The Autism Advocate

Practical tips and musings on raising children and teens with autism.

by Chantal Sicile-Kira

Happy Mother’s Day, Maman. Joyeuse Fête des Mères!

When people see what life with my autistic son, Jeremy, entails they often ask, “How do you do it? How do you handle raising a child so impacted by autism, besides having Rebecca?” Read More

Autism and Parenting: Preparing Yourself for Your Child's Transition to Adult Life

Transition is a process, and with the right perspective it can be enriching and rewarding. We started by defining what was important to us based on our principles, exploring our options, envisioning and creating new ones and then developing a game plan and that worked for us. Read More

Autism Awareness Every Day: Preparing for Real Life

Research shows that mothers of children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are worrying across their child’s lifespan, particularly at that time of transition from public education services, and worrying more than other families of young adults with disabilities. Read More

How Can We Help Keep Children, Teens, Adults With Autism Safe?

A school environment that strictly enforced a policy of "bullying will not be tolerated" is important and necessary. It is crucial to teach the same safety rules you would to any child, using teaching methods that have been successful for that child. Read More

What Are the Safety Concerns for People on the Autism Spectrum?

Children on the autism spectrum are at a higher risk of being hurt, victimized or wandering off, to name a few worries that are high on the list of parental concerns. Read More

Judge to Hear Request to Ban Film About Autism

The documentary, The Wall, consists of interviews of 30 French psychoanalysts (many of them lead psychiatrists at treatment centers and department heads of notable French hospitals) who place the blame for autism on mothers who are either too cold or too incestuous towards their children. Read More

Teens, Autism and Work: Build on Passions and Find Mentors

Mentors can help figure out how to turn an interest into a job, or into a means to earn money. Another important area to consider is what your teen or student likes or is passionate (ie obsessed) about. For most on the spectrum, a job will be their one connection to the community, and their main activity. Read More

Preparing Your Teen or Young Adult for Work in the Real World

When thinking about employment for your child or student on the spectrum, there are a few aspects that need to be focused on. Read More

Why do children and adults with autism act the way they do?

People with autism act the way they do because of their various sensory processing challenges and the difficulties they have in making sense of their environment. Read More

The Marines are Looking for a Few Good Men

"I'm from the Marines. I'm calling all the Seniors from Torrey Pines High School, and I want to tell Jeremy what we have to offer." I told him my son was autistic, nonverbal and couldn't talk on the phone. When you have a son as disabled as I do, you learn to be grateful for the smallest things. Like the fact that your son will never be eligible for active duty. Read More

Your Presence Is Making Us Uncomfortable

In honor of Mental Health Month (as is May) I am posting an essay by my friend and disability advocate, Diana Pastora Carson. This is her story, and the story of her brother, Joaquin, and their battle for his release form an institution so that he may live near his family. Read More

Is their autism getting worse when they reach puberty?

Something happens when children turn into teenagers. They go from demanding your attention to wanting their independence. Read More

Autism Awareness: Free On-line Conference April 9 &10 Keynote Temple Grandin

That's why in honor of Autism Awareness Month, I'm co-sponsoring a free on-line conference with momsfightingautism.com on April 9 and 10. Many parents can't attend conferences because of the cost or lack of respite coverage for their child, others live in rural areas. On these two days, they can attend on-line a conference for free.Temple Grandin is the Keynote. Read More

What IQ Tests Really Tell Us About Children with Autism

In the past nonverbal children with autism were considered mentally retarded. Now it has become more widely recognized that autism has nothing to do with intelligence. Studies show that IQ scores of children with autism may not be accurate reflections of their intellectual potential. Read More

Puberty brings changes that are difficult for teens with autism

Most children with autism have a terrible time with change. They like things to stay the same, as they are used to the familiarity of routine. Imagine what it is like for them when they notice something really freaky - their body is changing and they have no control over it. It is even worse if no one has told them what was going to happen. Read More

Open Letter to Governor Jerry Brown: On Budget Cuts and the Lanterman Act

Open Letter to Governor Jerry Brown: What is the point of a Lanterman Act - which is civil rights legislation for those with developmental disabilities - if there are no monies to enact and protect these civil rights? Budget cuts enacted over the past few years have already eaten away at some of these rights. Read More

Tips on raising a teen with autism

Here are some tips to help you and your teen on the spectrum not only survive the adolescent years, but to grow in a positive way: Read More

Thirteen Things Parents of Teens with Autism Need to Know

Adolescence and autism each on their own can be difficult, together they form a volatile mix. It's important that you know a few important facts about teenage behavior - whether on or off the autism spectrum - to put things into perspective on what is the autism, and what is normal teenage behavior. Read More

Autism - It's a Family Thing

Family life is all about relationships and communication: relationships between two people in love, parents and children, siblings, extended family members. Yet, autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are all about communication challenges, misunderstanding of social cues, and lack of emotional understanding, thus affecting every relationship in the family. It has been estimated that the divorce rate is in the 80% range in families with children who have autism (Bolman, 2006). Despite high rates of marital conflict, many couples do not reach out for couples therapy. Read More

Geek Dad: Awesomely Geeky Projects and Activities for Dads and Kids to Share

I'm not trying to out any Geeky moms or Geeky dads for that matter (notice I haven't mentioned autism or Asperger's Syndrome). But I couldn't resist posting this - my publisher offered to send a free book to a person of my choosing - and I thought it would make a great present for winter break - lots of time to try stuff out, right? Read More

Why the holidays are so difficult for families with autism and what can help

Often parents in the autism community will joke that we become more religious during the holiday season: we pray our children will behave while we are visiting relatives.... and above all - we pray that we will have the strength to politely ignore the judgments passed upon us and our ‘misbehaving' children.

Jeremy Sicile-Kira

All students on the autism spectrum need to learn self-advocacy skills, but those heading to college need to learn them before they graduate. Read More

Back to School 101: Tips for General Education Teachers About Students with Asperger's Syndrome

Often junior high and high school teachers have teenagers with Asperger's Syndrome (AS) included in their classes, and are not given much in the way of useful information. I wrote a few tips in the hopes of being helpful to educators who may have little or no practical knowledge about students on the spectrum. Read More

Nonverbal autistic student gives commencement address

Inspiring story of a nonverbal autistic student giving a high school commencement speech with voice output technology. The high school graduates Read More

Siblings and Autism

At one point in my past life I helped with the logistics for BBC live coverage of the anniversary of the French Revolution in Paris. Even that was easier than the planning invovled with two graduations in terms of parking and seating (non-reserved of course) at two different high schools. Read More

Autism Awareness Month: Honoring Those with Autism, Thanking Those Who Help Them

I am 21 and I have autism. I have been very lucky, and I would like to give back to my community by telling people what having autism is like. There are many people on the autism spectrum in our community, so it is important to realize what your fellow citizens have struggles with every day. Read More

Autism - It's a Family Thing

What Can Be Done to Help With Sensory Processing Challenges?

There are different methods and treatments that have helped many who have sensory processing challenges. Here are some of them. Read More

What is Sensory Processing Disorder and How Is It Related to Autism?

A group of researchers, families, and occupational therapists is aggressively lobbying to get sensory processing disorder included in the next Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which is currently being drafted. But what is a Sensory Processing Disorder? Read More

I am an adult and I think I may have Asperger’s Syndrome (AS). How and why should I get diagnosed if in fact I do have AS?

Usually I write mostly about children or adolescents on the autism spectrum. Read More

Chantal Sicile-Kira is an advocate, award-winning author, and speaker known for her practical advice related to autism. Her latest book is A Full Life With Autism.

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About The Autism Advocate

Chantal Sicile-Kira is an advocate, award-winning author, and speaker known for her practical advice related to autism. Her latest book is A Full Life With Autism.