Blog

BY YOUR SIDE knows that it has been a challenging year for many families. We’ve found a variety of arts and crafts for you and your children to do at home to stay engaged and continue to develop sensory skills. Read More

Working with Insurance companies while getting autism treatment for your child can be complex. Yet, understanding some basic fundamentals and tips will help you tremendously. Matt Croke, Billing Manager at BY YOUR SIDE took some time to answer questions about insurance challenges, misconceptions and the best part of working with families at BY YOUR SIDE. Read More

What does ABA therapy look like in a practical application? We spoke with the Sr. Manager of Clinical Services and another BCBA to gain insight into the preparation, collaboration, facilitation, and results of a typical ABA therapy session. Read More

Involving your child in kitchen activities helps build important skills. How do you get started? Read our blog for tips for cooking with your child, including a list of fun recipes to try at home! Read More

Are you looking for some good gift ideas for a child with autism? We spoke with some BYS clinicians to get their considerations and recommendations for great gifts to give this holiday season. Read More

It’s the spookiest time of year, Halloween! Sometimes, overstimulating lights, decorations, or festivities can be stressful for individuals with autism. Have no fear! Our BYS team has researched tips and strategies to help your child prepare to celebrate the season, including sensory-friendly Halloween activities and crafts for the whole family to enjoy. Read More

Schedules and routines are essential for daily tasks and activities, but it’s especially important for children with autism to have a good structure. Sami, Sr. Director of ABA Delivery at BYS, discusses the best methods to create and implement a new routine for your child to help promote independence. Read More

Getting outside for sensory play is the perfect opportunity to spend quality time together and have fun! Check out these recommended summer activities from the BYS Sr. Director of Speech and Occupational Therapy and try them with your family this summer. Read More

Family Game Nights can have many benefits for you and your child with autism. Read about the positive impact that game nights can have on you and your family, along with suggestions from our BCBA on which ones you should try first! Read More

We shadowed Melissa, one of the many Speech-Language Pathologists at BYS, for an entire day. Check out what we learned! Read More

Last year brought about a new way of living day-to-day for everyone. We sat down with BY YOUR SIDE BCBA Natalija to discuss tips and tricks on how to get your child accustomed to wearing a mask! Read More

BY YOUR SIDE knows Halloween can be scary time of year for some children. To help you prepare for the upcoming holiday, we’ve prepared strategies to make Halloween an enjoyable holiday for everyone. Read More

Home-based ABA therapy is yet another way that BY YOUR SIDE helps children and families. Kristina Tejeda, BCBA at BY YOUR SIDE shared excellent insight on the highlights of home based ABA therapy. Read More

Music Therapy for children on the autism spectrum is becoming more and more popular. Owner of Dynamic Lynks, Alyssa Wilkins, MT/ BC (Music Therapist/Board Certified) shared information with BY YOUR SIDE on advantages of Music Therapy and how it helps children on the spectrum. She has a lot to say about Read More

Holidays bring families together for fun, entertainment and cooking. This time of the year includes some of our favorite meals, and family recipes. Here are some tips when cooking with your child on the autism spectrum. Read More

September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. In this era of video games, iPads, social media, and more “sit on the couch” activities, it is difficult to get kids to go outside and play. This is why being more intentional about keeping children active, is very important. Here are some tips to get up and go! Read More

Many salons now have stylists with special training for children on the spectrum. Co-Manager and Stylist Angela Rodriguez of KidSnips shared information with BY YOUR SIDE on the preparation, methods and tips that make hair care easier, even fun. Read More

A few ways to combat the challenges of a summer road trip include great preparation, timing your trip just right, and making a comfortable environment in the car with your child’s favorite things. Read More

Speech language pathologists, or SLPs, play an important role in helping children with communication issues such as conversation, non-verbal communication and concept skills. At BY YOUR SIDE, we are very fortunate to have several SLPs at both our Burr Ridge and Schaumburg centers who are highly skilled and very dedicated to helping our kids with skills that will be with them for the rest of their lives. Read More

During the holiday season, malls are decorated with bright colorful lights, trees, Santas, elves and more. While festive, this can be over stimulating for children on the spectrum. Here are some suggestions for making shopping more fun and comfortable for you and your child on the autism spectrum. Read More

Halloween can be a challenge if you have a child on the autism spectrum. Some parts of the holiday can be overwhelming and scary when your child doesn’t understand or feel in control. The most popular activities such as trick or treating, projects, parties, and wearing costumes can be easier for them to enjoy with a few preparationsRead More

There are many rewarding careers in the field of therapy. BY YOUR SIDE has several disciplines of therapy services, which help children in various ways, to address their specific needs. Read More

Friendships are an important foundation to have for all of us. Children on the autism spectrum want to have great friendships but may have trouble establishing them. Read More