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.
Life 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 readingSpecial Needs Parents: You Are Not Alone
At times I feel very alone! Yes, I will admit it may seem very difficult to feel alone while being in the company of little children day in and day out, though there is a vast difference between being lonely and being alone. I may, in fact, have company everywhere— in my bed the few […]
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 readingRestless Nights: A Mom’s Case of IEP Insomnia
As I can’t sleep, I’m trying to figure out how to describe the pressure and fear of attending an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting as a parent. I understand it’s a legal document that can be amended. But for me, there is so much emotion balled up into that document. It carries every piece of my […]
Continue readingParenting a Unique Child: A Child Like Mine
It’s a BOY! I was overwhelmed with joy, pure joy. I was going to be a mom of a baby boy. Being a former tomboy, I enjoyed everything boy-related. I loved comic book superheroes, action figures, scary movies, playing with trucks and trains—all the stereotypical things related to boys. I was destined to have a […]
Continue readingThe Ultimate Race That Changed My Son With Asperger’s Life
This is a story of my son Jacob and the challenges he lives with every day. It is a story of his junior year in high school and a cross-country race he ran. This was a race that I can still see and feel when I close my eyes, and my memories take me back […]
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 readingFinding Comfort in the Uncomfortable
Growing up with autism, my mom was a big part of my life. She wasn’t the bionic woman, but she was instrumental in identifying my boundaries and also pushing me out of my comfort zone. This can be a difficult part of raising a child who has autism, realizing the fine line between pushing them […]
Continue readingYoung Girl with Autism is the Creative Force Behind Popular Show
August 24 was around the corner and everyone could feel the excitement in the air. Would it be a girl or a boy? It really didn’t matter to the family. The only thing they wished for was a happy and healthy baby. When the day arrived, the news spread like wildfire. The first baby in […]
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