The world has watched with fascination as 33 miners were pulled to safety yesterday. 1,500 journalists from 39 countries camped out in the desert to cover this story live. Go to the internet news site of your choice and you could have watched it live. Leaders the world over sent messages of congratulations. President Barack Obama held [...]
By Dana Fialco Every sibling relationship is unique, but having an autistic child in a family can impact the entire family dynamic. While much attention is paid to the challenges and difficulties faced by parents and siblings of autistic children, growing up with an autistic sibling also offers many advantages and hidden treasures that can [...]
I homeschool one child. She is on the autism spectrum. Her neurotypically developing sibs go to a regular public school.” My son, a “regular school” goer, begins middle school next week. Today is middle school orientation. My homeschooler has a lot of anxiety. Anxiety can create the perfect storm for a melt down (what HANDLE calls [...]
There is no question that one of the most stressful experiences in my life is traveling. Comically, that’s a big part of my job now. Obviously, one of the worst parts is when I have to sit next to someone on a plane who might be offended by something that I tic. Even though some [...]
By Remy Nirschl During one heated moment with tears in her eyes, the look my neuro typical daughter gave me, said it all, “I’m here too, mom”. Nicole, my twelve year old daughter, is considered neurotypical compared to her brother. Yet, having a younger brother with autism is not very typical at all. One evening, [...]
1992 When my daughter Chloe was born my father wrote two things in her baby book. The first read “different is good” the second one was “life is about the moments, I hope you have a few good ones” he then called her Turtle for a number of years because well, she moved slowly and carefully most of [...]
Reality shows are hot. Reality shows about families who are unique are really hot. Reality shows fascinate me. Matt and Amy crack me up sometimes. I often wonder how Jon and Kate or the Duggars would be different with a severely autistic child among their broods. But I don’t want to muse about that today. [...]
By Debbie Orkin When I was a child, there were three things that made me feel frightened: photographs and film footage from the early 1970′s (a whole story in itself), severe weather, and being around people that suffered from a mental illness. As I grew older, the first two “fears” dissipated, but the third one [...]
