Tag Archives: Speech Delay

What Happens at Camp Arroyo Stays at Camp Arroyo
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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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Welcome to Summer School, Part 2
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Victoria never did call back. Nor did anyone from the Pleasanton School District, although a district staff person recognized Katie and brought her to her classroom. “Immediately,” the teacher would emphasize later. “They brought her to me immediately.” Yeah, but … Continue reading

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Thank You, I’m Fine
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It’s ironic that of all the disabilities my daughter could have had, Katie was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Kids on the spectrum have trouble identifying and labeling their emotions. But sadly, so do I. No, I’m not on the … Continue reading

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Camp Loma Mar, Part 2
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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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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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Tailgating at Stanford
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As I mentioned last week, I attended a  football game at Stanford University. Michael 2.0 offered me tickets to the Stanford versus U.C. Davis game and I thought it would be fun, even though I knew in all likelihood, Davis … Continue reading

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Our iPad Adventure Continues
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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 2
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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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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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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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