Posts Tagged ‘Special Needs Parenting’
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 MoreBeyond Words: A Mother’s Fight for Her Autistic Son
A year after Benton’s diagnosis, we began the search for private speech therapy. We had received services from the Tennessee Early Intervention System since he was 18 months and would lose the therapy services the day he turned three. The school system would take over his care, and we would supplement with private therapy. Our insurance refused to pay for private therapy, but we felt like Benton would benefit greatly from a few more hours of services outside of preschool. We walked into the speech clinic, and we were taken…
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 MoreBrotherly Love: Navigating Autism and Anxiety Together
I heard his little voice before I saw him. ‘Cooper. Cooper. We don’t hurt our body. We love it.’ I peeked around the corner. What I saw made me gasp. The four year old who wants to be 10 like his next older brother. Blonde hair. Bare feet. Scabbed over knees from a crash on his bike. A Paw Patrol costume half on. He was holding a Ninja Turtle in one hand. The other hand was stretched out. Holding his older brother’s hand. Cooper. He is 12 years old. And…
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 MoreAutism Diagnosis: 5 Life-Changing Lessons
The day I learned autism was now a part of our journey seems like a lifetime ago. No one in our family or immediate circle of friends had a child on the spectrum, and it wasn’t something we were familiar with. I had a flawless pregnancy. All I could think about was taking baby bump photos, rocking him to sleep, never missing a bedtime story, and making my own baby food. Nowhere did I think I would have a baby who didn’t sleep, one who struggled to eat, didn’t babble,…
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,…
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