Why It's Important to Teach the True Definition of Fairness
My name is Leanne Strong, I’m 23 years old, and I have Asperger’s syndrome (milder autism, little to no difficulty with speech or cognitive skills). As you may know, a lot of people who have autism understand things in a very rigid and concrete manner, and our understanding of fairness is no exception to this. When children are younger (in preschool or early elementary school age), the adults and older children in their lives teach them they have to be fair all the time and
The Challenge of Keeping My Impulsive and Hyperfocused Son Safe
When our family moved to a small suburb of Portland, Maine, two years ago, my 6-year-old son asked if we could explore our new neighborhood on our bikes. My son has ADHD and autism, and he can be quite impulsive, so I was nervous about taking him out in an unfamiliar area. But I agreed. As we made our way down the side streets, we were passed by a pickup truck. “Daddy, look! That truck is an F-350 Super Duty!” my son excitedly said. He’s obsessed with trucks and loves pointin
Doctor Interrupts Anti-Vax Movie: 'Your Presence Will Cause Babies to Die'
[To view the videos mentioned in the article, click here.] The documentary's director was stripped of his doctor's license and accused of falsifying a study. This is the moment a celebrated Māori doctor crashed a special viewing of a controversial anti-vaccination documentary playing at a theater in Kaitaia in New Zealand’s Far North District this week. The above video shows Dr. Lance O’Sullivan taking the stage to warn audience members watching “Vaxxed” at his local theater
My Tips for Vacationing with Kids with Autism
My Tips for Vacationing with Kids on the Autism Spectrum Preparing is the most important part of the trip! In our home we use the term “front-loading” We make sure Ben knows as much as possible about what will happen on the vacation. One easy way to front-load is to view You tube videos of where you are going. National Parks, beaches, museums and every ride at Disney has a you tube video or website that gives a good feel of the place. TIP- view the videos first, sometimes the
These are the Things I Want for My Child with ADHD
There's so much I wish for all of my boys. Happiness, peace, love, laughter, lasting friendships - all the usual things parents want for their children. But I worry more about my oldest who has ADHD. The world can be cruel; people can be mean. Not everyone understands him or cares to take the time to try. I have more fear about his future than my other boys. Boys who can sit still in class, remember their homework (and underwear, for that matter). Boys who pick up on social c
Instagram's #HereForYou Project Raises Awareness for Mental Health
Instagram took a step towards making the world a better place and helping those in need when they announced the launch of their newest campaign on Good Morning America this week, which addresses mental health issues. The campaign uses the hashtag #HereForYou to motivate users to open up about their own struggles with mental health and to join in on a worldwide conversation. “People come to Instagram to tell their stories in a visual way. Through a single image or video they’r
Sweet Video Shows a Normal Day from Both Mom's and Kid's Perspectives
[Follow the link below to view the full video.] "Your normal may be their magic." It is often said of parenting that the days are long, but the years are short. A sweet new video is putting a spotlight on those ordinary long days and what they mean to kids. In honor of Mother’s Day, vlogger Esther Anderson created “A Normal Day,” a video that shows a mom’s exhausting day with her two young children from both her perspective and her daughter’s perspective. While the mom is wor
A Reminder for Everyone: Everyday Should be Mother's Day
This is for all the mothers out there - those with mental or physical illnesses, those who are addicts or prisoners, those who are absent in their children's lives, those who live everyday sacrificing their lives for their children, and those who are watching their children from heaven above. There is something that is so special about Mother’s Day because it is a reminder that your mother gave birth to you. Even if you think were an “accident” or “mistake” or you’ve been tol
A Day in the Life of a Special Needs Mom's Brain
My husband and I spend a lot of time trying to figure out how our middle son’s brain works. A rare medical diagnosis dangling over the head of a 6-month-old baby sends you into a tarot card level tantrum of predictions. But you’re not psychic and you can’t predict the future, so you set out as best you can to live in the present. And that's where your brain comes in. A way station without a road map. A holding tank where only so much information can be taken in before it seep
Why I Stopped Saying "Sorry" as a Mom (and Started Saying "No")
Last week two school emails landed in my inbox. One asked for volunteers for a PTA event. The other invited my younger son to a bowling alley birthday party for a classmate he barely knew. I stared at those emails. I sighed at those emails. And then I drafted replies in my head. “I’m sorry, but I can’t sign up to help at the PTA event,” I thought about writing. “My sons have autism and learning and attention issues. I work full-time, and my husband has to cobble together free