Autism Journey Guide
TACA has recently updated our Autism Journey Guide Volume 1 and ANNOUNCING Volume 2. Based on where families are on their journey, these two valuable guides are available to guide, support, inspire and empower the next positive steps for your child.
What Autism Journey Guide is right for your family?
- Volume 1 – Early Childhood
- For families with children ages 1 – 10
- Volume 2 –Teens and Adults
- For families with children 11 and into adulthood
These guides are written based on experiences with other TACA families, paraprofessionals, and considers some “best practices”, alternative ideas for treating autism both medically and via traditional therapies. Back in 2001, the original guide started out with 25 copied pages of articles, resources and information to the guide it is today. It continues to be a work in progress and information is constantly changing and items being added to this document.
The goal of this nearly 400-page guide is to provide you the parent with information, research, and parent input on where to start, what works for other families like yours, and important next steps on treating autism with the intent of recovering your child. While not all children who follow these steps recover from autism–many greatly improve their condition.
How Can You Get the Families with Autism Journey Guide?
Three Options for Buying the Guide
About the DVD
This seminar was filmed with a live audience of new parents on the autism journey. The presenters are parents who have “been there, done that.”
View the TACA Autism Journey Guide Volume 1 – Table of Contents
1: WHO IS TACA?
- Introduction
- Our Mission
- Come to a TACA Meeting
- What TACA Has Accomplished for Families
- How Can You Help TACA Families?
- Parents with Autistic Children Reach Out
- Their Own Buddy System
2: WHAT’S IN A DIAGNOSIS?
- Autism Diagnosis Criteria–DSM-IV
- Autism–What Is It?
- Latest Autism Statistics
- Independent Assessments
- Independent Educational Evaluations
3: SURVIVING THE FIRST YEAR
- Autism Journey (AJ) Blueprints – Years 1-3
- AJ Blueprints – Home Life
- Staying Connected as a Couple
4: RESOURCES
- AJ Blueprints: Finance
- Introduction to Autism on a Budget Series
- Health Insurance Coverage on a Budget
- Autism on Public Assistance
- Who Pays for What? Overview
- Who Pays for What? Guide
- Guide for Military Families
- Autism Grants
- Tax Strategies for Parents of Special Needs Kids
- Divorce Advice for Special Needs Families
- Form – Family Budget
- Form – Tax Deduction Worksheet
5: LEARNING
- Overview of Traditional Therapies
- How to Start In-home Therapy
- Generic Therapist Agreement
- Helping Nonverbal Kids to Communicate
- Are You Babying Your Special Needs Baby?
- Tantrums and Outbursts
- Form – Anticedent Behavior Consequence Chart 1
- Form – Anticedent Behavior Consequence Chart 2
- Form – Behavior Log
- Form – Daily Classroom Data Sheet
- Form – Daily Data Collection Sheet
- Form – Drill Chart
- Form – Handwriting Paper
- Form – IEP Goal Creation
- Form – IEP Goal Creation Worksheet
- Form – Reward Chart
- Form – School Therapy Data
- Form – Skills Checklist Template
- Form – Token Reward Board
6: SCHOOL STRATEGIES
- AJ Blueprints: Education
- Inclusion
- Socialization & School Integration Ideas
- Socialization & Games Children Play
- What to Do During the Summer Months?
7: DIETARY INTERVENTION
- AJ Blueprint: Dietary Intervention
- GFCFSF Diet on a Budget
- GFCFSF Diet on Food Stamps (Yes, you can!)
- What is Gluten, Casein & Soy?
- How to Read Food Labels
- What are Carbohydrates?
- Toxins in Food and the Environment
- Gluten-free/Casein-free/Soy-free Diet
- Going GFCF in 10 Weeks
- Cooking Ideas
- Ingredients & Substitutions
- Kid-Friendly Recipes
- Rotation Diets–A Primer
- Phenols, Salicylates, Dyes & Additives
- Going Organic
- Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD)
- Food Allergy Testing
- Diet Infringement or Infraction
- Protein Sources
- Sample Daily Log
- GFCF Restaurants
- GFCF Info for Teachers & Aides
- GFCF School Supplies
- School-Provided GFCF Meals?
- Picky Kids, Eating & Autism
- Just Because It Is GFCF…
- Form – Allergy Log
- Form – Diet Journal
- Form – Weekly Meal Planner
8: BIOMEDICAL INTERVENTION
- AJ Blueprint: Medical
- Biomedical Overview
- Biomedical Treatment on a Budget
- Medical Testing & Treatment
- Does the ‘Window’ Ever Close?
- Living in a Toxic World
- AJ Blueprints – Living in a Toxic World
- What is Yeast Overgrowth?
- The Poop Page
- Seizures: What You Should Know
- Methylcobalamin B-12
- Methyl B-12: Parent Findings & Tips
- Why Are MAPS Doctors So Expensive?
- Detoxification & Glutathione
- Chelation & Autism
- MAPS Vaccination Choices for Families
- Autism – When Something Isn’t Right?
- Supplement Overview
- Giving Supplements
- Supplement Overview
- Which Supplements for Which Symptoms?
- Auditory Processing
- Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)
- Parent Ratings of Biomed Interventions
- Form – Health Records at a Glance
- Form – Medical Treatment Consent Form
- Form – Medication Log
- Form – Physician Office Visit Notes
- Form – Supplement Chart
- Form – Treatment Journal
- Form – Vaccinations Records
9: YOUR CHILD’S RIGHTS
- Legal Overview
- Fundamentals of Special Education
- Getting Ready for Advocacy
- Back-to-School Assignment for Parents
10: GETTING ORGANIZED
- Organization & Planning 101
- The Art of Managing Professionals
- Form – Address Book
- Form – Childcare Instructions
- Form – Conference Notes
- Form – Daily Schedule
- Form – Emergency Contact & Medical Info
- Form – Emergency Contact List
- Form – Emergency Phone Numbers
- Form – Family Wandering Emergency Plan
- Form – Health Info Release
- Form – Mileage Log
- Form – Monthly Calendar
- Form – Personal Info Sheet
- Form – Potty Training Data Chart
- Form – Service Contacts
- Form – Web Links
11: APPENDIX
- Recommended Reading
- Abbreviations, Definitions, Slang & Idioms
- Autism Journey Guide Survey
View the TACA Autism Journey Guide Volume 2 – Table of Contents
1: WHO IS TACA?
- Introduction
- Our Mission
- Come to a TACA Meeting
- What TACA Has Accomplished for Families
- How Can You Help TACA Families?
- Parents with Autistic Children Reach Out
- Their Own Buddy System
2: WHAT’S IN A DIAGNOSIS?
- Autism Diagnosis Criteria–DSM-IV
- Autism–What Is It?
- Latest Autism Statistics
- Independent Assessments
- Independent Educational Evaluations
3: TOOLS FOR MATURE CHILDREN
- Autism Journey (AJ) Blueprints – Years 1-3
- AJ Blueprints – Home Life
- One a Mission for Woody
- Letter from an ASD Teenager
- Fathers’ Top Ten Coping Skills
4: RESOURCES
- AJ Blueprints: Finance
- Introduction to Autism on a Budget Series
- Health Insurance Coverage on a Budget
- Autism on Public Assistance
- Who Pays for What? Overview
- Who Pays for What? Guide
- Guide for Military Families
- Autism Grants
- Tax Strategies for Parents of Special Needs Kids
- Divorce Advice for Special Needs Families
- Form – Family Budget
- Form – Tax Deduction Worksheet
5: TRANSITIONS FOR TEENS
- Introduction
- Social Skills
- Life Skills
- Puberty
- Biomed with an Older Child
- How to start the GFCFSF Diet
- Self Advocacy and Self-Esteem
- Keeping your Teen Safe
- Transition IEPs
- Medical Testing for Adolescents
- Extracurricular Activities
- Driving
- Siblings
- Preparing for College
- “Been There, Done That” Advice
- Preparing for Adulthood
6: LEARNING
- Overview of Traditional Therapies
- Helping Nonverbal Kids to Communicate
- Are You Babying Your Special Needs Baby?
- Tantrums and Outbursts
- Form – Anticedent Behavior Consequence Chart 1
- Form – Anticedent Behavior Consequence Chart 2
- Form – Behavior Log
- Form – Daily Classroom Data Sheet
- Form – Daily Data Collection Sheet
- Form – Drill Chart
- Form – Handwriting Paper
- Form – IEP Goal Creation
- Form – IEP Goal Creation Worksheet
- Form – Reward Chart
- Form – School Therapy Data
- Form – Skills Checklist Template
- Form – Token Reward Board
7: SCHOOL STRATEGIES
- AJ Blueprints: Education
- Inclusion
- What to Do During the Summer Months?
8: DIETARY INTERVENTION
- AJ Blueprint: Dietary Intervention
- GFCFSF Diet on a Budget
- GFCFSF Diet on Food Stamps (Yes, you can!)
- What is Gluten, Casein & Soy?
- How to Read Food Labels
- What are Carbohydrates?
- Toxins in Food and the Environment
- Gluten-free/Casein-free/Soy-free Diet
- Going GFCF in 10 Weeks
- Cooking Ideas
- Ingredients & Substitutions
- Kid-Friendly Recipes
- Rotation Diets–A Primer
- Phenols, Salicylates, Dyes & Additives
- Going Organic
- Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD)
- Food Allergy Testing
- Diet Infringement or Infraction
- Protein Sources
- Sample Daily Log
- GFCF Restaurants
- GFCF Info for Teachers & Aides
- GFCF School Supplies
- School-Provided GFCF Meals?
- Picky Kids, Eating & Autism
- Just Because It Is GFCF…
- Form – Allergy Log
- Form – Diet Journal
- Form – Weekly Meal Planner
9: BIOMEDICAL INTERVENTION
- AJ Blueprint: Medical
- Biomedical Overview
- Biomedical Treatment on a Budget
- Medical Testing & Treatment
- Does the ‘Window’ Ever Close?
- Living in a Toxic World
- AJ Blueprints – Living in a Toxic World
- What is Yeast Overgrowth?
- The Poop Page
- Seizures: What You Should Know
- Methylcobalamin B-12
- Methyl B-12: Parent Findings & Tips
- Why Are MAPS Doctors So Expensive?
- Detoxification & Glutathione
- Chelation & Autism
- MAPS Vaccination Choices for Families
- Autism – When Something Isn’t Right?
- Supplement Overview
- Giving Supplements
- Supplement Overview
- Which Supplements for Which Symptoms?
- Auditory Processing
- Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)
- Parent Ratings of Biomed Interventions
- Form – Health Records at a Glance
- Form – Medical Treatment Consent Form
- Form – Medication Log
- Form – Physician Office Visit Notes
- Form – Supplement Chart
- Form – Treatment Journal
- Form – Vaccinations Records
10: YOUR CHILD’S RIGHTS
- Legal Overview
- Fundamentals of Special Education
- Getting Ready for Advocacy
- Back-to-School Assignment for Parents
11: GETTING ORGANIZED
- Organization & Planning 101
- The Art of Managing Professionals
- Form – Address Book
- Form – Childcare Instructions
- Form – Conference Notes
- Form – Daily Schedule
- Form – Emergency Contact & Medical Info
- Form – Emergency Contact List
- Form – Emergency Phone Numbers
- Form – Family Wandering Emergency Plan
- Form – Health Info Release
- Form – Mileage Log
- Form – Monthly Calendar
- Form – Personal Info Sheet
- Form – Potty Training Data Chart
- Form – Service Contacts
- Form – Web Links
12: APPENDIX
- Recommended Reading
- Abbreviations, Definitions, Slang & Idioms
- Autism Journey Guide Survey
