Here you’ll find relevant essays related to raising a child with unique and complex needs. The purpose of these posts is to form connections through our shared stories. Stories have the power to change the world when we feel less alone in our struggles and finally seen.
I asked Lara Garrard when she first sensed something was different with her third son, Luka. She replied, “I could tell at 6 months. He wasn’t bonding with me like his older brothers.” Lara has four...
I was advanced material age (38) when I was pregnant with Sully and a high risk of going into labor early which led to taking shots weekly. (Did this lead to autism?) It was by far my hardest...
“‘Transition Plan’ is a mockery for kids like Pabs, because no program will take him, no day programs exist that can support his profound needs.” This post is written by Alicia Mesa and was...
There will be times on this journey where you scream, cry & use colorful language. That was today. To be a fly on our wall when I am on the phone. When the screaming comes to an end. When the...
Cody is in a man’s body with the mind of a child. His body is growing faster than his mind and there are many challenges that come with that. Cody had a huge tantrum last night. Tantrum not meltdown...
From the minute you become a parent, the overwhelming fear and concern sets in. You constantly question whether every choice or decision you make on your child’s behalf is the right one. When your...
“Come back to me…” I whisper as I hold my 3-year-old daughter who is once again slipping into the unknown, an unknown that I have few tools to help her navigate because the treatment options we’ve...
By: Eileen at The Autism Cafe Why is this even a taboo thing to say? The truth is I wish Charlie didn’t have autism. There, I said it. It’s not politically correct, but I know that many autistics,...
I’m a dad based in the UK and my 8-year-old son Thomas has severe autism and global delay. He's non-verbal, still in diapers, and attends a school dedicated to children with special needs. He's a...
After enduring a rough ending to the school year in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic, my family needed a summer getaway. My wife and I decided to treat ourselves to a resort near the Jersey Shore...
“This photo is what we aim for — a happy, calm, contented Josh — the snapshot that we choose to share, but the everyday reality is far from this picture.” Here we go again, I say to myself, trying...
It always starts out so simple. It seems hard to believe what will take place in the hour that you leave your house. My teen daughter had to be at a school event this morning. That means I would...