Marriage and Autism

The topic of marriage is always a discussion that leads to statistic rates and normally includes a discussion of divorce.  I have written about divorce, autism and denial before and understand the reality that divorce is far too common among couples who have a child with autism or special needs child. I recently read in…

Trick or Treat

Tips and Tricks this Halloween  Trick or Treating with small children with autism Have a child under 5 that is developmentally delayed or have a child with diagnosed autism?  Here are my five tips and tricks for this Halloween when going trick or treating. Comfort and liking the costume First, the child must be comfortable…

A Letter to Myself

Dear Ruth, It’s been a real tough journey over the last year and three years.  You have hung in there well but you cannot keep this pace.  Ruth, you are so strong and Max is so lucky to have you fight for him.  At times, I didn’t know if you or I would make it;…

Stressful September

Well, I am so very excited that September is on it’s last day! I rarely write on Ruthfulness about topics that don’t relate directly to education, access and advocating for autism and early intervention.  But, we are one year in!  Happy Anniversary to Ruthfulness.  It has been a year since I started publicly sharing my…

Sensory Friendly Guide to Hurricanes

A little humor to go along with the stress and mess of Hurricane Irma! By the fifth and sixth of September, most Floridians were in serious Hurricane supply and stock up mode.  It went from a calm and fun Labor Day weekend to a straight havoc and mayhem!  Monday, no work and holiday.  Tuesday, everyone…

5 Ways Public Schools Fail Special Needs Children

original blog post: How Schools Fail Special Needs Children In my original post regarding how the school system fails special needs children my primary focus was around communication.  Communication on multiple levels and capacities.  I have refined my list for five ways our public schools are failing special needs children. Thinking one size fits all…

Stop Classroom Behavior Charts

I already dislike behavior charts that rank or rate children based on a color wheel and was planning to write this post all week.  Then Friday evening I hear my (typical) daughter playing with her toys in the bathtub.   She is playing and then I hear her say, “You have to be nice or…

Back to School: What to do when the Going Gets Tough

We are going on week two for school, really only day three come Monday and teachers have to hit the ground running teaching students how to follow rules, procedures and schedules then add the curriculum content and all the mandatory pre-testing, benchmark testing and assessing required.  I teach high school and am completely outnumbered and…

Tips to Transition Back to School

Heading back to school this month?!  Florida schools are. When school starts, I feel that there is a lot of stress surrounding the event.  When you are starting a new school or even moving up a grade to a new teacher kids can be nervous, excited, scared or disinterested.  I started thinking about this topic…

A Sensory Friendly Guide to Sea World

Sea World (Orlando) has been awesome for our family!  Sea World gives out teacher passes to all state educators and we take advantage of going at least once a year.  The other great deal is that from year to year Busch Gardens and Sea World offer a preschool pass, the pass gives children five and…