What does autism “awareness” mean to you? Better question—what does it mean to those who think autism doesn’t touch them? “Awareness” may be another one of those words I have to consign to quotation marks, along with “normal” and “typical.” Awareness was an ambitious goal ten years ago, and still is in many countries, but here in the United States [...]
Dear Ellen: We have a preschooler who is otherwise perfect, normal and talks a lot at home, but is very shy with outside folks. Unlike other kids who are carefree and casual, she takes a long time to come out of her shell and play. She prefers playing with one friend, doesn’t like to be in a group. She cannot [...]
A parent asks: When telling people "my child is on the Autism spectrum," we’ve debated how to explain it without the stereotype of people thinking our son is "classic Autism." I dislike the word Autistic (right now), maybe because it’s so new to us. But there are so many different shades of autism. How do we explain he has a [...]
Sometimes I went to bed mad. Sometimes I dished out the silent treatment. Because I couldn’t speak. Sometimes I expected the worst. But every night I looked at the calligraphed adage on my living room wall— Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow. ~ Mary [...]
I am the mother of an eleven-year-old autistic son. He just entered middle school this year and has been suspended for a total of six days. I feel that these suspensions stem from his disability, but I can't get anyone to listen. He was never suspended while in his last school, but is experiencing problems now. I am open to [...]
The autism conference featured a panel of adults with Asperger’s. Each related their ups and downs with college, jobs, relationships, and independent living, then the moderator opened the session to questions from the audience. “Why is eye contact so hard for you?” a woman asked a twenty-something man on the panel. His gaze zeroed in on his hands, clasped on [...]
Each year, autism “awareness” rises to ever-louder levels of analysis and controversy. The Centers for Disease Control’s newest findings place the incidence of autism in children at 1 in 68, up from 1 in 88 just only two years ago, and 1 in 750 when my son was identified in 1995. Each year, we who live and work with children [...]
Many years ago a co-worker, observing all that I had to do for my so-called special needs children, commented that I lived "a life of obligation." Her insinuation was that I didn't have as much freedom as parents of so-called typically developing children, and that this was to be pitied. (I pitied her more.) I thought of her last night [...]
A parent asks: I need some help. I've been fighting schools for ten years now and as my son is just beginning high school, they've informed me he's cured and no longer needs his IEP. Is it possible to be "cured?" I've spent years working with him; he's improved immensely. I'd love your thoughts on this. Ellen answers: The Number [...]
“The greatest tragedy that can befall a child with autism is to be surrounded by adults who think it’s a tragedy.” That’s my most widely quoted affirmation, and while it draws overwhelming agreement, it also brings out the 1% naysayers. "Well, it's no blessing," comes the retort, to which I reply that not everything in this life has to be [...]