Once a diagnosis of autism is made, a myriad of questions arises. Why is this happening? What can I do? How will I cope? What will the future bring? Will I ever smile again? A roadmap is needed, a handbook to refer to when all seems overwhelming. The priorities are to begin the healing process and to start treatment. The way to ensure success is to begin with the end goals in mind. It is remarkable how things fall into place once a vision of the future is formulated - a productive, upstanding, and most important, happy adult! This book walks parents through the steps of early intervention by demonstrating ways to achieve the most optimal outcomes. We address the following: Happy adults have a positive outlook, feel valued when their passions are honored and when interest is shown in the things they love. We can help children foster those attitudes in early childhood. Productive adults regulate their emotions, manage their time, cope with change, make wise choices and accept responsibility for their actions. We illustrate how to develop these skills from the outset. Adults perform skills independently and complete tasks necessary for work and home life. Children should be expected to do the same and we outline ways how to do that. Wherever a parent is on their parenting journey, and whatever age the child is, now is the time to look forward and plant seeds for the future, beginning with the end in mind. Our shared goal is to honor the glory that is in all of us, and to enhance each child's journey towards their fullest potential. If you are now confused and overwhelmed, you need a compassionate and optimistic guide for the early years and beyond. Where to start? Right here.

If anyone suggests that autistic people should not have children, in the mistaken belief that they would not be good parents because of their neurodiversity, they are wrong. Completely wrong. This is not to say that every autistic person should have a child, any more than every neuro-majority person should. People usually know for themselves whether or not they want to become parents, and if they don't, they shouldn't. It's as simple as that. Of course, that doesn't mean that every moment will be sunshine, rainbows, and cute, cuddly babies who sleep all night and never throw their oatmeal on the floor. Babies are just teenagers on hold, and teenagers are adults in waiting. At every step in the growing up process there will be hard times, and there will be joyful times. Parents have made this same journey since people began peopling, and the journey will continue after our children's children have grandchildren of their own. We're part of a huge spectrum of parenting through the ages. Isn't it a wonder and a privilege to be a link in this chain? Having a different brain, as autists, ADHDers, and AuDHDers do, does not mean that you shouldn't be part of this link, if your heart leads you to parenting. You'll be amazing! You and I both know, though, that being neurodivergent in a neuro-majority world is not easy. Parenting isn't easy, either, but you can do difficult things. You've been doing them all along, haven't you? Parenting is just one more challenge you can manage, and it's worth it. This book is here to help you navigate the unique aspects of parenting while autistic. Throughout the book you'll find side trips to focus on various aspects of parenting while autistic. Here's a description of each one. Sensory Smarts In this section we'll discuss some of the sensory issues related to different stages of the parenting journey. You'll find strategies for coping with heightened sensory reactions. Make Family Meetings Fun Your family's need for Family Meetings, and what you will focus on in these meetings, will change as your children grow. Keep up with their needs, and yours, while making it fun for everyone. Weekends That Work You deserve a break at the end of a busy week, and so do your kids. How can you create the kind of weekend that works for all of you? You'll find tips in this section. Fictional Families Throughout the book the topics and challenges at your child's developmental stages will be illustrated by fictional families who, like you, are parenting while autistic. Follow them on their journeys, and see what you may have in common with them. Parent To Parent It's important to listen to the authentic voices of actually autistic parents. Here you will find words of wisdom from neurodivergent moms and dads who have walked the ND parenting path before you, and who want you to succeed, too. You've got this. Let's go.

Autism has long been considered a boys' condition, but there is more to this story. The truth is, autism looks different in women and girls. They're much better at ""pretending to be normal"" by masking their autistic characteristics. How can we look behind the mask to recognize autism, when it has been so well camouflaged? Recognizing Autism in Women and Girls: When It Has Been Hidden Well provides the perspective needed to see how autism manifests in gendered ways, allowing for a more accurate diagnosis. In addition to describing each point in the diagnostic manual to include feminine presentations, Dr. Marsh has created ""Five Fictional Female Figures"" who've been misdiagnosed because they also display symptoms of other similar conditions. She describes their behaviors, both obvious and hidden, from early childhood to adulthood, and demonstrates how these behaviors meet diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder. The ""Behind the Mask"" section provides helpful questions to ask during the autism assessment process to allow the professional to recognize autism, even when it has been successfully masked. In addition, each chapter contains ""In Her Own Words,"" written by autistic women who describe their personal journeys from masking to diagnosis, and what it means to them. Being recognized at last for who they truly are frees autistic women to stop hiding behind a mask and begin opening doors to success.

What's the biggest challenge facing teachers today? Behavior. And which students present the most baffling and unique behavior problems? Our awesome kids on the autism spectrum. We love them, but it can be difficult to understand and deal with their challenging behaviors. But behavior analysts aren't in the classroom; teachers are. And most teachers can't call a behavior analyst every time a behavior problem crops up. Even when they do call in a behavior analyst, they might not understand all that talk about the "discriminative stimulus" and the "conditioned reinforcer." It's all so dry and confusing. Teachers don't have time to wade through all that jargon, they're too busy teaching. So what's a teacher to do when a student throws a chair, or bites her hand, or refuses to work? It's up to teachers to figure out solutions before the behavior gets worse. They need help. The ABCs of Autism in the Classroom: Setting the Stage for Success was written by a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst who was also a teacher for many years, as well as an autism mom. Here you will find evidence-based, research-supported behavioral tools presented in teacher-friendly language. You'll meet a virtual village of students with problem behaviors you might find in your own classroom. You'll also read stories shared by kids and adults on the autism spectrum, in their own words.