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...]
Why Autism Parents Need to be in it for the Long Haul
There is no cure for autism. I just want to put this out there because every other week we hear about a new cause or correlation between autism and everything from c-sections to maternal age. Since my son Angel’s diagnosis is not going away, all I can do is try to level the playing field for him as much as possible. This means that I need to treat my parenting journey as a … [Read more...]
Interview: Charles Jones Talks About “Autistic Like Me”
Autistic Like Me (ALM) explores the unbridled and unfiltered emotions that fathers experience while raising their autistic children. It also shows the world that autism transcends race, ethnicity, social class, economics, and religion. The making of ALM has been a labor of love for Charles “CJ” Jones. His only son Malik was diagnosed with autism when he was two and a half … [Read more...]
5 Things You Can Do Today to Prevent Autism Parent Burnout
If you are raising a child with autism, then you know that we always have a battle to fight. Our journey becomes a roller coaster ride that we board when our children are diagnosed. It is easy for us to burn out, especially when sources of support are few and access to services is limited. These are our realities. There is no way around it. So what can we do? We have two … [Read more...]
Can We Get Rid of Autism?
Would you take autism away from your child if you could? This question has been circulating online and every time I read it, I have the same response: Why ask about something that can’t be done? Last time I checked, there was no cure for autism. I do not have the ability to take autism away from my six-year old son, Angel, so asking me this question is pointless and not very … [Read more...]
Four Ways to find Activities for your Child with Autism
Summer is finally here. And for the first time in years, my husband and I are glad that we found recreational activities that work for our six-year old son, Angel. He is enrolled in a great baseball challenger league and at a sports gym program for children with special needs. We also try to take advantage of the various access and sensory-friendly programs in our … [Read more...]
Autism and the Gray Area Between Being Verbal and Non Verbal
Has anyone ever asked you if your child with autism was verbal? If your child can hold a conversation or even ask and answer questions, then you probably said that your child was verbal. If your child has no words at all, then you probably said that your child was non verbal. My six-year old son, Angel who was diagnosed with autism at age four falls in the gray area. This is … [Read more...]
Leveling the Playing Field for Our Children with Autism
Parenting a child with autism is not easy. We struggle daily to level the playing field for our children. Honestly, we have no choice but to stay in fight mode and this can be overwhelming. The moment you let your guard down, something could slip through the cracks. So I worry. I worry because I know that there are callous people in this world. They do not give two hoots … [Read more...]
Celebrating Mother’s Day as an Autism Mom
As a mother of an only child who is on the autism spectrum, I have always had a pity party for myself on Mother’s Day. Instead of appreciating what was right in front of me, I focused on the day that my son Angel would make a big fuss over me on this special occasion. I also focused on the day I would get Mother’s Day drawings and art work from him. I was a first-time mom, … [Read more...]
How I’m Raising the Bar for My Autistic Son
I have a confession to make. I have been holding my son back. Angel will be seven this year and there is so much that he can do. He can do more than I thought, more than I imagined. Of course, I did not realize this before because I never gave him a chance. I told myself he is autistic. He needs me. I need to do these things for him. Then, I would get a note from school about … [Read more...]
The Impact of Autism on My Marriage
Marriage can be a roller coaster ride. This is to be expected when two people are trying to build a life together. So what happens when autism enters the mix? Although autism impacts each child and marriage in a different way, there are some common issues that autism families face. They can include financial challenges, child care, special education, lack of support, parenting … [Read more...]