Fraser Blog

More people are now aware of autism. That means more parents recognize signs of autism, and more teachers and healthcare providers know how to support people with autism. It also means more businesses and organizations are working to become sensory-friendly to support people on the autism spectrum. As autism awareness has increased, so have actor depictions of people with autism in TV and film. While many of these are well done and thoughtful, others portray stereotypes of autism with harmful “treatment” practices and one-dimensional characters. Here are 4 movies and TV shows that get much about the autism experience wrong. 

Ryan Lee has worked a variety of jobs, from security guard to selling frozen food, while moving back and forth across the country. He has encountered genuine and kind people, but he’s also met others who tried to take advantage of him. Ryan has autism, and like many other people with autism, he is very honest and assumes that when someone says something, they mean exactly what they say. For Ryan, manipulation has taken different forms over the years. Here are 5 tips to help people avoid financial manipulation. 

Trauma is much more common among children than you may think. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “More than two-thirds of children reported at least 1 traumatic event by age 16.” That may seem unbelievable, but trauma isn’t just witnessing gun violence or being abused.  The National Child Traumatic Stress Network states, “A traumatic event is a frightening, dangerous, or violent event that poses a threat to a child’s life or bodily integrity.”

Hearing your child say their first words is an important milestone for both parent and child. According to the CDC, by age 2, most children can say “at least two words together, like ‘More milk.’” At 30 months, children typically have a vocabulary of about 50 words which include a variety of people, objects, actions and connection words. If your child isn’t hitting those milestones, you may be worried your child has a speech delay. But a speech delay doesn’t necessarily mean your child will never speak, or learn to communicate. Here are some tips to support children with a speech delay from Fraser speech-language pathologists. 

As a person with cerebral palsy, I was never taught about disability history in school. The most I got was a short paragraph in a textbook about the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It wasn’t a lot, but it was enough to inspire in me a passion for disability justice, working against both systematic and interpersonal ableism. The disability rights movement is a key part of American history, and everyone should know disability history. To get you started, here are 4 important things about the disability rights movement

When you hear the term assistive technology, you might picture a speech-generating device or an electric wheelchair. But not all assistive technology has a microchip. Everyone has encountered a wheelchair ramp. You’re also likely familiar with braille and grab bars in restrooms. According to Closing the Gap, “Assistive technology is any accommodation provided that compensates a cognitive or physical deficit for people with disabilities by providing equal access to information, tasks or activities.” Here are a few assistive technology devices that can make day-to-day living easier for people with disabilities.

Few things are more restorative than a good night’s sleep. Sleeping well makes you feel refreshed, less stressed and gives you a clearer head throughout the day. The flip side, of course, is not getting enough sleep or having insomnia. This leaves you feeling drained, edgy and more likely to make mistakes. You may be wondering if a vitamin can really help you sleep better. Here’s what you need to know about some vitamins and supplements recommended as sleep solutions.

Feeling anger is a normal part of the human experience. You might get mad when you disagree with your partner or are cut off in traffic. You may also feel upset when you see someone treated unfairly. Not all anger is bad. However, frequent anger can be potentially harmful to your body. Here are a few ideas to help you manage your anger.

Loss is a part of life, but it doesn’t make it any less painful. At some point, everyone loses someone they love, whether a parent, friend, partner or pet. Even the loss of a celebrity you admire can cause grief. Art-making is one way to help you process grief. Here’s what you need to know. 

Stuttering has received more attention in recent years. President Joe Biden has often talked about how he stuttered as a child and the cruelty he faced because of it. Many of us have encountered friends, family, neighbors or coworkers who stutter. The Stuttering Foundation states, “In the United States, that's over 3 million Americans who stutter.” But there are many myths about stuttering. Here are 5 things you might not know about stuttering.