Archive for June 2018
Seeing the Words Severe Intellectual Disability
Intellectual Disability. Severe. With language impairment. Non-verbal. Limited functional language. It was a mouthful. We weren’t to the end of the meeting yet. You know the part where you learn the diagnosis. We had just started on the 25 page document. I skipped ahead though and read the words. I wanted to know the results of his IQ test. I saw the number. Suddenly, I felt a ringing in my ears. The therapist was talking. I could see her lips moving. However, I could not quite hear her. I was…
Read MoreFriend, I Understand You May be Scared
It’s the end of the school year and administrators are sitting with teachers working to create the best classes for the coming year. I understand it’s not an easy task. This year, I sit on the other side of the table as the parent who understands that my autistic child may be placed in your class. I have even heard that a few of my ‘friends’ have requested that their children not be in my child’s class. I want you to know, I understand. Really. I do. Friend, I remember…
Read MoreThe Wonderful World of Denial-Land and How I Escaped
“I’m going to say something during the appointment” my husband said on the way to our daughter’s one-year pediatrician check up. “Why? It’s nothing. Seriously. Why even bring it up?” I said in a strong tone but really was begging him not to take our new, adorable, happy, drama-free family down a path I knew we were already on. Let’s go back one year prior to when our newest daughter was about to be born. We were holding our breath waiting to see her because after our anatomy scan at…
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