Autism Therapy

In our modern society filled with stress, getting “back to the garden” is a good idea for everyone. According to a 2010 report released by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), teaching gardening to special needs children and young people…

Anecdotal stories pore in about the wonderful and therapeutic effects that animals have on children with autism. Reports from Thailand about children on the spectrum riding elephants leave me wishing our elephants weren't confined to the…

It's no secret that children love animals, particularly those that are found in zoos. And for those on the autism spectrum, this affinity for zoo animals is seemingly compounded due to the comfort and respite they provide. Some zoos have…

DIR/Floortime is one of the many time tested therapies available to treat autism and other developmental disabilities. The stated objectives of DIR/Floortime are “to build healthy foundations for social, emotional and intellectual…

After the stunning performance of James Hobley, the eleven-year-old with autism who blew away the audience on “Britain's Got Talent” with an amazing dance routine, it's a fitting time to address the benefits of dance for children on the…

Individuals with autism have innate visual prowess, as I discussed in a previous article. Given that children with autism are so visually oriented, it makes perfect sense to engage them in art activities, be it formally with an art…

The ancient art of yoga is proving to have great benefits for children on the autism spectrum. Yoga comprehensively addresses their heightened anxiety, poor motor coordination and weak self-regulation, something that otherwise is very…

In what appears to be an alarming and disturbing trend, another incident has been reported involving sexual misconduct between a caregiver and a child with autism. This time, a case has emerged from the Los Angeles area, where an in-home…

In my ongoing postings of alternative therapies to enhance the lives of children with autism, I would be remiss if I didn't include music therapy. Everyone knows that music is a universal language and for children on the autism spectrum…

April 1st ushers in Autism Awareness Month and there is an excellent conference that kicks off in Dartmouth, Massachusetts to start the month. “When the Belly is the Beast: How Intestinal Health Impacts Brain and Behavior,” is a symposium…