Children listen even when adults believe they are not listening. They notice changes in tone, overhear conversations, see messages on phones, and recognize when the adults they depend on no longer speak respectfully about one another. Negative talk about a parent, family member, teacher, therapist, or other trusted caregiver can place a child in an emotional position they were never meant to occupy. Instead of being free to maintain their own relationships and form their own

September is Suicide Prevention Month, and there is one part of this conversation that does not get nearly enough attention: autistic people are at a significantly higher risk of suicide than the general population and it isn't a small difference. A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis combined studies involving 10.4 million people and found that autistic people had 2.85 times the risk of dying by suicide compared with the broader population. In other words, the best avai

Inclusion is often discussed as though it has one appearance: a neurodivergent child sitting in a general education classroom beside neurotypical peers for the entire school day. For many children, that setting—when paired with meaningful support—is exactly where they learn, build relationships, and thrive. For others, the same classroom may be so loud, socially demanding, fast-paced, or poorly supported that most of their energy is spent trying to remain regulated rather tha