I’m in a unique position in that my work life and my family life are incredibly intertwined; they have been for a while now. It allows me to pull learning and relationships through both to do my best work. The theme that seems to come up over and over again lately is encouraging others to [...]
“Mom, I hate having Down Syndrome.” My 14-year old daughter told me this the other day. Honestly, I sat there for a minute because I didn’t know what to say. It wasn’t a big surprise to me because she had implied in the past that she wanted nothing to do with Down Syndrome. Our family [...]
April 2, 2013 is the sixth annual World Autism Awareness Day. To be aware of autism, you have to know what it looks like first. Here’s a hint: it’s a spectrum made of people. Here are my 20 faces of autism 1. Autism looks like the child who is really excited that the President of the [...]
Have you ever wondered why parents of kids with special needs always seem to be so cranky? Or why we tend to make really inappropriate remarks so often? Or why other parents of kids with special needs laugh at those inappropriate remarks like it’s an inside joke? The Life We Live Special needs parenting is [...]
Parents have one wish. To see their children grow into confident adults who can make their own way in the world. As parents, we must encourage our children who have job skills to find employment, to join the ranks of taxpayers and to experience the pride of depositing that first paycheck and earning that first [...]
As part of his history lesson about the Thanksgiving holiday, my kindergartener’s homework was to make a list of 10 things for which he is thankful. This is what he wrote: TV Books Food Bears DVDs Pets House Toys Family Love Holidays Are Tough Holidays can be tough for some families of children with special [...]
The other day I was reading a magazine article which highlighted the recent winners of the Innovator of the Year Awards. There were various categories recognized, but I found myself reading the article about winners Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen. You will remember them as the cute little twins who both played the single role [...]
As we approach the Jewish New Year, it is a time when we think about the past year and the year that is ahead of us. What goals did we set for ourselves and what did we actually accomplish? Was it a good year in the greater scheme of things and what do we have [...]
My parents have a cottage on a remote lake deep in the woods. We’re lucky enough to go to each summer. One of my favorite happenings in nature is to encounter a deer unexpectedly in my path. There’s something about seeing deer in the wild that is so connective; they lock your eyes without flinching [...]
How to Respond to Unhelpful Comments: Top 10 Comeback Lines For Individuals With Special Needs
It happens sooner or later to just about everyone who lives with a disability: someone will say something nosy, rude or truly offensive. It may help to have a response prepared for that day. Having that comeback line at the tip of the tongue gives a little edge of confidence that actually prevents people from [...]