It was one of those mornings: too much to do in too little time, and I found myself feeling slightly annoyed as I joined the back of a long line at my local overcrowded Starbucks. Extra foam. No whip. Triple shot. Not too hot. Not too cold. Nonfat. 2%. Soy. Every single order seemed more…
No Pity Parties Please for My Son and His Special Needs Brother
He hasn’t heard the words yet but I have. “I feel so sorry for him,” they’ve said, right to my face, their tones casual, as if they’ve just announced their coffee is stale instead of making unsolicited assertions about the well-being of my youngest son Ian. He hasn’t seen the pity in their eyes, too…
High School Hero Helps Protect Special Needs Girl from Bullies
Carson Jones is a senior at Queen Creek High School in Arizona. He’s got good looks. Lots of friends And he’s the star quarterback of his undefeated football team. Chy Johnson is a freshman at the same high school. She has special needs. She’s spent the greater part of her life as a flashing target…
Special Needs Children and Bullying: Planting the Seeds of Change
Everyday, as you send your special needs child off into the big wide world, consider this: “Contrary to popular opinion, and contrary to the thesis of some anti-bullying programs, bullying is not about anger or conflict. It’s about contempt – a powerful feeling of dislike towards someone considered to be worthless, inferior or undeserving of…
Holly Robinson Peete to 50 Cent: “We are not about to let you attempt to make “autistic” the new “R-word” under our watch.”
If you’re in the autism community and active in social media, surely you’ve heard the recent hoopla surrounding 50 Cent and the comment he made via his twitter feed the other day when responding to a follower: “i just saw your picture fool you look autistic” I myself read about the famous rapper’s lack of…
Autism Spectrum Radio: A Parent’s Perspective (Mine!)
So I was on a radio show yesterday (my very first one!) and though I don’t foresee a career in this medium (I hear you have to have a specific face for that and I’m pretty sure I don’t qualify) I really enjoyed myself and would definitely do it again. The show was featured on…
Why I FINALLY Joined the PTA
They’re tucked towards the back of the modest sized campus; four portable classrooms in the left corner, dedicated to the special education students that comprise a healthy chunk of the overall student population at the school. At any given time you can see these K-6th graders walking around campus, assisted by an aide or teacher,…