Greta Thunberg: Making the Most of Your Differences
In 2003, a girl named Greta Thunberg was born in Sweden. When that girl was eight years old, she first learned about the very real threat of global warming; a threat humans had caused with their own hands. At the same time, she was assured those hands could work to fix it. If we just […]
Continue readingA Look at My Autistic Brother’s New World: Life Without Mam
It was the week after Mam had passed away and Codge was still in emergency respite at Beeston while the social services tried to find him somewhere permanent. It was the first time my wife, Julie, and I had visited. I decided that not going to see him too much and Codge having to get […]
Continue readingLife in My Son’s World of Autism
I live in two different worlds. One, let’s call this my “home planet,” is the neurotypical, familiar, and comfortable world in which I was raised and conditioned. The other is “planet Ari,” which is the world of autism. I entered this world as an alien to autism, and have slowly been adapting to the strange […]
Continue readingThe Social Life or Lack Thereof With Autism
In the summer of 2003, I had finished high school and was getting ready to start college. My best friend of more than two years was about to leave for the Marines. After I hung out with him one last time before he left, his parents dropped me off at my house. I said goodbye […]
Continue readingYou Are an Important Part of The Solution In The Autism Diagnosis
Three years ago, my husband and I were facing very difficult questions. Those questions often didn’t have simple answers, and worse, the professional answers we received didn’t always mesh with other professional answers. How would I navigate this? I can tell you my pediatrician felt that my son was “just a boy.” Had I listened […]
Continue readingAmazing Ways Surfing Changes the Lives of Children With Autism
Attend any surf event for children with autism, and there’s more than what meets the eye. While it may look like a day where children and young adults are simply surfing, there’s actually a powerful form of therapy taking place, something I discovered firsthand. Surf events for children with autism and other special needs are […]
Continue readingHow Cats Can Help Children With Autism Become More Social
Cats are lovable and cute, but what most people don’t know is that these furry animals can help children with autism improve their social skills. Cats bond with the children by providing affection and attention which promotes healthy relationships. Parents with children who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) might not want to get their child […]
Continue readingPreparing for the Social Transition to Adulthood With Special Needs
Perhaps the single greatest, and most frightening moment of a parent’s life is the birth of a child. As you stare in the innocent and precious eyes of your newborn, the gravity of the task of being a parent falls squarely upon your shoulders. No book is given to you that has all the answers […]
Continue readingA Voice With No Words: Ways to Get Started With PECS
Hello, I’m mum to Franklin aged four who was diagnosed with autism at two years old. Franklin is non-verbal, highly sensory, and has learning difficulties. Franklin being non-verbal has been a huge and heartbreaking concern ever since we realized the words just weren’t coming. While my daughter does not stop speaking from the minute her […]
Continue readingHow to Create the Dream Team for Your Autistic Child
You won’t be able to build a dream team, even in a city rich in services if you don’t first identify what you and your child need, and that is difficult because you probably don’t know all that is out there, and what you need often changes. Look to your child for guidance. Once you […]
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