Category: Autism
-
I’ve Seen Fire and I’ve Seen Rain
I’m gonna call ya one day soon.💕💕💕 Receiving my BA in Deaf Education in 4.5 years was a challenging journey filled with unexpected twists and turns. There were moments when I felt like a sinking ship, unsure of how to navigate the unfamiliar waters ahead. One particularly amusing anecdote from my college days involved a…
-
Advocate like a Mother, Chelsea
2023 came and went with several strong advocacy cases. Alongside other parents, I was able to address issues of eligibility, FULL accessibility, proper evaluations for children with Autism, deafness and ADHD. I also supported families as they advocated for proper school placements. I’m very proud of how the cases ended, with relationships in tact and…
-
Just something I never seem to get to say at an IEP meeting
Dear Special Educator, I know it’s that time of year when you are counting down the days until summer. I can still remember that feeling, especially strong during my first few years as a teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing. I admire your dedication to my children and to the field of education.…
-
Blessings in this New Year
Happy New Year! 2023 is here! It’s fun to know we will be living in the same house for the entire year. The husband is already looking at where we may move next. Life can’t always be predictable, but we can always adapt. Being a Sign Language Interpreter at my home church is such a…
-
An Ode to our Gma
Many of you know about the loss our family is coping with this Christmas. Here is my Eulogy for Darlene Hughes, GMa. I am grateful Elijah is of age and mind to attend with me. Heartfelt thank you for your calls, cards, prayers for my father I would like to express my deep, sincere, condolences…
-
Falling into the Change of a New Season
Taking a family vacation takes…courage! While vacationing in New Hampshire, I heard a political commercial say ”When you’re the parent of a child with special needs you have to be strong.” Since my children have very specific sensory needs, I had to learn how to help them learn how to avoid meltdowns. It’s hard to…
-
Timing
How do you like to “time” events with your children? Timing…give me a minute. It took me years to learn to match my paddling to the timing of a wave. When I learned how, it changed my life. Being able to surf opened doors everywhere I went, San Diego, Hawaii and eventually to Monterey, CA. …
-
Animals don’t Judge
Stop and think about that. Words from a humble, insightful docent at the St. Louis Aquarium. It’s a girls weekend for E2 and I. We went decadent and booked ourselves at the Union Station which has everything; light shows, fire shows, a koi pond, a Ferris wheel and yes an aquarium too. I was gonna…
-
I’m always trying to do this
Well, it’s been 6 months now since we moved to St. Louis Missouri and life is starting to feel settled. The kids are in school, the husband works from home and I accepted a full time positive with an office outside of the home (Praise God). Every so often I will stop to wonder if…
-
My Veteran and Gratitude in 2022
Is it really that time of year again? Time to pause and thank our service members who have placed themselves in harms way to protect our civil liberties and freedoms. I’ll wake up and thank my husband. I’ll call my dad and thank him. Veteran’s Day is so different than Memorial Day for us because…