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…
Glitter – Not Guns – in Classrooms
Photo courtesy Morguefile.com On any given day, the average school teacher can and will spot at least half a dozen potential dangers lurking around her classroom and on campus. Rogue staples, scissors pointing in the wrong direction, untied laces threatening to bring a game of tag to a teary end. These are the normal hazards…
Newtown: On Guilt, Grief, and Gratitude
There is something comforting about his silence. Now especially, as I’ve been rendered speechless by the horrors that transpired on the grounds of Sandy Hook Elementary School last Friday, I find myself drawn to him, the quiet space I desperately try to penetrate each day a welcome reprieve from the noises and wails of the…
We took family photos! And no one was blinking! Or crying! Or picking their nose!
Our family had a photo session last Saturday and thanks to our amazingly talented and patient photographer – Melody Calvert – we ended up with a a bunch of pictures where we’re all looking at the camera. At the same time!! Taking great pictures of a special needs family can be challenging but Melody truly…
Autism and iPads slideshow: Inspiring young people to make a difference
This Wednesday my young son’s school will be holding a jog-a-thon fundraiser, with 25% of proceeds going towards the purchase of iPads for children with autism. As the head of the parent organization that’s spearheading the fundraiser, I wanted to reach out to the kids at this tiny private school in the heart of Orange…
Elmo Puppeteer Leaves Sesame Street: “A” is for Allegedly Having Sex with a Minor
Kevin Clash, the famous voice behind Sesame Street’s Elmo, America’s favorite furry red monster, has taken a leave of absence from his puppeteer duties effective immediately after allegations he had an intimate relationship several years ago with a then 16-year-old-boy continue to plague him. If the allegations are true – which Clash vehemently denies –…
In Honor of Veterans Day: The Veteran I Almost Knew
I was just a child when I first noticed him, marching up and down my city streets, saluting cars as they drove by. Sometimes he wore a black suit, dark sunglasses. Usually though, he wore his uniform, pressed to perfection, and I could see the creases from the corner of my eye. His breast was…