If you're like me, you've heard the term "self-advocacy" used frequently within schools, healthcare settings, and community agencies. What does this mean, and how does the focus impact those on the autism spectrum?

What is Self-Advocacy?

Selfadvocatenet.com defines self-advocacy as "the ability to speak up for yourself and the things that are important to you. Self-advocacy means you are able to ask for what you need and want and tell people about your thoughts and feelings... The goal of self-advocacy is for YOU to decide what you want then develop and carry out a plan to help you get it."

3 Reasons Why Autistics May Struggle With the Demands of Self-Advocacy

Autism and School Non-attendance

Various terms have been used to describe the frequent absences from school due to anxiety or feeling overwhelmed: e.g., school refusal, problematic absenteeism, or school avoidance. Students who miss 10% or more of school are described as having "persistent non-attendance/absence" or "problematic non-attendance." The rate of school non-attendance is notably higher for students on the autism spectrum compared with neurotypical students.

What is the rate of school absence/avoidance for autistic students?

•     Autistic students in mainstream education (no intellectual disability) had a higher rate of school refusal behavior than the general student body in Norway (43% of autistic students versus 7%) [Munkhaugen 2017]. Interestingly, parents of these autistic students noted higher levels of "school refusal behavior" (53%) than that reflected in the actual absence rate.

•     The most common reason for school absence for the autistic student is school refusal. [Adams, 2022; Totsika, 2020]

The School Year: Tips for Success for the Autistic Student

Return to school is a great time to teach students about balancing their life schedule based on what their nervous system needs. Here are three of my most common recommendations for the autistic student.

1. Create a Balanced Schedule

Many students feel pressure to take on advanced classes, extracurriculars, and maintain a packed schedule. However, for autistic students, managing a heavy academic load can quickly become overwhelming. It’s essential that they learn to to balance the demands of school with their mental and emotional needs.

• Consider Regular Classes Instead of Honors: Honors or advanced placement courses might seem like the path to academic success, but they often come with increased expectations and workload. For autistic students, the stress from these classes may outweigh the benefits. Standard courses may offer a more manageable pace, allowing them to focus on learning without the added…

Exciting Updates to the Parenting Offerings!

I’ve listened to your feedback and made some changes to improve the website offerings related to the parenting group and Empowered Parenting course!

- Parenting Group: This group is now completely free! I want to make it as accessible as possible to everyone, so please feel free to join and benefit from the shared insights and support.

-Empowered Parenting Course: This course is now listed separately under the "Learning" tab in the main menu for easier access. Based on your feedback, I’ve discontinued the group Zoom option. However, we’re offering something new: Anyone who has purchased the course can now schedule a free 15-minute session with Dr. Regan to ask follow-up questions about the course content.

- For Existing Participants: There's no need to worry if you’ve already purchased the course. You’ve been automatically added to the course roster and won’t need to pay…