Parents in Pinellas! Please read, call with questions, and apply immediately if interested in the all day VPK opportunity from the Early Learning Coalition. When I saw the VPK all day option a few days ago, I was so excited to see a real community need being addressed. The VPK voucher is for about three…
Category: access
Summer Swim Safety
In May, one year ago, my son could not swim. He loved the water but if he jumped in, he would sink to the bottom like a heavy rock! With summer approaching and a holiday weekend, many families have picnics and fun gatherings. One of the most common concerns with children with autism is wandering. …
Summer Camps
What a nightmare! Finding a summer camp for a typical child can be difficult; then add a child under 5 that has a developmental delay or a diagnosed condition. I dream about the day that early intervention is really supported and funded so that children under 5 that are placed in the public school programs…
HOPE
Dear Parents with Children with Autism, I am writing you to reassure all parents out there that anything is possible for our children. It will be easy for doubt and uncertainty to run and rule your thoughts but stay strong. Parents must keep fighting for their child(ren) and for the proper care necessary. Please…
It’s time for VPK!
In the beginning of the year, we apply for the August start of the new school year. We are planning eight months out! So, as a mom of two this is actually my first time going through this process because my oldest had an IEP. Because we were already in the preschool system with an…
Grant Money Opportunities
Happy New Year! Now, that 2018 has begun now is a great time to start researching and applying for grants for your child with autism or other diagnosis. We want more money, more services and better care for our children with autism in 2018! I have researched the following grants and foundations. Some I did…
Sensitive Santa for the win!
We had a great experience at Sensitive Santa at Westshore Mall last weekend. We’ve not always had the best experience and outcome with visiting Santa but were very happy with this years opportunity. Last year we tried three different times all paid opportunities to get a family picture and picture with Santa. All three times,…
Sensory Friendly Review of the Georgia Aquarium
We traveled and visited family in Georgia for Thanksgiving. We heard how amazing the Aquarium was and wanted to take our kids. I just thought about how much my daughter would love the sharks and whales. I didn’t think, stress or worry about my son with autism and how he may or may not enjoy…
Access to Early Education
In a recent Sunday paper from the Tampa Bay Times, I came across an article titled “By age 3, rich kids attend school; poor kids stay with grandparent”. I only saw the article because I was looking at the picture of the dinosaur bones on that page because my daughter was so excited about Dinosaur…
Getting Approval… Medical Grant for Autism Services
I wanted to come back to this post about our Medical Grant from United Healthcare Children’s Foundation. I started the grant search process almost a year ago. We applied and were approved in September of 2016 and had a year to spend the $2,000. We didn’t need long to spend the money but it…
Ruthfulness 