Parenting a child is not easy, but it is probably not as challenging as     parenting a child with autism or intellectual disabilities. A child with autism and/or intellectual disabilities adds much to the stresses and strains of parenting, both in terms of additional services needed and the management of challenging behaviors, such as aggression and destructive behaviors. Mindfulness-based approaches offer an alternative that may overcome some of these issues.

This workshop will review the current evidence on mindfulness-based approaches for families, and provide examples of formal and informal mindfulness-based practices that families can use in their own lives and the children with autism and intellectual disabilities they care for.