Category Archives for "Personal Narrative"
Real-life stories written by people affected by autism (mom, dad, grandparent, sibling) or someone who is on the spectrum sharing personal accounts, happy moments, fears, etc.
Navigating the World of Medication
“Always trust your gut!” people tell you throughout your life. Maybe I don’t trust mine enough, but in mid-March of 2017, it was practically grabbing me by the ears and shouting at full volume about my toddler William, who was in a silent crisis. You see, William’s baby brother George became hospitalized with a serious […]
Continue readingLife in Times of COVID-19 Through the Eyes of a High School Senior
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected billions of people around the world physically, economically, and socially, including, of course, those on the spectrum and their families. People with autism have a completely different perception of life, and this pandemic has impacted them in ways which most people aren’t able to understand or even be aware of. […]
Continue readingUnexpected Birthday Gifts
Our son, Patrick, who has autism, just turned 18 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. We had planned to celebrate Patrick’s special day with family but that plan did not materialize due to the state of emergency and “Stay Home, Stay Safe” Executive Order that was about to be signed by the Michigan Governor, Gretchen […]
Continue readingHow My Mother Transformed Me From an Autistic Child to an Autistic Dad
When I was very small, I didn’t understand the world around me like other children did. One of my most vivid is standing in my school playground. Every child was doing something different—a beehive buzzing with activity. I stood quietly, not knowing what my role or place was within this hive. My teachers tried in […]
Continue readingThe Importance of Parents’ Voices in the Autism Discussion
When a child is diagnosed with autism, parents often feel a wide range of emotions from relief to despair and everything in between. These are all normal. Learning your child will struggle his/her entire life to do things most people take for granted is not only frightening, but heartbreaking. As parents, we want to see […]
Continue readingDiscovering Your Meaning of Autism
So many words come to mind when I think about autism. If you were to ask me what word I would use to describe my son’s autism, it would be “mystery”. I Googled the definition and specifically it means “something difficult and hard to understand or explain”. There have definitely been hard and unexplainable times […]
Continue readingA Different Mind is a Beautiful Thing
It’s easy to talk about autism in a negative light. There are often days filled with meltdowns, screaming, and exhaustion. There is often a great disconnect in communication, understanding, or affection (maybe all of the above). But there are also so many days that are genuinely good, filled with life-changing, mind-boggling, wondrous, amazing moments. Autism […]
Continue readingGetting Away from the Comfort Zone
I am not just a mom; I am an autism mom. Of my three children, two of them have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). One of them also has a mild intellectual disability. All my children are adults now, but my two with ASD continue to live with me. My life experiences have thus led me […]
Continue readingEarly Intervention Through the Eyes of the Child
To the many parents who have children with special needs, I share with you my journey… First, I have some emotional but very serious questions. Do you ever think to yourself, “What is in store for my child’s future?” When parents talk about college for their kids, though it may be early, do you think, […]
Continue readingAn Insider’s View on Autism
Ishaan is a 14-year-old boy with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). I first met Ishaan through my pediatric neurology clinics in 2016 and have had the pleasure of working with him and his family ever since. By all conventional measures used in medicine, Ishaan would be categorized towards the more severe end of the autism spectrum; […]
Continue readingStory of Daughter Rachel
16 dirty nappies a day, feeding every hour and constant screaming! I was a qualified children’s nurse and already had a son. So, what was I doing wrong? If her brother hadn’t been such an easy child, I really think I would have lost my nerve. I was desperate for help but the professionals weren’t […]
Continue readingGrowth is the Best Support for Someone with ASD
My name is Justin, I’m 20 years old, and I was born with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), diagnosed at 16 years of age. I’m not what most people may expect of someone with ASD; I am not a savant like Dr. Shaun Murphy from The Good Doctor or Rain Man, but neither am I incapable. […]
Continue readingBe Aware: Brain Work Under Progress!
Survival of the fittest! – Charles Darwin. It’s the rule of nature applying from animal population to human beings, but since civilization, the human society has been transforming and evolving into a much more challenging environment from day to day. Everyone here is trying to fit into this ever-challenging world. However, there are some people […]
Continue readingA Loving Look at Autism Parenting
When you find out you’re pregnant, it’s supposed to be one of the happiest moments of your life. You dream about your little boy, wondering what color eyes and hair he will have. You look forward to his first smiles and cuddles, and the first time he says “Mummy.” And later on, when these longed-for […]
Continue readingAutism: A Mom Shares the Real-Life Journey
In the Beginning I can remember when I knew I was pregnant with our first child. I could feel it. I couldn’t wait to take a home pregnancy test. On the earliest possible day, I went to the drug store and purchased an early test and took it while at work. It was positive. I […]
Continue readingThe Joys of Horse Riding for A Boy with Autism
Running, running, running, with a huge smile on his face. His eyes are focused on the door he opened with the flick of a switch. Ponies safely in their stables ignore the boy, more interested in chewing the hay. It is a hazy, lazy summer’s day, where the cares of the world are forgotten. Kitted […]
Continue readingSafety and ASD: Locked Down Like Fort Knox
How many locks can one household hold? The answer for my household would take too many fingers and toes! I can say now after spending years working with locks of all sorts that I used to underestimate a lock’s ability. I would look at the basic use of a lock and my mind would stop […]
Continue readingUnderstanding Perspective with ASD: The Sally Anne Test
Suppose there are two women, one named Sally and one named Anne. Sally puts a rock in a basket of hers and goes off somewhere else, leaving the basket. While she’s gone, Anne opens her basket, takes the rock out and puts it in her own box. In this presentation, it’s very clear Sally did […]
Continue readingDad and Son Time: A Game Changer
My son with autism once again changed my life last winter. It was one of those warm winter days where scarves and gloves obscured the short sleeves. On this day, I was to teach my son the grit and speed and skill of a ballplayer on the hallowed grounds of the basketball court. My son […]
Continue readingA Mom’s Look at Autism: What I’d Tell My Younger Self
When I first learned our sweet, beautiful daughter had autism, I felt as if a fierce tsunami had swept me up, taking with it my family’s happiness and peace. Fear rushed through me as I envisioned a future limited to therapies and hardships. Questions flooded my mind. Would our two-and-a-half year old daughter ever be […]
Continue readingForever Love: A Sister of Autism
Having autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is usually associated with disabilities, speech delays, motor skill disabilities, behavioral issues, etc. Although it does entail all those characteristics fairly often, ASD can affect individuals in a plethora of ways. Even though ASD is more common in boys than girls, and the cause remains unknown, ASD has become a […]
Continue readingFinding Joy and Humor in Raising A Child On The Spectrum
Raising a child on the spectrum is not easy. It comes with higher demands of care and time than other children. Believe me, I know! I have four children ranging in ages from eight to 17. My youngest daughter has PDD, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, a moderate form of Autism. She is higher functioning and very […]
Continue readingBeing Brave With Autism
Bravery is one of the most powerful qualities you can instill in your child with autism. The moment you hear that your child has autism, you want to be brave, and you want your child to be brave enough to power through obstacles, too. Developing bravery in your child with autism is easier said than […]
Continue readingA Parent’s Love Knows No Bounds
A parent’s love is a special love. It is not about approval or accomplishment. It is about unconditional support and concern. It’s a love born in joy, nurtured during adversity and reconfirmed on a daily and hourly basis. It’s a love bound up in anxiety and expectation. Often worry and concern can creep in as […]
Continue readingWhen Protecting Your Child With Autism Is Misunderstood
It seems that we as parents of complex children are judged at every turn. But there is no judgment more supreme or detrimental as a letter from Children and Youth Services—a letter detailing you are under investigation by the government because someone in the world, as an outsider looking in, has viewed your parenting in […]
Continue readingHow Netflix’s Atypical Raises Awareness On The Different
Netflix released Season Two of Atypical in September 2018, and soon there will be Season Three. I really hope this TV series will continue for many more seasons. I have been following it since the first season and I believe that there are social dimensions that should not be absorbed by the comical element of […]
Continue readingThis Is My House: Why I Placed My Son With Autism in a Group Home
All parents schedule their kid’s departure from their home to be around the age of 18 years. I often joke that my twins have an 18-year contract in my house and then they get the boot. So it is hard to put into words how that deadline got moved up by 12 years for my […]
Continue readingIs Autism Really Underestimated in Women?
Girls With Autism Flying Under the Radar proclaims one headline. For many years, it’s been accepted the wisdom that there’s an approximately 4:1 ratio of autistic men to autistic women. Recently, self-advocates, scientists, and clinicians have challenged this long-accepted ratio. They claim autism presents differently in girls. As a male on the autism spectrum, I […]
Continue readingDeveloping Life Skills With Autism-One Pizza Order at a Time
Friday night was pizza night. This tradition began when Dylan was in middle school and the increased social pressures and new academic pressures conspired to totally “unglue” him. By Friday, he was an exhausted wreck, and frankly, so was I. Middle school is difficult for most children. It was close to unbearable for Dylan. It […]
Continue readingLife With ASD: Hurry Up and Slow Down Already
There is a steady slowdown of cars in front of us on our way to a swim meet. My son, who was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at an early age, starts to show his agitation. Anxiety violently announces itself in the form of rapid-fire questions. “Why are we stopping?” “How long is this […]
Continue readingWhat I Wish People Understood About Autism
Growing up, I always knew he was different, different from other people around us. But I still could never understand why, why him? When we went out in public, people would just stare at us for such long periods of time it was almost uncomfortable—it was as though they were judging us and him just […]
Continue readingParody of Everyday Life with Autism
Obsession and repetition are run-of-the-mill when you are raising a child on the spectrum, so is finding the hilarity through the days which prove to be most stressful. Laugher really is my best medicine. Our son Ryder was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) when he was three years old. He currently obsesses over a […]
Continue readingA Teacher’s View: The Beauty of Autism
In my experience, people with autism always have things that are priorities to them. Priorities can mean many different things. It could be a highly specific topic of conversation they wish to discuss, a tangible item that is particularly important to them, or maybe it’s an activity they wish to engage in without interruption. People […]
Continue readingThe Power of Embracing What I Don’t Know As an Autism Parent
I’m a reasonably intelligent man, but I know nothing. I’m simply a dad, only five years into my adventure as an autism parent, trying to learn and share my observations. That’s a good place to start if, like me, you want to be involved in healthy dialogues on autism. We can’t be clinging too tightly […]
Continue readingMy Son, A Mac in a PC World
As a parent of a child diagnosed with autism, I had to adjust to my son’s interests and not my own. It took a lot of practice and patience. Put yourself in your child’s shoes. Imagine a world where everything is chronically overwhelming to all five of your senses. I always say, “My son is […]
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 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 readingInspiring Boy “Breaks” Through Autism and its Stereotypes
As a parent of a child diagnosed on the autism spectrum, I can certainly relate to those instant pangs of fear one immediately begins to digest when the word “autistic” is thrown at you. Will he ever be able to hold down a job? Will he ever be able to find his soul mate and […]
Continue readingThe New Rule – A Short Story
Aaron was not happy. Wednesday night was youth activity night, and since Leia was away at an all-girls camping trip, it was just him. The boys were meeting at Nate’s house for a pool party which meant being shirtless. Worse, his parents had decided they were going to walk there. Aaron didn’t mind walking, and […]
Continue readingSeeing Autism Through My Child’s Eyes
It was the fall of 2016. Our dew covered lawn provided safe harbor for a few of the bubbles that had landed rather gently. Beginning to realize my son’s condition, I watched as he stopped popping the bubbles, and gently squatted alongside to gaze within the sparkling spheres. At about 16 months, he lost his […]
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