Katie’s at Camp Arroyo!!!
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Posted on August 6, 2015 by

Yesterday I dropped Katie off at Camp Arroyo. To say she was excited would be an understatement. I was pretty excited too. (Still am.) Unlike most single parents, I don’t have an ex-spouse/partner who provides me with free and convenient … Continue reading →

Dreaming of Camp Arroyo
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Posted on July 30, 2015 by

In October 2014, my daughter Katie attended outdoor education camp at Camp Loma Mar, near Half Moon Bay, California. It was a big deal, and not just because it was my ten-year-old’s first time in a camp setting. Katie has … Continue reading →

Handing Off and Easing Up
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Posted on July 23, 2015 by

Sometimes it takes an accident or serious illness to make you re-evaluate your priorities. As many of you know, in December 2014, I developed an infection in my right thumb. My thumb was so swollen that it couldn’t bend, and … Continue reading →

Late Bloomers
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Posted on July 16, 2015 by

It’s a sad truth, but kids on the spectrum don’t often get invited to parties, birthday or otherwise. Over the years I’ve grown used to this difficult state of affairs–even as it continued to frustrate and sadden me. These children … Continue reading →

Welcome to Summer School, Part 2
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Posted on July 9, 2015 by

Victoria never did call back. Nor did anyone from the Pleasanton School District, although a district staff person recognized Katie and brought her to her classroom. “Immediately,” the teacher would emphasize later. “They brought her to me immediately.” Yeah, but … Continue reading →

Welcome to Summer School, Part 1
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Posted on July 2, 2015 by

Back in April 2014, when Autism A to Z was making its public launch, I produced a special Storied Nights: An Evening of Spoken Word that focused on autism spectrum disorder. The year before I’d been published in Chicken Soup … Continue reading →

It’s IEP Season, Part 7
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Posted on June 25, 2015 by

For two months I waited for Ms Nav to schedule another IEP meeting. Despite numerous notes and emails, she never did. Finally in late April I put my foot down and insisted on a meeting. Ms Nav replied that Pleasanton … Continue reading →

A Poem for Summer Break
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Posted on June 18, 2015 by

My daughter Katie has only one week of vacation before beginning summer school. We are taking advantage of this break by hanging out on the Sonoma Coast, in a community called The Sea Ranch. For several years, Katie resisted staying … Continue reading →