Language, as I have written before, is the bane of existence for my boys at times. Of course, as with everything about the boys, it depends on the situation. CM2 does seem to have a better handle on idioms and usage then his brother, so he doesn't miss as much when it comes to popular culture. And CM1writes with a talent that I wished I possessed. He is able to dissect, organize and understand complicated ideas as long as he can write them down and mull over them. So the demystification does depend on what is happening, when it is happening and what is required of the boys.

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This has been a good year for getting James more active. Although he has some issues, such as low muscle tone, uneven fine muscle control in his fingers, and vestibular disorders, James is a guy on the go. He likes people and being able to play sports is becoming more of a requirement for him to participate at recess and social occasions with others.
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Our local conversation buzzing is about the lack of churches that provide support for individuals with autism.  While it is a serious discussion here I would like to express my thankfulness for our church and the people in it.  There may not be a room set up for Nathan and I often sit in the hall with him, but he loves going to church. 
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February was Jewish Disability Awareness Month (also known in Los Angeles as Jewish Inclusion Awareness or IAM). There are hundreds of activities throughout the country to help bring understanding and inclusion of those who are "differently abled." For several weeks, I have been actively planning events, in many cities, including participating in Vista Del Mar's Inclusive Shabbat Service, leading an international Webinar based on my book, "Now I See the Moon," screening the film, "AUTISM: The Musical," which features my program The Miracle Project, in synagogues throughout the U.S. and speaking about Inclusion with Clergy. But it was an unexpected call from my friend and mentor Rabbi Naomi Levy that made Inclusion most meaningful and personal and led me to experience one of the most wonderful evenings of my life.
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My children love Minecraft. It’s a “sandbox” kind of game, meaning that what you do in it is entirely up to you. You can build, adventure, fight… what ever! As I always do, to better relate and help my boys, I started playing it myself. I do this with all games that they play. I feel it’s important.  Continue reading →

Our experts share their top strategies for helping nonverbal children with autism develop language skills at any age.

This week, researchers published the hopeful findings that, even after age 4, many nonverbal children with autism eventually develop language. (Read our news story here.)

For good reason, families, teachers and others want to know how they can promote language development in nonverbal children or teenagers with autism. The good news is that research has produced a number of effective strategies.  Continue reading →

My dad is a hero when it comes to my boys. They tell me that "bapa knows everything"     I will often be asked a question (even by the older two) and be told that they don't believe me they are going to ask bapa.

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I was moved to tears when I opened the box. Inside the box I discovered a brand new Ipad for my son. My husband and I talked about getting one for our son for months, but the high price tag was something that we couldn’t ignore. I looked everywhere. I looked and evaluated every used Ipad I came across. I contemplated buying the Android tablets, but I always came back to the Ipad. My husband and I have 4 children and he was the only one working. I finished school and just stated a working couple hours a week and we just could not afford to buy one.

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