Inspired by my daughter Ava. I’m Ava’s mom. Ava was diagnosed with autism and speech impairment at the age of 2 years old. What is she overly sensitive to?
Ava Has Autism is a shop dedicated to creating practical, compassionate, and beautifully designed tools that support children with autism, communication delays, and emerging life-skills. Ava’s older brother, now a senior, has ADHD, dyslexia, and had behavioral problems in school. And Ava’s younger brother was speech delayed. Throughout their lives, I have dedicated my time and effort in helping my
05/23/2026
https://avahasautism.blog/2026/05/23/the-diy-visual-support-tools-we-actually-use-at-home/
The DIY Visual Support Tools We Actually Use at Home When I first started creating DIY visual supports for Ava, I honestly thought I could simply print the cards on regular paper, cut them out with scissors, and be done. I quickly realized there was …
04/25/2026
How to Teach Patience to Kids (Even When They Struggle to Wait)
💛 Why Patience Is So Hard for Kids If your child struggles to wait, you are not alone. Patience is one of the hardest skills for children to learn—especially for kids with big feelings, ADHD, or autism. To them, waiting doesn’t feel small.It can feel overwhelming, frustrating, and sometimes even impossible. Their brains are wired for: 👉 “I want it now.”...
How to Teach Patience to Kids (Even When They Struggle to Wait) 💛 Why Patience Is So Hard for Kids If your child struggles to wait, you are not alone. Patience is one of the hardest skills for children to learn—especially for kids with big feelings, ADHD, or au…
04/18/2026
From Overwhelmed to Empowered: Our Journey
Feeling overwhelmed while supporting your autistic child is more common than you think. This blog shares a real-life journey from uncertainty to confidence, along with the tools and strategies that made a meaningful difference....
From Overwhelmed to Empowered: Our Journey Feeling overwhelmed while supporting your autistic child is more common than you think. This blog shares a real-life journey from uncertainty to confidence, along with the tools and strategies that…
04/11/2026
My Child Won’t Follow Directions—Here’s What Actually Helped Us
If you’ve ever found yourself saying… “Why won’t they listen?” “I just told you what to do.” “They know what I mean… so why aren’t they doing it?” You’re not alone. I’ve been there too. As both a former special educator and a parent to a child with autism, I had to unlearn something important: Not following directions is usually not about defiance....
My Child Won’t Follow Directions—Here’s What Actually Helped Us If you’ve ever found yourself saying… “Why won’t they listen?” “I just told you what to do.” “They know what I mean… so why aren’t they doing it?” You’re not alone. I’ve been there too. As both a f…
04/04/2026
What to Do When Your Child Is Nonverbal (Real Tools That Help)
When your child isn’t speaking, it can feel overwhelming, confusing, and even isolating. You may find yourself wondering: Will they ever talk? Am I doing enough? How do I help them communicate right now? I’ve been there. My daughter Ava was nonverbal—and that experience changed everything for me. Not just as a parent, but as a former special educator. I quickly realized something important:...
What to Do When Your Child Is Nonverbal (Real Tools That Help) When your child isn’t speaking, it can feel overwhelming, confusing, and even isolating. You may find yourself wondering: Will they ever talk? Am I doing enough? How do I help them communicate righ…
03/28/2026
What Every Special Education Classroom Needs
What does an autism-friendly special education classroom actually need? This guide covers essential tools like visual schedules, communication boards, life skills resources, and regulation supports to help students succeed....
What Every Special Education Classroom Needs What does an autism-friendly special education classroom actually need? This guide covers essential tools like visual schedules, communication boards, life skills resources, and regulation supports…
03/27/2026
Free Resource
FREE Autism Support Roadmap | Step-by-Step Guide for Parents & Teachers You're not just buying resources-you're building a clear path forward for your child. Where do I even start? That's the question I hear most from parents and teachers.This free guide was created to answer that.This is not just another printable. This is a step-by-step autism support roadmap designed...
03/25/2026
We have another new platform for Ava Has Autism
Ava Has Autism | Communication Boards for Nonverbal Children & Autism Support – TeacherStore.io™ Created by a former special educator and autism mom, Ava Has Autism offers communication boards, visual supports, and social stories designed to help nonverbal children communicate, reduce frustration, and build independence at home, school, and therapy.
03/23/2026
Teika Dorethy (AvaHasAutism1) - Profile | Pinterest Teika Dorethy | Ava Has Autism is a parent-created educational publisher sharing visual supports, sensory strategies, and life-skills resources for autistic and neurodivergent children. Our content is rooted in lived experience and designed to support calm routines, emotional regulation, and everyda...
03/21/2026
How to Teach Emotional Regulation Through Storytelling
Using SEL Books and Fantasy Characters to Help Kids Manage Big Feelings Children do not always respond to lectures about behavior. But they lean in when you tell them a story. Storytelling creates emotional safety. It allows children to explore anger, frustration, jealousy, fear, and disappointment through a character — instead of feeling exposed themselves. When emotions belong to a dragon, a fairy, or a unicorn, children can observe, reflect, and learn without defensiveness....
How to Teach Emotional Regulation Through Storytelling Using SEL Books and Fantasy Characters to Help Kids Manage Big Feelings Children do not always respond to lectures about behavior. But they lean in when you tell them a story. Storytelling creates …