Ellen Notbohm’s newsletter for April 2021 Awareness, Acceptance, Action—Every Month It’s been twenty-five years since I first became aware of Autism Awareness Month. It seemed like such a good idea at first, and I did enthusiastically participate for a few years. But I grew disillusioned when I saw how quickly the bursts of “awareness” faded into the background again after [...]
February 2021 “Trust me, this will time take time but there is order here, very faint, very human.” ~ Michael Ondaatje “Diversity isn't diversity and strength of character isn't strength of character if we shove aside those who haven't had the benefit of guidance, opportunities or just plain good fortune.” ~Ellen Notbohm In this issue: Matters of the heart: Why [...]
"Hot, buttered toast is the perfect meal . . . gives you just the right buzz.” ~Naveen Andrews In this issue: Thinking about this: Why your burnt toast matters Children’s books for difficult times Excerpt: Reframing “normal” “When you start talking about cookies . . .” *** Thinking about this: Why your burnt toast matters [...]
The Next Thing You Know: Ellen Notbohm's newsletter for December 2020 “Everyone makes mistakes.” ~Big Bird “If Big Bird says so, it must be true." ~Ellen’s son In this issue: Try This: Embracing our mistakes art, and how to help your child handle mishaps How many sticky notes does it take to read a book? #JustRead: Dolly Parton Picks [...]
By the time my granddaughter was sixteen months old, I vowed never again use the words “babble” or “gibberish” to describe baby talk. She came to our house every week and talked nonstop. Words, phrases, sentences, songs (yes, carried a tune). Not only that, but she used the most mature inflections and facial expressions I’d ever seen from a one-year-old. [...]
10th anniversary! Originally published September 2010 Last week my husband and I attended our last-ever back-to-school parent meeting. Bryce, our youngest child, is a senior. We’re a light year away from the first year following his identification as a child with autism, when he attended a supported integrated preschool class. At the end of each week, he greeted the teacher [...]
When someone is trying to persuade you to agree with their line of thinking or action, do you respond to scolding and name-calling with enthusiastic cooperation? Me neither. Nor do our kids. Nor should they. Ever. In this drastically unique election year in the midst of pandemic, we’ll have opportunities beyond number to begin to teach our children to reject [...]
A parent’s plea I received some years ago wrung my heart. I haven’t forgotten his poignant and starkly stated concerns which, in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic and the aftermath that will come when it subsides, are more urgent and pervasive than ever. He wrote: I am a single father of a child with multiple neurological and physical challenges. [...]
This is my first Mother's Day without my mother. I'm very much at peace with it. She likely wouldn't have survived the coronavirus pandemic and I wouldn't have been able to spend her last days with her, playing her favorite music, singing to her, remembering good times and people, easing the letting go. I knew it was a blessing at [...]
An Ellen Notbohm interview with Jennifer McIlwee Myers Jennifer McIlwee Myers is a treasure. The autism world’s self-titled Aspie-at-Large for the last fifteen years, Jenn’s unique voice, unmatched wit, and riveting insights into life as an autistic adult have captivated conference audiences and delighted readers of her two beloved books. I’ve been honored to call Jenn my friend for many [...]