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50th Birthday Acceptance Across An Aqueous Moon: Travels in Autism Adoption Advocacy Anger Anxiety Art Authenticity Autism Behavioral Issues Change Creativity Dating Divorce Expectations Family Fear Finishing Line Press Gratitude Holidays IEPs Letting Go Memoir Milestones Open Mind School Parenting Poet Laureate Poetry Rapid Prompting Method RPM Sensory Integration Shame Single Parent Social skills Soma RPM Special Education Special Needs Speech Delay Story The Blank Canvas Blog Hop Transitions Truth Unplanned Life Writing Life
Tag Archives: Social skills
Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
My friend Nate and I recently went to see the movie, Won’t You Be My Neighbor? If you haven’t heard of the film, it’s a documentary on Fred Rogers (aka Mr. Rogers). Nate and I both grew up watching Mr. … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Acceptance, Adoption, Authenticity, Autism, Fred Rogers, Gratitude, Inclusion, Love, Mr. Rogers, Respect, Sensory Integration, Shame, Social skills, Special Needs, Truth, Unplanned Life, Won't You Be My Neighbor?
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More Cha…cha…changes, Part 2
After an 18-month lapse in services and an autistic child in the throes of puberty, I was eager for a fresh start, behaviorally speaking. But my struggle to re-secure applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy for my daughter, Katie, hadn’t exactly … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged ABA, Advocacy, Anxiety, Applied Behavioral Analysis, Autism, Behavioral Issues, Rapid Prompting Method, RPM, Social skills, Unplanned Life
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More Cha…cha…changes, Part 1
While Christopher and I were settling into our new relationship, I had a tough decision to make. After fighting for 18 months to secure applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy for my daughter, Katie, I was now struggling with how to … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged ABA, Advocacy, Anxiety, Applied Behavioral Analysis, Autism, Behavioral Issues, Puberty, Sensory Integration, Social skills, Unplanned Life
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An Uncertain 2017
It’s been a grueling two months. First there was the election and it’s aftermath. An acquaintance called it similar to a pandemic: sudden, shocking, and widespread. It’s the best description I’ve heard so far, although I’d prefer an element of … Continue reading
A Life of Quiet Desperation
For years, my brother Tom lived a life of quiet desperation. I saw it and recognized it in myself, recognized what I had seen years earlier in my father’s father. I think Mom saw it too, must have at least … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Acceptance, Authenticity, Autism, Divorce, Family, Happiness, Marriage, Parenting, Quiet Desperation, Remarriage, Settling, Social skills, Speech Delay, Unplanned Life
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One Special Child
In honor of Thanksgiving, I thought I’d post a poem on gratitude from my chapbook, Across An Aqueous Moon: Travels in Autism, forthcoming from Finishing Line Press in 2016. And yes, I’m terrifically grateful that FLP accepted my manuscript—even if … Continue reading
Hello Middle School–An Update
My daughter Katie has been in middle school a little over a week. I am happy to report that despite my initial fears, things appear to be working out. She had a great first day. A great first week, in … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Advocacy, Annie Sullivan, Anxiety, Autism, Behavioral Issues, Change, Expectations, Fear, Gratitude, Middle School, Social skills, Special Education, Speech Delay, Transitions, Unplanned Life
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Essay Selected for Forthcoming Dating Anthology
I am pleased to announce that my essay, “Pick Ups at the Dog Park,” has been selected for publication in a forthcoming anthology entitled, Rendezvous in the Rough: Essays from the 21st Century Dating Trenches. Dealing with topics such as … Continue reading
Camp Loma Mar, Part 2
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
Camp Loma Mar, Part 1
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
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Acceptance, Anxiety, Autism, Behavioral Issues, Camp, Camp Loma Mar, Expectations, Fear, Letting Go, Milestones, Outdoor Education, Redwood Glen, Sensory Integration, Social skills, Speech Delay, Unplanned Life
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