Tag Archives: Speech Delay

Once Again We Visit the Library
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April, as many of you know, is Autism Awareness Month and also National Poetry Month. These are both subjects that I am passionate about. So last fall, Paul, the person in charge of adult programming at the Livermore Library, and … Continue reading

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A Reflection on Gratitude
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Lately I’ve been feeling tremendously grateful for the many amazing people and programs in my and my daughter’s lives. People and programs such as: Barb (reading tutor/educational consultant/mentor/friend); Melissa and Jennifer (sitters extraordinaire); Bella, Audrina, Jonah, and the other kids … Continue reading

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Turning the Corner
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Recently it feels that my daughter and I have turned a corner, crossed some invisible line. Partly this is due to Katie’s placement at Open Mind School (OMS) and partly due to our use of the rapid prompting method (RPM). … Continue reading

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The Myth of “Just Words”
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Hate. American chose hate. I am still grappling with this outcome, still feel as if one day I will wake from a bad dream. Except this isn’t a dream. Donald Trump has just been inaugurated so our collective nightmare won’t … Continue reading

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An Uncertain 2017
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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

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School Update #1
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Four weeks ago, my daughter started at Open Mind School. So far, it’s been terrific, and every day I am more convinced that I made the correct decision when I placed Katie there. Here’s the message that I received after … Continue reading

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What’s the Problem?
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Sometimes I wonder, is the problem me? Other parents have special education horror stories, but no one has twisted tales of terror like mine and my daughter’s. Am I a bad parent? A poor advocate? But no, I have moved … Continue reading

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A Trip to the Park
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I wrote awhile back about the downside of Facebook, and how sometimes—not always, just sometimes—I get sad when I think of all the things I probably will never be able to post about. Then my unplanned life zigs when I … Continue reading

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A Life of Quiet Desperation
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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

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Summer School Surprise
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Summer school. What can I say about summer school? In a word: amazing. I’m serious. After three agonizing months of what can only be described as a horrible in-home “school” experience, summer school has blown my mind. Quite possibly, it … Continue reading

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