There's a lot involved with learning to talk including motor planning, breath control, coordination of the mouth, tongue, vocal chords, and muscles. If one or more of those components isn't working properly, especially for children on the spectrum, speech may be severely delayed or not develop at all. Just because a child is not speaking, … Continue reading Bridging The Communication Gap With Signs
Your very first IEP can be nerve racking - all those meetings, evaluations and paperwork. I know, I've been there. Whether you're transitioning from early intervention or starting your little one with services for the very first time, I'm here to help you through it all. First things first If your child has been receiving … Continue reading EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOUR FIRST IEP
Thanks for stopping by! I write mainly about being a mom and our atypical family, hoping to reach other moms who need support raising and understanding children with autism spectrum and sensory processing challenges. And, on occasion, I'll share some flash fiction stories and poetry. I really appreciate that you found me and hope some … Continue reading welcome ♥
This statement is not totally truthful. I do care, a lot, what people think of my son. How other people view Autism affects how he is treated, so it’s very important that I do my best to explain his Autism to the people in his life. But explaining a spectrum disorder to people who don’t … Continue reading EXPLAINING AUTISM
In the heat of the moment, when those "terrible two's" begin to take hold of your child for the first time, it can be really hard to recognize what is actually happening versus what it "feels" like is happening. But that outburst isn't coming from a place of disrespect or disobedience; it's an outburst … Continue reading Time Out For Self-Regulation, Not Punishment
I recently started blogging for Hudson Valley Parent about our journey with Simon, Sailing The Spectrum. I'll be posting weekly about what we've learned in Early Intervention as well as sharing personal stories about the very true side of Autism and Sensory Processing Disorder. I also have a few articles featured in upcoming HV Parent … Continue reading I’m Writing For Hudson Valley Parent Magazine!
My son is always holding something; a toy car, a ball, his blanket, a puzzle piece. We thought it was so adorable that wherever we went, he would find a "treasure" as we called it. The first time we went to a park, he found a tiny piece of tree bark and carried it around all day and then into … Continue reading Grounding Objects
"It takes a village.." and the teachers we have through the Early Intervention program are my village. As a first time mom, I read a ton of books about child development and although doctors say “every child develops at different paces” I constantly checked to make sure my son was reaching his milestones every month. He … Continue reading Early Intervention Is My Village
When we got pregnant, my husband and I decided we were going to teach our child sign language. We learned that before a child is able to physically speak, as in having developed muscle tone and coordination to move the mouth, tongue and breath, they have the hand coordination to sign. And since their little brains are working hard … Continue reading If You Can’t Say It, Sign It
Most of my sons major challenges have to do with his sensory processing: he's both sensory defensive and seeking. Some things are just too much for him to handle; such as super busy public places, most foods, and anything that sticks to his hands (defensive). And some days, his body and mind just need more … Continue reading I’m Not Sensory, You Are.
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