Why Do We Fall?
It is most important to realize all the many positive outcomes, the successes, that may result from participating in the experience and resulting from the failure, regardless of the intended or desired outcome.
Jake’s Mistake
Telephone scammers can be incredibly convincing, especially to a young adult trying to establish themselves in the world. Now Jake was worried that he—and his family—might lose a significant amount of money due to his mistake.
Half Full
I sat down with five of our students at CLE Rockville during their Social Engagement Group to talk about what failure means, and why it isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I am always impressed and amazed at our students’ insights.
Encouraging a Sense of Urgency
Only after a breakup would the sudden onset of loneliness trigger a sense of urgency strong enough to give him the extra push needed to change his lifestyle.
Wellness at CLE
The word diet usually invokes rather displeasing images. We tend to revert to thoughts about restrictions and constraints. Other thoughts include having to eat less and being less satisfied when, in reality, the focus is on nutrition – you’re actually more satisfied and full of vitamins and nutrients.
Using Apps for Meditation and Mindfulness
The practices of mindfulness and meditation have been becoming more common in classrooms, workplaces, and homes in recent years. Mindfulness and meditation have to do with quieting the mind and paying attention to the present moment. This can help individuals to understand their own emotions and handle stressful situations. Luckily, there are now dozens of apps for devices that are based on mindfulness and meditation.
Recipe for the Healthier Mexican Taco
During one of our Lunch Social Groups, Breanna turned the group onto a new and healthier Mexican taco version. We can now have our tacos and eat them too! This fabulous tasting Mexican taco dish is called “Black Bean & Sweet Potato Tacos”.
Finding Wellness and Common Ground Through Faith
Everyone’s personal journey with faith is different and uniquely theirs. But what happens when your journey with God and spirituality becomes interrupted by essays or job applications?
A Lifetime in Three Weeks
The excitement, wildness and splendor that is the CLE Summer Exploration Program took place once again this year from June 25th to July 14th. There is nothing quite like this program, even year to year it’s so very different and unique with each fabulous group of 30 or so neurodiverse young adults.
The Hidden Third Option: The Use of Tabletop Gaming in Social Instruction
By Scott Allen, Psy.D., Director of Psychological Services, CLE Austin As a kid of the 80's, video games were a big part of my childhood. I was always interested in having the newest game system and trying out the hottest game. They were a refuge for me after a rough [...]
Tips for Getting Your Child to Socialize
The summer months bring fresh opportunities for engaging with the community, exploring the outdoors, and expanding social experiences. Unfortunately, the summer heat can also serve as a detour for getting outside. Rather than letting the heat be a barrier, use the heat as a tool to promote engaging in extraordinary activities.
My Relationships as a Neurodiverse Young Adult
In this article I would like to give a window to the nature of my relationships as a neurodiverse young adult. I think my relationships are one of my biggest accomplishments at CLE.
How to Socialize: Advice from Students
Sometimes even mentioning the word “Socialize” can cause stress and discomfort for students. Other students become energized and excited upon hearing the same word. Here at CLE Fort Lauderdale, we include many social engagement opportunities for our students in hopes of helping them navigate all different types of relationships within various situations.
The Act of Engagement: Socials Get Easier!
Group outings can be intimidating, especially when you’re new to CLE and don’t know many people yet. We do try to involve students in planning the outings and finding things that will be interesting and fun. This helps to make the hard work of understanding group dynamics and communicating collaboratively more enjoyable.
The Pity and the Perks
The general public has significantly less understanding of how disabilities impact people. No matter how many times you mention it, or talk about it, they may never get it. They may be able to understand a little bit or have a surface-level knowledge or understanding about disabilities, but they never really know how it affects people every day.
How to Open a Can of Worms
Have you been part of a conversation that feels as if you and the other participant are having two separate conversations? Most of us can answer yes to that question. If the conversation is covering a difficult subject, this creates a whole other can of worms to think about. So how can we talk about difficult subjects with more ease?
The Anonybox
What happens if you leave an anonymous box in the common room of your local CLE center for a month and ask students to share topics they do not feel comfortable bringing up in person? If you’re like me, you might expect a few funny musings or adolescent jokes or possibly just a little bit of lint and maybe some random crumbs. You might be surprised at just how revealing your students can be.
Thinking Critically About Conflict
Conflict, unfortunately, is an inescapable facet of life. Thankfully, how one approaches and deals with conflict is wholly up to the individual. And while we cannot always be there for our students when they come up against the challenges of everyday life, we can arm them with one of the greatest tools education has to offer.
Sorry, Not Sorry
When I asked Jules why she feels the need to apologize, she explained how uncomfortable it is to feel different. She wants to explain it and escape the fact that she learns differently.
Positive Education at CLE Davie
Many psychologists believe that positive education can decrease depression in younger people. More specifically, the goal is to enable students to engage their own combination of character strengths.