Posts Tagged ‘Special Needs Parenting’
5 Reasons Why We Should Never Force Eye Contact From Autistic People
Growing up on the autism spectrum, eye contact was challenging. Often it felt like an internal pressure from sensory stimulation. As a professional speaker who now gives talks with companies as part of professional development, I often mention getting rid of the interview process because of challenges like this. Instead, I recommend companies do a 1-day job trial to show what autistic employees may be capable of forgoing this challenge. Here are 5 reasons why we should never make autistic people force eye contact: It can be distracting. The structure was…
Read MoreFour Years and Counting: Embracing the Adventures of Our Autism Journey
Our autism journey officially began four years ago as of today. Adventure is another word that comes to mind. The evaluation will forever be burned in my memory. I don’t think a parent could ever forget it despite knowing the diagnosis going into the evaluation. Still, we choose to focus on my son Gage’s progress, accomplishments, and his ability to tackle the world despite his “limitations”. I also want to acknowledge the trials the rest of my family faces because their feelings are valid. Immediate family, extended family, chosen family,…
Read MoreThe Beauty of a Single Word
I decided to take a much needed nap yesterday while my two youngest napped. You know that old saying…sleep when the baby sleeps? Well those babies are 2 and 4 and they are double trouble. Between them and the new puppy and early morning wake ups…I’m exhausted. Anyhow, I slept for 2 glorious hours. And I woke up to the most beautiful sound. One I had never heard before. One I had only dreamed about. ‘M-O-M?’ (Said slow. Each syllable pronounced as if he had to think about each one…
Read MoreAutism Victories: The Joy of the Little Things
Two weeks ago my autistic son went to his younger brother’s baseball game for the first time. He stayed 15 minutes. A few nights after that he went for the whole two hour game. A few nights after that we brought our youngest daughter with us. And then most recently, Spider-Man (our 4 year old) came too. Which, if you add it all up, means all six of us were at a baseball game together. It was not effortless. Not by any means. It was work. I don’t think me…
Read MoreA Touch of Kindness: The Story of a Lost Stuffed Chicken and Restored Faith
Sometimes it feels like the world is against us. A constant fight for what my son Lucas needs and deserves. And then there are times I’m reminded that’s not always true and our faith is restored. We experienced an amazing act this week and it may sound so silly to some. But it was absolutely everything, especially to this sweet boy. Lucas has a worn out and well loved stuffed chicken. Many in Lucas’ world know how special she is to him. A gift, almost 8 years ago, from Lucas’…
Read MoreAm I Brave Enough?
I just left the grocery store. I only had a few things today so opted for the self checkout today. While I scanned my items, I became aware of two young men next to me. I would say they were both in their 20’s. It dawned on me rather quickly that one was helping the other shop for groceries. He was helping him scan each item, slow and meticulously. Talking him through he step. The gentleman being helped was very much enjoying himself. He was laughing and making very happy…
Read MoreWhen They Say, “Very Delayed”
To the parents reading the school test scores that will get their child special education services at school, I see you. My daughter is fourteen years old and has been in the public school system since she was three years old. Every year Olivia has an IEP meeting. Her IEP team goes over all of her strengths and weaknesses and then we create goals based off of data collected from previous goals and testing. Every three years they do extensive testing to figure out what range she falls under cognitively,…
Read MoreLuck and Destiny Unite: Embracing the Magical Journey with Our Daughter
As nature and nurture are woven into our lives, so to are luck and destiny. Luck, by definition is success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one’s own actions. Destiny, by definition, is the events that will necessarily happen to a particular person or thing in the future. My daughter Seeley is now eight, and on the day she was born, she made our family whole. I can recall every detail of the day. First, we got the call! Labor! Then we rushed, smiled, cried, hurried, called,…
Read MoreFinding Shared Understanding: Care for the Caregiver Retreat 2023
A few weeks ago, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Care for the Caregiver Retreat in Minnesota, put on by the More Than a Project and Finding Cooper’s Voice. It’s hard to put into words the sense of camaraderie and love I experienced during that time. When my son was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder three and a half years ago, I withdrew into myself. Even before the diagnosis, our family had become isolated. Going out in public became a challenge as I couldn’t bear the judgmental stares…
Read MoreTo My Sweet Boy
My sweet boy, It’s your old mom here. I have something I want to tell you. Something I want you to know. Years ago, during our hardest days, I made a promise to you Cooper. You didn’t know it. I made it late at night. One of those desperate internal conversations that happen at 3 AM in a scared mother’s mind. We were two years into your nonverbal autism diagnosis although I was nowhere near an expert. We had just said goodbye to kindergarten. It wasn’t working and you needed…
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