Depression and anxiety are both major problems in America. Teenagers are hit especially hard with both as they are going through physical, mental, and emotional changes that come with puberty. It is important to be able to at least recognize some of the symptoms of depression and anxiety so as to know when to speak to a professional health care...[ read more ]

By Staff Writer Adolescence is a critical time for social development. Not all teens develop social skills at the same pace. Those with Asperger's Syndrome or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may have deficits that need to be addressed in order to enjoy the normal experiences of adolescence. One-way parents can help their teens develop important social skills is by...[ read more ]

The Teen with Autism Spectrum Disorder Most experts do a great job of presenting the problems children with Autism Spectrum Disorder face during their adolescent years. Unfortunately, they offer few solutions. This two-part article presents problems teens face (Part 1) and gives suggestions that have worked for parents of teens with ASD (Part 2). Click here for Part 1 –...[ read more ]

By Meghan Vivo Children with special needs like Asperger’s are supposed to get appropriate services and accommodations to help them succeed in public schools. Unfortunately, it often ends up being the parents’ responsibility to advocate and recognize if a school is under-serving their child.  In extreme conditions, this may mean suing their school district to get their child’s needs met....[ read more ]

People with Asperger Syndrome often have problems processing, organizing and using information received their senses. This is called Sensory Integration Disorder. When normal people sit down to do a task, they filter out background noise. The vast array of sights and smells of a shopping mall do not distract them. They zero in and find the exact object they set...[ read more ]

Paradoxically, it is cheaper and easier to get outdoor exercise which is better and more relaxing for children and teens having difficulties with more organized after school programs. But it may not be easy – at first – because it involves a change in lifestyle. The main ingredient for success is not money but will power. The following steps require...[ read more ]

You’re afraid your child has given up. She has started making excuses to skip school, and her struggles to make friends and fit in with her peers are resulting in lower grades and distaste for learning. If only you could start the spring semester with a clean slate. Although many parents are reluctant to enroll their child in a new...[ read more ]

By Meghan Vivo Children with Asperger’s are highly misunderstood – a fact that makes it difficult for them to get their needs met in public school. Many teachers and school officials lack adequate education about the disorder and do not know how to respond to typical Asperger's behaviors. Those who are willing to invest in these students may not be...[ read more ]

The Complete Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome by Tony Attwood The ADHD Autism Connection by Diane Kennedy Freaks, Geeks and Asperger Syndrome by Luke Jackson Asperger Syndrome and Adolescence by Teresa Bolick The Oasis Guide to Asperger Syndrome by Patricia Bashe and Barbara Kirby Autism, Aspergers, ADHD, ADD? A Parent’s Road Map to Understanding and Support!

By Catherine H. Knott, Ph.D. The desire to advocate for one’s child comes naturally to most parents – as naturally as a protective instinct comes to a mother grizzly bear seeking to defend her cubs and forage food to feed them. Parents today operate in a complex world that includes medical and legal  bureaucracies much more difficult to navigate than...[ read more ]