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empowerbehavioradv_

@empowerbehavioradv_

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📢 Dedicated to providing advocacy services for children on the autism spectrum.

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🗣️liliannguigi570 on TikTok

First, take a deep breath. You are not alone, and it’s okay to feel overwhelmed. An autism diagnosis can bring a mix of emotions—fear, worry, sadness, and even relief for finally having answers. But let’s take it one step at a time.

Here’s what you can do right now:

1️⃣ Give yourself grace.
You don’t need to have all the answers today. This is a journey, not a race. Allow yourself to feel your emotions without guilt.

2️⃣ Educate yourself.
Learn about autism and the strengths and challenges that come with it. Knowledge is empowering, and it will help you advocate for your child.

3️⃣ Find your team.
Seek out professionals—therapists, pediatricians, and educators—who can support your child’s growth. Look for support groups where you can connect with other parents who get it.

4️⃣ Celebrate every step.
Progress may look different, but it’s still progress. Whether your child learns to communicate verbally, with pictures, or through gestures, each milestone is worth celebrating.

5️⃣ Build a safety net.
Start thinking about long-term care options, but don’t let fear of the future consume you. Take it one day at a time while creating plans for peace of mind.

6️⃣ Remember YOU matter too.
You cannot pour from an empty cup. It’s not selfish to seek therapy, take breaks, or ask for help. Your well-being is essential for your child’s well-being.

7️⃣ Believe in possibility.
Will your child make friends? Will they find their voice? The truth is, every child’s journey is unique, and there’s no limit to what they can achieve with love, support, and patience.

You are stronger than you feel right now. You are enough. And your child is not defined by their diagnosis—they are defined by their potential, just like any other child.

👉 Tag someone who needs this reminder or save this post for later.

Need additional support and resources? We are just a DM away. Don’t wait. Contact us today. Together, we can create a brighter future.

You’ve got this. ❤️

#AutismAwareness #AutismParenting #SupportEachOther #AutismAcceptance by @empowerbehavioradv_

Woman Crush Wednesday goes to the amazing Dr. Temple Grandin! From revolutionizing animal welfare to advocating for autism awareness, she’s an inspiration who proves that thinking differently can change the world. Her work has helped so many people and animals alike—she’s a true trailblazer! #WCW #TempleGrandin #Trailblazer by @empowerbehavioradv_

Understanding the difference between big and little problems can be challenging, especially for neurodiverse children. Teaching them how to respond in a way that matches the size of the problem can reduce stress build confidence and emotional intelligence over time. Remember, even small steps make a big difference!

Looking for more resources and support to help your child with emotional regulation? Or know someone who might need it? Send us a DM—we’re here to help!

What tips do you use to help your child with problem-solving? Share below ⬇️

#NeurodiverseKids #BigAndLittleProblems #MindfulParenting #EmotionalRegulation #BigVsLittleProblems #EmotionalGrowth #ParentingTips #ChildDevelopment #PositiveParenting #MentalHealthMatters by @empowerbehavioradv_

Understanding Tactile Stimming and Supporting Our Kids with Compassion

We recently witnessed a mom trying to stop her child from biting her hands, removing them each time the child tried. The back-and-forth struggle was heartbreaking to watch . This is a form of tactile stimming—a natural self-soothing behavior often used to manage sensory needs, calm anxieties, or just feel more in control.

🔍 Why Stopping Without a Replacement Can Be Harmful: When we take away a stim without offering a replacement, it can lead to increased anxiety and even escalate to other behaviors. Instead, understanding why the behavior happens (its function) allows us to find an alternative that provides similar sensory input in a safe way.

💡 Replacement Strategies Are Key: For children who need tactile input, options like textured chewable necklaces, sensory fidgets, or soft fabrics can offer a satisfying and safe alternative. By identifying and respecting the underlying needs, we can replace stimming behaviors in ways that keep our children comfortable and regulated.

🤝 At Empower Behavior Advocates, we’re here to help families find safe, effective ways to meet these sensory needs. With resources and personalized guidance, we can navigate this journey together. We are just a DM away. Remember, we’re all in this together.

#TactileStimming #EmpowerBehaviorAdvocates #RespectNeurodiversity #BehaviorSupport #SensoryAwareness by @empowerbehavioradv_

Trigger Warning: A heartbreaking incident occurred a few days ago where an 8-year-old boy on the autism spectrum tragically drowned after eloping from his home and being found in a lake. This devastating event highlights the urgent need for more awareness and education about autism and the dangers of elopement.

Autistic individuals do not intentionally run off for fun. Elopement is often a response to sensory overload, anxiety, or the need to escape an overwhelming environment. For families with autistic children, keeping them safe is a constant concern.

If you have an autistic child who is prone to eloping, or if you know someone who does, please take the time to educate yourself and others on how to prevent these dangerous situations. Above are some essential safety tips to help protect your child:

Please share this post to spread awareness. Together, we can help prevent these tragedies. If you need more information or know anyone who might benefit from autism safety resources, don’t hesitate to reach out. We are just a DM away.

#AutismAwareness #AutismSafety #ElopementPrevention #ProtectOurKids #AutismCommunity #AutismSupport #SafetyFirst #SpecialNeedsParenting #AutismEducation #SpreadAwareness by @empowerbehavioradv_

Team Member Highlight…

We are delighted to introduce Abbie Omisore. Abbie is a valuable team member at Empower Behavior Advocates. A sophomore at the University of Georgia majoring in Landscape Architecture, Abbie brings her creativity and passion for design to our team. She leads the design of our print media and is responsible for the beautiful PowerPoint layout and design used for our Enhancing Communication project. Abbie also collaborates with her team members on the content and layout for our social media and web pages. We deeply value her dedication and enthusiasm in making a positive impact. Abbie’s contributions are instrumental in helping us achieve our mission. 💙
#teammemberhighlight #empowerment #makingadifference by @empowerbehavioradv_

Team Member Highlight…..
We are delighted to introduce Fibi Omisore. She is a valuable team member at Empower Behavior Advocates. As a junior in high school and a dual enrollment student at Kennesaw State University, Fibi plans to attend the University of Georgia to major in Biology on the pre-dental track. Fibi assists in both web and social media content editing, utilizing her strong writing skills to edit and proofread media print and contribute to content creation. We deeply value her dedication and enthusiasm in making a positive impact. Fibi’s contributions are essential to our team’s success, and her commitment to excellence is truly appreciated. #teammemberhighlight #makingadifference by @empowerbehavioradv_

We held an AAC device parent training session at Patrick Speech and Language Centers. This training was made possible through consultation and collaboration of wonderful speech therapists and board-certified behavior analysts. Parents were informed about the importance of the device, ways their child can communicate using the device and how it can be used in behavior therapy sessions, at home, and in the community. The session also addressed myths surrounding its use. Speech therapists will set up the device to meet each child’s individual needs and will continue working alongside families to help them become more comfortable using the device. We are grateful for the SLP collaboration in sourcing speech apps, as well as in the initial setup and training. The wonderful staff at Patrick Speech did an amazing job setting up the event, and the parents’ engagement and active participation were truly inspiring.

Our AAC devices and parent training were made possible by generous donations and support. However, there’s still much more to be done. Want to make a difference and positively impact the lives of these beautiful individuals and their families? Simply go to @puresoulsautism to sponsor a child or donate directly, or click the link above and make a difference today. 💙 #SupportTheCause #AutismAwareness #MakeADifference #SupportAutism #EmpowerCommunication by @empowerbehavioradv_

Team Member Highlight….

We are delighted to introduce Alycia Shekoni. Alycia is a valuable team member with Empower Behavior Advocates. She is currently a junior at the University of Georgia, majoring in Biology on the pre-med track.

Alycia played a significant role in helping launch our Enhancing Communication project, demonstrating her commitment to making a difference. In addition to her project contributions, she helps manage our social media pages alongside fellow team members. She is captured in the picture explaining a task analysis she created on how to set up the communication board on a communication device.

Alycia’s dedication and enthusiasm make her an important asset to our team, and her efforts are greatly appreciated. #makingadifference #teammemberhighlight by @empowerbehavioradv_

Six months ago, Empower Behavior Advocates launched a project “Enhancing Communication: Introducing Communication Devices to Children on the Spectrum” to give each child a voice after observing that non-speaking individuals in Lagos, Nigeria on the spectrum could only communicate through gestures. To address this and determined to make a difference, they raised funds to acquire iPads, believing that everyone deserves a means to communicate. This initiative aimed to provide these children with a more effective means of expressing themselves and enhancing their ability to interact with others.

Patrick Speech was chosen after extensive and thorough research among therapy clinics in Lagos. Mrs. Akande’s care and compassion for the children and their families were evident not only through her conversations but also through her impressively noticeable actions. She is a true advocate for individuals on the spectrum.

It genuinely felt surreal to set up devices at the center and see our project come to fruition, making a difference in the lives of the children and their families. To our sponsors and supporters who showed up, we are deeply grateful. For those wishing to support or donate towards this cause, please contact @patrickspeech or @puresoulsautism directly—they would greatly benefit from having protective cases for their devices.

Here’s to many more wonderful future projects together, making a difference in the lives of these beautiful and unique individuals. 💙
#MakingADifference #SupportTheCause #Empowerment #AutismAwareness #AAC #communicationdevice #givethemavoice #everyonedeservesavoice by @empowerbehavioradv_

This message stems from viewing a video earlier today involving a young boy displaying boundary issues with a stranger at an indoor trampoline park in Nigeria. While some comments suggested he might be autistic, many others expressed alternative views that we’ve chosen not to disclose publicly. Accusations were made against his caregivers for allegedly leaving him unsupervised. Numerous commenters pointed fingers at the parents. These reactions highlight the urgent need for greater awareness and education. It’s evident that we must expand our outreach efforts. It appears that only those directly impacted by autism are truly aware or demonstrate understanding.
Please lets strive to show empathy in situations like this and not be too quick to judge when we see young children engaging in behaviors we are not used to. Together we can do better.
We want to extend a special acknowledgment to @patrickspeech , as well as @cradlelounge for their unwavering dedication to promoting autism awareness and for being invaluable resources within the special needs community in Lagos, Nigeria. We see you doing great things in the autism community. #autismawareness #speacialneedsfamily #autismadvocates #empowerbehavior #autismacceptance #autismnigeria #spreadawareness❤️ #differentnotless

Disclaimer- we are not saying the young boy is on the spectrum since we have no evidence of a diagnosis. Traits observed in the video are those listed in the post. We are sharing information and awareness so understanding can be shown if you ever observe a similar situation. by @empowerbehavioradv_

Autistic meltdowns can be overwhelming, but with understanding and support, we can navigate them together! Here are some tips to help handle autistic meltdowns:

🌟Stay Calm: Remain calm and composed to provide a sense of stability and safety for the individual experiencing the meltdown.

🌟Provide Space: Respect the person's need for space and avoid crowding or overwhelming them further. Offer a quiet, safe environment where they can decompress.

⭐Use Clear Communication: Offer simple, clear instructions or reassurances, avoiding complex language or demands.

🌟Identify Triggers: Pay attention to potential triggers and try to identify patterns or triggers leading to the meltdown. Understanding triggers can help prevent future meltdowns.

🌟Offer Comfort: Offer comfort and support in a non-intrusive way, such as providing a favorite object or offering a gentle touch if welcomed.

🌟Validate Feelings: Acknowledge the person's feelings and validate their experience, letting them know it's okay to feel overwhelmed.

🌟Practice Self-Care: Take care of yourself too! Managing meltdowns can be draining, so prioritize self-care to recharge and stay resilient.

Remember, each individual is unique, and what works for one person may not work for another. Patience, empathy, and understanding are key in supporting someone through an autistic meltdown. Together, we can create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all!

Are you a parent, family member, educator, or an educational institution seeking guidance in understanding and addressing autistic meltdowns?

Schedule a complimentary consultation with us today. Visit our website through the link in our bio or send us a direct message. We're committed to providing support and empowerment for individuals on the autism spectrum.💙
#AutismAwareness #AutisticMeltdowns #Support #Inclusion #Understanding #SpecialNeedsSupportNigeria #BehaviorAdvocatesNigeria #EmpoweringBehaviors #SpecialNeedsParentNigeria #UnderstandingAutisticMeltdowns by @empowerbehavioradv_