Blog

How We Learn

There’s a home movie of me as a 3-year-old making an enormous fuss out of putting my rollerskates away. In the video, I yell about how much I hate rollerskates, refuse to put them away, run to my room, slam the door, and yell at my mom when she opens……
5 ABA Parent Participation Success Factors

At its heart, behavior therapy is a family therapy – it requires parents to learn new parenting methods (like how to set up the house for safety, use less punishment, minimize exposure to unnecessary triggers, how to have successful outings, reduce dependence on screens, increase communication and understanding, and more).……
Sensory Tigger

Some children need more or less sensory input than others. Hyperactivity cannot be suppressed, only expended, and punishing children for being unable to sit still will not work. Find safe alternatives and join in! Read More about Sensory Tigger
Water Is Wet

So, a few days ago, my mother approached me with an article she found interesting: https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2023/07/19/teen-suicide-plummeted-during-covid-19-school-closures-new-study-finds/?sh=1050137fdd9b. Published on July 19th, 2023, the Forbes article reports the findings of a 2016-2021 study on the rate of suicidality. Now, because I am terrible at writing coherent summaries when I actually want to,……
Bridging the Gap: Increasing Access to Behavioral Healthcare Services in Low-Income Communities

Access to behavioral healthcare services is crucial for individuals and communities to thrive. Mental health plays a significant role in our overall well-being, and yet many individuals in low-income communities face barriers when trying to access the care they need. Understanding the challenges in low-income communities Low-income communities often face……
Applied Behavior Analysis: Exploring The Benefits, Drawbacks, and Applications

What is Applied Behavior Analysis? Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a highly effective approach to improving the lives of individuals with autism and other developmental disorders. Using evidence-based techniques, ABA focuses on understanding and modifying behavior to promote positive outcomes. By breaking down complex skills into smaller, manageable steps, ABA……
Am I Chinese Enough?

I have always felt embarrassed whenever I speak Chinese. Whenever I have to order food in a Chinese-speaking place, my throat closes and I get tunnel vision. Even when I do manage to speak, I’m acutely aware of how much I stutter when I speak Chinese or how often I……
How To Make ABA Work For Your Family

There’s no cure for autism – and there is no need to cure autism. While therapies can bolster skills needed to navigate successfully in the world, they are not magic wands, and it’s crucial for parents enrolling their child in therapies to understand that their child will not “outgrow” autism,……
Who We Are

Our emotional wellness influences every aspect of our lives. It also affects our families, friends, communities, and employers. Behavioral and mental health is connected to educational outcomes, productivity, crime and life expectancy. Building their own and each others’ emotional wellness is in everyone’s COMMON INTEREST. We believe that people should……
Get Me Some True Love

In fairytales, a true love’s kiss conquers all evils and vanquishes all illnesses, but true love isn’t always pleasant in real life. Love means allowing your kids to fail; setting boundaries so there would be long-term safety. It involves making difficult decisions and sticking by your loved ones even when……
How It Could Have Been Prevented

Hear the saddening childhood of an autistic boy and how it could have been prevented. “If my grandparents had taught him how to feel, he wouldn’t be so cruel.” Read More about How It Could Have Been Prevented
Rebellion Against the Model Minority Role

“Asian Doesn’t Start With A+” In a TED talk featuring Olivia Lai’s ‘Asian Doesn’t Start with A+’ at TEDxPhillipsAcademyAndover, she shared that she had been conditioned to accept herself as nothing less than perfection. Like her other Asian-American friends, it was a shared experience among them to crumble under school……