1. The School District Does not have to evaluate your child just because you submit a signed request to evaluate. When you submit a written and signed request for an evaluation, the school district has 15 days to meet as a team, discuss your child’s educational needs, and provide a written response with indication of […]

We are delighted to announce: Apple Tree Institute AppleTreeInstitute.com is an Online Training program offering videos and webinars to help parents of children with autism and/or with behavioral problems. Our goal is to make the site as helpful, user-friendlyand cost-effective as possible. We would be indebted if you would view the Web site at AppleTreeInstitute.com, […]

Pathologizing? There is wide-spread belief that children are over-diagnosed and over-prescribed, which implies that some kids are ‘just being kids’ and we’re pathologizing them, i.e. giving them a diagnosis, counseling, and medication when we should, rather, be sensitive and accommodating to the wide-spectrum in children’s activity-level and ability to attend. Is this an accurate perspective? […]

Without further ado, here they are: 1. ASSUME CONTROL Control based in Action/Relationship Don’t entertain explanations Project self-confidence Business-like Give direction, don’t make requests 2. AVOID ARGUMENTS AND EMOTION Cut-off communication if child becomes belligerent Avoid reasoning with child Give direction and walk away Communicate: It’s your problem, not mine 1-2-3 Magic 3. PLAN FOR […]

Two years ago I wrote about the problems we face trusting research findings. To bring you up-to-date, here is my follow-up post. Unfortunately, the situation isn't much improved. The information, or misinformation, we face daily You may have read the recent study out of Warwick Medical School in the UK suggesting that kids from families […]

To tell or not to tell I am often asked by parents whether or not they should tell their child the diagnosis? It’s a good question, and of course the answer is somewhat complex. Focus on symptoms, not the diagnosis I find that it’s rarely beneficial to place a ‘label’ on the symptoms, and subsequently […]

Which Wolf are you Feeding? I don't usually post stories such as this, but this one is too good not to share: One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside all people. He said, “My son, the battle is between two ‘wolves’ inside us all." “One is Evil. […]

The Study A study funded by the John Templeton Foundation and carried-out at The University of Akron, Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) and Baylor University found that teens with substance abuse issues had significantly better outcomes to the extent they had a foundation of spiritual beliefs. In fact... Spiritual belief resulted in overall better outcomes […]

As parents, we expect kids to follow directions when told to do so; and often we have expectation that the response will be immediate. Much to our despair, it’s not, and likely shall never be. That’s the important point; kids are not automatons (or at least mine aren’t – I suspect yours aren’t either). I […]

The discipline trap How beneficial is time-out, taking away the TV, or ‘grounding’ a child from going outside? Of course, as most parents have come to find, all of these discipline strategies can be effective. However, what happens if you rely too heavily on these strategies? Well, first, your household can become like a gulag; […]