Autism is an integral part of who my seven-year old son Angel is. I know some people say, “My child has autism, but autism doesn't have him” but I don’t see it as autism having my child. I see it as a condition that has a significant impact on how he interacts with and functions in the world around him. According to the CDC, “Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of … [Read more...]
What Everybody Ought to Know About Wandering and Autism
Whenever an individual with autism wanders and goes missing, the autism community rallies around that family. We do what we can to get the word out and we do it with an urgency that screams, I KNOW WHAT IS AT STAKE! Despite your support for families affected by wandering, it will not hit home for you until it happens to you. When you have shared the flyers and sent out your … [Read more...]
Autism: Moving Beyond Awareness to Acceptance
I have mixed feelings about autism awareness month. I am glad for the attention that autism gets during April but by the time May comes there is a cloud of neglect that is cast over the autism community. What society needs to realize is that for families of individuals with autism, we are aware of it every single day. We are aware of the challenges that come with raising a … [Read more...]
7 Things Every Parent Needs to Know About Autism
You’ve probably heard this statistic by now: 1 in 68 children have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released this statistic from their most recent report just in time for April, which is Autism Awareness Month. The report, Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 8 Years made headlines across the country. The report … [Read more...]
Teaching Your Children How to Interact with Autistic Children
Have you ever seen a group of children playing tag on the playground and noticed one child repeatedly going down the slide? He probably wanted to play with the other children but he did not know how. If this sounds familiar, you may have just seen a child who is on the autism spectrum. Autism has been called an invisible disability and it is. When you look at my son, you will … [Read more...]
Autism Awareness in 2014: 10 Facts You Need to Know about Autism
I ran into my six-year old son's former daycare provider the other day. During our conversation, I told her that he had been diagnosed with autism. As soon as she heard the word autism her facial expression changed. It conveyed shock and sadness. Then she held on to both of my hands and said, “I am so sorry.” Her expression told me that she truly believed that an autism … [Read more...]