Have you ever heard the saying “It takes a village to raise a kid…”? This is especially true for the Autism world. There are so many different needs and no “one-stop shop” to cover all of them. I remember in the beginning of our diagnosis we had no clue what to do. It was just […]
A view from the outside in..
A couple months ago I was taking Z to school. Something occurred that I just could not stop thinking about the entire day. I got to see a glimpse into what my world must look like to those around me. And it was scary…. Here’s what happened… In the car behind me was a dad […]
The Non-Verbal world of Autism
These days you can’t take two steps before bumping into someone who knows someone (who knows someone) with Autism. But we belong to a small niche community within the Autism world. “Non-Verbal Autism”. I’ve seen stats that show about 25% of those with Autism are Non-Verbal. I want to take some time to try and […]
Accommodating the wrong side..
The handicap parking spots have forever been associated with physical disabilities. Isn’t that what you picture when you see a car parked in one of these spots? Have you ever seen someone get out of a car and thought “how did they get a pass?” They must be working the system for sure. But the […]
Today I Cried…
Today I cried.. Today was hard.. Usually I am tough. I can take on the world. I am 100% That Warrior. Ready for any battle. But even the most seasoned warrior probably wakes up like “Really? I have to do this again?” Even the most seasoned warrior might question their path and consider settling down […]
When traditions do more harm than good..
Let’s talk a bit about expectations and learning to be flexible. About understanding tradition and about being okay with modifying that to create your own new traditions. About living life in the moment rather than in the past. The other day, I opened Facebook and it gave me a bunch of memories all about all […]
There’s no right way to be social..
A common misconception of people with Autism is that they are anti-social. It isn’t that they do not want to be social or that they hate everyone. I think the issue actually lies in either their inability to communicate properly or in the other person’s inability to accept their differences. People have a hard time relating […]
Manual not included..
Although Autism has been around for a long time, the treatment is still being figured out. Autism is not something they can determine in the womb, allowing parents time to plan ahead. It springs up on you. You may go years with an inner battle of “maybe he is just delayed” or “maybe he will […]
Siblings Prove Inclusion Works…
I have been blessed with two amazing step-daughters. I couldn’t have asked for more caring, compassionate and welcoming girls. A year after our wedding, we welcomed Z and I was blown away by these girls and their love for their brother. I know it couldn’t have been easy to have these two major changes occur […]
What is his special skill?
“What is his special skill?!?” asks a perfect stranger with delight in their eyes upon hearing Z has Autism. Yes, this happens. A lot… Think about it.. Who is the first person you think about when you hear the word Autism? Rain Man? Temple Grandin? Surfer Clay Marzo? Albert Einstein? Do you think about the […]