Advocating for your Kids & Family Archives - AP-OD https://ap-od.org/category/parent-toolbox-english/advocating-for-your-kids-family/ Abriendo Puertas | Opening Doors Thu, 30 Oct 2025 23:34:57 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://ap-od.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Logo_v2-100x100.png Advocating for your Kids & Family Archives - AP-OD https://ap-od.org/category/parent-toolbox-english/advocating-for-your-kids-family/ 32 32 Immigration, Know Your Rights https://ap-od.org/2025/10/30/immigration-know-your-rights/ Thu, 30 Oct 2025 14:00:11 +0000 https://ap-od.org/?p=457 Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors Releases Spanish-language Video to Support Immigrant Parents We are pleased to announce the release of a video we produced in response to the requests from thousands of parents who find themselves and their children in an environment that is increasingly uncertain for immigrants. The video demonstrates and provides insight for parents on how to communicate with their ...

The post Immigration, Know Your Rights appeared first on AP-OD.

]]>

Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors Releases Spanish-language Video to Support Immigrant Parents

We are pleased to announce the release of a video we produced in response to the requests from thousands of parents who find themselves and their children in an environment that is increasingly uncertain for immigrants.

The video demonstrates and provides insight for parents on how to communicate with their young children on topics that are particularly difficult to tackle. It models interactions between parent and child and shows them how to respond, and comfort a child who faces the stress of bullying, and potential family separation. Using the familiar dicho “Better safe than sorry”(“Mas vale prevenir que lamentar”), it also encourages parents to develop a plan that is best for their family and how to provide for the care and well-being of their child in the event of an emergency.

Intangible Productions and Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors developed the video in conjunction with experts on family engagement, early childhood development and immigration policy. The video is available free of charge along with links to information and resources for immigrant parents. There are versions with subtitles in English and Spanish for bilingual and hearing impaired families.

 Share this on Facebook

 Share this on Twitter!

 Share on LinkedIn

Image
Download image
Image
Download image

Additional Resources

Find our most up-to-date Immigration Resources Guide here
Find our most up-to-date Immigration Resources Guide here

The post Immigration, Know Your Rights appeared first on AP-OD.

]]> ADHD https://ap-od.org/2024/05/15/adhd/ Wed, 15 May 2024 18:48:09 +0000 https://ap-od.org/?p=38993 What is it, and how do you get support?Disclaimer: This blog is not for diagnosing purposes.In families all over the country, people are diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Children with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors, acting without thinking about the result, or being overly active. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), ADHD is one ...

The post ADHD appeared first on AP-OD.

]]>

What is it, and how do you get support?

Image
Disclaimer: This blog is not for diagnosing purposes.

In families all over the country, people are diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Children with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors, acting without thinking about the result, or being overly active. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), ADHD is one of the “most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood.” Children who are diagnosed with ADHD have the disorder through adulthood. 

While this information can be overwhelming, there is a wealth of resources available to families navigating ADHD. Taking the first step towards seeking help involves recognizing and understanding the signs within yourself or your child.

Signs and Symptoms

CDC describes that “children with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors (they may act without thinking about what the result may be), or be overly active.” Many children have trouble with focusing and behaving from time to time. But, children with ADHD don’t just grow out of these behaviors, often the symptoms continue, and can get more severe. This can cause difficulty at school, home, or with friends. 

A child with ADHD might: 

  • Daydream often
  • Forget or lose things
  • Squirm or fidgeting
  • Talk too much
  • Make careless mistakes or take unnecessary risks
  • Have a hard time resisting temptation
  • Have trouble taking turns
  • Have difficulty getting along with others

ADHD looks different depending on the individual's predominant symptoms, and can be presented in 3 typical ways. Depending on which types of symptoms are strongest, in the individual:

  • Predominantly Inattentive Presentation: It is hard for the individual to organize or finish a task, to pay attention to details, or to follow instructions or conversations. The person is easily distracted or forgets details of daily routines.
  • Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation: The person fidgets and talks a lot. It is hard to sit still for long (e.g., for a meal or while doing homework). Smaller children may run, jump or climb constantly. The individual feels restless and has trouble with impulsivity. Someone who is impulsive may interrupt others a lot, grab things from people, or speak at inappropriate times. It is hard for the person to wait their turn or listen to directions. A person with impulsiveness may have more accidents and injuries than others.
  • Combined Presentation: Symptoms of the above two types are equally present in the person.
Resources

If you have observed these signs and symptoms in yourself or your child, it is important to remember that only a certified doctor can provide a diagnosis for this disorder. If you’re not sure where to go next, there are resources for you.

The organization, Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) has resources for those who have ADHD and those who care for a person diagnosed with ADHD. One of the most important ways to gain support when caring for a person diagnosed with ADHD, or having it yourself, is finding a community of support. CHADD can do this for you, from support groups to ADHD professionals in your area. 

The Center for Disease Control has information and resources for each state. They have data, resources and state policies. You’ll get comprehensive information about policies and medication treatment for yourself or your child.

The post ADHD appeared first on AP-OD.

]]> Signs and Symptoms of Autism https://ap-od.org/2024/04/24/signs-and-symptoms-of-autism/ Wed, 24 Apr 2024 18:05:11 +0000 https://ap-od.org/?p=38567 What to Look Out for and How to Get SupportDisclaimer: Information from this blog is not for diagnosing purposes. Have you noticed discourse and awareness of autism has skyrocketed? Parents and caregivers have been sharing their stories, building community, and advocating for their families. Through groups like Autism Speaks, families are able to get more support than ever before. Although ...

The post Signs and Symptoms of Autism appeared first on AP-OD.

]]>

What to Look Out for and How to Get Support

Image

Disclaimer: Information from this blog is not for diagnosing purposes.

Have you noticed discourse and awareness of autism has skyrocketed? Parents and caregivers have been sharing their stories, building community, and advocating for their families. Through groups like Autism Speaks, families are able to get more support than ever before.

Although a child with autism can usually be diagnosed by the time they’re two to three years old, signs can develop even earlier. Because of this, Autism Speaks says, “One of the most important things you can do as a parent or caregiver is to learn the early signs of autism and become familiar with the developmental milestones that your child should be reaching."

Signs and Symptoms

According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism affects an estimated 1 in 36 children in the United States today. But first, what is autism spectrum disorder? Autism Speaks details autism as “a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication.” We know that autism looks different for every person who has it, and not everyone has the same signs, but there are some telltale signs to look out for.

Autism Speaks has detailed that by six months old, a baby with autism will have few big smiles or other warm and engaging expressions. They may have limited or no eye contact with parents or others. By nine months old, a child may not have a back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles, or other facial expressions. By 12 months old, there may be little or no babbling, back-and-forth gestures like pointing, showing, or reaching, and little or no response to their name. By 24 months old, they may have very few or no meaningful, two-word phrases.

Other signs and symptoms include:

  • Loss of previously acquired speech, babbling, or social skills
  • Avoids eye contact
  • Prefers alone time
  • Trouble understanding others’ feelings
  • Delayed language development, and repeating words or phrases consistently
  • Behaviors like flapping, rocking, spinning
  • Difficulty adjusting to minor changes in routine or surroundings
  • Hyperfixation on one interest

Autism Speaks highlights that knowing this information is essential to your child’s development because some people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) may require “significant support in their daily lives, while others may need less support and, in some cases, live entirely independently.” Research from Autism Speaks shows that “early intervention leads to positive outcomes later in life.” Staying vigilant will give your child the best possible chance at living a fulfilling and rich life.

Thanks to increased awareness, de-stigmatization has helped diagnose autism earlier. Keep in mind that often women are diagnosed with autism later in life because of differences in behavior compared to young boys and men. According to the Autism Research Institute, “Findings revealed that about two-thirds of females were diagnosed over the age of 18.” Early diagnosis is key, especially for women. The Autism Research Institute finds that earlier diagnosis is associated with better life outcomes."

Autism Resources

If you have noticed symptoms in your child or yourself, there are many resources for parents, caregivers, and people with autism. Remember, it’s always good to talk to a doctor if you notice these signs in yourself, or your child. Here are some resources from the Center for Disease Control:

Health Children by the American Academy of Pediatrics

The post Signs and Symptoms of Autism appeared first on AP-OD.

]]>