Confusion because of (seemingly) overlapping characteristics In recent years, the sensory issues in autism, in particular the hyperreactivity to stimuli, have been in the spotlights. So much, that other elements defining autism are at risk of being ignored or overlooked. Autism has not changed, but its popular interpretation has: many people now see autism as…
This month I had the pleasure and the honour to give a keynote at two European congresses. I talked about self-compassion in autism at the 14th Autism Europe Congress in Dublin, together with Wenn Lawson from Australia. Self-compassion is linked to mental health and well-being. Well-being of autistic individuals (and other neurodivergent people) has been…
Neurodiversity: if you haven’t heard or read the word, you may have been on another planet for the past five years. The term is in, and those who want to be trendy are using the term liberally. The term has rapidly gained popularity in a short period of time and, especially in the world of…
Kan je aan emotieregulatie werken bij kinderen en jongeren met een zwakke interoceptie? Sara, een creatieve en productieve H.A.P.P.Y.®-coach werkt in haar klas buitengewoon onderwijs voor kinderen met autisme niet alleen rond H.A.P.P.Y.® maar ook rond sociaal denken en rond interoceptie. Van collega’s uit het onderwijs krijgt ze vaak vragen, vooral over haar lessen en…
Yesterday (Oct 23, 2022) I had the pleasure to participate in a panel discussion with Prof. Brenda Smith Myles, Debra Moore and Temple Grandin (at the Autism Cork 2022 online conference). Temple emphasized the importance of ‘exposure‘: introduce children with autism from an early age to as many things as possible that expand their knowledge…
Recently I have given a number of lectures and workshops on dealing with (extreme) challenging behaviour in children, young people and adults with autism (and intellectual disabilities). One of the things that struck me (once again) is how emotionally teachers, caretakers and parents become with those behaviours. And that is very understandable and human. Challenging…
In a couple of days we will all wish each other a happy New Year. And many people with autism will also receive that wish. But what if we turn that wish into concrete actions that can really make a difference in the happiness of people with autism? In the last weeks before New Year…
Next week we will all wish each other a happy New Year. And many people with autism will also receive that wish. But what if we turn that wish into concrete actions that can really make a difference in the happiness of people with autism? In the last weeks before New Year I post 10…
In two weeks we will all wish each other a happy New Year. And many people with autism will also receive that wish. But what if we turn that wish into concrete actions that can really make a difference in the happiness of people with autism? In the last weeks before New Year I post…
In two weeks we will all wish each other a happy New Year. And many people with autism will also receive that wish. But what if we turn that wish into concrete actions that can really make a difference in the happiness of people with autism? In the last weeks before New Year I post…
