Posts by Kate Swenson
The Colorful Kids
‘My son had never been invited to a birthday party before. I hope you know how much this means to us.’ Yesterday, we had a birthday party for our son Cooper. And we invited his friends. The kids we have met along the way. The ones who don’t necessarily talk or play sports or fit in the norm. Our kids. The colorful kids. At one point, a mama said to me…’we might not make it into the party room. He might not go.’ My response…‘that’s ok. You never have to…
Read MoreOur Coop’s Troop Sensory Santa Event
Last night was one of those really special nights. Our family, along with 20 or so other families, spent an evening with Santa. Some kids lined up chairs. Another watched an old 1950’s train docu-series on YouTube. One young man used his speech device to ask Santa for a horse. Another young man wore noise canceling headphones the entire time. Some kids sat near Santa. Some led him around by the hand. Others just waved. One little girl was dressed up in a tutu. Others in Jammie’s. My son wore…
Read MoreThank You For Seeing My Boy
A few weeks ago, my husband and I sat around a table with five educators, and four on zoom, discussing our son’s education. He was starting at a new school. Mid year. The one he was at prior didn’t work out. I will be bold and say he wasn’t wanted there. He wasn’t liked. I could fancy it up and put a bow on it…but, well, why… As we discussed the transition, and it came time for me to talk, I said… “I don’t care about educational goals right now.…
Read MoreYou Have Not Failed
I had the honor of meeting with a doctor a while back. A very important doctor. I was telling him all about my Cooper. What we’ve been through. I started at the beginning. He didn’t sleep. Not ever. Everyone told me it would get better. They said I was exaggerating. Only I knew I wasn’t. I told him it took Cooper six years to sleep through the night. And even today, it’s still a struggle. I told him about the burst ear drums. One after another. How no doctor would…
Read MoreCommunication Does Not Have to Be Verbal
My son Cooper is nonspeaking. I know that’s a confusing classification. I even sometimes struggle to explain it. See when it comes to autism, and the spectrum you hear about, the waters are often muddy. He said his first word at age 8. It was mom. Now he says it no less than 50 times a day. But he couldn’t tell you his name under pressure or if he is in pain. He can’t use the phone but he can type the name of his favorite movie into YouTube. He…
Read MoreHe Had Never Once Asked for Something
My son Cooper was 7 years old when he first asked me to buy him something. Imagine that. 7 years it took. Prior to that he had never once asked me for a toy or movie or game. We were standing in line at Target and he saw the movie Cars on the shelf. He pointed. He gasped. He jumped. He may have been nonverbal but there was no doubt what he was asking. We watched Cars for weeks straight. He even slept with the dvd. His twelfth birthday is…
Read MoreLet’s Support Disability Ran Business
As we start that holiday shopping let’s support businesses that either provide employment to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities or are owned and ran by a person with a disability. If you are like me, or my own friends and family, I am sure you want to support and give back to individuals who are doing amazing things. Keep reading as I introduce you to five businesses that are setting the bar and shining a light on the meaningful contributions that individuals with disabilities give to society. Happy holidays…
Read MoreMy Son Got Spelling Words Yesterday
My son got spelling words yesterday. They came home in his backpack. He is a sixth grader in a self-contained level three autism program at our local middle school and this is the first time he has had educational homework type work sent home. When I saw the words, the list, tears immediately sprang to my eyes. Which surprised me. See, I am not much of a crier. I’m not the only anyone would call emotional. But, those words, on a piece of paper in his folder, they symbolized something…
Read MoreMy Third Born
I have four kids. They range from 1 to 11. And while they are all carbon copies of each other visually, they are each very unique. When I describe them I often say my Cooper, he sees people. He has the gift of sight that most will never have. I describe my Sawyer as being an old soul. He is thoughtful and kind. My baby, she is stronger willed than any human I have met in my life. And she’s unbelievably smart. She runs this house at 17 months. And…
Read MoreSawyer’s Strength
This morning I drove my middle son Sawyer to school. He typically rides the bus but he wanted to donate a handful of toys to the toy drive his school was holding so I drove him. ‘The toys go to Children’s Hospital mom.’ He was adamant about bringing presents. As we drove he asked me a zillion questions. As a mom, I’ve learned that some of the best conversations happen in the car. After asking me about multiplying 8’s and 9’s and something he saw on YouTube, he said, ‘mama,…
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