Tag Archives: Sensory Integration

Contemplating the Future
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Posted on September 24, 2015 by

There are things that parents of children with autism simply have to accept–whether they like it or not. Some things are easier to tolerate than others. For example, my daughter will never pepper me with annoying, incessant questions, talk too … Continue reading →

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The Perils of Puberty
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Posted on September 10, 2015 by

I can’t ignore it any longer. My eleven-year-old daughter Katie has entered puberty. My sweet, helpful little girl has been replaced with a crabby, mercurial pre-teen who litters the floor with discarded possessions, eats nonstop, snaps at me, argues about … Continue reading →

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What Happens at Camp Arroyo Stays at Camp Arroyo
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Posted on August 20, 2015 by

Katie survived summer camp. She had fun but I suspect it was rougher than outdoor education camp last fall. Which is strange because they had no sensory tools at outdoor ed. At Camp Arroyo, which is where the Exceptional Needs … Continue reading →

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Sneaking Candy
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Posted on November 20, 2014 by

I don’t know if this is something I should admit, but my daughter Katie is getting sneaky. Because she has autism and I don’t have any typically functioning children, I’m often unsure if Katie’s behavior is due to her diagnosis … Continue reading →

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Mr. Mike
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Posted on November 6, 2014 by

When my daughter Katie switched to yet another school district back in February 2013, she once again was slated to ride the special needs “short bus.” The two school districts, however, didn’t share bus service, so after a month of … Continue reading →

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Camp Loma Mar, Part 2
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Posted on October 23, 2014 by

For a week Katie and I practiced showering and using a sleeping bag. We talked about camp. We practiced greeting strangers. We labeled and packed clothes. We assembled the required gear. I read her social stories. The night before camp, … Continue reading →

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Camp Loma Mar, Part 1
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Posted on October 16, 2014 by

Last week my daughter Katie went to outdoor education camp with her 5th grade classmates. Such a simple statement. But for a child with autism, nothing is ever as simple as it seems, and Camp Loma Mar was no exception. … Continue reading →

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First Day of School
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Posted on August 21, 2014 by

It’s August and moms across the country are posting smiling photos of their children going back to school. Some post “before”and “after” shots: their child at the start of kindergarten, and now, at the start of middle school, high school, … Continue reading →

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Our iPad Adventure Continues
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Posted on August 14, 2014 by

Last Christmas I bought my daughter an iPad and if I was to sum up our experience to date it would be this: I don’t know how we lived without it. We both love the thing! Katie immediately began using … Continue reading →

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Anatomy of a Meltdown, Part 3
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Posted on July 17, 2014 by

After the meltdown, after the sensory binge, after putting the pieces together (read Part 1 and Part 2), my daughter and I checked out Livermore’s labyrinth, hidden in a courtyard behind the Presbyterian Church. It was lovely, ringed in candles. … Continue reading →

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