Special Needs

I’ve written beforeabout my wonderful relationship with my steam cleaner and its advertised “ten rows of steam-cleaning action.” For a while, though, we hadn’t had many big messes, and I…

A few years ago, we purchased a therapy swing for Rachel to help with some of the sensory issues that come with autism. It required a massive hook mounted in…

Last week, eldest announced that she wanted to be “Thing 1” for her school’s Dr. Seuss birthday celebration on March 2. As this was my big opportunity to make the…

Yesterday, in our dash to get out of the house before school, I found myself chewing on a bottle of hairspray for the second time in one week. Did I…

Toilet paper has a quick turn-around in our house. No matter how much I buy, it seems we are always about to run out. Of course, our daughter Rachel’s fascination with…

What was I thinking? Have you ever let your desire to buy your child a fun gift overcome your good sense? As I have written about many times before, I…

While straightening a shelf, I came across a scrapbook my mother made when the girls were toddlers. A wave of nostalgia hit me, so I opened it up. Page after…

If you are new to the world of autism, there is help for the uninitiated. Three years ago when I first heard my daughter’s diagnosis of severe autism, I felt…

Last night at my support group, one of the moms brought up a good point about the importance of friendships for children, teens, and young adults with special needs. As…

One of the issues my husband and I often discuss is the well-being of our older child. With a severely autistic younger sister, my eldest spends a great deal of…