Another child with autism has died, and this time, the victim was murdered by his mom. You will hear many things as this story unfolds. You will hear that raising a child with autism is hard. You will hear that many are hopeless and helpless and left to fend for themselves as they navigate an…
Autism is Not an Excuse for Murder: A Mother Selfishly Takes Her Son’s Life
Thirsty
Seven years ago today, I woke up hungover. And thirsty. Thirsty for peace. Thirsty for answers. Thirsty for freedom from the unquenchable thirst I had for the one thing that continually left my heart and my soul parched: alcohol. Seven years ago today, I woke up hungover. And scared. Scared of how…
Still Standing
I first noticed her as soon as we arrived. We were spending the day at a local event for autism families; an annual picnic where strangers help chase down bolting kids without having to be asked and there’s no shortage of glorious hand flapping. There was nothing remarkable about her really, at least, not at…
For Hire: One Special Needs Child to be a Tour Guide at Disneyland
Remember that story that was trending a few weeks ago about a bunch of rich folks paying for a special needs tour guide in order to obtain a Disneyland Guest Assistance Pass? You know, that pass that special needs families get as a “perk?” The one that makes their visit to the happiest place on…
Outrunning Andrew: When Our Children with Autism Wander
Those beautiful eyes. That radiant smile. Hers could be his and as I stare at the photo of Mikaela Lynch, a beautiful little girl with autism who wandered from her family home on Mother’s Day last year and lost her life in a creek nearby, I think of all the near misses we’ve had with…
Advocacy and Asshats
Sometimes, I’m tired. Sometimes, there are days when I don’t want to put on my big girl panties and my Cloak of Advocacy (which, if you must know, is made of the softest velvet and the perfect shade of green to accentuate my eyes) and go out into the real world and shake my fist…
For a Second I Forgot Just How Different They Really Are
Yesterday I took my younger son Ian to a doctor’s appointment. I arrived early, knowing I was going to be subjected to a stack of paperwork that would take me ages to fill out. Except it didn’t: I forget sometimes. I forget just how vastly different the lives of my two sons are. I mean,…