Semantics awareness involves understanding how language conveys meaning in various contexts, making it a significant milestone in language and communication for Michael. By beginning to develop this skill, Michael can better grasp the deeper meaning of words, sentences, and context, enabling more effective interactions and comprehension. This awareness can be broken down into three key areas: 1. Linguistic Semantics: Focuses on the meaning of words and their combinations in sentences. This includes: • Word Meaning: Understanding individual words, such as synonyms, antonyms, and homonyms. • Sentence Meaning: Recognizing how word order and sentence structure affect interpretation. • Contextual Meaning: Identifying how meanings change based on the situation or context. 2. Formal Semantics: Uses logical and mathematical frameworks to analyze meaning, such as understanding how sentences represent truth and how words relate to objects or concepts in the real world. 3. Pragmatic Semantics: Examines how meaning is shaped by tone, intent, and situational context, extending beyond literal word meanings. For Michael, gaining semantic awareness is not only about understanding language—it’s about building a bridge to more meaningful connections with others, greater self-expression, and fully participating in conversations, making it a crucial part of his communication journey. 👑 Catch all the exclusive, on-the-go stories and insights into our daily approach to education and therapy on the Instagram Subscribers’ Page. 📔eBook on Joint Attention & collection of activities, link in BIO 🔗 📔[NEW] eBook on a collection of activities for Speech Exercises, link in BIO 🔗 #heartwarming #parenting #autism #nonverbal #nonspeaking #ASL #signlanguage #representationmatters #handsome #autismadvocate #autismparenting #inspiration #motivation #autismawareness #language #milestones

For the past five years, we’ve rarely had a strict, sedentary meal routine. Generally, Michael eats well, and we’ve been fortunate not to face the picky eating challenges that many families with children on the autism spectrum experience. However, Michael never liked sitting still for meals. He hated being strapped into his high chair, and finishing his meal while staying seated was often a struggle, so we didn’t push it. If he wanted to move around, we let him. This meant that I often found myself chasing him around to make sure he ate every bite. Now that he’s older, I’ve learned to get creative, especially when it comes to meals he’s less enthusiastic about. For example, my singing. I’ve found that singing to him can make all the difference—but not for the reasons you might expect. 😂 📌 Our daily walks is just another example of how we can turn a routine task, like eating breakfast, into an opportunity for exploration, movement, communication, emotional regulation, and sensory integration—all while honoring his need for autonomy and adventure. 👑 Catch all the exclusive, on-the-go stories and insights into our daily approach to education and therapy on the Instagram Subscribers’ Page. 📔eBook on Joint Attention & collection of activities, link in BIO 🔗 📔[NEW] eBook on a collection of activities for Speech Exercises, link in BIO 🔗 #funny #heartwarming #parenting #autism #nonverbal #nonspeaking #ASL #signlanguage #representationmatters #handsome #autismadvocate #autismparenting #inspiration #motivation #autismawareness

Here are some highlights of our grocery routine and traditions, which are a cornerstone of our clinic-free approach to therapy, unschooling through experiential learning, and developing life skills in real-world settings. Each grocery outing is more than just running errands—it’s an immersive experience designed to teach essential lessons in communication, independence, and adaptability. From navigating the aisles to selecting items, every step offers hands-on opportunities to practice decision-making, problem-solving, and patience within a busy, sensory-rich environment. We set intentional goals during these outings, focusing on encouraging the use of words, ASL, or alternative communication methods to express needs and preferences. Simple tasks, like identifying produce, weighing fruits and vegetables, or using a self-checkout machine, become valuable opportunities to build confidence, independence, and a sense of accomplishment. These trips go beyond practical skills, offering chances to practice social interactions such as greeting store employees, waiting patiently in line, or taking turns at the checkout. These moments help develop social awareness and adaptability in a natural, everyday environment. Over time, our grocery routine has evolved into an anticipated and meaningful part of his life. It provides a familiar sense of structure while allowing space for spontaneous, unplanned learning opportunities that emerge along the way. By transforming a routine grocery trip into an engaging and dynamic learning experience, this lifestyle approach reinforces essential values like flexibility, independence, and self-reliance. It exemplifies how unschooling and experiential learning can integrate seamlessly into daily life, fostering meaningful growth in real-world contexts. 👑 Catch all the exclusive, on-the-go stories and insights into our daily approach to education and therapy on the Instagram Subscribers’ Page. 📔eBook on Joint Attention & collection of activities, link in BIO 🔗 📔[NEW] eBook on a collection of activities for Speech Exercises, link in BIO 🔗 #heartwarming #parenting #autism #nonverbal #nonspeaking #ASL #signlanguage #representationmatters #handsome #toddlermom #autismadvocate #autismparenting #inspiration #motivation #autismawareness

He’s a natural-born #model ❤️‍🔥 Whether it’s a quiet, subtle glance or a bold, striking stance, he instinctively brings depth and emotion to every shot, as if to be telling a story through his expressions and energy. 👑 Catch all the exclusive, on-the-go stories and insights into our daily approach to education and therapy on the Instagram Subscribers’ Page. 👕 Neurodiversity Hoodie link in Bio 🔗 🏷️Promo Code: HOLIDAY20 for 20% off ⚠️Production timelines are out of our control and can get backed up as the season picks up, so get your hoodie while things are still on schedule. 📔eBook on Joint Attention & collection of activities, link in BIO 🔗 📔[NEW] eBook on a collection of activities for Speech Exercises, link in BIO 🔗 #fashion #style #model #representationmatters #handsome #neurodiversity #parenting #autism #nonverbal #nonspeaking #ASL #signlanguage #autismadvocate #autismparenting #inspiration #motivation #autismawareness

It’s the #holiday season, and Michael is absolutely rocking his branded Neurodiversity hoodie! With the holiday rush around the corner, we recommend ordering soon to avoid delays and get your hands on one before production times become backlogged. Each hoodie is printed on demand, which means the production process takes approximately 10 days per order, in addition to standard shipping time. Don’t miss out — grab yours now and spread awareness in style! 🏷️ Promo Code: HOLIDAY20 for 20% off everything in the shop ⚠️Production timelines are out of our control and can get backed up as the season picks up, so get your hoodie while things are still on schedule. 🛝Our #playground @Adventure World Play Sets 👑 Catch all the exclusive, on-the-go stories and insights into our daily approach to education and therapy on the Subscribers’ Page. 📔eBook on Joint Attention & collection of activities, link in BIO 🔗 📔[NEW] eBook on a collection of activities for Speech Exercises, link in BIO 🔗 #fashion #style #model #representationmatters #handsome #neurodiversity #parenting #autism #nonverbal #nonspeaking #ASL #signlanguage #autismadvocate #autismparenting #inspiration #motivation #autismawareness