As the days and nights become increasingly warmer your sensitive child on the autism spectrum may require a little help in coping with the sensory issues that summer may bring.

So here’s a few tips aimed at those parents of the sensitive child! After all everyone deserves to have a great summer don’t they!  Continue reading →

Tonight when I tucked Aidan in, we went through our usual routine of hugs and kisses and turning on the dream lite.  He has currently started to pile all of his stuffed animals on his bed now as well in a sort of "mountain" which I think makes him feel safe and helps with his sensory issues as well.  He loves to be covered in blankets and has enjoyed the use of squish boxes.  There is one other part of his nightly routine that has been occurring for quite some time now and that is he wants one or both of our cats to lay down with him and snuggle in bed.   Continue reading →

Shortly before Ryan's bedtime, he trashed his room. A totally thorough trashing. Quite impressive, actually.

So I laid down Typical Parent Threat #3: clean up this mess now or I'll give away anything that's left on the floor.

But Ryan is not a typical child, so typical parent threats don't always work the way I'd like.  Continue reading →

There is so much blame going around, I seem to find it everywhere.

There are parents that blame vaccines or the environment or doctors for their child’s autism. There are some autistics blaming their autism for their inability to succeed. There are some parents blaming autistics for giving people a false impression to people of their child and then there are autistics blaming parents for giving people a false impression of autistics in general.  Continue reading →

This is speech that was given by Kaitlin Phelan, a young woman with autism, at the Greater Hudson Valley Walk Now for Autism Speaks.  Her mother Patricia is the Walk Chair.

----
Continue reading →

I just opened my box at the post office and inside; there was a flyer from the Epilepsy Foundation. In large bold red letters, it said CURE epilepsy.  I have seen those words on that flyer many times before, but this time it made me angry.  My son, Brandon just turned forty years old and together we have worked extremely hard to help him achieve his dream of independence.  Continue reading →

God bless my sweet boy!!! Auditory processing really kicks his butt. (if you're new to the world of Autism, just click here for more info on what it is. Many kiddos with ASD often have issues processing what they hear.) I am seeing it more and more recently. Just this morning as I was giving him his spelling test it was the worst I had ever seen it.  Continue reading →

I have found two perfect thoughts that capture the essence of what I've been feeling lately as I try to communicate what life is like for someone on the spectrum, as well as for those who love and care for them.

I found them, on all places, on a blog about art and photography from a French female artist. In a way, this is very appropriate, as I have found in France the inclination to look at and celebrate the individual, rather than submit to the herd mentality and do it up better than the Jonses. Continue reading →

This is what a good day at school looks like. I've been running on all cylinders, changing diapers, and trying to help my boy feel some relief for the past 10 days.  It's been a whirlwind and I think - I hope - we're turning a corner on Jack's antibiotic-related GI issues.

Of course, the day before we headed down this road, we had that all important acronym that strikes fear into the hearts of special needs parents everywhere.

I'm speaking - of course - of Jack's annual IEP.
Continue reading →

The State of Florida is the home currently to 12 Autism Lights. They include parents, individuals with autism, politicians, and athletes. People who live in Florida with autism are blessed that the state is the home to several foundations started by autism parents who live in Florida.

Florida Autism Lights  Continue reading →