Posts Tagged ‘girls autism’
Autism Was the Word—Love Was the Answer
Autism Awareness Month has come to an end. I, however, am aware of autism every day, every week, every month of the year. It rustles up a lot of opinions, especially this year. Everyone who has autism in their life, and especially those who have a child diagnosed, has the right to their own thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. These thoughts will change over time and certainly change with your child. For some of us, the prognosis is dire. It’s not your child may be a little quirky, or have some…
Read MoreNavigating ‘Time For’ as a Autism Parent
My youngest daughter is 16 years old and a sophomore in high school. She is autistic and is also diagnosed with sensory processing disorder and anxiety. I keep getting all the exciting emails from my daughter’s high school that it’s “time for”: Time for your student to pick classes for next year. Time for spring sports tryouts, come be a part of the team. Time for prom season, tickets go on sale soon… Did you get your tux or dress? Time for your student to get a summer job. Parks…
Read MoreSmall Wins, Big Impact: How My Autistic Child Conquered a Grocery Trip
Prior to having a child on the autism spectrum, I never noticed how loud the outside world was. The sound of a cart in the grocery store, the cash register dinging, or the music playing as you walk down the aisles. It all blended into the background. The truth is, I never even noticed the music before my daughter. I never noticed how bright the lights were. I never noticed how loud the automatic doors were. For many years, we couldn’t go to unfamiliar places or through unfamiliar doors. She…
Read MoreHow to Advocate for Your Child: A Parent’s Letter to the IEP Team
It is time to prepare for my daughter Olivia’s annual IEP meeting. I need to go over all of her goal updates and the data taken so we can move forward in the best way for her individual needs. Here is a letter I wrote that conveys all the things about Olivia to her team. To the education staff working with my child, Olivia is a very complex person. She was diagnosed with autism and sensory processing disorder. She also has anxiety and will become obsessive-compulsive in certain situations. I…
Read MoreWhen Autism Changes Everything, But Friendship Remains
Life has a way of shifting our priorities, reshaping who we are in ways we never expected. Parenthood does that, and for me, autism amplified it. Ten fold. The woman I was years ago would barely recognize the person I’ve become today. But every now and then, something, or rather, someone, reminds me of the life I once led and the connections that have remained constant through it all. I had one of those reminders on Friday night when I did something I never do. I went out. It was…
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