When school ends for the summer, adults may wonder how to continue to support Autistic children. They may wonder how to help them keep learning and developing and thriving?

As Thanksgiving approaches, I am thinking about simple meaningful moments in my clinic. They remind me why our work matters and how powerful small, attuned and affirming interactions can be.

The first few weeks of school often go smoothly. Everyone is fresh, polite, and hopeful. But for many Autistic students, that “honeymoon” depends on masking—suppressing natural regulation needs and social communication differences to blend in.