When I Realized Labels can Enable my Children with Special Needs
Many parents are scared of "labels." So scared, they don't pursue a diagnosis for their child because of the fear their child will forever be defined by their diagnosis. I understand this fear. I once shared it too. There is a reason we did not initially share our daughter’s Asperger’s diagnosis with her, or with too many people around us. We were scared she would be defined by her diagnosis – forever limited by her label. In fact, I once wrote the following: I am trying to r
What YouTube Means to Me as an Autistic Teenager
Today, social media affects almost everyone on a daily basis. I think there are people in this world who think social media brings more harm than good, whether it’s cyber bullying, not having enough followers, you can’t seem to take the right picture or just don’t feel good enough compared to other people. Yes, this can be the case for many people who join social media, but it’s a lot different for me as a 15-year-old with high-functioning autism. I had known about YouTube fo
School is Starting: A Letter to My Kids
School is starting so I thought I would write a letter to my kids. We can all use a little sarcasm in our day, right? Dear Kids, It’s hard to believe school is starting soon and summer is over. I thought we should take this opportunity to go over a few things. Since it’s a new year, and you’ve had a busy summer, I wanted to make sure we’re all on the same page. No need for unnecessary arguments. It's been a hard summer for you and I know we're asking a lot of you. You've gone
Stay With It, Mama: 8 Simple Ways to Enjoy these Final Days of Summer
Next week my oldest child turns six. The week after, she starts full-day school for the first time. She’ll eat lunch without me, for the first time. We’ll be apart for longer than we’ve ever been apart before, unless you count that rare weekend I flew out to see friends or a few other random times in life when I was gone all day, but those were exceptions and not typical. I'm not okay with her being gone, but I have to be. More, I have to be a grown-up and put on a smile beca
5 Ways to be a Supportive Sibling to Someone on the Autism Spectrum
I come from a very close-knit family. My parents have been married for over 30 years, and I have two wonderful brothers. Fifteen years ago, when my youngest brother Joe was just 7 years old, we found out he has Asperger's syndrome. At the time, there was not much research about it; my family treated Joe like everyone else. Being an older sister has its perks, but when you are dealing with someone on the autism spectrum, there are things to consider. 1. Be careful how you teas
Two inspiring, local filmmakers appear on "Conan" for the world premiere of their film
[Video available to view at the link below.] Two inspiring, local filmmakers appear on Conan for the world premiere of their film, "Spring Break Zombie Massacre." Conan congratulates them on their tremendous achievement with a chocolate fountain. - - - - - - - - - - - - - To watch the full video clip, visit the Conan show website, TeamCoco: http://bit.ly/2aNyO6f.