Month: July 2013

  • Young Man with Autism Living Independently in the World

    This post is by Serena Selkin, Assistant Director, Grants and Jordan Litt , Family Services Intern.

    In 2011, Autism Speaks funded a transition curriculum at ABILIS in Greenwich, CT to address four key goals: life skills, independence, friendship skills, and employment opportunities. Through our Family Services Community Grants, Autism Speaks helps families living with Autism Spectrum Disorder now, and addresses the growing population of adults wanting to contribute to their communities. For many young adults there are milestones that signify independence and growing up, such as graduation from high school, college, or even a first job. For many young adults diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder these next steps toward independence may not be as easy, and this is where the ABILIS L.I.F.E . program makes an enormous impact.  Continue reading

  • Not My Fault


    "He just does that because he knows you'll give in."

    --- Continue reading

  • Autism Light: James Gandolfini


    James Gandolfini, Jr. was a popular actor who was best known for his starring role as the mobster Tony Soprano in The Sopranos. Gandolfi was born in Westwood, New Jersey on September 18, 1961. James Gandolfini had homes in Los Angeles, California and Manhattan, New York, and his hometown was Park Ridge, New Jersey. James Gandolfini died on June 19, 2013 from a heart attack while in Rome, Italy. James Gandolfini is an Autism Light because his friendship and generosity to autism fathers extended to leaving $50,000 in his will to his college friend Doug Katz who has an autistic son named Andrew (Source). James Gandolfini will be added today to the Autism Light Memorial Roll

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  • The Best IEP Meeting


    I must say that this was the best IEP meeting I have ever participated in, with participated being the key word. Every single person on the Team, with the exception of the ABA consultant and Musical Therapist (because I don't have their e-mail addresses to harass them), worked with me to make sure we were on the same page. They went above and beyond to include me and to do everything they could do to make it easier for me to be an active part of the Team.

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  • We All Scream for Healthcare

    The betting world thought that Obamacare would be overturned. Read HERE about the issues that would still need to have been answered in that eventuality. Interestingly some of these problems really do still remain and have never been addressed...
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  • Sparrow Migrations

    Mike Wallace, the legendary 60 Minutes journalist, said that’s a universal human desire. Kids may be the ones who ask, but everyone loves to hear a story. On Stuart’s and other parenting blogs, we love to nod our heads as we recognize our own kids in his words.
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  • A Road to Better Speech and Hearing

    May was Better Speech and Hearing Month through ASHA, which means a month-long spotlight on the various professionals who strive for better speech and hearing outcomes for individuals with speech and hearing difficulties across the country. It goes without saying that speech and language pathologists may have a long and steady climb to make with an individual who has speech and hearing difficulties. These individuals may not have hearing or speech at all, making it that much more challenging to meet their varying needs. At Special Learning, we have taken into account the need for a basic communication resource to meet the needs of individuals who may not otherwise have a voice to communicate themselves.

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  • The New Currency of OREOS

    Jonah lumbers in unsteadily, using the tips of his fingers to carry a 32 sports bottle tray of water by its shrink wrap.

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  • The Magical Toy

    Every parent of a child with autism is looking for it.  In our case, so is every grandparent and babysitter too.  That toy that will help the child break through- that will be so fascinating to the child that it will trigger some appropriate play. 

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  • The Horribles Parade

    Remember that lovely and touching post about how amazing my son is and how we've overcome major obstacles to get to where we are? How I talked about how very hard he has worked? How polite he is? Wasn't that Sunday?

    Monday was not that day.  

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