Question: I have an extremely difficult child in my playgroup. She doesn’t let anyone have fun. She yells at everyone for making noise and playing with toys even if the noise was not so loud and she was nowhere near the toys. She seeks kids out to hurt them. I’ve spoken to the mother and […]
What is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)?
ABA is the most common form of therapy recommended for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Its widespread use can be attributed to the fact that numerous insurance policies offer ABA benefits to those with an ASD diagnosis and will cover many hours of ABA therapy per week. As a result, ABA has become […]
The Child Who Felt Broken
Ari, now 19, shared his story with me. “When I was growing up, no one understood me. During school, I tried to do what was expected of me, but I couldn’t concentrate on the teacher’s lessons. My brain was overwhelmed by the noisy classroom and everything happening around me all at once.” “One time, I […]
My Child Won’t Listen, and Punishing Him Is Making It Worse
Why Punishment Backfires Ethan’s parents were at the end of their rope. “He’s a smart boy and always finds ways to argue and disobey the rules in our house,” they told me. “When we punish him he doesn’t get the message, he just starts acting worse. And when we ignore his misbehavior, he gets away […]
Why Rewarding Good Behavior Isn’t Enough
Parents ask me all the time. “We tried the sticker chart. We tried the prize box. For a week or two it worked, and then it just… stopped. He’s back to where he started, maybe worse, and now he’s figured out how to work the system for the smallest amount of effort possible.” Parents usually […]
Yeshiva Burn Out for Boy with ASD
Question: We have a 19 years old son that was recently diagnosed with ASD. He showed signs of ASD even when he was younger. He was very literal and had an encyclopedic knowledge of animals. Socially, he wasn’t typical and had 2 or 3 friends. When he was in 8th grade, he took learning very […]
Emunah Questions and Anxiety for 14-year-old with ASD
Question: My son is 14 and has a diagnosis of ASD and severe anxiety. The anxiety is being addressed and he is B”h doing well at school. However, he is struggling in his Emunah and is grappling with different questions like: “What’s the point in life if everything is planned and preordained by Hashem?” “Who/What […]