Posts Tagged ‘Special Needs Child’
Disability 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…
Read MoreNavigating Autism and Finding Happiness
When you have a child diagnosed with autism, it’s not about you as the parent. At least that’s what we are told. Your sole focus becomes helping your child. Getting them the help they need. Services. Supports. Therapies. Education. And so on. That’s the role of a parent. And that’s how it should be. But one part that is overlooked, I think, is the evolution of the parent. Their journey. And the patience that should be given to them when everything changes suddenly. It’s not easy ya know. Stepping off…
Read MoreAgainst All Odds: From NICU to Buying His First Car
I don’t even know where to start with all of my emotions. I’m beyond proud of the amazing young man my son, TJ has become. He has overcome so many struggles and obstacles to get where he is today. I brought TJ home from the hospital 27 years ago. He was 4 1/2 months old and finally big and strong enough to leave the NICU. He was born at 25 weeks and just under two pounds. He had a tracheostomy placed at 3 1/2 months to wean off the ventilator,…
Read MoreTurning My Fears of Autism Around
When I first learned my son had autism, Fear and worry consumed my heart, Wondering what his future held, And how we’d make a brand new start. But as we journeyed down this path, For in the midst of challenges, There’s also joy to be had. My son sees the world in a different way, And he’s taught me to slow down, Appreciate life’s little moments, And cherish every sound. His love for routine brings comfort, And his laughter is contagious too, He’s taught me about resilience, And…
Read MoreWorld Autism Day
Today is World Autism Day. This is our 12th one. As my son has gotten older, the meaning of the day has morphed for me. It used to be about education. Today, it’s about celebrating. Celebrating differences, celebrating progress, and celebrating a boy who has climbed far more mountains than I have. And ice cream and dancing. I have three boys and a girl. Four crazy, wild, busy, smart kids. Each of them is exactly who they are supposed to be. My oldest is autistic. There are a lot more…
Read MoreDear NextDoor User
Dear NextDoor User, I read your post this morning. I can tell you there was some perfect timing to it. See, I had just put my autistic son on his special education transportation to school. A service that I thank my lucky stars for every single day. I was taking a moment before my other three kids got up to drink some coffee and mindlessly scroll on my phone. That’s when I saw your post. And I can tell you, I had to read it a few times through. Can…
Read MoreBe Kind
Be kind. It’s just a statement. Really quite simple when you think about it. Two words. A direction. A request. A plea. A wish. You can find it anywhere these days. On t-shirts. Hats. Bumper stickers. Tote bags. I was just sitting here thinking about kindness. See, I am a mom of four kids, one with a disability. He is 12 years old now. We are long past the wonder of the diagnosis. Past the in-between space of is he or isn’t he. Past the sting of forever. We have…
Read MoreMy Plea, Just See Him
The thing with growing tiny humans is they are always changing. Learning. Absorbing. Getting bigger. My son Cooper is 12 years old. He wants to ride an Amtrak train more than anything. He has a countdown to see his Grandma. He loves going to school. He also is autistic and technically non speaking on paper. But if you know him you know he has loads of words and sounds and signs and he can spell and read and even use movie scenes to tell us things. It’s unbelievable really. They…
Read MoreAutism Awareness is Important
When I take my son out into the community he wears his headphones and people always attempt to speak with him. In those moments, I have a choice to make . . . to just go with it or to tell them that my son is autistic and non-speaking. I’m not going to lie, sometimes it is draining to explain to people over and over that my son is amazing and autistic. Sometimes I’m tempted to just go the easy route. Sometimes when he doesn’t respond and they say, “he…
Read MoreShe’s the Girl With the Big Brown Eyes
She’s the girl with the big brown eyes, with lashes that go on for days. Thick brown hair that waves and swirls with red flecks that catch the sunlight. A big bright smile when the mood hits her right and a laugh that spreads like wildfire. She started this life healthy. It seemed only to become more uncomfortable by the day. Words that came early and all said with purpose and endless charm. Those very words were stolen from her with no warning or explanation, leaving silence and deep frustration. …
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