Tag Archives: development

Welcoming Dissent… Self-advocacy, the communication hierarchy, and rethinking tone

Posted on February 7, 2013 by

My thinking and learning around the ideas and concepts of self-advocacy is being nudged by the work I am doing supporting educators in their inquiry projects in a Graduate Program entitled, Supporting Diverse Learners. I have been explaining the importance … Continue reading →

Posted in Autism, Communicate, limits, promote social understanding, self-advocacy, Special Education | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The link between self-understanding and self-advocacy

Posted on January 16, 2013 by

I can get very excited about the topic of self-advocacy. I am supporting H in his journey, but as I support his learning there are a number of things I have been pondering… Opportunities to develop self-understanding: I think part … Continue reading →

Posted in Autism, Journey, self-advocacy, worry | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

“Whisper me, Mom”: Autism and Supporting Development

Posted on December 28, 2012 by

When H was tiny I used to whisper words to him when we were out, because he lacked words of his own in an unfamiliar environment, or with unfamiliar people. I would lean in seamlessly – almost invisibly – so … Continue reading →

Posted in Autism, Communicate, connections, language, mentor/apprentice, Vygotsky | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Adding the I to IEP: H is at the table

Posted on November 8, 2012 by

There was another first for our 13-year-old this week. We worked with the wonderful team at H’s Distributed Learning School to update his Individual Education Plan (IEP) and for the first time ever H was there to take part. He … Continue reading →

Posted in Anxiety, Autism, Distance Education, Distributed Learning, Goals, HFASD, IEP, inclusion, scaffolding, self-advocacy, Shame, Special Education | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Calm… Autism and breaking the time/space continuum

Posted on August 1, 2012 by

There is something about childhood and the ability to lose yourself in time just witnessing the poetry in the movements of an insect or the clouds. Those small things contain the entire world. I often ponder that as adults we … Continue reading →

Posted in acceptance, ASD, Aspergers, AspieKid, Autism, calm, childhood, fitting in | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

I am so OK with being wrong…

Posted on July 27, 2012 by

I am WRONG… rather often actually; I don’t know – what I don’t know – until I have found out – that I don’t know it… As convoluted as that may sound, it makes sense really. It is a relatively … Continue reading →

Posted in Autism, being wrong, discomfort avoidance, good enough thinking, Handling Change, handling discomfort, Resiliency, Special Education | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Preoccupation with another layer of autism stigma: Crap…this goes deep!

Posted on July 19, 2012 by

I have been preoccupied with the ideas of self-advocacy lately. I am so motivated to delve into this – to understand more about the developmental components and the building bricks that will support the skills of advocacy.  I know… I … Continue reading →

Posted in acceptance, Arizona TASH, ASD, Aspergers, Autism, Autism Positivity, connections, Diagnosis, label, Laura Nagle, Neurotypical, perspective of others, promote social understanding, self-advocacy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments

Cleaning the Aspie Room: Aaack! Will we ever move on from this?

Posted on July 16, 2012 by

H is a collector! He is a collector of facts, like the Amazing Craig (H’s Dad) and like myself! And also like me… he is a collector of stuff! We both love thrift stores and the thrill of a treasure … Continue reading →

Posted in Anxiety, Aspergers, Autism, executive function, HFASD, Indiana Jones, Journey, Michael Jackson, Parent, Star Trek, Star Wars | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Handling Haircuts… Autism and the Barber Shop

Posted on July 7, 2012 by

H has hair that seems to grow very, very fast! We have to go frequently to the barber – but I will share a few tricks we have learned – well more like… figured out along the way. First though, … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona TASH, ASD, Aspergers, Autism, Episodic Memory, hair cuts, self-advocacy, Sensory Processing Disorder, SPD | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

What is going on here?!? Autism, Uneven Development and Periods of Consolidation

Posted on May 27, 2012 by

Some time ago I was reading an article by a parent who was commenting on her surprise that her child was suddenly gaining a myriad of skills – seemingly out of the blue. This was not just happening in one … Continue reading →

Posted in ASD, Aspergers, Autism, Behaviour, Communicate, Handling Change, Parent, Resiliency | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 25 Comments