It’s the holiday season again. The time where we find the most perfect gifts for each other, bake and cook way too much food, and get to see the Christmas spirit through our children’s eyes. Except for some of us that Christmas spirit isn’t there. For some of us you see a social media update that looks “Christmasy” (is that a word?) but what it took to get that photo is another story. My son was diagnosed two years ago, almost three now. He has never understood the holiday but…
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My favorite autism moment with my son is when he introduced me to a stranger. It was an amazing moment I will cherish forever! My son, Eli was diagnosed at 19 months old with moderate autism spectrum disorder. It was not shocking news to me. We had concerns with Eli since he was super little. Never greeted anyone, never responded when spoken to, never spoke a word. He always used screams, cries, and grunts to communicate. Once diagnosed, we began outpatient speech and occupational therapies at our local hospital. Eli…
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I would like to honor my son, Gabe’s dance teacher/therapist Jackie Zamora. Jackie has a dance class called Zamdance. It’s for all children and adults with intellectual disabilities. A little about us… My name is Nicole. When I was 29 years old my husband passed away while I was 12 weeks pregnant with Gabe. When he was 18 months old Gabe was diagnosed with autism. He is now 9 years old and is non verbal with significant delays. I never thought I could be happy again after Gabe was diagnosed…
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Autism is a journey. It is a journey in a foreign land. When you arrive there is no map, no travel guide, and no book of language translation. You start to wander aimlessly looking for anything or anyone that looks familiar. Someone or something that can point you in the right direction. You stumble and fall. You cry, kick the ground, and sit there determined that you can’t do this. You are overwhelmed, disappointed, and discouraged. You don’t want to be here you want to go home. Home is a…
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Hey Sawyer, I’m hoping that someday I can say this all to you. But there is a chance that I might never be able too… I’m hoping that when you are older you will read this and understand. I know you think I have nothing to say. I do. I know I confuse you. I’m so loud. I flap my arms. I don’t notice toys. Or play sports. Or like to leave our house. I don’t have any friends. Or really pay any attention to you either. I just like…
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They say it takes a village to raise a special needs child. Well, our village consists of three very special women. My son Mason is six years old. He is non-verbal and non-ambulatory. He was diagnosed with hypotonia, which is low muscle tone, not long after birth. We were in the NICI for 7.5 weeks. He had surgery at four weeks old for a muscle biopsy and feeding tube placement. He has been thru more in his short six years of life than I have in my whole life. He’s…
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My name is Corinne and I am the proud mom of an 11 year old boy named Dante, AKA…Mini. He was diagnosed low functioning and non verbal at the age of three. We have had many paras over the years but none who compare to our Ms. Jennifer. Ms. Jennifer came to us when mini was seven and the immediate bond between them was amazing! She was able to get him to do things we were told he would never be able to do. She is the most kind and…
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I stand in the shower and let the scalding hot water burn my skin. The first quiet moments of day. I take a deep breath. And let it out slowly. I give myself the grace to feel and think about what it stole from us. The grace every parent should give themselves every now and then. Of course we shouldn’t dwell there. But it’s okay to visit now and then when it is warranted. Especially on days like Christmas. And birthdays. And other milestones. As the water burns my back,…
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Santa and Mrs. Claus made a visit to see the boys! It was absolutely beautiful. Here is a video with a peek at our Santa visit last year and this year. Sawyer asked for ALL the toys and Cooper said ‘I want Santa’ and ‘I want present.’ He nailed it. We are a blessed family. ‘Anything can happen child. Never stop believing.’ https://www.facebook.com/findingcoopersvoice/videos/338074990355936/ Merry Christmas! Finding Cooper’s Voice is a safe, humorous, caring and honest place where you can celebrate the unique challenges of parenting a special needs child. Because…
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A look at our Christmas present, present and future… CHRISTMAS PRESENT As I sat alone with my oldest, panting from our recent wrestling match, keeping him from darting off for the third time, I realized I was an outsider at our own family celebration. I watched as if I was outside a storefront window. This beautiful unattainable family holiday gathering performed in front of my eyes. How badly do I want to fit in. How do I wish that just once my boys could have a happy Christmas gathering. I…
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