– Autism, Parenting and Personal Development –
I met with Tom's high school SENCO (special needs co-ordinator) yesterday to discuss his gradual transition into the "HCP" special needs unit at the school. The more I see of it and the more I talk to the staff there, the more I believe this is the best future for Thomas academically. As much as... Continue Reading →
Introducing a new feature reporting on people and organisations providing services for autistic people. In our inaugural article today we are featuring Sensory World Play Centre in Dewsbury. Linda Holmes is a woman on a mission. Linda is the sole proprietor and manager of Sensory World Play Centre, a multi sensory play centre for children... Continue Reading →
Happy Sunday. I hope this weekend finds you well. Once again it's a grey, rainy, cool day where I am. Spring just can't seem to get started! To brighten up your day, and to reflect the blog's new name, I thought I'd introduce a new series: #autism_is, discussing different aspects of autism. I'm going to... Continue Reading →
Tom loves his scooter. He's had a scooter for most of his school life, it's his pride and joy. I discovered it was much easier to get him to school if he could scoot there and once he got a set of wheels, he never wanted to walk anywhere again. He scoots to school and... Continue Reading →
Recently I have become very aware of autism as an identity rather than a disorder. From speaking with autistic people and reading their blogs, taking note of the rejection of person-first terminology ("a person with autism") and the preference for identity-first wording ("an autistic person"); the posts listing "that autistic feeling when..."; the visual stim... Continue Reading →
Today (April 2nd) is World Autism Awareness Day. The entire month of April is Autism Awareness Month. Autism blogs are already awash with articles on the awareness/acceptance argument, the evils of Autism Speaks, the tokenism of one day out of 365 and one month out of twelve for building awareness and the pointlessness of blue light... Continue Reading →
Too important not to share. There is a huge difference between being aware of autism and making autistic people's lives better, making accommodations, allowing them to speak on their own behalf, not trying to force them to behave in a neurotypical/allistic way and shaming them for behaving autistically. Listen to the autistic community, find out... Continue Reading →
via Sesame Street welcomes Julia, a muppet with autism - BBC News Sesame Street has created Julia, a muppet who has autism. It's wonderful that a programme so involved with early years children is raising this issue. Interesting that they've gone with a girl as far fewer girls are diagnosed. However, I've read a number of... Continue Reading →
Parenting an autistic child when you have no previous experience of autism can be confusing, stressful, tiring and lonely as there are few chances to talk to people who understand what this life is like. It drove me to create this blog, so I could share what I have learned and help others who may... Continue Reading →
Change is coming. The prospect of change is beginning to cast a shadow on our family's life: my son is moving up to High School in September. Thomas has high functioning autism so he is generally resistant to change; his primary school and I have spent some time preparing him for this next step. We've talked about it,... Continue Reading →
