Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Screens, screens, screeeeeens! Dec 18, 2020
The holiday season isn't only difficult for ND families due to get togethers, the pressures of complying with "special" days, sensory bombardment, rejection due to behaviour and unsolicited advice, there's also this..
I'm currently seeing post upon post from well intentioned professionals and...
Continue Reading...
Her behaviour was unacceptable. autism neurodivergent parenting Dec 04, 2020

(Shared with permission from my adult daughter.)

 

Cleaning out the shed today, I found a box of things collected since my teens.

I felt such sadness when I found this.

I was 18 when my first baby was born.

I was on my own and lived in public housing, and absolutely loved being a Mum.

In...

Continue Reading...
The diversity of resilience. neurodivergent resilience Dec 04, 2020

Ahhh, resilience.

The word "resilience" and "resilient" sit uncomfortably for me.

I've seen it used for belittling, dismissing, gaslighting, invalidating and bullying more than I've seen it used for good.

How do we measure resilience?

I think we do ourselves a huge disservice as a society by being so...

Continue Reading...
Autistic children, school and burnout. Dec 04, 2020
Today, Mum (me) has had to tune into one of my little people and exercise my responsibility to hit the skids, so to speak.

My girls love school.

They'd push through absolutely anything to be there.

And whilst that's great, and wasn't our experience with all of our girls, it means that we as parents...
Continue Reading...
Autism & Addiction: My Story Dec 04, 2020
CW: Suicidal feelings, addiction.

When you think of a person who is drug and/or alcohol addicted, know that if those layers were peeled away, you might very well discover an autistic person.

Drugs and alcohol were everything to me.

They were a balm for my lost, hopeless soul.

When I started drinking,...
Continue Reading...
There is no “Imperfection” in Human Being and Doing Nov 30, 2020

There is no “imperfection” in human being and doing.

We are all just as we are in the name of diversity; we all serve to teach and learn from one another.

In biodiversity, the forest thrives when all of it’s inhabitants coexist in harmony, as nature would have it.

The human notion...

Continue Reading...
Those Children were the Canaries in the Coal Mine Nov 27, 2020

..and so many of the world's children gradually, slowly but surely, became disengaged and disconnected; never coming out from their safe spaces, no longer connecting with their families.

Built for a world that valued, embraced and accepted all, they lay in wait for the adults to awaken to their...

Continue Reading...
Dealing with my Sensory Sensitivities Nov 25, 2020

"I love you. And I love you. I love you all. It's not anyone's fault that Mummy is upset. It's because I'm autistic, and I've had to touch kiwi fruit and mandarines and the juice has got on my skin and now I'm really upset and my whole brain and body feels really yucky and tense and I can't think...

Continue Reading...
Important Factors to Consider when having Discussions about our Children Nov 23, 2020

Important factors to consider when writing, speaking about or having discussions about our children; whether it be in an email to an educator, a conversation with a medical professional, a chat with a family member, or sharing on social media.

1. Does my loyalty lie with my child? Am I being an...

Continue Reading...
Our Children will Show us all we Need to Know Nov 20, 2020

When the first of my children was identified autistic, I thought my life as I knew it had ended.

It had.

The message that I needed to grieve the loss of a child I would not have was constantly and consistently pushed onto me; including being told if I didn't allow myself to grieve, I should expect...

Continue Reading...
It's Time to Take a Different Approach in our Classrooms Nov 18, 2020
 
 In my teaching days, I received one professional development session on teaching autistic students in my classes.

It involved learning about the importance of reward systems (at Secondary level), using lists and visuals, repeating instructions over and over to the autistic student...
Continue Reading...
Longing for the Place where we Belong Nov 12, 2020

When I was a small child, my most favourite place to be was my Grandparents’ home.

It was a huge house, built on a property surrounded by thousands and thousands of acreage - trees, dirt, animals, water, fruit trees, and miles and miles of quiet.

I would roam, freely. I was never bored and...

Continue Reading...