any of these sounds, or progressively witnessing the regression of sounds and words? Our special guests, who are speech and language pathologists, will discuss communication, language, share stories of hope, and provide several tips/resources to help families of children on the spectrum.

7 OCT 2020 · Per an article that was published on the Interactive Autism Network, hitting, kicking, biting, throwing objects, and other behaviors common during a temper tantrum or meltdown can greatly increase parent stress. Over 1300 children, between the ages of 4 -17, participated in the Simons Simplex Collection (SSC) to help researchers understand aggression in children on the spectrum. The study concluded that 56% were engaging in aggressive behaviors towards caregivers, while a smaller number (32%) engaged in these behaviors towards non-caregivers. Similarly, 68% of the children had previously behaved aggressively towards caregivers and 49% towards non-caregivers. This a topic that many families have to deal with on a daily basis. Today our special guest is Noah Schmidt. He is the father of a 12 year-old son, on the spectrum. Listen in to hear his story on autism, handling aggressive behaviors, and finding hope in these situations

6 OCT 2020 · As a young child, I once imagined that I would have this grand fairy tale wedding at a beautiful castle. Like many young girls, I was influenced by the countless amounts of shows and books that were read to me. However, upon growing up and getting married, I realized that the image that I had embedded in my mind, was nothing like the fairy tale weddings that I had seen my entire life. Marriage takes work! And anyone who says anything else is lying. Raising children and the stressors in life also make it more of a challenge at times. And if we are honest with ourselves, those who have children that are sickly or who have special needs, sometimes the financial burden and the emotional stress alone can be enough to cause a marriage to fall apart. Join us for a great discussion with special guest, Latanya Sothern. Is balance possible for my marriage, if we have exceptional children?