Category Archives: Autism

Sometimes the Truth is Stranger Than Fiction, Part 8
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Posted on March 6, 2013 by

My back was getting sore from hunching over the low-slung kiddie table. The room was hot and stuffy, despite an open door. Both case managers were in attendance. After Pleasanton’s show of confidence, they attempted to steer the discussion to … Continue reading →

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Sometimes the Truth is Stranger Than Fiction, Part 7
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Posted on March 3, 2013 by

When the principal suspended my daughter Katie on her birthday, he created a problem. I’d agreed to the upcoming IEP meeting assuming Katie would be in school. But if she was suspended, then I couldn’t attend. The principal said we … Continue reading →

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Sometimes the Truth is Stranger Than Fiction, Part 6
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Posted on February 27, 2013 by

After two-and-a-half hours, the IEP team had finally made it through all the triennial evaluations. It was clear we wouldn’t have time to finish. To my relief, we had not discussed the alternative placement in Pleasanton. For 30 minutes the … Continue reading →

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Comments That Drive Me Crazy #2
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Posted on February 20, 2013 by

People say some incredibly stupid things when confronted with autism. This is the second installment of insensitive comments that people have said to me regarding Katie’s disability. You can find the first installment here. Enjoy!   But she’s so happy. Yeah, she … Continue reading →

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Sometimes the Truth is Stranger Than Fiction, Part 5
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Posted on February 6, 2013 by

On Monday, my daughter switched to a new classroom placement. This will be her fifth elementary school, and third school district, in six years. It will be her second mid-year transfer. Does anyone other than me think this is a … Continue reading →

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January is IEP Month
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Posted on January 23, 2013 by

It’s January, so that means in my house it’s IEP (Individualized Education Plan) month. In other words, as any special needs parent can tell you, it’s the least fun time of the year. Some years are better than others. My … Continue reading →

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Comments That Drive Me Crazy #1
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Posted on January 17, 2013 by

People can say some incredibly stupid and insensitive things when confronted with autism. At first these comments offended me, but over time I’ve begun to see the humor in them. So I started a collection. The first ten are listed below, … Continue reading →

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Everyone Loves Mr. F
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Posted on December 26, 2012 by

I didn’t think my decision on my daughter Katie’s classroom placement could get any more difficult. Then something happened that, if anything, left me even more conflicted than before. Katie adores her teacher, Mr. F. I adore him too. How … Continue reading →

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Sometimes the Truth is Stranger Than Fiction, Part 4
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Posted on December 17, 2012 by

Last week I visited the classroom in Pleasanton. It’s a good program, at a nice, well-maintained school. I liked the teacher. But when all is said and done, I’m not sure it’s any better of a fit for my daughter … Continue reading →

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The Feel of Summer, Part 2
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Posted on December 9, 2012 by

Besides her significant speech delay, sensory issues remain Katie’s greatest challenge. Furthermore, the two issues are intertwined. In addition to autism, Katie probably has what is called speech apraxia. Her brain has difficulty coordinating the 250 moving parts that are … Continue reading →

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