Guest post by Autism Home Support Services

Guest Post by Dr. Greg Grillo of Dentably.com

Dental issues are something that most people experience at some point in their life. A lot of these issues can be prevented by practicing good dental hygiene. However, because of sensory issues, oral health for patients with autism can be difficult. I’ve been practicing family dentistry for 17 years and my staff and I personally work closely with patients and their needs. Each person is different, and we like to accommodate their specific needs the best we can. I like to make families aware of some of the common dental issues that occur in patients with autism so they can work to treat or prevent them.
 
1. Early or late tooth decay
 
Tooth decay is a common dental issue that can happen to anyone. It’s caused by acidic damage to the tooth structure produced by bacteria that live in plaque and causes tooth pain. In patients with autism, some have difficulties communicating their pain which may make it harder to discover that tooth decay is happening. By finding a special needs dentist and making regular visits, tooth decay should be easily avoided and treated.
 
There are many resources available to find an amazing special needs dentist. Your primary health care provider may have recommendations on dentists that specialize in working with patients with autism. Ask anyone you know with children or family members that are autistic. They may have some great recommendations for dental care. Going online is also a great way to find the right dentist. The American Dental Association is a great resource because it allows you to search for dentists by location and specialty.
 
2. Gingival overgrowth
 
Patients with autism may suffer from Gingival overgrowth. This condition is an abnormal overgrowth of the gingival tissues. Gums affected by this are often tender, soft, red, and bleed easily. Effective oral hygiene practices such as tooth brushing and flossing can sometimes help with this condition.
 
Having a great toothbrush can make having a dental care routine easier. A brush with soft, natural bristles may help with any sensitivity one feels when brushing their teeth. Sometimes an electric toothbrush with soft vibrations can have a calming effect when brushing teeth. Try out a few and decide which works best.
 
3. Severe, early periodontal gum disease
 
Periodontal gum disease damages the soft tissue and destroys the bone that supports your teeth. It’s a common oral condition that can be preventable with proper care. You may notice symptoms such as sensitive, swollen or puffy gums and loose teeth.
 
For those with autism who suffer from periodontal gum disease, it’s essential that they brush twice a day, floss, and visit a dentist regularly. This can improve their chance of successful treatment. Building a dental care routine can be difficult, especially if there are any anxieties surrounding it. However, it’s important not to give up. Figure out how to make it more enjoyable and stay persistent. Soon enough, a dental care routine should feel like second nature.
 
4. Constant teeth grinding, or “bruxism”
 
Constant teeth grinding, or bruxism, especially over a long period of time, can put patients with autism at risk for even greater dental issues such as jaw pain and worn-down teeth. It may be difficult to break this habit, especially if the habit is anxiety related. Being patient and trying to break the habit is the best way to avoid any further damage. You may benefit from finding a distraction such as oral fidgets or other sensory toys to help lessen teeth grinding habits.
 
5. Pits, discoloration, lines, or other developmental defects in teeth
 
Pits, discoloration, lines, and other developmental defects are common in individuals with autism. A pit is a small depression on the surface of the tooth mostly found on the teeth in the back of the mouth. The discoloration is yellowing or browning of the tooth. Lines are tiny fractures in the enamel that cause vertical lines on the teeth.
 
These conditions are usually genetic, so preventing them is difficult. Luckily, there may be options for treatment. A simple teeth whitening can help lessen many of these conditions, but composite resin or porcelain veneers can also be used. The process for getting resin or veneers is usually a lot longer than standard teeth whitening. Discuss treatments with your dentist to find what will be best.
 
Most people experience a dental issue at some point in their life. For patients with autism, it may be more difficult to resolve oral related conditions. Becoming comfortable with basic dental care and developing a good relationship with a special needs dentist can help to deal with any issues that you may face. The most important thing to remember is how essential it is to instill good dental hygiene practices from a young age for a healthy mouth for life. 

by Lonnie Pacelli

My fiction book, The Lawless One and the End of Time, has four main characters who meet at age 14 in Naples, Italy and all grow into globally-recognized figures. One of the characters, Bert Winn, was fascinated with history. He loved the concreteness of historical facts; they either happened or they didn’t. He met and fell in love with Laura, a math major he met in college. He graduated college with a Ph.D. in history and became an acclaimed professor. Bert and Laura married and had a son they named JT. The Winn family became internet celebrities and millions of people subscribed to their online video blog. Subscribers loved to hear their messages of fact, inspiration, and challenge. Their message? An unvarnished, inspirational view of life with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Bert started showing signs of autism at eighteen months with speech delay, difficulty maintaining eye contact, and a dislike for being cuddled. As Bert grew, he and his mother developed strategies for how to accommodate some of Bert’s sensitivities, such as a “beach ball kiss,” in which an imaginary beach ball filled space between them when they kissed hello and goodbye. Laura too had sensory issues, particularly with clothing fabrics. The two of them learned to cope with their sensitivities through the years, so they became normal for them. It also felt normal for their son, JT, to be on the autism spectrum. They didn’t view themselves as people to be pitied, but used the opportunity to help others understand the world of autism and how people on the spectrum could thrive just like anyone. Their story educated and inspired millions and gave those affected by autism hope.

The story of Bert, Laura, and JT were heavily influenced by my wife Patty’s and my experience raising our son Trevor. He was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at age five (the clinical diagnosis was Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified or PDD-NOS) back in 1998. At the time, autism wasn’t well known and our only exposure to it was Dustin Hoffman’s character in Rainman. We had no idea what the future had in store for us as a family. Would he ever graduate high school? Would he drive? Would he have relationships? Through the years Trevor amazed us with what he was able to do and how he learned to cope with his autism. Today he is a college graduate who lives on his own, drives, works, and has an active social life. Yes, he has challenges that will be with him for the rest of his life. But we learned an important lesson with Trevor; the moment we underestimated him he proved us wrong.

You may have your own perceptions of people with disabilities, whether it be physical (paralysis), cognitive (autism), present at birth (Down Syndrome) or related to an injury (amputation due to an accident). Your perceptions may be due to personal experience, observing a friend or loved one, or what you see in the media. Your perceptions may be inclusive or biased. Only you can decide.

So, what’s your action? Educate yourself. Disability:IN, American Association of People with Disabilities,  Special Books by Special Kids, Autism Speaks, Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Disability and Health Overview, and Northwest Center are some great resources to help you better understand people with disabilities. Do your own web searches, just make sure the information you’re taking in is from credible sources.

Take the time to learn more about disabilities and focus less on the “dis” and more on “abilities.” Oh, and if you want to learn more about Bert, Laura and JT’s story, check out The Lawless One and the End of Time.

by Lonnie Pacelli

Recently our son Trevor published a blog post entitled Every Oscar Winner for Best Picture, Ranked Worst to Best. In this post, he ranks, from 90 to one, each and every Oscar winner since Wings won the very first Oscar in 1928. Each winner is listed by the movie name, year it won, a picture from the movie, and a review summary. It took him three years to watch, review and rank the movies, which he did in addition to living a full work and social life. The ranking list, whether you agree with where they fall or not, is not only a fun read but is a major achievement for Trevor.

A bit more on Trevor. He was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at age five (the clinical diagnosis was Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified or PDD-NOS). He has always been high-functioning with some social and communication challenges that typically accompany someone like him. Today he is 26, has a bachelor’s degree in Film & Media Studies from Arizona State University, lives on his own, has a job, and supports himself. He will have some challenges for the rest of his life, but as he gets older, he has become much more self-aware of his strengths and challenges. My wife Patty and I are incredibly proud of him.

As I was reading through his movie rankings, something much deeper than movie reviews emerged for me. What struck me was the number of Trevor’s strengths that give him the ability to review, rank, and communicate the 90 movies, as follows:

• Candor – The reviews are clear, concise and direct.
• Quantitative Analysis – Each of the 90 movies are graded using 37 data points in five categories. He goes well beyond “loved it/hated it” by quantitatively scoring each movie. He developed the rating process a couple of years ago and has been using and adapting it since then.
• Courage – He expresses his point of view fully knowing that some will agree, and others will disagree.
• Exec-speak – He summarizes each review in a 3-5 sentence digestible summary for those who want the “Cliff Notes” rather than a complete analysis.
• Credibility – He uses facts and data to support his positions.
• Awareness of Societal Issues – In many of his summaries he points out behaviors and attitudes which may have been acceptable over time but in today’s world are unacceptable.
• Tenacity – Three years ago he established an ambitious goal and stuck to it. Many would have given up.
• Passion for Quality – When Trevor started this endeavor three years ago, he didn’t have a grading scale. He developed and modified his grading scale and subsequently re-graded and re-ranked the movies as his grading scale matured.

 
Look at the above strengths. Most any leader would love to see a list of strengths like that in an employee. Couple these with subject matter training and you’ve got a vibrant, contributing member of the workforce.

Another great example of unearthing strengths is the Israeli Defense Force (IDF). The IDF uses soldiers on the autism spectrum to scan visual materials from satellites and air sensors to identify minute troop changes. They found that soldiers on the spectrum can better focus and get less fatigued than their neurotypical counterparts. It’s a strength that fills an important security need.

Take the initiative to understand how people with disabilities can contribute to your organization by doing the following:

1. Look at actions – In Trevor’s case, his move reviews and ranking process is something he is passionate about and undertook on his own fueled by his own passion.
2. Decompose actions to core strengths – For each action, dig deeper and understand what strengths enable them. It’s not particularly difficult to do, it just takes some time to observe and ask, “What is it that drives this action?”
3. Align the core strengths to needs in your organization – Just as with the IDF, soldiers with autism are serving in areas where they can be more effective than their neurotypical counterparts because someone took the time to understand how focus and attention to detail could be used to help national security.

 
According to Accenture’s research report Getting to Equal: The Disability Inclusion Advantage, there are 15 million Americans of working age living with a disability and only 29% of those participate in the workforce. It’s your responsibility as leaders to look at the strengths that exist in this vastly untapped pool and align them to the needs in your organization. Oh, and back to Trevor’s Oscar rankings, want to know what’s number 90 and number one? You’ll have to look for yourself 😊.

Gregory’s story began when he was 3 years old and still not aware of what life would bring. He was diagnosed with a form of autism, which changed the life of his family. The final diagnosis for Gregory was that he would never be able to speak normally, go to school, or have regular daily activities. However, his family never gave up and today Gregory has a successful woodworking business.

After many battles with through medical institutions, schools, and life in general, one day Gregory found a new interest – woodworking. He met his grandma’s neighbor, Patsy, an experienced woodworker who loved it very much. They agreed to start woodworking lessons and this is how Gregory became a part of woodworking world.
 
The lessons started slowly and modestly, with simple pieces, then the work transformed into manufacture and production. Gregory now has his own workshop, and created a website and Facebook page to promote his woodworking pieces. He began selling online, so after some time, his pieces became popular across Texas.  Wood became his passion and also a way to keep his life in shape and not to be afraid for the future.

The pieces Gregory works on vary from intricate designs on crosses to unique designs on Texas Mesquite, but also custom pieces for special purposes. Each day starts in the workshop and ends with at least one new piece. Gregory’s precision makes each work of art unique and beautiful.

Gregory’s mother, Michelle, is thankful for his success and says, "It has helped his self-confidence and self-esteem and it gives him a purpose, which he has always wanted. He is happier, has less anxiety and worries less about what he is going to do with his life. He also keeps his mind and body in shape."

Her words summarize Gregory's story. She believes that no matter about the condition or situation, the will and passion can make stones crack and mountains move. Gregory and Michelle hope to inspire anyone with any condition to be whatever they want to be. See the full interview with Gregory and Michelle.
​

​Guest Blog by Tracey Cohen. Originally published on The Art of Autism

“For as long as I can remember, my greatest loves, which is when I am most at peace, are running, especially outdoors, helping others and just giving back to our world if even in the smallest of ways. It was during my service as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer in 2003 that I ‘fell’ into writing, a process that partially occurs during my run. My effort to bring more awareness to the needs of the developing country I served has progressed in ways I never dreamed, including two books, numerous articles and frequent speaking opportunities all of which allow me to help and connect with others in ways never deemed possible. Fueled by the courage I muster on my run, it is my honor and privilege to inspire, educate and entertain in the challenging world we live.” – Tracey Cohen Six-Word Lessons on Female Asperger Syndrome and Six-Word Lessons on the Sport of Running

Guest blog by Ashley Taylor of DisabledParents.org

Parents with autism spectrum disorder face so many challenges. They may have to overcome their sensory overstimulation in order to keep up with household chores or their children. People they encounter might place the burden of stigma on the parent as they misunderstand autism disorder. However, many parents find that their autism actually has some benefits. They have insight and are more empathetic toward their children when they struggle with emotions. Or they find that while they are caring for their kids they are able to “hyperfocus” on the little ones. The point is, parents with autism have struggles and strengths just like any other parent.
 
To make life easier, many parents with autism spectrum disorder find that modifying the home in certain ways makes it easier to move around and get things done.
 
Replace the Floors - If you have carpets, replacing them with hardwood, tile or concrete is a safe bet. Not only are they easier to keep clean, but they also reduce the risk of slips and falls for both children and parents. They are also less likely to sustain damage from unruly kids because they are strong and durable. Finally, hard surface floors contribute to better indoor air quality, which means less irritating allergens and triggering odors for parents with sensory processing issues.  
 
Install Smart Lighting - Parents with autism may have a lighting system that fits their needs now, but those needs may change with kids. Smart lighting systems have many benefits for homeowners. They allow you to turn lights on and off remotely, which can save money on electricity when you forget to turn the lamp off before heading out the door. They can also make your home more secure as lights going on and off are a clear indicator to burglars that the house is occupied and therefore shouldn’t be targeted.
 
Smart light bulbs also tend to live longer, which is better for the environment. But for parents with sensory issues, smart lighting means so much more than saving money on electricity and light bulbs -- it gives these parents control over the visual stimuli within their environment. Smart lighting systems make it easy to go from natural light to sensory mood lighting that calms and soothes.
 
Make Bathrooms Safer - The bathroom is the most dangerous room in the house. The high humidity and slick surfaces are perfect for slips and falls. It’s easy to forget about the water temperature and end up scalding yourself. Furthermore, getting up and down to bathe or use the toilet becomes more and more difficult as we age. To make the bathroom safer for kids and adults alike:
 

• Install grab bars by the tub and toilet. Grab bars are easy to install yourself and come in various shapes and sizes. Screw grab bars directly into a wall stud and never use towel bars in place of models designed to hold your full weight.
  Consider upgrading to a walk-in tub that has an easy access door and a bench for sitting.
• Clearly label water faucets for hot and cold and install an anti-scald valve for the shower.

 
Parents with autism face many struggles, but their disorder can also give them special insight that helps them raise healthy and happy children. To make life simpler, it helps to modify the home in certain ways to create a safe and comforting atmosphere. Hard surface floors are safer and easier to maintain, but they also keep the indoor air quality purer for less irritation. Smart lighting systems are an investment, but they save money and make it easier to create sensory mood lighting. Finally, the bathroom is the most dangerous room in the house. Adding grab bars, a walk-in tub, and anti-scald valves can keep bathtime fun and safe. 

Ashley Taylor, DisabledParents.org

Guest Blog by Caryl Anne Crowne of Aveanna Healthcare

​Learning that your child is autistic can be a blessing. Answers to behavioral issues are finally apparent and steps that need to be taken are revealed. However, this is just the beginning of a long road to travel, not just for parents, but for siblings. Understanding this condition and how it should be managed affects an entire family. 

Age Adjustments
Children have a limited ability to understand actions that are not similar to theirs. The age of a sibling should be taken into consideration instead of grouping different ages together. Single out the age categories and take it slow. According to Jean Piaget, developmental psychologist, there are 4 stages of cognitive development according to age. Below we will look at three of these stages and how to handle the conversations by age.

Children under the age of 7 are unable to process certain information due to inability of in-depth logical thinking. Using examples of their experiences works best in sharing why their brother or sister is different. Stress that it is no one’s fault, that there is nothing to fear and that they may not be able to talk to you right away.

Ages 7 to 11 are when logic begins to emerge as a form of thought process. Experiences are still stubbornly linked in their minds so using a combination of experiences and logic should be used. Watch carefully to their reactions to know which way is the most acceptable. Explain that their autistic brother or sister has to try very hard to learn, but they can help by showing them things and playing with them. However, your child should know that their autistic sibling is not their responsibility. Always get mom or dad if they become aggressive.

Kids over the age of 12 are inclined to think like adults and do not have to have a previous experience to grasp knowledge. They will be more inclined to understand events of their autistic brother or sister when the facts are explained. You can go into more detail with this age group by explaining that autism is a problem in the brain that happens before birth. Stress that other people may not understand, but you can help to provide answers.

Stress Around Friends
Emotions can run high with siblings of an autistic family member. Begin teaching your children early that others with no experience may never completely understand and that is okay. Encourage siblings to share any embarrassing moments and how to handle these moments. 

Forming Family Relationships
Autistic children require a lot of special care. The other children may see this as special treatment and get disgruntled. Your explanation of providing extra time may not be accepted at first, but including everyone as a family will soon change that. Also plan time with each one of your children to let them know that they are valued by you. 

Acceptance of an autistic sibling into a family takes time and patience. By reinforcing their condition time and time again, autism can be physically and emotionally welcomed by siblings. Communication is key in bringing the right attitude to siblings in regard to an autistic child. It is not unusual for parents to feel responsible for adding this burden onto siblings. When a sibling reaches the age of reasoning, share your thoughts and praise them for the amount of help that they have offered. Autism is an issue for the entire family to share.
  
Author Bio:
Caryl Anne Crowne is a media specialist and contributing author for the Aveanna Healthcare Blog. She regularly produces content for a variety of pediatric therapy blogs covering topics such as autism, speech therapy and general medical solutions.