In honor of National Siblings Day and Autism Awareness month, it seems only fitting that I honor Jessica’s brother today. I think as parents with special needs children our attention and time is often monopolized by all of the needs, behaviors, worry, school issues, appointments, etc. that siblings in the family are easily overlooked. This… Continue reading This One Is For You Son!
HAPPY AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH!!!
Well, I’m back! I had to step away from this writing process for a while, mostly just because life got busy. I feel a little bad that I stepped away just as I was setting up an important segment of Jessica’s story….but life happens. I thought today, the first day of Autism Awareness month 2019… Continue reading HAPPY AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH!!!
VISUAL PROCESSING DISORDERS
The teacher’s complaints were that she had a reading comprehension problem. This was not the case. She was a good reader and verbally she could recite all about what she read. The teachers complained that her writing was “all over the place”. She had many thoughts but could not coherently organize them into a paragraph,… Continue reading VISUAL PROCESSING DISORDERS
What Is Wrong With My Daughter? (Part 1)
As a therapist, I am faced with parents struggling to understand what is wrong with their child everyday. Why is he having such extreme tantrums? Why won’t she talk to other kids? Why doesn’t he fit in like his sibling? I get it, I have asked many of the same questions about Jessica. But some… Continue reading What Is Wrong With My Daughter? (Part 1)
Adjusting
Jessica started her second year of college and she was very insistent that she take three core classes because she really wanted to complete her general education. Against my better judgement, she registered for a math, english and a psychology course. In the beginning, she did ok. She was a good student, she liked the… Continue reading Adjusting
INDEPENDENCE
Jessica lived at home for her first year of college, took the bus everyday and ended the year with a 3.2 GPA! Her therapist at the time had made a referral for supportive employment and she was starting that program with small part time jobs which included a job coach. Her temporary part time jobs… Continue reading INDEPENDENCE
Happy New Year!
A new year brings new goals and new challenges for all of us. I have been absent with my writing and Jessica’s story has lapsed because of it. If you are just joining, I encourage you to go back and read from the beginning, as this is (up until now) a chronological accounting of my… Continue reading Happy New Year!
AGE
via Daily Prompt: Age Hmmm, this is such a personal and valid word for me right now. I think each decade of age comes with a life altering task, movement through maturity, lessons and experiences. It is true we all mature at different rates, have similar life experiences at different times, but in general,… Continue reading AGE
COLLEGE BOUND!!!
So high school graduation happened in June 2012. We had the intensive in home support through the summer (remember they came in after Jess was hospitalized back in September). One of the best things they did with Jessica was to help her learn the city bus system. We live in a small college town so… Continue reading COLLEGE BOUND!!!
Friends, Aquaintances and Bullies
Jessica has had moments of what appeared to be friendships over the years, but since elementary school, this has been a life domain that she has struggled with. Kindergarten friendships were easy because they were fostered by me as I became friends with parents and arranged playdates. But Kindergarten was also where Jessica met her… Continue reading Friends, Aquaintances and Bullies
Being Jessica's Mom: Growing up on the Autistic Spectrum 