Posts Tagged ‘autism’
Autism: The Beautiful World of Possibilities
I stumbled across an old blog post of mine the other day titled, ‘What if my son never speaks to me?’ The words that followed were filled with fear and longing. My son was 5. And my hope had ran out. Why? Well, someone, a professional, had told me that if my son, a little boy with severe, nonverbal autism, didn’t speak by age four, then game over. I was crushed. Devastated. Heartbroken. As I read my fears displayed on my computer screen, I had this urge to hug the…
Read MoreLetting Go of Parental Pressure: Embracing Life with an Autistic Child
Some days, I wish we could just be. As a mother, I want the best for my children and our family. But sometimes, the pressure to do it all can be overwhelming. As a parent of a child with autism, the pressure can be even greater. There are countless therapies, sensory toys, vitamins, and schedules that are touted as essential for our children’s growth and development. But with so much information out there, it’s easy to feel like we’re not doing enough or doing it all wrong. I’ve often felt…
Read More5 Misconceptions About Autistic Employees
What if I told you there are some harmful misconceptions out there leading to some talented and deserving autistic employees not receiving job opportunities. I can relate to this as someone who is autistic and sometimes had challenges finding meaningful employment. Today, after overcoming many of my obstacles, I’m a certified professional speaker who gets to talk with companies as part of professional development about tapping into untapped talent pools. One untapped talent pool we need to talk about is the autism community. The reason it’s untapped? While the unemployment…
Read MoreBecause of You: Celebrating Autism Awareness
My Boys, Because of you, I will always know that the month of April is Autism Awareness Month. We don’t just celebrate the start of Spring, but recognize what makes you uniquely YOU. Because of you, our family life is a little bit more crazy. We aren’t able to travel like a lot of families, but our little vacations we do take are fantastic. Because of you, your siblings are stretched in so many ways. But, they have learned to be the most compassionate and empathetic brothers and sisters you…
Read MoreInside My Nonspeaking Son’s World: Dreams, Plans, and Hope
I used to pray for a glimpse inside my nonspeaking son’s world. Simple things… Why does he love trains so much? What’s his favorite color? Why will he eat apple sauce out of a cup but not a pouch? But big things too… Is he happy? What does he want to be when he grows up? What is he afraid of? Does he know how loved he is? For years, I had no idea. I was walking blind as a mother. Today, my sweet boy is 12 years old. He’s…
Read MoreLiving with Autism: A Mother’s Raw Reality
Autism showed up in my life five years ago. I had no idea about it before that, and it saddens me that I was oblivious to this world until it affected my family. Now, I wish for inclusion. I wish to educate the future leaders of society about people like my son and families like mine, who live in a world within this one, which very often can feel lonely, isolated, and restricting. Autism is cruel and also beautiful. I grieve the son I thought I’d have, and I celebrate…
Read MorePrioritizing My Autistic Child’s Happiness
Is she happy? When I think about my autistic daughter, that is the question that is always in the front of my mind. When I think about school, when I plan a trip, when I go to the store, or when I look in the rearview mirror and see her staring out the window of the car, it is always on my mind. Do I want her to learn to read and write? Yes. Do math? Sure. Gain skills of independence and make friends? Of course. But in the end,…
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…
Read MoreParenting a Child with A Disability: Challenges and Joy
Some days, I can’t help but watch. Watch everyone else and envy how easy things seem to be for them. Deep down I know that everyone has their own struggles, but it’s hard to shake the feeling that our day-to-day life is so much more complicated. At school drop-off I watch as other kids jump out of their cars and walk confidently into the building, while we have to park and walk our son directly to his para. And at pickup, I see kids my son’s age walking home or…
Read MoreDisability Advocacy: Embracing Inclusion
When you don’t have a child with a disability you don’t think too much about it. Until your life is touched by it, then you think about it differently. It’s personal. Of course, everyone knows there are individuals with disabilities, but it’s not directly affecting your life. You may think there is not much you can do anyway. That is where you are wrong. We need to stand and advocate for everyone, especially those who are vulnerable. We have come a long way in the way we treat and think…
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