Dec
17
When I was in high school I can remember seeing “special” kids in our assemblies with big brown headphones on that looked as if they came from the reading room. I didn’t understand what they were for until I had my own little sensory cutie. Headphones can be a huge help in reducing noise and …
Mar
04
For years, while raising my Autistic daughter Sophia, the occupational therapists would harp on me to interrupt her any time she resorted to lining things up or got too obsessive about stacking and sorting. There is one part of me that agrees I need to stretch her to move outside of her instincts and learn …
Jan
10
Making a video diary of your child with special needs can serve several needs. From helping with diagnosis to your own personal sanity and encouragement, grab a camera and start today. Below are the top 5 ways I used a video diary with my daughter since she was 20 months old: 1. Help professionals diagnose …
Oct
25
The idea of hosting any type of get together, let alone a baby shower for 30 people, was not something I would even consider before getting Sophia’s Autism Service Dog. When Sophia was first learning to talk, I remember her crying “I want to go home” when people would come to our house. She never …
Oct
09
I apologize for the delay in posting but it should be an indication that life at home right now seems a bit more complicated than life before Truman! We brought Sophia’s autism service dog home in the middle of August. Two weeks later all of our kids started school. For Sophia, it was her first …
Aug
05
Sophia first visits with an Occupational Therapist were done in our own home. She was only about 20 months old. One day, the OT arrived with the coolest tool we have yet to help Sophia calm and regulate herself. It is called the Indoor Rainy Day Playground. First of all, I didn’t realize until she …
Aug
03
Today was the big day we had been waiting for. The day Sophia met Truman in person! It was a long day yesterday, getting packed, dropping off my 7 year old daughter Cece at her Aunt’s and listening to Sophia ask “Are we there yet?” every 20 minutes for 5 hours. That was nothing compared …
Aug
03
Each day seems to get better and better. I don’t think Sophia agrees as she is getting very tired of this new routine. This organization is absolutely great and the trainers and dogs are wonderful but the stress of this schedule and lack of coping mechanisms for our autistic kids is already overwhelming. All of …
Aug
03
Okay. Maybe I’m a wuss, but I feel like I’ve been entered into a reality TV show called Amazing Race Autism Service Dog Edition. Every day brings a new challenge. I’m tired, a little frustrated, now have hives, and really wish I could fast forward through this and get home with our new dog, back …
Aug
03
Day 5 had a bumpy start. We have quite the checklist of items now when we leave to go anywhere that we are bound to forget something. Kids…check, dog…check, leash…check, lunches…check, meds…check, backpacks…oops! we missed those and they had the treats, special leashes and chew toys. My husband had to drop us off, turn around …
