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Tag Archives: Autism
Sometimes the Truth is Stranger Than Fiction, Part 6
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
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Advocacy, Autism, Behavioral Issues, IEPs, Suspension, Unplanned Life
3 Comments
Comments That Drive Me Crazy #2
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
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Abandonment, Acceptance, Adoption, Autism, Dating, Infertility, Jenny McCarthy, Unplanned Life
1 Comment
Sometimes the Truth is Stranger Than Fiction, Part 5
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
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Advocacy, Autism, Behavioral Issues, IEPs, Unplanned Life
4 Comments
January is IEP Month
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
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Acceptance, Autism, Divorce, IEPs, Special Needs, Speech Delay, Unplanned Life
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Everyone Loves Mr. F
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
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Autism, Holidays, Milestones, Single Parent, Social skills, Unplanned Life
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Sometimes the Truth is Stranger Than Fiction, Part 4
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
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Autism, IEPs, Social skills, Speech Delay, Transitions, Unplanned Life
5 Comments
The Feel of Summer, Part 2
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
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Adaptive Horseback Riding, Autism, Sensory Integration, Speech Delay, Unplanned Life
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The Feel of Summer, Part 1
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
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Adaptive Horseback Riding, Autism, Sensory Integration, Unplanned Life
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Story Included in DimeStories’ Inaugural Showcase
DimeStories is a cool little nonprofit organization that hosts monthly prose open mics in various locations around the country. Founded by novelist Amy Wallen in San Diego, DimeStories is now managed by Jennifer Simpson, an awesome nonfiction writer living in Albuquerque, … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life, News, Publications, Readings
Tagged Autism, Memoir, Milestones, Social skills, Speech Delay, Writing Life
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Comments That Drive Me Crazy #1
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 →