For autistic children, restrictive eating is very common. Jan Stewart shares common concerns, how to assess and practical strategies to help.

autism and restrictive eating

Jan Stewart is a highly regarded mental health and neurodiversity advocate. Her brutally honest memoir Hold on Tight: A Parent’s Journey Raising Children with Mental Illness describes her emotional roller coaster story parenting two children with multiple mental health and neurodevelopmental disorders.  

Her mission is to inspire and empower parents to persevere through the most difficult of times and have hope, as well as to better educate their families, friends, health care professionals, educators and employers.  Jan chairs the Board of Directors at Kerry’s Place Autism Services, Canada’s largest autism services provider, and was previously Vice Chair at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. 

She spent most of her career as a senior Partner with the global executive search firm Egon Zehnder. Jan is a Diamond Life Master in bridge and enjoys fitness, genealogy and dance.

Are you raising a child with special needs? We're here to help with personal stories, expert advice, the latest research, and tips on how to support your child.

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Let us help navigate daily life with your growing family, with everything from kids’ craft and activity ideas to advice on discipline and birthday party inspiration.

Special needs

Did you know that over 50% of autistic children have sleep problems? Sleep is important, so here are the top strategies for autistic children.

Sleep Strategies for Children with Autism

sleep strategies for autistic children

Asian baby or child girl sleeping with her mother in the bedroom at night. She tired from playing all day

ask sarah when to stop co-sleeping

When the excitement around the holidays and sensory overload gets overwhelming, these tips can help.

holiday tips for parents

When it comes to caring for autistic children, we can face seemingly endless highs and lows. Here's how to support them as caregivers.

How to Support Children With Autism

how to support kids with autism

how to support children with autism

Author, Autism mom and Chair of Kerry’s Place Autism Services, Jan Stewart shares what you need to know.

Special needs

Autism and Restrictive Eating–What You Need to Know

Sleep Strategies for Children with Autism

Holiday Tips for Parents and Caregivers of Autistic Children

How to Support Children With Autism

How We Talk About Autism is Evolving