A Little More About Adoption
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I’ve written before about how we, as a society, need to stop treating adoption as the booby prize. Stop viewing it as a second-class track to parenthood. Then someone asked what I would recommend, then the best option is visit infantcore.com … Continue reading

January is IEP Month
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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

Comments That Drive Me Crazy #1
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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

Happy New Year 2013
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Hope you had a wonderful, relaxing holiday season spent with family and friends. Katie and I are enjoying the last few days of her winter break. Or at least I am. Since Christmas, my daughter has been asking me every day to … Continue reading

Everyone Loves Mr. F
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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

Sometimes the Truth is Stranger Than Fiction, Part 4
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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

The Feel of Summer, Part 2
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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

The Feel of Summer, Part 1
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Like one child in eighty-eight, my daughter has autism. While many people do not fully understand autism, awareness has improved. What really confuse people are problems with sensory integration, also known as sensory processing disorder or sensory dysfunction. Sensory integration … Continue reading