Posts Tagged ‘severe autism’
The Privilege of Growing Up
Today, I brought my son Sawyer to his first grade assessment at his school. We opened up all of his school supplies and put them in his backpack before we left. He was chattering nonstop while sharpening his pencils. He hoisted up his backpack while exclaiming how heavy it was. We walked to the truck. He opened his door, climbed in and buckled his seatbelt, immediately asking me to play Lizzo. He asked me what his teacher’s name is and where his classroom is going to be. I pretended to…
Read MoreArrests made in West Virginia Special Education Abuse Case
Like me, many of you have been following this story since the beginning. As a mom to a little boy with nonverbal autism, it summarized my worst nightmares and greatest fears into one. Emotional and physical abuse of the most vulnerable population. Thankfully, arrests have been made. Suspecting her 6-year-old daughter with severe nonverbal autism was being abused at school, Amber Pack, a West Virginia mother hid a recording device in her daughter’s hair, court documents say. On Friday, the girl’s former teacher and two former aides were arrested, the…
Read MoreI’m Sorry You’re Missing This
I’m sitting here, basically in shock. Shock of the ignorance of people, wondering if it ever has an end. I’ll start by saying that I love my job (well, loved). I thrive in that chaos. I love new and challenging things. I feel like my life has been one giant challenge since August 17th, 2010 – the day my daughter was born. It definitely started off pretty quickly. They had us stay in the hospital for two days after I gave birth to her. The evening I brought her home,…
Read MoreTo the Mom who is Trying to Figure out who She is After Special Needs:
I thought I would be a boy mom. A baseball mom. A hockey mom. A social mom. A mom with a lot of friends. A cool mom. A successful mom. Autism challenged every one of those titles for me. I am brave enough to say that. The role of special needs mom overpowered it all. It turned my whole world completely upside down. And inside out. And backwards. It demanded I slow down. And move faster at the same time. It demanded I speak out and yet learn to hold…
Read MoreA Simple Trip to the Store
Four years ago, when my autistic son was four years old, I took him to Target. He had just been diagnosed with autism. Life was just starting to get more challenging. The list of places we could go and things we could do was getting smaller. Anything outside of our home was nearly impossible. He struggled to walk, to ride in a cart or stroller, to be calm, to wait, you name it…we felt it. But I needed something from Target. I needed to pick up a prescription. I needed…
Read MoreWe won’t be Silenced
Severe autism, level 3 was my son’s first diagnosis. But I’m not supposed to talk about it. Severe learning/intellectual disability was my son’s second diagnosis, I’m allowed to talk about this one. Most children with this level of autism have very complex issues and learning disabilities. You can talk freely about most disabilities and special needs without being shamed. Autism is not one of them. Some severely autistic children will live at home forever, or in a residential home. Some severely autistic children will still need help with all of…
Read MoreHis Big Brother
This baby is so in love with his older brother. He stares at him. Follows him everywhere. Wants to be right next to him. Touches his things. Giggles at his sounds. Climbs on him. He isn’t scared. He doesn’t know he’s nonverbal. Autism isn’t a thing to him. This is his big brother. His amazing big brother. And Cooper is doing unbelievable tolerating him. 10 months ago I was so scared. Tears of worry were shed. They are growing up together. I can’t wait to see where this relationship ends…
Read MoreThank you to Those who Don’t Give Up
He had just turned three years old. It was Mother’s Day weekend. My third one. I picked him up from daycare and she said…’He refused to put his hand in paint and I don’t do art projects for kids. You don’t care about my work.’ I remember watching all the kids toddle up to their moms carrying little messily wrapped packages. Huge smiles from the kids, so excited to show off their homemade gift. My son was sitting in the dirt driveway. Picking up the sand, sifting it through his…
Read MoreI Thought About Running Away
After my son was diagnosed with autism, I had all these different thoughts running through my head. Almost manically. I needed to help my kid. I needed to make this okay. I thought about moving away. I felt like this label had been tattooed on his forehead, destined to follow him everywhere. So, if we went to a new place, a new city, a new school district even, then they wouldn’t know. And it would be fine. He would be fine. Because no one would know he was autistic. Right?…
Read MoreWhen Hard Work Pays Off
This kid played one heck of a baseball game tonight. He hit the ball twice WITHOUT mom’s help. He ran the bases and didn’t need my help to stay calm! He clapped, cheered and perfected the double high five-down low-up high-chest bump with mom. Grandma and Grandpa were there cheering so he brought his best game! He even stopped mid-base to wave at them and request they clap. In the field he snagged a few balls, ran them back to the coach and took in a few minutes of Thomas…
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