Tag Archives: Sensory Integration

Anatomy of a Meltdown, Part 2
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Posted on July 10, 2014 by

After my daughter’s food throwing meltdown at the Vietnamese restaurant (read Part 1 here), we headed straight for the park. Katie swung hard for 20 minutes, then took off her shoes and practically rolled in the sand. Then her shoes … Continue reading →

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Anatomy of a Meltdown, Part 1
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Posted on July 3, 2014 by

While I’ve been busy launching Autism A to Z and the Whistlestop Writers Open Mic, some of my friends have been tackling their own exciting projects. Sharon, for example, has long had a dream to build a labyrinth and lead … Continue reading →

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Farewell to Hoofprints on the Heart
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Posted on June 5, 2014 by

Those that know my daughter Katie’s story know that Katie said her first words when she was two years and eight months. After more than six months of intensive speech therapy, the breakthrough finally came the first time she rode … Continue reading →

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A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words, Take 2
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Posted on July 18, 2013 by

Two weeks ago I wrote about a photograph. It’s a standard class photo that shows a boy in a wheelchair seated off to the side, leaning over to get closer to his classmates. In a word, the photo says exclusion. … 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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The Feel of Summer, Part 2
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Posted on December 9, 2012 by

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 →

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The Feel of Summer, Part 1
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Posted on December 6, 2012 by

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 →

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Sometimes the Truth is Stranger Than Fiction, Part 2
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Posted on November 16, 2012 by

Katie had a good three years in the Dublin School District’s autism program. Unfortunately she aged out of that program this summer, and as hard as it was to say goodbye—especially when she had made her first actual friends there—I … Continue reading →

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Keeping the Faith
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Posted on September 27, 2012 by

One of the hardest things about parenting a special needs child, especially one with a speech delay, is the waiting. Or perhaps I should say keeping the faith. You go a long time and don’t see much progress and just … Continue reading →

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