MSI Press Blog

As autism awareness month winds down, for relatives and teachers of children with autism, as well as those who work with them, we have collected a list of blogs that might be helpful. Here is the list, with links (we have checked them, but if you find some that do not work, please do let us know).  Some of these blogs identify other blogs, so search, search! If you have a blog related to autism not mentioned here, send the URL to editor@msipress.com, and we will add it to the list below. Age of Autism Atypical Familia, with resources Autism Adventures Autism Site Blog Autism Speaks Autism with a Side of Fries : Living the Life with a Son on the spectrum, who proves that a side of fries makes anything better Autistic Mama : Parenting an autistic child? She can help! Awesomism Mom Bacon and Juice Boxes Embracing Imperfect Faith, Hope, and Love...with Austism Finding Coopers's Voice: The Secret World of Autism Friendship Circle Full Spectrum Ma...

Why this image? Because when you have a child with autism or any special needs, it is like looking upon a field of bluebonnets and seeing one bright, waving, yellow rose standing within and apart from the sea of blue at the same time. Today's story is about one such yellow rose, Sean Cunningham, shared here from a newspaper article written at the time of Sean's graduation from college. I, the managing editor of MSI Press, know this story to be true because as a child, Sean attended school with my son, came to our house for play dates, and stayed in touch over the years. His achievement may be considered remarkable, but it does point to possibilities by other young adults with autism. And here is the story: An Autistic Student Makes History http://www.wusa9news.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=39706 Sean Sokler has full spectrum autism. He uses a machine to communicate, twists his shirt incessantly, and often stares off into space. But inside the nervous exter...

Julie Gentile, author of the much-awarded book, 108 Yoga and Self-Care Practices for Busy Mamas , recently wrote a column, " Tune into Your Bliss Breath ," for Mindful Movements . In it, she reminds us that every bliss breath is an opportunity to pause and notice, to learn about what helps--and what happens when--you relax. Read Julie's column to read understand what she means by bliss breath and how it can help you relax. Indeed, this is a welcome post in these stressful times. Many thanks to Julie for sharing it. About Julie Julie M. Gentile is a full-time working mama, certified and Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher, author of numerous health and wellness articles, and professional editor and writer. She has been practicing yoga and meditation for a decade and leading yoga classes since 2011. Her journalism background and her own wellness journey have shaped her recent work to inspire others to stand up for their self-care. Julie’s book,  108 Yoga an...

Exercise When one is studying intensively, it might seem an unnecessarily waste of time to get up and exercise. In fact, in the act of perseverance (the internal push to keep going), much time can pass unnoticed. All work and no play, however, is…well, you know. Exercise advantages the language learner in a number of ways: ·        releases feel-good endorphins ·        boosts brain activity ·        retention of new skills in memory The question, then, is not if you should exercise but rather when, how long, and how. Therein lie a number of options that you can choose from, depending upon your personal schedule, needs, and interests. Exercise to improve mood and energy Any exercise prompts the release of endorphins will improve mood and energy. Both will serve you will in the classroom as you work with others, and you may also gain additional energy for homework an...

Dr. Christina Fisanick, author of The Optimistic Food Addict , was recently interviewed by Refinery29 about binge eating disorder during a quarantine. The article contains an interesting and helpful video. Read/view the article and video HERE .

Use Your Cat to Your Advantage: The Cat Lift Cats like sitting in bags. Some think it’s a fun ride when you pick up the bag while they’re in it. So, the next time your bag has a cat inside, lift it up and down as a workout. Not only will you tone your arms, your cat will have the time of her life. Other excerpts from  How My Cat Made Me a Better Man (Code FF25 for 25% discount at MSI Press webstore) Also available on  Kindle Find more cat lessons from the book! Jeremy Feig is originally from a small town in slightly upstate New York. After graduating from New Paltz College, he moved to Los Angeles for TV and film production work before stumbling into a career in digital marketing. Jeremy spends much of his time working on creative projects, usually involving comedy. He’s written numerous screenplays and TV scripts, created original cartoons, and directed quirky short films. Jeremy lives in Santa Monica with his wife, young daughter, and large cat.

The following guest post by Dr. Dennis Ortman, psychologist, former priest, and MSI Press author, will form the basis of a forthcoming book on coping with pandemic conditions, called The Pandemic and Hope . POST-PANDEMIC STR ESS DISORDER  By Dennis Ortman, Ph.D.     I have a fantasy. President Trump will eventually announce victory over the Coronavirus. He will declare, “We have won the war. We have shown our greatness as a nation in working together to defeat this invisible enemy.” He will then express gratitude to all the healthcare workers, who risked their lives, those who supported all the essential services, and the entire nation. He will also report remarkable progress on a vaccine and treatment. American ingenuity again triumphs. Hopefully, this day will come sooner than later.  However, while the war may be won on one front, another remains, the inner battle against fear. We cannot rest on our laurels. Many have aptly comp...

Being sick is the pits! The authors of these recommended books know. They are not only experts; they have also lived the experience. Read one, read them all! They are available at discount from MSI Press webstore (use code FF25 for a 25% discount). All are available on Kindle. How to Be a Good Mommy When You're Sick Soon after receiving her Bachelor's Degree, Dr. Emily Graves was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and given a prognosis that she would be confined to a wheelchair within ten years. Shortly thereafter, pregnant with her first and only child, Emily's kidneys shut down. Thus, began a new chapter in Emily's life: balancing chronic illness, motherhood, and the professional ambitions that had caused her to excel as an academic and meet her husband. Today she is still fighting chronic illness, but she has found some answers as to how to manage that fight while being a good mother and spouse and continuing to pursue her professional ambitions. In this...

🌟   5 Tips for Surviving This Time off of School and in the House!  🌟 To be sure, this is an unprecedented time, and an unusual break from school. Your  kids might feel frustrated they aren’t getting to go to school, see their friends, and engage in their favorite sports and activities right now.   But every time your family chooses to stay home, help your kids see that they are actually being brave and helpful. You can help your kids think of this time not like a punishment, but rather like they are giving their community a great gift. Staying home, as many are, is a true act of solidarity. It’s a sacrifice they can give so that nurses, doctors, and all those for whom it is not possible to stay home and protected (from first responders to grocery store personnel, and many, many others) can continue to do their jobs and keep the rest of us safe and keep our lives as normal as possible. Here are a few ideas from an article I wrote about stopping Summ...