This September will mark 14 years since my son was diagnosed with autism. Fourteen years since our lives changed forever. Back then, getting an autism diagnosis wasn’t like it is today. You and your child would spend about 30 minutes with a doctor you had never met, with a letter of diagnosis sent to your […]
Category Archives: General Info
I cannot remember the last time I wrote a blog. To be honest, I can’t remember the last time I did a lot of the things I enjoy, but that is the life of a parent of autism. For whatever reason, I was compelled to write on my son’s 16th birthday. As I was gathering […]
16
May
May
Transitions – changing task, going from one place to another – can be hard for many people, but especially for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Here are a few facts and strategies that might help to ease some of the challenges that you might be encountering. Understand the Challenge Transitions require that one activity be […]
08
Feb
Feb
For many children, being social is a natural part of their day. Going to school, meeting new friends, afterschool programs and sports are a way for them to use their social skills every day. For children with autism, social skills have to be taught and learned in a more intensive way than their typical peers. […]
02
Feb
Feb
Every child, typically developing, and with autism drive their parents crazy sometimes. And as an IT that loves every minute of working with all the kiddos, but also seeing everything parents do on a constant basis, we can understand why a parent of a child with autism can at times dislike their child, and that […]
23
Jan
Jan
Respite care truly is a blessing. It provides temporary care of the dependent elderly, an ill person, or an adult/child with a disability while providing relief for their usual caregivers. It allows for the usual caregivers to have some free time, take a break, run some errands, or do an activity that enjoy doing. Most […]
17
Jan
Jan
At The Lighthouse, in addition to our 3 classrooms, we also have an ABA therapy room. The learners in this classroom are ages 4-6 and focus on programming written individually for them based on their ABLLS assessment. Each student receives 1:1 therapy during the day with one of our trained instructor therapists. Although we believe […]
09
Dec
Dec
There are many reasons I am thankful that I work at The Lighthouse. I love my students, I enjoy being a teacher, but there is something I thank my lucky stars for almost every minute of everyday: our staff team. I am actually convinced that the most talented people in this field, in all of […]
08
Dec
Dec
Last week a few of us ventured downtown Toronto to the Metro Convention Centre to participate in the annual Geneva Centre for Autism Symposium (a fancy word for a conference 😉 As expected and anticipated, there was a TON of information, sessions, amazing resources, and creative sessions offered to us, the delegates attending. Everywhere you […]
Incidental teaching is an important part of learning for all children, including children with ASD. Incidental teaching allows you to take advantage of natural learning opportunities through things such as play, social skills and communication. At The Lighthouse Learning and Development Centre we are constantly using incidental teaching throughout programs and activities. Incidental teaching during […]