Category Archives for "Personal Narrative"
Articles written by people affected by autism (mom, dad, grandparent, sibling) or someone who is on the spectrum sharing personal accounts, happy moments, fears, etc.
Ten Best Things About Raising a Kid With Autism Today
As a mom of a terrific 20-year-old son on the high functioning end of the autism spectrum, it has recently occurred to me that as a young mom of a newly-diagnosed kid, I would have appreciated reading about all the great things that were ahead of me as my son worked his way through puberty […]
Continue readingA Loving Mother Shares: The Blessings of Autism
Blessings? Most people would not use that word when they think of autism. I probably wouldn’t have either until I had a child on the spectrum, but it is true. When my daughter was a toddler, I was always so impressed by how smart she was. She could line things up by colors and shapes […]
Continue readingThe Radiant Smile That Changed Our Lives
Earlier this week, my husband Andy and I sat around the kitchen counter eating dinner delving into the details of our day as usual. Leo, enjoying a rare night off from therapy, switched focus between playing with his beloved Toy Story figures, and gathering his fill of tickles, and scratches from us when needed. We […]
Continue readingLiving With Autism: The Long Journey to a Peaceful Heart
Life is wonderful, then bam! You have been chosen—you have a special needs child. Now begins the whirlwind of emotions, pain, sorrow, heartache, fear, and the feeling of helplessness; each one serving as a necessary component in the long process of acceptance, healing and moving on. It’s amazing how you instantly feel you are all […]
Continue readingSpecial Moms Who Changed the Way Families Shop
Warrior moms. We’ve always been there. Fighting for our kids. Protecting them. Providing for them. Defending their rights. Especially mothers like us: mothers of children with special needs. We are the voice for our children who have no voice of their own. We will fight for them. With all our strength. For as long as […]
Continue readingA New Way to Look at Autism
Autism can be a contentious thing. People argue about exactly what it is; how it came about; whether it is natural or caused by vaccines. They argue about the types of therapies you should adopt, what is beneficial and what is toxic and unacceptable. They argue about the right to self-diagnose and whether people have […]
Continue readingPotentially Dangerous Friends: How They’re Made
I am the mother of a child who is a little different. You probably wouldn’t notice. He speaks, eats, runs, and jumps. He cries when he’s sad and laughs when he’s happy. He looks like all the other kids in his class. Though they can see the difference, even if you can’t. In kindergarten, he […]
Continue readingThe End of Me
It was an unusually warm spring day. Ian bounced out of the van ready for a quick stop at our local Whole Foods. The after-lunch crowd was quieter, less sensory overload for both of us. Our excursion was an excuse for me to pick up much-needed groceries. For Ian, it was a welcome break from […]
Continue readingNew Game Helps Young ASD Boy See the World Differently
Dylan is a special little guy diagnosed with autism very young. He sees the world through a different colored pair of sunglasses every day. Days are spent trying to take what he sees in his mind and comprehend it in the real world. Imagine always missing one piece when you are trying to put together a […]
Continue readingBringing up the Boy
It was the roundabout that I remember most. Every Saturday outside the shopping centre there was a man, sitting on a wooden chair and turning a handle. It looked effortless but it was joined to a series of cogs that drove a children’s roundabout. There was a bus, a tractor, a car and a motorbike […]
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