How Do You Mix Classical Dressage, Neuroscience and Fart Humor to Reach Kids on the Autism Spectrum?

It’s simple if you ask Rupert Issaacson originator of the Horse Boy phenomenon – “you just let the children take you on an adventure.” Rupert, with his rockstar hair and his Hollywood smile and upper caste British accent throughly delights with a boyish grin and self described “potty mouth.” He held rapt a group of …

The Dancing Bear

We’ve just returned from a memorial for a mother, artist, musician, wife, autism advocate, photographer – a woman whose warmth and smile lit up any room she stepped into.  Her autistic son opened the memorial by singing “Chasing Angels” a perfect song about loss. He sang and played from his heart and his talent showed …

Resources for Understanding Trauma – As a Hamilton Parody

The question of how to help parents, teachers, and community members understand that many children who have been identified as having “behavior issues” that have traditionally been dealt punishments, isolation, and worse actually are desperately needing attunement, care, and acceptance is on my mind very much.  I could spend time “preaching to the choir” talking …

Forbidden Fruit

Perhaps you remember the 1990 ad campaign from Volkswagen.  They cleverly coined a silly made up German word – “Fahrvergnügen” means “driving enjoyment” in English (from fahren, “to drive,” and vergnügen, “enjoyment”). That’s not what Fahrvergnugen means at Square Peg.  Here – Fahrvegnugen means much much more.  At least to one little guy. Like all of …

Sharing Sacred Silence

Have you ever been  bombarded by sounds that made your skin crawl?  Are there sounds that make your guts clench and your ears ring?  Could you imagine being locked in a room with somebody raking fingernails over a chalkboard while somebody else dragged a fork over a plate?  What if that room had flashing disco …