Tag Archives: Unplanned Life

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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Comments That Drive Me Crazy #3
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Posted on April 10, 2013 by

People can say some incredibly stupid things when confronted with autism. This is the third installment of insensitive comments that people have said regarding my daughter’s autism. You can find the first list here and the second one here. Enjoy!   She’s not really … Continue reading →

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Pick Ups At the Dog Park
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Posted on April 3, 2013 by

Last month Mom told me that my brother might be getting a dog. I asked why. My brother is in the middle of a divorce and lives in a rental house. A dog seemed like the last thing he needed. … Continue reading →

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What I Learned From National Day of Unplugging
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Posted on March 27, 2013 by

A month or two ago, I read an article in Sunset Magazine about the concept of unplugging. It sounded dreamy and positively blissful. I mean, who wouldn’t want a long, tranquil day free from the constant chime of the phone and endless … Continue reading →

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Sometimes the Truth is Stranger Than Fiction, Part 10
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Posted on March 20, 2013 by

Unlike many kids on the spectrum, Katie adores variety. This tends to make transitions go a bit more smoothly—at least on the surface. So it did not surprise me that Katie plunged into her new classroom without any hesitation. Just … Continue reading →

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Sometimes the Truth is Stranger Than Fiction, Part 9
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Posted on March 13, 2013 by

Geri, the kickass advocate, reorganized the disaster of an IEP and sent the revised version to my school district late on Thursday. The case manager responded Friday morning by stating that she wanted to go with the original, messed-up version. … Continue reading →

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Sometimes the Truth is Stranger Than Fiction, Part 8
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Posted on March 6, 2013 by

My back was getting sore from hunching over the low-slung kiddie table. The room was hot and stuffy, despite an open door. Both case managers were in attendance. After Pleasanton’s show of confidence, they attempted to steer the discussion to … Continue reading →

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Sometimes the Truth is Stranger Than Fiction, Part 7
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Posted on March 3, 2013 by

When the principal suspended my daughter Katie on her birthday, he created a problem. I’d agreed to the upcoming IEP meeting assuming Katie would be in school. But if she was suspended, then I couldn’t attend. The principal said we … Continue reading →

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Sometimes the Truth is Stranger Than Fiction, Part 6
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Posted on February 27, 2013 by

After two-and-a-half hours, the IEP team had finally made it through all the triennial evaluations. It was clear we wouldn’t have time to finish. To my relief, we had not discussed the alternative placement in Pleasanton. For 30 minutes the … Continue reading →

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Comments That Drive Me Crazy #2
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Posted on February 20, 2013 by

People say some incredibly stupid things when confronted with autism. This is the second installment of insensitive comments that people have said to me regarding Katie’s disability. You can find the first installment here. Enjoy!   But she’s so happy. Yeah, she … Continue reading →

Posted in Autism, My Life | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment