autistic

Truth in Consequences: When To Step In, When to Step Back

Truth in Consequences: When To Step In, When to Step Back

Sometimes we only learn our lessons the hard way. There is truth in consequences. With autism or developmental disability, however, it can be hard to know what is reasonable to expect from our children. How much is too much? How much is too little? When do we make legitimate allowances for a disability and when do we not?

More Than Just A Parent - Part 2

More Than Just A Parent - Part 2

Whether at the doctor’s office, with our child’s therapy team, in the classroom for an IEP meeting, many times we are just not considered experts on our children. We are relegated to being just a bystander while the real “experts” make proclamations over our children. While they may be truthful many times, they still don’t define our children totally. It is in those moments that we must step in and be the voice in the gap between the understanding of the experts and the knowing of our hearts, and speak out the value of our kids that only we can communicate as parents.

How The Sound Of Our Autistic Son's Laughter Heals Us

How The Sound Of Our Autistic Son's Laughter Heals Us

For us as parents of a child with additional/special needs, there are certainly many times to weep, times to be sad. But there is so much more to life than the tears and hard times. Let us celebrate the happier times, the times to laugh and dance.

Careful, Our Children Are Watching

Careful, Our Children Are Watching

My autistic non-verbal son has picked up some interesting habits recently. My son, who I always assumed was demonstrating illogical and repetitive behaviors due to his autism, was possibly copying what I did and trying to do the same things. He was legitimately observing my actions and trying to emulate them in the best ways he possibly could. He was watching me.

Children of the Bible and My Autistic Son

Children of the Bible and My Autistic Son

The Bible is full of stories about children and young people: Mary, Joseph, David, Samuel, Esther, the widow’s son and Elijah, Naaman’s slave girl, Jairus’ daughter, etc. In thinking about some of these stories, I found many parallels in their stories and my son James.