FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM APRIL 15, 2021 • THE QUEENS COURIER 31
health
Mental health tips for parents of preschool kids with autism
BY SHERYL FRISHMAN, JD, LMSW
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
We are in unprecedented times. In addition
to all of the daily worries and struggles,
as parents ofyoung children with
autism, the added diffi culties including the
coronavirus, being stuck at home, all the
uncertainty, our children’s behavior, virtual
learning, and
b a s i -
cally just
trying to
keep our
household in
order can be
e x t r e m e -
ly anxiety
provoki
n g .
Feeling anxious, sad, alone and even helpless
are normal feelings during this diffi -
cult time. Th is is not easy.
Now, for just a moment, I want you to
STOP reading and take a deep breath in
and then breathe out. Please do this several
times. I promise we are going to get
through this!
Here are some mental health tips during
this diffi cult time:
Acceptance
Acceptance is necessary during this
time. Try to accept that we will not
have all the answers for the foreseeable
future. Also try to accept
that you are doing the
best that you can at this
moment. Finally,
try to accept that
this is a really hard.
Acceptance does not
mean that you are
ignoring your feelings.
Instead, it means holding
your feelings and still being able
to move forward.
Limit the fl ow of
activating information
Social media and the news
inundated us with information
prior to the coronavirus.
Now, in particular, the
fl ow of activating information
is everywhere. For those who
have anxiety or are developing
anxiety this constant news
cycle can be overwhelming. Th e
more we have access to this information,
the easier it is to remain
in an activated state, and it can exhaust
our nervous system. I recommend setting
up a scheduled time to check in with
news daily because of course it is wise to
remain informed. However, try to only
check in during your scheduled time. You
may want to set up a buff er, i.e., time away
from activating sources, before bed and
before you attempt to spend quality time
with your family.
Mindfulness
It is a huge buzz word because it works!
Mindfulness does not only mean meditation.
While creating a meditation practice
is a worthy goal, mindfulness can
also be found in smaller, attainable
changes. In this context and during
this diffi cult time mindfulness
refers not to emptying the mind,
but to being present in the moment.
Worrying about the future is not
going to help and only cause more
anxiety and stress. Paying attention
fully to what you are doing in the present
moment with purpose and intention
is something that can really help at
this time. If you fi nd your mind wandering,
that is OK – noticing that IS being
mindful and then gently return you mind
to what you are doing. If you feel yourself
becoming activated there is a short
mindful exercise that I fi nd very helpful –
square breathing. Take a minute and center
yourself by doing this it will be helpful.
Square breathing
1. Close your eyes. Breathe in through
your nose while counting to four slowly.
2. Hold your breath inside while counting
slowly to four. Try not to clamp your
mouth or nose shut.
3. Begin to slowly exhale for 4 seconds.
4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 at least three times
for a total of four.
Special needs resources in New York
14Y Inclusive Youth Classes
14Y’s Inclusive Youth Classes are back
in person to keep your child active and
engaged aft er school and on weekends
this spring! Youth classes, for children
ages 3 to 12, are open to all abilities
including children with disabilities/special
needs or children who need any additional
support. Taught by professional
teaching artists, youth classes give your
child the opportunity to hone their skills
and express their creativity in a focused,
supportive setting.
Current off erings include ballet, soccer,
tennis, watercolor and comic book making,
and are rolling admission and prorated.
Learn more and register today at
14StreetY.org/YouthClasses. Contact Cat
Kenny, manager of School Year Youth
Programs, at CKenny@14streety.org or
call 646-395-4339 for more information.
Atlas Foundation For Autism
Th e Atlas Foundation for Autism houses
the Atlas School as well as speech, OT
services, music, aft er-school classes, and
weekend social skills groups! Atlas is different
in its approach to working within
modalities that address communication,
emotional and social thinking, as well as
behavior and self-esteem!
Camp Huntington
Camp Huntington is a co-ed, residential
program for children and young adults
with special learning and developmental
needs. Th eir summer camp and weekend
camp programs are designed to maximize
a child’s potential by locating and
developing strengths and hidden abilities.
Your child will enjoy the fun-fi lled days
of summer camp while learning practical
social and life skills. Th ey off er a unique
program approach of adaptive therapeutic
recreation, which combines key elements
that encourage progress: structured
programming, nurturing care, a positive
setting and academic instruction to meet
IEP goals. Th eir campus is located in the
beautiful hamlet of High Falls, NY, within
the Catskill Mountain region.
The IDEAL School of Manhattan
Experience Th e IDEAL Diff erence at a
Virtual Open House. Th e IDEAL School
of Manhattan is New York’s only K-12+
independent inclusion school. In their
diverse and nurturing community and
within their robust academic program,
IDEAL students recognize their potential
to eff ect change and are equipped
with the tools to do so. Th ey strive for
excellence in and out of the classroom
and recognize and draw out the potential
for excellence in their peers. Learn
more about their unique program at a
spring virtual open house: Lower School
(K-5), April 8, 9 a.m.;Upper School
(6-12), April 15, 9 a.m.;kindergarten,
April 23, 10 a.m.;Next Steps (postsecondary),
May 7, 10 a.m.
The Keswell School
Th e Keswell School is a specialized private
school off ering an intensive therapeutic
40-hour school week in small classrooms
with a 1:1 student to teacher ratio.
Th e day includes all aspects of learning
from communication and academics to
play, socialization, community and life
skills. Th e school uses a multi-disciplinary
team approach of applied behavior
analysis (ABA), speech therapy and occupational
therapy in which the disciplines
work cooperatively to advance the student’s
ability to communicate, learn and
manage behaviors. Th e school’s goal is to
love their students for who they are while
continuing to push them to achieve their
goals toward independence. For more
information contact Ivy Feldman at ifeldman@
keswellschool.org.
Westchester School
Th e Westchester School is a New York
state approved, non-public school that
provides educational and therapeutic services
to students from New York City,
Westchester County, Long Island and
Connecticut.Th e school views all children,
regardless of functioning level or
handicapping condition, as children
with potential for growth and development.
Historically, educational programming,
particularly for the severely handicapped,
was primarily concerned with
easing the burden of those who cared
for these children. Changes in legal standards
and socio-philosophical perspectives
made this an excessively limited and
limiting approach. Th e rationale for program
and selection of educational objectives
is based upon the developmental
needs of the individual child.
Yellow Bus ABA
Yellow Bus ABA is a therapy group providing
consultation and intervention services
for individuals of all ages who are
diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder
(ASD). Th ey have drawn upon the unique
strengths of their highly experienced team
of behavior specialists to employ scientifi
cally validated teaching methodology,
such as applied behavior analysis (ABA),
to bring quality care and intervention
with lasting results. Yellow Bus ABA off ers
Photo via Getty Images home and center-based care.
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