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While autism has presented challenges to finding balance, most of the time it has been a pothole in the road, and I have learned to navigate around it.
Julie Brusio, mother of autism
Tomorrow I will try harder. Tomorrow I will be more patient. Tomorrow I will not let autism wear on me. Tomorrow I will not let it beat me. Tomorrow I will connect with someone who gets “it.”
Julie Brusio, educator, blogger, advocate and mother of autism
"We are not sloths, and we do many things together as a family, even if not outdoors."
Julie Brusio, educator, blogger, and mother of autism
"AAPC is very humbled to be the recipient of so many book awards. These awards have brought increased recognition to our titles, which has helped get them into the hands of the people who need them."
Keith Myles, PhD, President, AAPC Publishing
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A Brother of a Sister with Autism Advocates for Her in hopes of Autism Acceptance

We are now in the heart of April and Autism Awareness Month. I would be remiss if I didn’t dedicate a blog to this topic. Within the autism community, there is awareness, advocacy, and acceptance. The idea of Autism Awareness Month is to spread the message to the world community at large that we need to raise awareness and dispel myths and calm fears that sometimes permeate the general population about topics that are unknown or new. And whether we like it or not, we have Jenny McCarthy to thank for raising autism awareness to unprecedented heights. Raising awareness is important. If

Moving Into Adulthood With Autism

Written by Kitty Parlby  Thursday April 2nd 2015 marks the 8th annual World Autism Awareness Day. Around the world, autism organizations, parents, and individuals with autism will be recognizing the day with all kinds of events, from telling their stories, to fundraising, to showing support. As he turned 18 in November, this year will be our son Eric’s first World Autism Awareness day as an adult. So I thought I would share with you some of our family’s experiences in transitioning Eric from a child with autism to an adult with autism. Knowing that Eric is within the severe range of

From Cannot to Can with Autism

I always knew there was something different about Debbie.  She began special education services through our county’s Infants and Toddlers Program when she was 2 years old.  However, she was not formally diagnosed with autism until age 5.  Now, I could tell you that I was ready to conquer the autism world from the beginning.  I could tell you that I was ready to be the Autism Warrior Mom that Debbie needed.  But the truth is that I was not.  Even though I knew Debbie was not developing typically and was missing many of those oh-so-important milestones, I was not ready to slap a label on my

For Every Book We Sell During Autism Awareness Month, AAPC Publishing Will Donate a Book

With an estimated three million individuals in the United States living with autism today, AAPC Publishing is committed to offering practical resources to support families, individuals on the spectrum as well as educators and other professionals.  To help inform and spread awareness about ASD, during the month of April, for every book we sell, AAPC Publishing will be donating a book to autism lending libraries and national autism organizations.  “We are very excited to receive book donations from AAPC Publishing! Their books have always been at the forefront of autism resources.

Kari Dunn Buron will be a keynote presenter at Minnesota's State Autism Conference

AAPC author Kari Dunn Buron will be a keynote presenter at Minnesota's State Autism Conference sponsored by the Autism Society of Minnesota.  The conference runs April 29-May 2, 2015, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Minneapolis. At this annual autism conference, speakers, educators, paraprofessionals, therapists, psychologists, professionals, employers, caregivers, parents and individuals on the spectrum come together to exchange knowledge and ideas focused on enhancing the lives of those touched by autism. There will be more than 20 breakout sessions. The last conference day, Saturday,

Tracking Devices vs. Wanderers

According to a 2012 study, nearly half of all individuals with autism spectrum disorder attempt to wander away from safe, supervised places, with the potential for devastating consequences. The tragic case of autistic 14-year-old Avonte Oquendo is a prime example. Avonte wandered away from his New York City school and went missing in October 2013. Several months later, the young man’s remains were found at the waterfront near College Point in Queens. Because of incidents such as Avonte’s, a new bill has been proposed by Senator Charles Schumer of New York, along with Senators Joe

A Mother's Open Letter to Her Daughter with Autism On Her Twelfth Birthday

Dear Debbie,  I can’t believe that you are almost twelve. I remember when I was pregnant with you and I would daydream about our relationship, our conversations – even our arguments and squabbles. I always knew that you had autism, even before I was ready to admit it. You didn’t move around in my stomach as much as your brother and I worried that there might be something wrong with you. When you were a baby you “failed to thrive” at the age of six weeks; you had colic and then you started missing milestone after milestone. I watched my dreams of a “normal” mother-daughter relationship

Is My Daughter with Autism Lonely or Is It Just Me?

I’ve often wondered if Debbie ever feels lonely. Aside from Joey, she doesn’t have any friends. Sure, there are classmates who are friendly to her. She sits next to them in music class, makes pyramids with them in PE, and gives them high-fives as they pass in the hallway. But she doesn’t have a true connection to anyone outside of our family. Just to be sure, I asked her teacher how Deb interacts with another girl in her class. The teacher’s response was honest. They live in parallel universes. When one is away from her desk, the other one wants to hang out there and play and vice versa.

An Inclusive Environment Zoo-Wide for Children with Special Needs

The National Inclusion Project has partnered with the Chicago Zoological Society to implement the Let’s All Play training program for Zoo Camp, a summer camp for youth. This partnership will allow all children, regardless of ability, to learn and become familiar with wildlife and conservation. Let’s ALL Play is a successful recreational inclusion model that encourages community inclusion. Children with and without disabilities come together to participate in recreational activities such as swimming, arts and crafts, community service, physical fitness and more. This research-based

Lights, Camera ... Autism

It is estimated that almost three million individuals in the United States have autism spectrum disorder. With this all-time high prevalence rate, pop culture has embraced the disorder and often tries to portray it in feature films and other media. According the largest online database of information related to films and television programs, IMDb, 42 movie titles alone revolve around the theme of autism spectrum disorders. But do these films portray ASD appropriately?   One of the more popular films depicting the world of ASD is Berry Levinson’s Rain Man. Now almost a classic, this

Striking a Balance Between Our Kids On and Off the Autism Spectrum

There’s a saying “Behind every great kid is a mom who’s pretty sure she is screwing it up.” As a mom of two great kids, I identify well with it, and I’m sure that the saying wouldn’t be floating around in various forms if many others didn’t identify with it, too. As moms we constantly wonder if we are doing right by our kiddos. Are we making the right choices? Are we leading by example? Are we striking a balance between our kids on and off the spectrum? “Balance.” Now there’s a word that deserves thought and attention. I think that every mom, whether she has kids with special needs or

What Does It Take to Be 'LMHC' Certified?

AAPC authors are qualified professionals in various disciplines, certified in their respective fields. But what do these certifications mean? The term “LMHC” as a part of somebody’s professional title means that he or she is a licensed mental health counselor. LMHCs hold many types of job duties depending on the focus of the practice where they are employed, but, in general, they help clients/patients through difficult life events and issues, including a death in the family, a divorce, a physical illness, etc. In many cases, they diagnose and help people manage serious mental

A Mother's Breaking Point of Perseveration and Autism

I hate it. It rocks me to the core and makes my hair stand on end. Over and over, with no end in sight, she keeps repeating the same phrase. No matter what I try, I can’t soothe her. She just keeps saying it again and again and again. Make it stop. She has to stop. “JUST STOOOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPPPPPP IIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTT!” The scream came out of the blue, shocking me as much as it shocked everyone else. I couldn’t help myself. Debbie’s perseveration was never-ending. “No school on Monday!” “No school on Monday!” “No. School. On. Monday!” And then the hiccupping crying, followed by hugs and “

Springtime Activities for Autism Does Not Always Have to be Outdoorsy

I’m sitting on my bed listening to the wind roar outside. It’s freezing out there! Ironically enough, I was asked to write a blog about springtime activities. I have to be honest. We are not an outdoors kind of family. A hike for us is walking a path at our local park. Looking for bugs? Not going to happen. Those things are gross! Climbing rocks to waterfalls? Nope. Not this family. Picnicking? Sometimes. Perhaps our somewhat limited outdoors activities are a symptom of raising kids in this advanced technological age or maybe we are just lazy? Well, okay. Not lazy. Weekends for us

Support Grows for Bullying Victim

On the morning of February 19, Blake Kitchen, a 12-year-old student with autism spectrum disorder, was a victim of a violent bullying incident in the cafeteria of his Liberty, MO, middle school. The boy suffered a broken jaw, a fractured skull, and damage to his ear. The beating started because he asked his attacker to let him sit in his usual spot at the lunch table. The event left Blake’s family as well as community members outraged, including Missouri State Senator Eric Schmitt, who stated, “Schools that don't act to stop bullying are essentially condoning it.”  What makes this

What is a 'BCBA' certification?

AAPC authors are qualified professionals in various disciplines, certified in their respective fields. But what do these certifications mean? The term “BCBA” as a part of somebody’s professional title means that he or she is a board-certified behavior analyst. BCBAs have a firm understanding of behavior and why certain behaviors occur. They provide training to both families and staff, conduct assessments, create behavior plans, and monitor progress to remedy undesirable behaviors and ultimately promote positive social development. Using comprehensive principles of learning, BCBAs

Proven Autism Strategies that Work in the Classroom

AAPC Publishing’s two latest books focus on effective strategies educators can apply to support students with autism spectrum and related disorders in their classrooms. Stuck! Strategies and Push to Open are your go to books for effective straight forward solutions that are proactive, positive, supportive and preventative. ”Teachers can provide appropriate activities and transitional tools in pre-K through high school to break a cycle of negativity, frustration, and uncertainty by using these strategies,”                         -Paula Dean, MA, assistant superintendent, Los Alamos

10 Most Important Things a Mother has Learned about Autism

This is my third attempt to write a blog. This is my third attempt to get it right. What makes my story better than your story? Is my journey any more difficult than yours? I doubt it on both accounts. Here’s what I know. For better or for worse, I’ve been on this autism journey for twelve years and I’ve run the gamut of trials and tribulations and emotional highs and lows. I’ve learned more than I could’ve imagined when I first set foot into the Autism arena. If I put the most important things I’ve learned on a list, this is what the rough draft might look like: 10) Some days suck and

ASD and Participation in Sports

Sports have long been an integral part of this nation’s culture. Basic motor abilities and social skills can be strengthened when a child participates in sports and physical activities. However, soccer, football, baseball, hockey, basketball, and other team sports require an ample amount of social communication as well as complex coordination between players (Rudy, 2014). This can be challenging for many on the autism spectrum, who often have difficulty in these areas. Even though balance may take some time mastering, biking can be a great sport as well as an important means of

Stress of Parenting a Child With Autism Spectrum or Related Disorders

Are you a stressed parent of a child with ASD? You aren’t alone! In addition to the typical challenges of raising a child, additional variables can cause stress in mothers, fathers, and other caregivers when raising a child with ASD. Coming to terms with the disability can be a challenge in and of itself; however, other factors can cause anxiety and pressure in parents.  The factors that contribute to elevated stress in parents with a child on the autism spectrum are often cited as lack adequate professional support, negative social attitudes towards individuals with autism spectrum

Do You Ever Wonder What All The Abbreviations Behind a Person's Name Mean?

Find Out the Qualifications of an 'OTR'AAPC authors are qualified professionals in various disciplines, certified in their respective fields. But what do these certifications mean? Many AAPC authors include “OTR” in their professional title. OTR means that they are a registered, occupational therapist. OTRs help people participate in the things they want to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school, work, and social situations, helping people recovering from

Offering the Proper Accommodations for Autism in the Workplace

It is estimated that during the next decade, more than 500,000 young people with ASD will turn 18.  It’s hard enough for high school students and college graduates to find employment as it is, but for young adults with ASD, it is can be even a bigger obstacle (Silverman, 2013). According to Autism Spectrum News, the unemployment rate of those diagnosed with disabilities has continued to range from 72% to 88% between 1997 and 2011 (Greenburg & Jimenez, 2014). Even though many individuals with ASD are striving to attain employment, many employers are still reluctant to offer opportunities

Professional Sports Teams Supporting Autism

Professional sports teams are known to support various charities and offer special events to benefit a variety of causes. Thus, countless professional sports teams support ASD.  The Green Bay Packers of the National Football League are one of the great supporters of autism. For example, the team sponsors the Mike and Jessica McCarthy Golf Tournament, which raises money for the Autism Society of Northeast Wisconsin. Some Major League baseball teams also advocate for those on the spectrum by holding special “autism awareness nights.”  For example, the Minnesota Twins sponsors an annual

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