73: Helping Children with Autism and other Social Communication Challenges

In this episode, Sarah Wayland shares with us a bit about the developing brain and the differing aspects of those with an autism spectrum disorder.   She shares personal stories about the importance of the child relationship and how fluctuations in the parents' emotional regulation can effect the child.   Sarah discusses how children with an autism spectrum disorder often struggle with social situations and how we can support them through parent consultation and working directly with the child themselves. Sarah Wayland is a certified RDI™ Consultant, parent coach, and Special Needs Care Navigator at the company she founded, Guiding Exceptional Parents. She helps parents of children with ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, and other brain-based differences learn how to confidently and effectively help their children at home, at school, and in the community. As an RDI™ consultant, Dr. Wayland works with parents of kids who have trouble connecting with others to show them how to teach their children the essential skills that make relationships work. By learning about everyone in the family and collaborating with them, she helps families develop customized strategies that work. Dr. Wayland got her B.A. from Rice University, her Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from Brandeis University, and had two postdoctoral fellowships - one at Northeastern University and another at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She has worked as a software designer, and as a researcher, but her most valuable training came from parenting her two boys, both exceptional. You can learn more at www.guidingexceptionalparents.com.