a reflection: alone with autism

Happy New Year! I was happy to celebrate at my Noon Years Eve party this year to bring in the 2017 year. Looking back over the holidays  and years I’m happy to be in this place.  I didn’t know how I would make it many days; even after the third day of winter break this…

How schools fail special needs children

Part 1 of a never-ending story!     Some of the ways that schools fail special needs children: communication, training, allowing good teachers to teach, involving parents, doing the right thing, honesty, paying professionals with  special education what they are worth, testing, lack of outside time, class size, providing resources to help parents at home…

Q: Why were you late today? A: um…sugar

A lot has been weighing on my mind lately.   Today, on my out for work Max was going into his compulsive breakfast behavior.  There are a few behaviors that occur regularly that have become obsessive.  As most parents and especially parents of children on the spectrum, small simple things can take hours to get…

PARC first to help

PARC was the first agency to help my son.  I tried to get help first from Early Steps. We went through the evaluation but my son did not score low enough to start receiving services.  When I sent my son to a private school, they suggested the PARC Family Focus Program.  The Family Focus Program…

So you think your child may have autism?

Most parents notice signs or differences in their child around age 2.  The timeline to noticing differences or having concerns about your child’s development and getting a diagnosis can  take up to 3 years. So, parents have years of trying to find therapists, work with schools and determine what works for their child. It can…

When I noticed my son was different

At around the age of 2, I noticed my son  wasn’t doing the same things as my friends sons were doing.  He didn’t have the language, play skills or eye contact that the other children had.  He seemed to be in his own world, he  just wanted to watch and play with himself.  He was…

life as a mother to a son with autism

Dear life, I didn’t see this one coming!  But, I laugh and smile.  You see life, you have a way of making things come full circle.  Back in the good `ole days, before kids and husbands; I would spend A LOT of time with some very cool women that are great friends.  They would have…

Happy Cry

  I had two stressful days….well, I’ve had a stressful four months. Today, when I opened my son’s folder from school there was a note from the teacher.  There is normally a note.  However, today was different.  “Max had a great day. He was able to express his needs/wants with us.”    And then I start…