by Carey Handley I had it all planned. I was going to be a lawyer, marry at 24 and have my first of two children when I was 26. I even had names picked out for the first one. You know what they say about the “Best Laid Plans”. And so, often as it is with “Best Laid Plans”, none of that was the way it actually happened. I’ve had a lot of jobs and […]
by Maxine Rosaler When my son was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome over two decades ago, autism did not hold much interest for the medical establishment. It wasn’t “sexy,” one mother told me. That was why there was so little research being conducted about it, she explained. There was no consensus on how to treat this strange disorder. In the absence of a consensus, a host of strange therapies flourished. It was clear to most parents that […]
by Brandy Pavia Today was the day. We’ve had this appointment with a leading Neurodevelopmental Pediatrician for over nine months, and now it’s here. These appointments are extremely hard to get, and the wait lists are ridiculously long, so I was anxious to get the ball rolling. I was even FIVE MINUTES EARLY, which, anyone that knows me knows that this NEVER happens. Ever. So yeah, I’m tooting my own horn for a minute. Ok…back […]
By Mary Ellen Bogucki As July came to a close, I witnessed the launch of the “Inclusion Revolution” with the Special Olympics 50th Anniversary Celebration. I wondered that with the celebration behind us, would the momentum continue and would society step up to the challenge? The challenge is defined in the “Inclusion Revolution” pledge. The pledge states: I pledge to look for the lonely, the isolated, the left out, the challenged and the bullied. I […]
by Tulika Prasad A few days back, while I was browsing the aisles of a store, my 9 yr old son brushed against another customer. I was hoping it would not be a big deal but she had something else in mind. I said sorry and explained that my son is autistic. She was not ready for that excuse and said that if that’s the case, I shouldn’t “let him loose” and that she has been […]
