Autism came into his my son’s life as an uninvited guest. It affects the way he communicates, behaves, and socializes. It affects the way he learns and his ability to reach developmental milestones. Navigating the service delivery system that is in place to help him has been frustrating, but I know that I can never give up. As parents we depend on providers to navigate the … [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...]
First-Time Mom is Building a Play Place for Autistic Children
Shell Jones of Michigan began noticing odd behavior from her son, Duane, at 10 months. By age 2, Duane had been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Unable to find a suitable place for him to enjoy himself, Jones came up with the Play Place for Autistic Children. Chuck E. Cheese is one of Duane's favorite places to play. There is even a Teletubbie toy in the … [Read more...]