Learning Through The Mistakes

Pretty sure that I have made a big and costly mistake!  Can you help me fix it?! So, this McKay Scholarship is all tricky and complex!  There are all these rules and processes and no real human to walk you thru the system.  It’s one thing to just file intent and fill out some private…

504 and High School

This post is different from most because it relates to high school.  Ruthfulness has a primary focus on early intervention for parents and students but as a high school teacher, I get to see how teens and their parents handle or fail to handle their/(child’s) special needs. Teachers, students, parents, and the community: A 504…

Sensory Friendly Movies

Saturday, I took the kids to see their first movie! We went to a sensory friendly movie at a Cobb Luxury Theater.  It was full of experience for sure.  I called to confirm about the sensory friendly environment after finding out from my ABA therapist.  It was advertised to have lower volume, more light and…

Ultimate Guide to Advocating

At my last IEP meeting I received a compliment from the compliance specialist in the district.   She has been in every IEP meeting this school year!  We had four meetings this year and she told me,   “I just want to thank you for being so thorough, detail oriented and prepared for each and…

Hug, Kiss and High-Five

Affection and Autism Social/Emotional deficits are one of the three common domains that children on the spectrum or diagnosed with autism often struggle to understand.  Emotions can be difficult to read or display.  Some criticize people on the spectrum for their lack of personal and physical relationships.  Other family and friends worry about relationships, emotions…

Summer Problems for Special Needs Children

SUMMER IS HERE! School ends this week, Thursday for those of us in Florida (Pinellas County).  Thursday is an early release day.  Why does the school district do this to us?!  Why are you even taking them?  8:30-11:30 that is not helping us working parents, now you have added more scheduling, after school transportation and…

Why do you get help…

…and my more medically complicated child gets none?! Over the last week or so, the questions and concerns have been made regarding assistance for children with autism that have complex medical needs.  Why are some families qualifying and others not?  What is the missing piece? The information that started the discussion was about Medicaid.  Our…

my 5 year old does laundry better than…

many adults! My 5 year old has ASD and has a great ability to do chores or activities that many can’t do at the same level.  He has an ability to observe an action or set of actions then repeat them.  He is able to create a system to complete the chore correctly and accurately…

Doing what’s best for your child….the teacher or the mom?

Update to a post first written 2 years ago! So, I gave some damn good advice there!  And I even followed my own advice!  In two years, we have completed the diagnosis process as well as the early intervention process to enter into an IEP and public schools.  Now, we are fine tuning therapy and…