Inspirational words to bring understanding and compassion for people with special needs. “If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears, however near or far away.” — Henry David Thoreau Special needs Cherished Ones, either young or old, […]
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Whether you call it special education or exceptional education, your expectations for its role in your child’s life are high, as well they should be. As parents of special needs students, we face decisions that parents of typical students rarely consider. Public, private, or charter school? Consider homeschooling? Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan? Standard diploma […]
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Autism in girls has long been misdiagnosed as their symptoms look quite different from those of their male peers on the spectrum. Are there fewer girls with autism or are they not being diagnosed? When most people think of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or high functioning autism, often called Asperger’s syndrome, boys and men often […]
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Autism is a wide, all-encompassing term that covers a variety of conditions, most of which include a difficulty in connecting with others through communication and relationship skills. First diagnosed in 1943 by the pioneering psychiatrist Leo Kanner, autism has been studied for over half a century, with researchers continuously discovering new methods to help care […]
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Molly was diagnosed with autism at age two. She was quiet—almost non-verbal—and did not play with other children. To communicate, she led her parents to what she wanted or needed. Molly also had severe tantrums and trouble maintaining a regular sleep pattern. She did not appear to be a typical two-year-old. She seldom smiled or […]
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Alan Turing: The man who cracked the ‘unbreakable’ German Enigma Code in World War II. A gay man convicted of homosexuality in the dark days when it was a crime, but posthumously pardoned by Her Majesty the Queen in 2013. Until recently, that was about the sum of my knowledge of this brilliant man, but […]
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In November 2013, I attended a parent-teacher conference for my three-year old son, and I left with an overwhelming feeling of thankfulness (I guess it is fitting, considering Thanksgiving was two weeks away). One of the teachers made a comment to me about acceptance and that I am one of the few parents who are […]
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Buy Single Issue Subscribe today and save 50% Features: Let’s Hear It For This Year’s Special Contributors A special recognition for our Top 15 Contributors for 2016 who have helped make Autism Parenting Magazine an award-winning magazine. Amy KD Tobik The Urgent Need to Stop Criminalizing Autism A leading attorney and autism/children’s rights advocate […]
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Over the past 17 years, our program, Kid Pan Alley, worked with more than 40,000 children writing songs in schools throughout the country. Those kids have written more than 2,700 songs, some of which were recorded by top entertainers such as Delbert McClinton, Sissy Spacek, Amy Grant, Kix Brooks, Suzy Bogguss and more. One was […]
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A child with autism is sometimes hard to please. There is only so much a child can do in the backyard, and even planned activities, such as an afternoon at the movies, can end in disaster. Organized sports can offer a little excitement if your kid is able to follow along and process the concept […]
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