Picture this: I am standing on the train platform with my six-year old son, Angel. It is cold. Too cold for November. Angel is munching on Doritos as we wait for the next train. All of a sudden, he turns around and looks at one of the ads on the platform wall and yells: “BLUE"! The lady sitting next to him jumps. She is startled. I understand. But, what she does next, I do not … [Read more...]
Interview: 4 Ingredients Every Marriage Should Have When Raising a Child with Autism
It was a pleasure to interview Chris Superville and Shanté Nicole Harris-Superville to discuss autism and marriage. We rarely get to hear about the marriages that are working for autism families. I know some married couples raising children on the spectrum and I know single parents doing the same. It can have its challenges either way. Yet, all of these families are doing their … [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...]
Interview: How to Prepare Autistic Children for Adulthood
Janet Mino, a special education teacher at John F. Kennedy High School in Newark, NJ won the hearts of autism families when she appeared in the PBS documentary, Best Kept Secret. The documentary features Mino and four autistic minority students who are about to "age out" of the school system. As their high school graduation rapidly approaches, Mino is determined to help … [Read more...]
Two Weeks Later: The Search for Avonte Oquendo Continues
It has been two long weeks since Avonte Oquendo ran out of the Riverview School in Long Island City, Queens. Can you imagine not knowing where your child is for two weeks? I can’t. Avonte’s disappearance has mobilized the autism community and New York City in a way that can be described in three words: This Is Personal! I know that this is personal for me. I also have a son … [Read more...]
Finding Avonte: How Can We Keep Children With Autism Safe?
At 12:38 pm on Friday, October 4th, surveillance footage shows 14-year old Avonte Oquendo running out of The Riverview School in Long Island City, Queens. Avonte is autistic and nonverbal. What haunts me about this footage is that no one stopped him from leaving. One second we see Avonte running out of the school building and then the next second we see him running down the … [Read more...]
Autism: What You Should Do Before and After the Diagnosis
The fact that autism is diagnosed later in minority children saddens me. It saddens me, but it also motivates me to be even more diligent about spreading autism awareness in my community. Our children are beginning the race when children of other races are already on their third lap. Angel was not diagnosed with autism until he turned four. Here is the action plan that I … [Read more...]
Let’s Talk About Autism; It’s Time to Speak Up
Angel’s autism diagnosis thrust me into a world that was foreign to me. A world that was full of unknowns. As a community, we have no problem telling others when we have conditions like diabetes, arthritis, or even hypertension. In fact, we shout these diagnoses from the rooftops. However, some families decide to keep their child's autism diagnosis a secret. I am a firm … [Read more...]
Website Wednesday: Autism Wonderland
A few weeks ago I met an amazing blogger who's doing amazing work. Lisa Quinones-Fontanez provides a transparent look into raising a child with Autism on her site Autism Wonderland. She shares the up and downs and triumphs that you may take for granted with your child each day. If you read the very first blog post on Autism Wonderland which was penned one year after her son … [Read more...]
Shawn Stockman Of Boyz II Men And Wife Sharonda Discuss Having A Son With Autism
Multi-platinum artist Shawn Stockman of Boyz II Men and wife Sharonda sat down with CNN to discuss discovering that their then one-year old son Micah (pictured left) was autistic. "I did not know what to do, and one thing a man hates when it comes down to his family is not knowing what to do," Shawn said. They also discuss their charity organization Micah's Voice which … [Read more...]
NJ Dad Exposes Teachers After Placing A Recording Device On His Autistic Son
From CNN: A New Jersey man has launched a website to publicize what he calls "a culture of bullying" by teachers in his son's Cherry Hill classroom after sending the boy -- who has been diagnosed with autism -- to school with a covert recording device. Stuart Chaifetz said he placed the recorder in the pocket of his 10-year-old son, Akian, in an attempt to find out why … [Read more...]
Holly Robinson Peete Discusses Raising A Teen With Autism
Holly Robinson Peete recently sat down with B.L.A.C. Detroit to discuss her experiencing raising a child with autism and how she is helping her son, RJ, 14, navigate his teenage years. From B.L.A.C. Detroit: Actress Holly Robinson Peete was once best known for her roles in 21 Jump Street or Hangin' with Mr. Cooper. But for the past decade, she's had an additional fan … [Read more...]
VIDEO: Bilal “Little One”
Video of "Little One" from Bilal's latest album "Airtight's Revenge". The song and video is a tribute to his son. We premiered it on our sister site MyCulture.tv a while back but never shared here on BMWK so here it is! For more information visit: AutismSpeaks.org … [Read more...]