Posts by Heather Woodring
The Beauty of Unexpected Connections Autism Brings
I was in a waiting room with my son, Zachary, completely unaware of my surroundings. Some days are easier than others, but on this particular day, he was smiling while playfully tugging at my hair, and I couldn’t help but smile back, my attention entirely on him.We had the appointment, and I had just gotten him in the car when I turned around to see a woman standing in front of me.She had a kind look on her face and asked me if Zachary was my son and if he…
Read MoreA Seat at the Table: Championing Severe Autism in D.C.
It has taken my husband, Michael, and me a couple of days to recover from four plane rides and three days of navigating D.C., but we are so glad we seized the opportunity to do it. Individuals with severe/profound autism and their caregivers/families are so often left out of the conversation and robbed of a seat at the table. We are isolated and forgotten, even though 27% of individuals with ASD are severe/profound. The Authentic Awareness Assembly event, put on by the National Council on Severe Autism (NCSA), gave families…
Read MoreA Year of Purpose: Finding Joy and Strength as a Lifelong Caregiver
I recently marked one year since I took early retirement from my career to stay home with my son, Zachary who lives with severe autism. I have always worked full-time throughout his life, but once we realized he would always require 24/7 care, our goal was for me to care for Zachary full-time after he graduated high school. As a senior, he started saying, “Stay home, Mama,” every morning, so we knew he had the same goal. It took us about three years after he graduated to meet that goal.…
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