Special Needs

What’s Your Autistic Toddler Like Now? (Part 2)

February 22, 2009

This is Part 2 of our series “What’s Your Autistic Toddler Like Now?”, a journey through what’s happening these days in the life of our autistic 3 1/2-year-old son and sequel to our very popular original article, “What’s Your Autistic Toddler Like?”. Note: Wherever you see “DSM-IV” below, this means that attribute is part of [...]

Read the full article →

What’s Your Autistic Toddler Like Now? (Part 1)

February 20, 2009

Many times over, our “What’s Your Autistic Toddler Like?” post is the most read article on this site. It’s also the post people most often cite as the reason why they write us and become regular readers of our blog. We are gratified by your response to our story about our son and hope all [...]

Read the full article →

You Kinda Get Used to Weeks Like This

February 5, 2009

I want to say this has been a crazy week, but I suppose it’s really just par for the course. On Tuesday, the J-Man had a dentist appointment. I don’t think I need to give any more setup to this story than that; it speaks for itself. After being in the waiting room for an [...]

Read the full article →

Parent-Teacher Conference

December 17, 2008

Didn’t those words strike fear into your heart as a kid? Even when you KNEW you had been pretty much perfect the entire year? And that you were already making straight As in everything? Yeah… it’s worse for the parent. Maybe especially for the parents of a special needs child. We knew how awesome the [...]

Read the full article →

Think All Flash Cards Are Alike? Think Again! – A Review of Goosie Cards

December 11, 2008

To preview what Goosie Cards are, visit their web site at GoosieCards.com. As we’ve chronicled in recent posts (see “My God, He IS Reading!”, “Roy G. Biv”), our son is all about his flash cards lately. They’re not going to displace the Sacred Wooden Letter Blocks of Steadfast Security and Comfort anytime soon, but flash [...]

Read the full article →

A Few Minutes Back on the Main Road – What is ‘Normal’ Exactly?

November 24, 2008

There is that in me – I do not know what it is – but I know it is in me. Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.) I too am not a bit tamed, I too am untranslatable, I sound my barbaric yawp over the [...]

Read the full article →

Do It Yourself at Do2Learn

November 15, 2008

If you’re trying to figure out the ins and outs of picture schedules and picture boards, get some actual pictures to use, get a home learning area or classroom set up, find some ideas for home art projects, come up with cheap but good learning activities, or keep saying to yourself, “is there someplace I [...]

Read the full article →

Obama and McCain on Autism Spectrum Disorders, Education, and Health Care

October 30, 2008

I had intended to write some sort of analysis of the Presidential candidates and their policies relating to autism spectrum disorders, education, and health care. After I wrote some of it, I realized that’s an epic topic somewhere on the order of “How carbon has influenced the evolution of the Earth.” So, I’m going to [...]

Read the full article →