Going Beyond Words: Supporting Children With Autism Who Are Grieving - Jennifer Wiles, M.A., LMHC, BC-DMT, FT

In this episode, we delve into the grief experiences of children and teens with autism. Our guest, Jennifer Wiles, M.A., LMHC, BC-DMT, FT - Director of the HEARTplay Program and a dance movement therapist with decades of experience - joins us to discuss how children with autism process grief and how parents and others in their lives can support them. Drawing on her background in both nonverbal forms of expression and grief support, Jennifer shares compassionate, practical insights rooted in her work with families. This conversation is both timely and essential, especially during Autism Acceptance Month, as it highlights the importance of expanding how we understand and support grief beyond more traditional approaches rooted in words.

We discuss:

• The importance of using direct, concrete language when talking about death

• Common misconceptions about how kids with autism express grief

• Why behaviors often interpreted as indifference may be expressions of deep emotion

• How sensory overload and disrupted routines can intensify grief reactions

• The powerful role of nonverbal communication—movement, gesture, rhythm, and ritual—in grief expression

• How social stories and structured activities can prepare kids for events like funerals

• Grief rituals for significant days like anniversaries and birthdays

• The impact of other losses, including changes in routine, missed milestones, and the death of service animals

Resources mentioned:

• Toolkit from the National Alliance for Children’s Grief (NACG): A resource for supporting children of all abilities who are grieving

• Books:

• • I Have a Question About... series by Meredith Polsky & Arlen Gaines

• • Understanding Death and Illness and What They Teach About Life by Catherine Faherty

• • A Kids Book About Grief by Brennan Wood

• HEARTplay Program: Free downloadable social stories and grief support

Have feedback or a story to share? Email us at griefoutloud@dougy.org Visit dougy.org for grief support resources, activity sheets, and past episodes.