Vaccines and Autism — Clearing the Confusion with Compassion Few debates in the autism community have been as emotional, long-lasting, or widely misunderstood as the one surrounding vaccines and autism. For many parents, especially those who are new to an autism diagnosis, this debate can feel deeply personal. We want to protect our children, make the best…
Debate #2: Screen Time for Autistic Kids – Helpful Tool or Hidden Trap? Few parenting topics spark as much emotion as screen time, and this includes one of the ongoing debates in the autism community. From tablets and educational apps to YouTube videos and AAC communication devices, screens have become an unavoidable part of how many…
Debate #1: “Autistic Child” vs. “Child with Autism” — What’s in a Word? If you spend any time in autism parenting groups or reading articles by self-advocates, you’ve probably noticed a recurring and sometimes emotional debates in the autism community about language: should we say “autistic child” or “child with autism”? At first, it might seem like a…
When your child is diagnosed with autism, it’s not just their life that changes. Your whole family’s world shifts too. Parents of autistic children often carry the weight of appointments, school meetings, therapies, and constant advocacy, all while trying to keep life feeling “normal.” It’s easy to forget about yourself in the process, but your…
When your child is first diagnosed with autism, it can feel like stepping into a whole new world. I remember those early days when I was trying to understand what support looked like, who to ask for help, and how to make sure my child got the right autism services in school. It’s a lot to…
Feeding Therapy: A Personal Journey My parents describe me as an extreme picky eater when I was a kid. For years, my diet was basically a bowl of plain rice and a banana—and that was it. Even now, while I eat a much wider variety of foods, I still struggle with mushy textures or anything…
When you first step into the world of autism support, it can feel overwhelming. Suddenly, there are evaluations, reports, and new terms you may have never heard before—things like “sensory processing,” “joint attention,” or “fine motor skills.” Acronyms such as OT, SLP, and ABA start to fill conversations, and it can feel like you’re learning…
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….
