Jill Kakoske Archives - Finding Cooper's Voice

More Than Words Can Say

By Jill Kakoske / April 5, 2021

If you had asked me what communication meant five years ago, I would have answered without hesitation, “It’s conversation, talking and listening.” Then my daughter came along and showed me… Read More
You Don’t Have to Earn the Right to Inclusion

By Jill Kakoske / February 5, 2021

Will my daughter ever have a friend? Will other kids see how funny and smart she is even if she never speaks? Will they tease and ignore her? Will they… Read More
Building an Autism Bridge Between Generations

By Jill Kakoske / January 11, 2021

There’s a meme that’s been circulating Facebook this week. It reads: ‘In my day, they didn’t have all this Autism and ADHD and stuff.’ ‘I think what you mean is… Read More
When All Else Fails, Ask For Help

By Jill Kakoske / December 10, 2020

Helpless. Desperate. Inadequate. These words describe how I feel as the mother of a child with limited verbal abilities who is inexplicably wasting away before my eyes, refusing to eat… Read More
Wishing On Stars

By Jill Kakoske / October 28, 2020

I’m trying not to obsess over signs that my daughter, Evie, is on the way to finding her own words. Not scripting, echoing or repeating; I mean her own feelings,… Read More
Parents, I have a Plea from the Bottom of my Heart

By Jill Kakoske / November 11, 2019

To explain, this week there were two incidents that tore me up inside. I met a beautiful little 4 year old who I found out is in my daughter Evangeline’s… Read More