Fraser Blog

Loss is a part of life, but it doesn’t make it any less painful. At some point, everyone loses someone they love, whether a parent, friend, partner or pet. Even the loss of a celebrity you admire can cause grief. Art-making is one way to help you process grief. Here’s what you need to know. 

Stuttering has received more attention in recent years. President Joe Biden has often talked about how he stuttered as a child and the cruelty he faced because of it. Many of us have encountered friends, family, neighbors or coworkers who stutter. The Stuttering Foundation states, “In the United States, that's over 3 million Americans who stutter.” But there are many myths about stuttering. Here are 5 things you might not know about stuttering.

A new year is a time for self-reflection. Rather than focusing on your waistline, consider setting goals that will improve your well-being and the lives of those around you. To ensure your goals are successful, use the S.M.A.R.T system. Forbes states, “The five aspects of S.M.A.R.T. goals are that they are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound.” The S.M.A.R.T system helps you set achievable goals that are easy to track progress on. Here are 6 goals for 2023 that can help improve your life and community.

Foster care provides an important service for children and families in Minnesota. It offers a temporary safe haven for children with families who are dealing with illness, substance abuse, housing insecurity and other issues. According to the Minnesota Department of Human Services, “On any given day in Minnesota, approximately 7,700 children and youth are in foster care." Many children and young people in foster care often deal with mental health and behavior issues.  

Sound sensitivity is common among people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). According to the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, “the reported prevalence of sensory sensitivities in people with ASD is high [from] 60 to 96%.”

Devin has always struggled with sensitivity to sound. He was diagnosed with autism by TEACCH at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill when he was about 3 years old.

When you’re at home, your family has a routine. Your child generally knows what to expect. However, when you travel, everything is different: the weather, the food, your schedule and the bed you sleep in. For many people with autism and disabilities, change is disruptive and can be upsetting. Your loved one may also have sensory processing differences, which means loud noises, bright lights, strong smells, crowds or other sensory input feels completely overwhelming. However, that doesn’t mean that your family can’t travel. Here are some ideas to help make traveling to a vacation destination more successful for families.

Traveling can be stressful, particularly flying. You have to fit all your clothes and necessities into a suitcase, figure out how to get to the airport and give yourself enough time to go through security and make your flight. However, for people with autism and disabilities, traveling can be even more complicated. Here are some travel tips from Fraser Sensory Certified^TM Supports and Program Training Manager Gina Brady, including some information from a parent of a child with autism.

You’ve likely heard of epilepsy, but may not realize that it’s one of the most common conditions affecting the brain. The CDC states, “About 3.4 million people in the United States have active epilepsy…A person is diagnosed with epilepsy when they have had two or more seizures.” While epilepsy can be caused by a brain tumor, traumatic brain injury or a stroke, the cause isn’t always known. Any person can develop epilepsy, and if it occurs within your family, it’s more likely that you, or a family member, could develop it.

Fear isn’t always negative. Fear can stop us from doing unsafe things or warn us when we’re about to do something unwise. However, fear can also prevent us from trying new things or keep us from moving forward. But you can work to overcome a fear. Here are five ideas to get you started.

We all respond to sensory information differently. Maybe you find loud music overwhelming or can’t stand the feeling of wool sweaters. Sensory processing differences are common in people with autism, but also occur in people with anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Widespread and accessible adult sensory accommodations can help these individuals participate more fully in life. Here are 5 ideas to better accommodate adults with sensory processing differences in the community.