About me and why I do what I do. I didn't start out an advocate for parents and children. I started out as a mom that was confused, worried, overwhelmed, and often lost. I was able to pivot and start moving in a positive direction to help others.
When a child struggles with math, we don’t throw up our hands in frustration and punish them for not understanding the material. We offer help, patience, and resources. Yet, when it comes to emotional regulation, we often take a very different approach. Instead of recognizing that self-regulation is a skill that needs to be taught and nurtured, we tend to focus on punishing "misbehavior" without considering why the child is struggling in the first place.
Teachers often encounter students who appear "difficult." They might be disruptive, emotional, uncooperative, or withdrawn, and it's easy to see them as a challenge to be managed. But what if we're missing something deeper? What if they aren't the problem, but rather the symptom of something else entirely?
Bullying affects many children in schools, but for children with high-functioning autism, the experience can be much more complex. They are often overlooked. They have advanced cognitive skills, a strong academic aptitude, and a range of talents. Despite this, they are especially vulnerable to more subtle, targeted bullying.