With the holiday season upon us, it’s time to think about gifts and when it comes to buying gifts for a child who has autism, it can get really challenging trying to figure out the best options. If they are obsessively interested in something , chances are that all the gifts they get end up…
I entered a basement and found myself in front of a motley group of people sitting around a table, introducing themselves. Some composers, some singers , some lyricists and a few parents. To an onlooker it was just another meet and greet but what set this one apart was the fact that the songs were…
We all know how difficult it is for a differently abled individual to navigate the world with its prejudices. There is much to be desired when it comes to acceptance and inclusions. It often makes me nervous thinking about what kind of a world will my son find himself in when he grows up and…
Those who know me think, as a mom of a child with autism, I’m generally positive in my outlook. I would like to believe that is true. However, in me hides a realist–not to be confused with a pessimist. The realist me rears its head every now and then and I kick it back in,…
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…
Autism is a complex diagnosis. It’s a spectrum so it makes it all the more difficult to put it within the boundaries of a set of characteristics. As they say, every autistic individual has very unique traits and since it’s not a physical disability , sometimes autism is simply considered to be the result of…
Like every year and like for most parents, the arrival of our summer is preceded by a frantic search for summer camps to keep the kids busy. This year was no different. I looked everywhere and tried every combination but some were too repetitive, some too expensive and some just not the right fit. Nothing…
It was a usual start of the day – the 3rd day of sleepless night for my son and me, the struggles with brushing his teeth, the challenges with his breakfast and finally helping him dress and get ready for school. Nothing new about it. As parents of kids with special needs, certain challenges get…
I recently attended a concert my son was part of. We went in excited, hoping to watch our son perform with the rest of his group, but what we experienced left us heartbroken. Unlike the rest of the kids, he needs assistance, and the organizers promised that he would be “included”. At that time, I…
I stood in the middle of my son’s classroom , watching all his classmates confident and excited ,dressed as their favorite people from history. There were scientists, presidents, baseball players, civil rights activists and many more. They waited at their seats until one of the parents “activated” them for them to start their speech. I…
