Causation by Decree
A poem about how blame always falls on the mother, inspired by the pronouncement that Tylenol causes autism.
autism
Bright Horizons
{This is a response to the Friday Fictioneer’s prompt this week. As a Floridian, I could hardly resist a prompt about citrus! Though it may cause confusion to non-Americans, I use the word “hood” in describing a part of the car. Around here, that means the front metal cover over the engine compartment. The …
Answers
This poem, simple as it is, came to me after watching an episode (entitled Jitske, after the daughter’s name) of the Belgian series (with subtitles) Professor T. Apparently there are also versions in German, French and Czech. It being Belgian gives a wink and a nod to the famous detective of Agatha Christie’s …
Is Halloween Over?
Halloween and Christmas are good gauges for growing up. As parents, we’re never quite ready for the changes. They always seem to come too soon. But our kids let us know, in little, silent ways, when something, that was once important, loses its allure. The past few days, I’ve been reading a lot of …
Through My Eyes
One of the common beliefs about people with autism is that they see things differently. Temple Grandin, the world-renowned celebrity and architect of livestock facilities and contraptions, who also happens to have autism, has often said that she thinks in pictures. Rather than having a method of sorting through thoughts verbally, with one word leading …
A Chorus for Change
This essay talks about the variety of dischordant voices clamoring for attention, in the world of disability advocacy, and how we are more likely to effectuate change, if we sing together. Thanks for coming by to read! Autism blogs abound. I had no idea how many there were, until I used “autism” as a …
Not Quite up to Snuff
Every parent of a special needs child has been there. You know the moment. It’s when you realize that the therapy or activity you are considering, or the professional you have already hired, or the educational program you signed up for long ago, doesn’t quite live up to your expectations. When you know it’s time …
Lamentations
Whenever parents of children with disabilities gather, you are bound to hear a few complaints. I was recently at such a gathering, impromptu. I was thrown together in a room with several strangers, people with whom I had nothing more in common than the fact that each of us had a child with autism. Our …
The Grand Hotel Abyss
A considerable part of the German intelligentsia…have taken up residence in the Grand Hotel Abyss… a beautiful hotel, equipped with every comfort, on the edge of an abyss, of nothingness, of absurdity. And the daily contemplation of the abyss between excellent meals or artistic entertainments, can only heighten the enjoyment of the subtle comforts offered. …
An Autism-Friendly City: A Sensory Garden for Parents
What is an autism-friendly city? UPDATE: (7/2/17) Here is a nice example of a pictorial social story type introduction to a place (the Riverwalk)in Tampa, FL, developed by University of South Florida Center for Autism and Related Disabilities. They have plans to do a similar presentation for other local destinations. I especially love the sensory …
Challenging Objectives and Perspectives
This was an interesting week in politics for the parent of a special needs child. One of my children has an autism diagnosis, and like many homeschoolers, I struggle to figure out what is appropriate for my child in the homeschool context. Pushing too hard can lead to tantrums or shutdown. Being too lenient leaves …