MSI Press Blog

  Autism Parenting Magazine has re-published an article by MSI Press author Colette McNeil on February 16, 2021: "Leading with Choice: Honoring and Empowering Autistic Children" The article originally appeared in the magazines October 2020 issue. Click the link above to read the article. For more posts on Colette and her books, click HERE .

  "AN ABSOLUTE MUST" We just received a wonderful review of Colette McNeil's book, Choice and Structure for Children with Autism from MidWest Book Review: Critique: An absolute 'must' as a coping resource for the parent of an autistic children in this pandemic restricted home environment, "Choice and Structure for Children with Autism: Getting through the Long Days of Quarantine" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, family, professional, and community library Disability Parenting collections in general, and Autistic Parenting reading lists in particular. Read the full review HERE . For more posts about Colette and her books, click HERE .

  MSI Press author, Colette McNeil, has an article in the February issue of Autism Parenting Magazine : "How Counting to 20 Can Help Your Child with Autism." For information about other contributions Colette has made to this magazine, as well as posts about her and her books, click HERE .

  The title says it all. Three recent Readers' Favorite reviews for Choice and Structure for Children with Autism by Colette McNeil awarded the book five stars. You can read the reviews HERE . Colette's previous book, Understanding the Challenge of "No" for Children with Autism , was reviewed earlier and also received 5 stars.

  Colette McNeil recently contributed an article, Autism Parenting Magazine :  Leading With Choice: Honoring And Empowering Autistic Children Find out how offering Structured choices to your child with autism can lead to easier and happier parent-child interactions. Check out the article  HERE . For more articles about Colette and her books, click  HERE .

Choice and Structure for Children with Autism . Get it HERE .  How are you and your child with autism managing during his time of quarantine? Are you productively juggling or really struggling? Is your daughter playing throughout your home or staying alone? During interactions, is your son engaged or enraged? Are your toys being enjoyed or does your child get annoyed? After most days do you feel celebrated or devastated? If you are struggling, this little book offers some ideas of support in improving focus, engagement, and cooperation. Some strategies shared include ways to offer thoughtfully chosen choice and structure when engaging with autistic children. For more posts on Colette McNeil and her books, click HERE .

Written by Colette McNeil to help parents of children with autism through the shelter-at-home days of the ongoing pandemic, this little book is eye-opening and helpful for any day at home with a child with autism. Bound to inspire with new ways of interaction with positive ioutcomes. Colette has many years of experience as a teacher of children with autism and as an aunt of a child with autism. She knows whereof she writes. Check out her other book on autism, Understanding the Challenge of "No" for Children with Autism . See posts by and about Colette and her books HERE .

Parenting has its joys; it can also be demanding when all does not go as planned or hoped, as in this picture of parents with their son and two emergency room specialists, raising up (literally) their physically challenged daughter. MSI Press offers several unique books on parenting--for the everyday difficulties and the unique challenges. Take a look! 3 65 Teacher Secrets for Parent s by Cindy McKinley and Patti Trombly See posts by and about Cindy and Patti, including book excerpts, HERE . Courageous Parents   by Dr. Haim Omer Read posts by and about Dr. Omer, including book excerpts, HERE . How to Be a Good Mommy When You're Sick by Dr. Emily Graves Read posts by and about Dr. Graves, including book excerpts, HERE . Lessons of Labor by Julia Aziz See posts by and about Jula Aziz, including book excerpts,  HERE . Life after Losing a Child by Pat Young and Joanna Romer See posts by and about Pat  and Joanna. Noah's New Puppy by Richard R

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

Communication No running, No jumping, No talking, No shoes – No shirt – No service.   Speaking in this style of negative phrasing is as common and ingrained as answering the telephone with “Hello.”   To the majority of society, the message is direct, concise, and typically easily understood.    Unfortunately, children with autism struggle with deciphering statements requesting the negation of an action. While it is not impossible for these children to learn some regularly used negative statements, it takes more effort and exposure to the exact phrasing to produce understanding. If we look carefully at the information provided by current researchers and practitioners of autism we could pinpoint some of the children’s receptive communication difficulties.   Autism causes deficits to varying degrees in the ability to understand verbal sounds and attach meaning to them.    Further, if the children do understand the individual spoken words, they may not be able to full

  Colette McNeil Colette McNeil aspires to develop confidence in individuals with autism by expanding the perspectives of their parents, families, teachers, and caregivers. Experience: Colette McNeil has worked with children and adults with disabilities for 30 years.  She spent 20 of those years teaching students with autism and related disorders ages 3-22. Additionally, Colette has a close relationship with her nephew with autism who is in his 20’s Education: Ms. McNeil holds a Master of Arts Degree in Psychology. Further, she is a prolific reader of Positive Psychology literature and embeds her learning into her daily interactions and coaching-consultation practices. Business: Through her business  Shared Perspectives Support , Colette McNeil provides private coaching-consultation services to families struggling with Autism and developmental disorders in the Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside counties of California, USA.\  Colette has published two books with MSI Press: Understanding

Still on the move, MSI Press staff is returning home to Hollister and San Juan Bautista, stopping on the way to meet author, Colette McNeil, at Porto's in Anaheim. (Great restaurant choice, by the way; Google it.) Colette is author of  Understanding the Challenge of "No" for Children with Autism . Her book has been reviewed with strong, possitive recommendations from  Readers' Favorite  (5 stars) and  Midwest Book Review  (a "must have" for parents and educators).

The following excerpt comes from the introduction to the book, Understanding the Challenge of "No" for Children with Autism   by Colette McNeil, long-time special needs teacher and aunt to a child with autism. Corey Giggling so hard he almost loses his balance, on tippy-toes, bouncing foot to foot, arms swaying in the air, 3-year-old Corey celebrates with joy as he watches Alice approach.   “Uh Oh! Corey thinks this is a game. I probably shouldn’t have been so playful.”  Alice has removed Corey from the tabletop three times in the last three minutes.  Each time keeping the interaction light, she spiritedly engaged, “Oh no, no, no, little man.  We don’t stand on tables. Get down.” He was then scooped up in a hug, spun away from the table and gently placed with his feet on the floor.  Now, standing next to the table, Alice speaks in a more subdued, neutral tone, “No, get down.”  Corey gleefully throws his hands up and rests his body against hers. Alice makes an