Making Space for Mourning: A Grief Support Session

• By: Lori Lerner, LMSW, RYT-200 hr. Services for the UnderServed (S:US)
• September 29th, 2022
• compassion, death, empathy, Fall 2022 Issue, feelings, grief, grief support, grief symptoms, healing, loss, memories, mourning, self-care
• 1390    0

As the Coordinator of Family and Wellness in the Developmental Disabilities Division at Services for the UnderServed (S:US) and a social worker with extensive experience in providing grief support, I am often requested to administer grief support to people with intellectual/developmental...

A World Without Emotions: Alexithymia and Autism

• By: Andréas RB Deolinda, BA, BSc Advocate for Children with Special Needs
• July 19th, 2022
• alexithymia, children, emotional recognition, emotional regulation, emotions, empathy, feelings, interventions, Summer 2022 Issue, theory of mind
• 3634    0

Before we delve into defining alexithymia and autism I’d like to paint a picture in your mind. Imagine living in a world where emotions do not appear to exist - no clear indications of anger, sadness, or happiness. So much so that even categorizing these emotions does not exist - a neutral...

Practicing with Compassionate Care: A Missing Piece in Behavior Analytic Training

• By: Ashley Kemmerer, MS, BCBA Graham Behavior Services
• March 26th, 2021
• ABA, behavior analysis, behavior analysts, compassion, empathy, feelings, parents, Spring 2021 Issue, stress, sympathy, training
• 5614    0

Becoming and practicing behavior analysis is often synonymous with a strong understanding of the technical components of behavior change procedures. Our training often emphasizes skills such as the memorization of terminology until it becomes second nature, evaluating and conducting research, and...

Siblings: Common Concerns and Effective Support Strategies

• By: Emily Holl, MFA, LMSW Sibling Support Project
• October 1st, 2020
• communication, fall 2020 issue, family, feelings, future planning, guilt, isolation, loss, resentment, siblings, support
• 3322    1

Like parents of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), siblings experience unique concerns and opportunities. The sibling relationship can easily exceed six decades, and siblings face these issues for even longer than parents. Historically, siblings have had few opportunities to receive...

Talking to Siblings About ASD

• By: Julie M. Wolf, PhD Yale Child Study Center
• October 1st, 2020
• adolescents, children, communication, diagnosis, fall 2020 issue, family, feelings, siblings
• 2291    1

Siblings of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have unique needs and may have a range of feelings, both positive and negative, about their experience with their brother or sister with ASD. They may be reluctant to share these feelings with parents due to feelings of guilt (Opperman &...