Sensory Hotspots

Raising Autism Awareness

Check out Dr Marquis Grant (@DrmarquisGrant): https://twitter.com/DrmarquisGrant?s=09

Are Labels Really Necessary?

I realize that there is a difference between saying my children are autistic as opposed to saying my children have autism. The first statement defines the child...kind of like race or gender. The second statement describes an aspect of the child...similar to eye or hair color. The question then becomes: are labels necessary?  Why do we have labels anyway? Is it an honest-to-goodness effort to bring awareness to disabilities or is it simply another way to separate us into categories based on a norm? What are your thoughts?

Parents of Kids with Special Needs Get Asked the Oddest Questions

I know people mean well when they make certain comments or ask questions related to your child's disability, but sometimes all I can do is shake my head in amazement.

I personally don't think that I would be able to ask a parent some of the questions that I have been asked in the past. I believe some part of me would be hesitant,  not knowing how the question may come out or the emotional impact it may have on that parent.

My favorite questions/comments:
1. Will he ever be able to live on his own?
Answer: Some kids WITHOUT disabilities grow up to be adults still living at home.

2. He needs to be more organized and keep up with his classwork/homework.
Answer: Ummmm...yeah.

3. I don't know how you do it.
Answer: It's called parenting.

4. I'm so sorry (when they learn about your child's disability).
Answer: Why? Who died?

Check out the link below to read the entire blog from Today's Parent:

http://www.todaysparent.com/blogs/special-needs-parenting/parents-of-kids-with-special-needs-get-asked-the-oddest-questions/

Follow Me on Twitter

Check out Dr Marquis Grant (@DrmarquisGrant): https://twitter.com/DrmarquisGrant?s=09

Halloween Safety Tips for Children with Special Needs

10 Halloween Safety Tips for Children with Special Needs By: National Lekotek Center - http://pinterest.com/pin/105553184990201004/?s=3&m=blogger

Mommy Madness

What was I thinking taking a day off...and letting the kids stay home too??? My youngest son has been up since 4am reading his words dictionary and he's only on the letter "G"!

Autism: A Family Affair

The name "My Life My Autism" acknowledges the reality that autism impacts the entire family,  not just the person with the diagnosis. Of course everyone will be affected differently, but as a family unit, support each other without judgment. We can approach life on the spectrum as the glass being half full or half empty. We can become victims of our own grief and disappointment or find ways to move forward and learn how to live a life of purpose and resilience.

Talking to Your Kids About Autism Spectrum Disorders

Watch "Asperger's syndrome explained for children" on YouTube https://youtu.be/s9eATBV-_lg

They did a better job explaining it than I did when I had the brilliant idea of talking to my oldest son about autism a couple of years ago! I had a light bulb moment watching this episode (even though Asperger's has now been integrated with the other ASDs). I watched it again with my son who looked on with genuine interest with a "Thanks Mom" afterwards. Maybe it resonated and maybe not, but I thought the episode was so wonderful that I have shared it on all of my social media!!! Kudos "Arthur"!

Sesame Street and Autism

Hopefully we will see more efforts to create positive images of individuals with autism. Way to go Sesame Street!

Life On the Spectrum

Mommyhood is a huge responsibility by itself. Throw in a disability and things can become pretty interesting,  to say the least. Poor sleeping habits, poor eating habits, meltdowns, communication...a day in the life of an autism mom can be a downright roller-coaster ride. But we survive it and we need to let others know that they will survive it too!

When I first saw the image of the mom sprawled on the chair, I laughed to myself because I could see myself through this image. Then I realized that we need to share more of our stories so that we can support other parents who may be struggling trying to adjust to life on the spectrum.

As parents of children with autism, we should speak freely about our feelings; not to be judged but to support those in their own journeys as well as raise awareness about our experiences for those standing on the outside looking in.

What are your thoughts? 

Sleep Tips for Kids With Sensory Issues

I am definitely interested in trying most if not all of these techniques. Co-sleeping is not really working for me anymore and I'm constantly tired and cranky in the morning after being elbowed, kicked and pushed to the edge of the bed throughout the night. One of my next projects will be making a weighted blanket using instructions I got from Pinterest just to see if it's really going to work. Keeping my fingers ( and toes) crossed!!!

Supporting Disability Awareness

Bringing awareness to disabilities is a cause all of us should support. I often think of my mother, who spent 52 years of her life with full use of her limbs only to be left paralyzed by a stroke 7 years ago. Disability is not a "them" issue, it's an "us" issue because it has the capacity to affect all of us indirectly or directly.

I worked with children with disabilities for many years before I became the mother of two children with autism. Never in a million years did I ever think that I would be impacted in such a profound way and nothing could prepare me for the twists and turns that I have faced trying to navigate our lives in the most productive, beneficial way possible.

Today, I am fully committed to raising awareness of autism as well as other disabilities not only for my own children but for others as well. We have to be the voice of advocacy, demanding change and supporting those causes that are most important to improving the life outcomes for people who live with a disability every day.

The Illusion of Inclusion

I truly believe that if we stop trying to define "normal" in our society that special education would not exist. We judge our children based on a norm and when they don't fit the mold, we attach a label to them.
Once the label is attached, a child is placed where we think they should belong according to how well they can keep up with their peers. If, by chance, they are placed in a regular education environment, there is a high probability that their classmates will be low performers.
In other words, there is this this illusion of inclusion...where the idea of a free appropriate public education is recognized in theory but in reality expectations for the child to achieve are minimal at best.

Raising Autism Awareness

Autism is an individualized experience and we should treat it as such. What works for one child on the spectrum may not work for another. With a great deal of diligence and patience, we can find ways to support children with autism as they navigate through personal, academic and social settings. The important thing to remember is that you can not give up nor can you beat yourself up when things don't go as planned. Take things one day at a time...celebrating even the smallest victories along the way.

IEP Roadmap: What You Should Know

IEP roadmap infographic - http://pinterest.com/pin/550283648198550603/?s=3&m=blogger

I Want to Inspire People

When I learned that my oldest son had autism,  I felt very alone and very scared. Although I worked with children with disabilities as a special education teacher, it wasn't the same as facing the prospect of raising a child with a disability. I have always tried to look at situations with an open mind, but I began to wonder what it was like for parents of children with disabilities who had no prior knowledge of the ins and outs of special education,  disability rights, advocacy, etc. I decided pretty early on that I wanted to be a voice for those who were not able to raise their own voices. I want to support parents and families as they navigate their lives raising children with special needs. I may not have all of the answers, but I'm going to give it everything I have.

Neuro Tribes: How autism has been badly misunderstood | New Scientist

Neuro Tribes: How autism has been badly misunderstood | New Scientist

Dear Parents of "Normal" Kids

This is a letter addressed to parents of "normal" kids. I felt compelled to write this letter after reading about the neighbors suing the parents of a boy with autism whom they felt was disrupting their community. Not only was the boy with autism a menace, he was inconveniencing the other children and their parents with his social behaviors or lack there of. The fact that it has resulted in legal action through our court systems truly (and unfortunately) represents the times in which we live. Do they have a right to protect their children? Yes! Was this the  right way to go about it?  I doubt it! But even more disturbing is the manner in which we go about our lives in this society unaffected by the world around us until a situation happens to us. I always ask the million dollar question, as I would to the neighbors in this community or the countless others whose comments and actions have been nothing short of irresponsible: what if it was your child? It is easy to scoff at the efforts of others when we are on the outside looking in. But what if one day your normal child became impaired due to an illness or accident completely out of his control. What if the word "disabled" became your reality and you had to spend every single day fighting for your child's right to be a child who just happened to face difficulties? Some would argue that they would handle things a certain way but you can never really know for sure until you've been dealt a hand that leaves you vulnerable. There is no parenting manual to tell parents of children with disabilities how they should manage in a world focused on perfection and normal. Maybe the parents of this particular boy could have done things differently, as hindsight is certainly 20/20; the same could be said for the neighbors who thought it was perfectly okay to create a safety plan for a child with a disability based on their inexperience with children with disabilities. But honestly, you do the best you can under the circumstances. This isn't to say that any child--with or without disabilities--has the right to harm anyone else; but to assume that these parents were not doing all that they could do to manage the situation isn't a fair assessment. Parents of any child do what they think is best and try to learn things along the way. The fact that these parents are willing to file a lawsuit indicates to me that if they did, in fact, face the reality of having a child with a disability, they would stop at nothing to see that their child was treated fairly...which is what they should want for other children as well.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/california-neighbors-file-lawsuit-boy-autism-declared-public/story?id=33910884
#autism #children  #disabilties 

Sensory Overload

Sensory overload can be triggered by any external or internal factors that can cause a child to become overwhelmed. Whether it's crowds of people,  loud noises, bright lights or all of the above, it is important for parents to recognize their child's triggers and explore ways in which to decrease or eliminate subsequent behavior. Planning, not punishment, is the idea way of approaching the issue. For example, my youngest son would completely go into a full-fledged meltdown whenever we would go into a Walmart, screaming, crying and even throwing things off the shelves. I was at a loss as to what was prompting the behavior until someone asked me if I thought it was sensory overload. The thought had never crossed my mind but I decided to eliminate Walmart from our outings and opted for the more scaled down Walmart market. Believe it or not it worked. Not only do we manage to get our grocery shopping done, but I am still able to expose him to real-life social experiences that I feel are important for getting him prepared for independent living. It may take some trial and error, but understanding and addressing sensory overload is about finding ways to make our children's lives easier in the long run.

Fat Joe Brags About His Son And Empowers Children With Special Needs | HelloBeautiful

Fat Joe Brags About His Son And Empowers Children With Special Needs | HelloBeautiful

Bullying and Autism

In honor of Bullying Prevention Month, it is important to shine the spotlight on bullying and autism.  Bullying can happen to anyone, regardless of whether they have a disability or not. However,  children with disabilities ( particularly autism) may be more likely to be victimized because of their differences. Because autism is the fastest growing disability category thus far, we need to create opportunities for awareness, especially among school-age children.  It is important that we advocate for programs like character education to build positive relationships and support acceptance among peer groups.

Early Detection of Autism

It is important for parents to know the signs of autism. Early detection and interventions can significantly improve the outcomes of children with autism.