Tag Archives: Behavioral Issues

A Battle of Wills
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Posted on August 15, 2013 by

Lately it seems Katie and I have been locked in a battle of wills. For hours, or even days, our lives will run smoothly and I will congratulate myself that all our hard work and effort are finally paying off. … Continue reading →

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Sometimes Shit Just Happens
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Posted on August 1, 2013 by

It’s summer, and if you are the parent of an autistic child that means you worry about drowning. Even without an autistic child, I’d probably fret about drowning. My aunt drowned as a toddler, and since then, drowning has been … Continue reading →

Posted in Autism, My Life | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Comments That Drive Me Crazy #4
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Posted on May 15, 2013 by

People can say some incredibly stupid things when confronted with autism. This is the fourth installment of insensitive comments that people have made regarding my daughter’s autism and/or my parenting skills. You can find the first list here, the second one … Continue reading →

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Sometimes the Truth is Stranger Than Fiction: An Update
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Posted on April 24, 2013 by

My daughter Katie has been in her new placement in the Pleasanton School District for nearly three months. By any measurement, the transfer has been a success, thanks to the incredible Ms. Nav, Katie’s awesome aide Sharon, and the rest … Continue reading →

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Fun at the Hardware Store
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Posted on April 17, 2013 by

I wonder at times how my assumptions and fears hold Katie back. I say this because every time a situation or a therapist has challenged me to increase the demands on Katie, she has sailed past my expectations without a … Continue reading →

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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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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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Sometimes the Truth is Stranger Than Fiction, Part 3
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Posted on November 23, 2012 by

At the end of the three-day it-feels-like-a-suspension-but-isn’t “non-suspension,” the school district held a meeting. The meeting started with the Principal and the Special Ed Director debating whether or not Katie had been suspended. The Principal insisted she hadn’t. When asked … Continue reading →

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