When parents first hear the term Occupational Therapy (OT), it’s easy to assume it has to do with jobs. The word “occupation” often brings to mind adults at work, not young children learning to eat, play, or dress themselves. In reality, Occupational Therapy for children is something very different—and it can be one of the most…
Sometimes, an autism sign shows up in the tiniest everyday moments—the things only a parent would notice. I began noticing them when my son was just 1. He could spend forever staring at the ceiling fan, completely mesmerized by its movement. He was also so sensitive to touch and sound, and even as a baby, he didn’t…
This week, Donald Trump made headlines again — this time saying that Tylenol during pregnancy causes autism. He even went as far as naming communities like the Amish and Cubans, suggesting they don’t use Tylenol and therefore have lower autism rates. As a mom raising an autistic child, I had a lot of feelings hearing that….
Let’s be vulnerable. When people talk about autism, they often paint two very different pictures. Some say, “Autism is a superpower, it’s cool, it makes people unique.” And then there’s the other side—the one rarely spoken out loud because it’s too heavy, too raw, too crushing. That’s the truth behind autism that most people don’t want to hear: parents…
Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Autism parenting comes with challenges that can feel overwhelming, especially in the early years when meltdowns, communication struggles, or uncertainty about the future are at their peak. Books and audiobooks have been my lifeline…
Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As parents, one of our deepest wishes is to understand what our children need and how they feel. For families of nonverbal or minimally verbal kids, communication tools can be life-changing. A communication tool…
My child started speech therapy when he was just 2 years old—before we even had an autism diagnosis. At the time, he didn’t seem to have any desire to communicate. He was far more fascinated by watching the circular motion of ceiling fans than by trying to talk. His first real words didn’t come until…
What is ABA Therapy? Pros, Benefits, and Controversies If you’re just starting out on your child’s autism journey, you’ve probably already heard the term ABA therapy from your doctor—or you soon will. When I first came across it, I wasn’t sure what to think. I asked our speech therapist, spent hours scrolling through autism parent…
If your child has an autism diagnosis, one of the most important parts of their school journey will be the IEP meeting (Individualized Education Program). This is where the school team, specialists, and you as the parent come together to decide what supports your child needs to succeed. Making IEPs work can feel intimidating at…
I didn’t personally go through California’s IFSP process with my own son. By the time we moved here, he was already older than three, which meant we skipped directly into the IEP system. But over the years, I’ve listened to so many parents describe their IFSP experiences—the good, the overwhelming, and the confusing—and I want…
