Posts by Linda Orleans
“Sometimes” Was the Only Answer That Fit the Moment
I was walking into the neighborhood dry cleaners when another mom was walking out. She smiled and asked, “How is Danielle? Is she still making progress?” I stood there, my coat slipping down my arm, one sleeve half on and half off. I opened my mouth, but no words came out. Danielle is my 23-year-old daughter. She has autism and complex medical needs, including Crohn’s. “How is Danielle?” is a question I know how to answer. A simple fine, okay, or hanging in there is usually enough. “Is she still making progress?” is…
Read MoreCompassion and Encouragement are Priceless in Moments of Autism Distress
Many of us that live with autism are familiar with the comings and goings of something that feels like a ticking time bomb; one that disappears for periods of time, so much so that we might forget about it. Then suddenly, this bomb drops at our doorstep in the form of a returning or new obstacle, so intense that it causes us to pause our lives, alter our plans, maybe even change our current paths. For our family, the new challenge has been sudden piercing, momentary screams. Not constant or…
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