The post Internet Radio Guest – The Sociable Homeschooler appeared first on Leigh Attaway Wilcox.

Can you please forgive me, Dear Readers?

I wish to extend a sincere apology for neglecting this blog for so very long. I was blessed to have been asked to blog and edit for other websites over the past couple of years and as a result my personal blog here had to take a back seat; for that I apologize. I have a feeling that you all will understand, simply because I know YOU lead a life just as busy as mine.

In this coming year I am beyond excited to be able to carve out more time to blog HERE and share some exciting news with you. I have so much to share…for instance, did you know I am now homeschooling my amazing Twice Exceptional son now? Have I told you that I own a small home-based business now (see my website: www.youngliving.org/leighawilcox) and teach classes about using Young Living Essential Oils for health and wellness? Would you like to join me at an amazing conference in Chicago in May to learn about treating Autism Spectrum Disorders biomedically? I’ll be speaking as a panelist at AutismOne on using Young Living Essential Oils for ASD symptoms and I would love to see you there.

The “Worthy Links” (to the left) are undergoing an update, so if you see a link that doesn’t work or want to recommend I add a new site or blog – please let me know. I’m excited to be back and look forward to blogging here and interacting with all of you!

The post Can you please forgive me? appeared first on Leigh Attaway Wilcox.

Great news! Even though my book  ALL BETTER: A Touch-and-Heal Book is out of print in hardcover edition, thanks to Moving Picture Books it is now available for digital download for just 99 cents. It is easy to download for viewing on your iPhone, iPad or iTouch (or on your Mac or PC, too)! 

Additionally, it is offered as part of a DVD called “Silly Discoveries” for $12.99.

Have fun watching your little ones help Puppy and his friends  feel “All Better!”

Friends & Colleagues!

Great news came in the form of a picture book contract last week! My co-author, Summer Gibson, and I signed a contract with Skeezel Press for a picture book manuscript titled About Ella: Understanding Albinism. We are thrilled to be moving forward with this project and have plans to launch it next summer at the 2012 NOAH bi-annual conference in St. Louis!

Please stay tuned for additional information in the coming months!

*****Note: This post was originally published on October 7, 2010, on the former Dallas Moms Blog.*****

Connections make life rich. Each of us seeks to surround ourselves with people who have similar priorities and goals. Sometimes it is thanks to rather dire situations that we truly connect with others who change our lives forever.

 Jenny McCarthy, while on tour for her new book, Love, Lust & Faking It, took time out of her schedule Wednesday night to have a drink with a local group of moms (and a few dads, grandmothers and sisters) following a book signing at the Lincoln Park Barnes & Noble in Dallas.  Why? She graciously honored a connection that many local “Warrior Moms,” like me, have with her.

Let me be honest: Autism can be a very lonely place for families to journey. Especially in the beginning, after first receiving a diagnosis, many of us are so overwhelmed by responsibility (“I caused this” thoughts), shame (“I can’t control my own child” thoughts) and grief (“my child may never…make friends…have a meaningful, fulfilling job…get married…” and on and on kinds of thoughts) we don’t realize, (some of us for weeks, months or years) that we’re far, far from alone.

Jenny’s first book about her family’s personal journey with Autism, Louder Than Words, sparked some much-needed media interest in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and changed that “loneliness” for countless families battling ASD across the world. Jenny’s candid, heart-felt accounts of her son’s Autism and their family life in Louder Than Words garnered respect and attention from people from many walks of life. Her book tour talks with big hitters like Oprah and Larry King brought light and hope to many of us struggling with the Autism loneliness that sometimes clouds our wishes, thoughts and dreams.         

When Jenny sat with Oprah on the Louder Than Words book tour and described her all-out-battle to recover Evan from Autism, Oprah graciously called her a “Warrior Mom.” From that day forward, women all over the world fighting for the health and well-being of their children living with ASD, had a new “team” name thanks to Jenny and thanks to Oprah! Jennifer Keefe, a DFW-area mom had connected with and a group of like-minded friends sharing their journeys with ASD and decided that very day to name their group “Warrior Moms” in honor of Jenny and her dedication to healing children living with illnesses associated with their ASD.

Jenny’s second Autism book, Healing and Preventing Autism, co-authored with Dr. Jerry Kartzinel, specifically addresses biomedical treatments for children with ASD, in my opinion pushed our “team” up another notch. This easy-to-read book continues to raise awareness with the general population and offers fundamental information on biomedical treatments to help Warrior Moms in the trenches. Mother Warriors: A Nation of Parents Healing Autism Against All Odds, is a powerful tribute to th

[Note: This post was originally shared on the former Dallas Moms Blog; since the post went up, Now I See the Moon has been read far and wide and is currently listed as Amazon's #3 Book for Special Needs Parenting! If you have not already read it...I strongly encourage you to do so!]

Aug 2010 - During the Autism Society National Conference, Elaine Hall, author of Now I See the Moon: A Mother, a Son, a Miracle (HarperStudio, 2010), and founder of The Miracle Project, took time out of her schedule to meet with me. It was a true pleasure to interview this petite, vibrant woman who exudes kindness and contentment.

 A former film and television coach for children, Elaine worked with the likes of Dylan and Cole Sprouse from the Suite Life of Zack and Cody, long before they became “Zach and Cody.” (My son, Ethan, is a big fan of these handsome, talented boys!) Elaine’s work as a “baby wrangler” helped prepare her for motherhood, but when she could not biologically carry children, Elaine turned toward her Russian heritage to adopt a boy from a Russian orphanage. In Now I See the Moon, Elaine details this difficult, yet moving journey to find Neal, bring him home and raise him. When they arrived back in the States, Neal was just shy of 2-years-old and not well; it took a good 6-to-8 months just to nurse him back to health. Not long after that, Neal’s Autism diagnosis took center stage. Elaine shares in the book, “Now comes the reckoning. I am not ready for it. I do not accept that anything is really wrong with Neal. I see his soul. Neal’s soul is whole. Why would anyone imply that he is broken and needs fixing?” In reading Elaine’s words, I felt her pain…I relived my own.

Once Elaine came to terms with Neal’s diagnosis, she began a quest to find ways to reach him and bring him into her world. It was not until she entered his world that they truly connected as mother and son. When I met with Elaine, she shared a story with me which is also in her book; a story about pulling Neal through parking lots, even though he would resist time-after-time; so much so she sometimes felt she was dragging him to the car. One day, she slowed down and allowed Neal to guide her to stop and examine his particular fascination with the cars in the parking lots. Elaine recalls, “Now, following his lead, I stop with him, kneel down, and stare at the hubcaps. What I see is the most beautiful thing: the sun falling on a hubcap creates a starburst of brilliant, shining shards of light. They are magical, mesmeric.” As Elaine retold this story to me at the Hyatt Regency Dallas, I teared up and apologetically wiped at my eyes and nodded in understanding. But, Elaine didn’t mind my tears…we connected then and there. The truth is, when I force myself to slow down, my sweet son – Ethan, like Neal, is able to astonish and astound me with profound understanding and appreciation for the beauty in the world surrounding us. Like Elaine, I feel truly blessed to be a mother of such a special child!

As Now I See the Moon progresses, Elaine shares about the challenges that Autism brings to her family; she is candid about her marriage and frank about what happened to friendships when her sole focus became helping Neal and tending to his therapies and needs. Elaine shares about working with Dr. Stanley Greenspan to learn to better enter Neal’s wo

*Note: This post was initially posted on the now discontinued Dallas Moms Blog on October 20, 2010.*

If you’re anything like me, your worries for your children don’t stop at today or tomorrow or even next week or month, they extend well into the future. Whether you’re raising a child with or without a disability, you’re probably actively making important plans for the future. Those of us raising children with special needs are often quite uncertain as to what the future will hold for our precious kiddos. Much of my concern about Ethan’s future (now 7-years-old) relates to how we might better help Ethan find success in higher education and later in establishing and maintaining a rewarding career. I know that many parents raising children like Ethan, with Asperger’s Syndrome or High Functioning Autism, share these concerns. We all see tremendous potential in our kids and simply want them to succeed and find joy in what they choose to do in life!

For that reason, I was thrilled to hear about the cutting-edge nonPareil Institute.non Pareil (nP) is taking a novel approach to working with adults on the spectrum in an on-the-job training program for technology- and gaming-related careers. The name “nonPareil” means “unparalleled.” nP is the first Institute of its kind.

Many times young adults on the spectrum have an innate knack for technology, but too often are not encouraged to build on this interest as they transition from high school into college or into the work force. nP takes this acute interest and natural skill with  computers/technology/gaming and offers a different instructional and work environment which promotes acceptance, builds self-esteem and supports dignity.

According to Gary Moore, President and co-founder of nP, since much of the neurotypical world is not extremely accepting and accommodating of adults with Autism, there is a high rate of depression and suicide. Many young adults with ASD, even though they are bright, capable and eager, are unable to score and hold down “mainstream” jobs (like filling salt and pepper shakers in restaurants).

I can see why mainstream jobs could prove challenging in at least two ways. First, some of our young adults on the spectrum are simply not equipped to handle the intricate social system of some work environments nor are the work environments accommodating of these individuals’ diverse needs. Secondly, jobs (like salt/pepper shaker filling or bagging groceries at the supermarket) are far from stimulating or rewarding to these individuals. We all desire to work in jobs that fulfill us, right? Why would we expect anything different from individuals on the spectrum? Simply put, we shouldn’t.

That is why nonPareil’s approach to “education” is so refreshing. The students, ranging in age from 18 to 50+, work together in small group sessions led by nP’s other co-founder and CEO, Dan Selec, to build fundamental technical skills and knowledge. Everyone at nP values the students’ differences and the instructors focus on building upon the each individual’s strengths and abilities – as opposed to accentuating their disabilities.

Dan dreamed up nP in 2007. He started the Institute in 2008 to expose students to different technologies and tools in order to help them find their niche. Dan shares that nP implements a “mission of love and technology” that “meets students where they are and teaches them right there.” Both Dan and Gary are parents of children diagnosed with ASD. Their love and respect for this population is palpable; what they are doing for this group of adults is noteworthy, courageous and inspiring.

Once students have a foundation of knowledge and skill, they are encouraged to work independently on projects.  Many students are

*Note: This post originally ran on the now discontinued Dallas Moms Blog…the information is still vitally important for parents, so I wanted to share it here! *

According to the Encarta Dictionary, a toxin is: a substance that accumulates in the body and causes it harm. I would venture to say that most people know that we encounter “toxins” on a daily basis. What you may not know is how frequently we encounter certain toxins and what effects they can have on your children.

Not long after our son, Ethan, was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome in 2006, an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD,) I started searching for tangible ways I could help him. As I delved into the research, I learned about biomedical treatments. Thanks to Jenny McCarthy and lots of very dedicated and brilliant medical doctors with Autistic children themselves, biomedical treatments have become more popular and better understood in the past few years.

Prior to Ethan’s formal diagnosis I toyed with diet changes and found that he is sensitive to gluten (the protein found in wheat, rye and barley.) For many kids, gluten and/or casein (the protein found in milk and dairy products) act as poisons in the bodies of susceptible children. Today Ethan eats a completely gluten-free diet (along with a number of other necessary restrictions.)

With the help of Dr. Seshagiri Rao, a wonderful local DAN! doctor (Defeat Autism Now!) we ran lab tests a couple years ago to determine how Ethan’s various systems were working. Astonishingly, we discovered that he had a terrible yeast-overgrowth in his intestines, was extremely deficient in some Neurotransmitters with an over-abundance of others, and was showing very high heavy-metal readings of Mercury, Lead and Arsenic.

We also found that his zinc-to-copper ratio was extremely out of whack and uncovered a number of other deficiencies which needed to be treated. Over the past two years, we have also unearthed a bacterial overgrowth, an Amino Acid deficiency and discovered that Ethan’s body does not produce enough Glutathione, a key antioxidant. Even though he appeared to be a “healthy” child, Ethan was ill on so many levels, and the illness was manifesting itself through his behaviors! Here we were a typical middle-class American family with a healthy diet and access to standard American medical care via a PPO. How could our sweet boy be so very sick?

I began to compulsively research how this could be. Further, I explored all available options for helping Ethan’s little system heal. Much of what I have learned along the way is knock-your-socks-off-scary. I’ve come to the disturbing conclusion that we now live in an extremely toxic world. I think every parent needs to be aware of certain toxins which may be damaging an entire generation of children. Families, especially those with susceptible children (think ASDs, Asthma, Allergies, ADHD, etc.) need to consider putting safeguards into place. Sadly, these kids’ systems are inefficient and often unable to process out the nasty toxins.

Here are 12 “everyday” toxins I believe you NEED to know about to protect your loved ones:

Lead: Though it was banned from paint and phased out of automobile fuel in the 70′s, lead is still a concern for modern families. Airplane fuel consumption, metal melting, auto body finishing, cement manufacture and incineration all routinely release lead into our atmosphere. (Note: we lived just south of the DFW airport while I was pregnant with Ethan and until he was about 3 ½ years old.) Also, we must not discount the numerous reports of imported toys testing ridiculously high in lead levels in recent years.

Arsenic: Added to chicken feed to kill parasites and promote growth, Arsenic accumulates in the chickens (which we eat) and is passed into their excrement (which

Last year at this time, I had just started writing for the Dallas Moms Blog and was excited by some social progress Ethan was making with his peers at school (thanks to two very busy Italian plumbers). As I refect on Ethan’s progress (and work on a new post about Ethan’s progress regarding social awareness this year for AutismSpot.com to be posted tomorrow) I wanted to re-share this post from February 10th last year!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

With Valentine’s Day this Sunday, relationship-talk is abundant. Everyone seems to have something important to share about creating lasting relationships–and I’m all ears. Since my son (Ethan, 7 years old) lives with Asperger’s Syndrome (AS), an Autism Spectrum Disorder, he often has difficulty with forming and maintaining friendships.  The truth is most kids and adults with AS have deficits related to social skills and communication. In our house, we are almost continuously immersed in friendship discussions in one form or another to help Ethan acquire skills which develop organically in the majority of his peers.

       Don’t get me wrong, my guy is one heck of a talker, he’s highly verbal and loves a good chat. His “communication deficits” have more to do with understanding non-spoken elements of communication like body language, facial expressions and utilizing fundamental pragmatics of language.

   He tends to have difficulty realizing when friends are tired of hearing him talk about certain topics or when a friend wants him to stop doing something bothersome or irritating. We work to understand and embrace these difficulties in our house and try to find inventive ways to role play or use daily situations as conversational springboards to help Ethan learn more about successfully communicating with those around him.
 
   Thankfully, Ethan also attends a phenomenal Social Thinking Group (based on the Social Thinking Curriculum developed by Michelle Garcia Winner) with other kids and several very dedicated therapists at Help, Hope, Solutions in Plano. In this way, Ethan is constantly learning new social thinking skills at home, in therapy and at school. It is the school part that is hard on all of us, simply because my husband and I can’t control anything that happens or help Ethan problem solve on the playground, in the lunch room or during any of the other social times built into the school day.

    Imagine my delight when I recently discovered that by giving Ethan his own hand-held Nintendo DS game player for Christmas, we have actually facilitated conversations with “neurotypical” peers at school (appropriate conversations at that!) Over the past month, since Ethan received the Super Mario Bros. game as a gift from his Aunt and Uncle, he has been forming bonds with friends at school and creating opportunities to interact with new kids at lunch and during recess.

   He has shared with us that two classmates share his love for the 25+ year-old-video game. I personally witnessed him utilizing the characters, the game levels and wi

Dear Ones,

In the past several months, I have been consumed by my work at AutismSpot.com (as the Assistant Editor) and had been writing weekly for the Dallas Moms Blog, until about a month ago. Add that in with caring for Ethan and writing + marketing my many manuscripts – I simply had to take a hiatus from this blog. My sincere apologies accompany my thanks for your patience.

With the former Dallas Moms Blog discontinued (and with the archives wiped clean), I want to share some of my favorite DMB posts here. I hope you’ll enjoy reading them in the coming weeks/months (some of you will be rereading them, some of you may be reading them for the first time) but either way, I hope you’ll feel free to share them with friends and family you think might enjoy them.

Happy Reading, Friends!

Recently, I was asked to design some written expression to accompany a video montage being created about how the Frisco ISD SAGE PTA committee is empowering teachers and parents, and touching the lives of very unique children. SAGE=Special and Gifted Education. This PTA committee is made up of dedicated parents, teachers, administrators and support staff who are working to make sure that these two sub-populations of children receive recognition and representation through campus and district PTA committees!

While the video montage turned out wonderfully (very heartfelt and touching), the producer and I couldn’t seem to find a way to get the words to sync with the lovely photos and chosen music selections. So, the “poem” I wrote will now be used on the FISD SAGE website (instead of in the video), but I also wanted to share it here, with all of my dedicated readers. Hope you enjoy:

Others

By Leigh Attaway Wilcox

Some children come to learning and the experience of school with ease…others simply do not.

Some children effortlessly breeze through school days, extra-curricular activities and daily routines with no worries or concerns…others simply do not.

Some children need very little extra attention or specialized instruction…others need a great deal of added attention and individualized instruction in order to succeed.

Some children get exactly what they need in the general education classroom without modifications, accommodations or extensions and added challenges…others require altered curriculum and supportive supplemental staff to thrive.

Some children go entire school years without exhibiting challenging behaviors…others have challenging behaviors weekly, daily, or at times hourly; but only because they need us more than some children.

These others are

Jason, Jaxson, Jessica & Josieanne Fournerat

Today on the Dallas Moms Blog, I shared a post from a fellow ASD mom about her journey with Autism. You can read it here. Her powerful message is one that encourages me; I hope it will you, too.

Well, with Ethan home for the summer, I’m just not doing a good job of keeping up…I regret that I haven’t shared my most recent Dallas Moms posts, so I’m going to attempt to catch up below. Hope you enjoy them!

A guest blog from Melody Latimer about handling non-harmful behaviors of children with ASD.

Ethan Wilcox and Roman Scott

Update about the Write Here North Texas Author Festival at Legacy Books.

Guest Blog from Dr. Greene about toxins every parent should know about.

Lead in kids’ fruit drinks and snacks? Scary stuff…worth a read!

Still time to Sketch-a-Space with Google and Easter Seals to win $2000!

Interesting guest blog from Nagla Moussa regarding the TEA Commissioner’s Rule Review.

Information about the 2010 Autism Society National Conference, happening next week!

Guest blog from Karen VanGordon about protecting your family from the hazards of lead paint.

Stephanie's Day

You’re not going to want to miss these opportunities this weekend if you can help it! Check out my post on the Dallas Moms Blog about Stephanie’s Day at NorthPark Center and WRITE HERE North Texas Author Festival at Legacy Books, featuring local author and mother, Elizabeth Scott. Elizabeth recovered her son, Roman, from Autism utilizing “Skills and Drills” and shares their journey in her two books.

Elizabeth & Roman Scott

Shrek Forever After

Well, if you tried to see Shrek Forever After at the Studio Movie Grill in Plano last Sunday and were turned away at the Box Office, the management at SMG Plano has rescheduled a sensory-friendly showing of the film this Saturday, May 29th, at 11am. Check out my post on the Dallas Moms Blog for more about it!

Dallas Moms Bloggers at Green Cleaning Party

Last Sunday I hosted a wonderful Green Cleaning Party with the help of a kit from Women’s Voice for the Earth (WVE.) Check out my post about it on the Dallas Moms Blog here. So much fun and good for the earth, too!

Well, folks, would it surprise you to hear that I’m doing too much? That I’ve taken on a little more than I can handle with the hours of the day God designed for us?

I have, and as it is now something has to go…so I’m not doing a very good job of getting to MY blog to create fresh, new posts OR to share the posts from me at the Dallas Moms Blog.

However, you know that I believe in “better late than never,” so here are some posts I KNOW you’ll love to read. Great stuff, really!

Disconnected Kids, by Dr. Robert Melillo

Disconnected Kids: A Book for parents and teachers of kids with Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia and other Neurological Disorders

"Going Strong" from Flaghouse

Flaghouse Catalogs for kids, adolescents, adults and seniors living with special needs

Dallas Safe & Sound

Dallas Safe & Sound - how YOU can help!

I’d love for you to read and either pick up a new fact or two, or feel compelled to take action and contact your local law enforcement and first responders so they can attend Dallas Safe & Sound for FREE!

The super-smart Second-graders at Friendship Elementary School in Keller were stellar audience members today when I presented at their annual Career Day. It was my pleasure to spend time with each class (6 sections) to share what being an “Author” is really like. The Counselor at the school, Jennifer Cowen, and I used to teach together in Grand Prairie at Bowie Elementary. Mrs. Cowen worked very hard to make this Career Day at Friendship absolutely fantastic!

Leigh Wilcox & Jennifer Cowen

Since I used to teach kids this age, it was so much fun to spend time with the kids and answer lots of thoughtful questions. I shared a little bit about being a picture book author, but also introduced the students to what “Freelance Writing” is. Showing magazine articles in print and online seemed to interest them and when I told them that they would be the focus of my next blog–they were very excited!

Ms. Hames' Class listens in as I talk about All Better

The kids asked some great questions today. What a smart and well-behaved group of students! One smart girl, Amberlee in Ms. Roberts’ class, asked me how a student can ask an author to read their work. Amberlee loves to write! I gave her some tips about how to work with her mom, dad or teacher to send me an email through my website. She promised she would send me a sample of her writing to get my feedback…I’m going to be watching my Inbox for it!

Mrs. Wilcox with Amberlee at Friendship Elem.

During my last presentation, Hannah in Ms. Gilley’s class, asked me a question that made me smile! Hannah asked, “Are you rich and famous?” She went on to ask if everywhere I go people scream out my name and try to touch my clothes and tear off pieces to keep! Since I am neither rich, nor famous, I shared with Hannah that it is rare that anyone even recognizes me as an Author or Writer when I’m out and about; I’m just an ordinary mom, much like the other moms Hannah and Amberlee might see in carpool, at gymnastics or at a soccer game.

Mrs. Wilcox & Hannah at Friendship Elem.

The students at Friendship Elementary were excited to hear that I would be “blogging” (really just writing and sharing) about them today. Many took the bookmarks I shared (with my web address) and told me they had plans to visit this weekend with their parents to leave a comment.

So, to my new friends at Friendship Elementary: What did you think? Would you like to be an author or a freelance writer someday? What did you like most about Career Day? I can’t wait

Since May is Lyme Awareness Month, I posted on the Dallas Moms Blog about chronic Lyme Infections, Lyme Disease and Lyme-Induced Autism. Lyme disease is often misdiagnosed as many, many other maladies. Read it here to see if you can learn something new about Lyme; I sure did as I prepared to write about it!

Spirochete similar to Lyme

So, Dear Readers, I typically try to share my posts on the Dallas Moms Blog right after they go up…alas, I have failed yet again. However, I do believe that late, is better than not at all, so here you go!

The Horse Boy is a phenomenal new documentary about the unorthodox treatment one Texas family seeks out to help heal their son with Autism. Worth a read (my post, that is) and worth a watch! If you missed it on PBS, so sorry. It is totally worth trying to find elsewhere!

The Horse Boy - PBS Documentary

StoryCorps offered a very cool video clip of a young man, Joshua Littman, interviewing his mother, Sarah, and then shared it in honor of Mother’s Day. Though Mother’s Day has passed, I think you’ll like the clip anyway. Click on over to my post and take a peek!

Take a look at my post on the Dallas Moms Blog about The Brain Institute in Colleyville.

Cap used for QEEG

            Last month, I was awarded The Fabulous Sugar Doll Blogger Award by friend, writer, literacy enthusiast and fellow blogger, Hema Penmetsa. (I was right in the middle of too many projects at the time, so Hema graciously suggested I “sit on it” for a few weeks and then “claim” it whenever I could! Check out Hema’s fantastic blog, Wading Through Words.

             Here to “claim” the award, as a “Sugar Doll,” I am asked to complete two tasks: 1) I must reveal ten things about myself, and 2) I must pass the award along to a fellow blogger. What an honor! And, what a challenge… 

             I am truly, deeply honored that someone appreciates my writing enough to give me an award! The challenge? Selecting 10 things to reveal about myself that others might find interesting. Many of my readers are friends and family, and I’m a rather transparent person, but I’ll certainly do my best to share some interesting tidbits. Then, at the end of my ten, you’ll find out how I fulfill task number two… that’ll be easy!

             Thanks again, Hema!

“Ten things” about Leigh Attaway Wilcox:

1.      I have loved to write since I was a very little girl; when my family moved back to NM from CO when I was in the first grade, I followed my mom and aunt around the house begging (well, probably more accurately nagging) for a pencil and paper…while they were unpacking box after box in various rooms in the house (searching for nothing other than pencils, no doubt), my aunt asked my mom where she should empty a particular box. As she rattled off the contents, my small ears heard only, “…pencils…” They laugh when they talk about my excited voice inquiring from another room, “Pencils?!?!”

I hope you’ll take a few minutes to click over to the Dallas Moms Blog to read my post about Midwestern State University’s fantastic residential Autism Support Program - Initium House. This place inspires hope! Plus, in just a few short days, you can view a fantastic documentary about the program at AutismSpot. Until next Wednesday, the two trailers for the documentary will help you get excited about seeing the entire film!

Kitchen at Initium House - MSU

Well, “life” in general has been extra busy for the past couple of weeks and I sincerely apologize for not posting…in my absence here, there have been a few new posts you may want to read over at the Dallas Moms Blog:

This link is to a blog entry about parents as advocates (for their special needs children) and a few really great tips from Nick Martin (photo below) about having effective, diplomatic ARD meetings in the school setting.

This link will take you to a post about local events in honor of Autism Awareness month. Though some have passed, the Behavior Innovations event will be happening next week! Check it out.

This link will take you to a thoughtful guest post from Melody Latimer who not only is the parent of children with ASD, she also lives with Asperger’s herself. She discusses “neurodiversity.” Well worth a read if you’ve never heard of “neurodiversity.”

Melody Latimer & Family

Check out my Dallas Moms Blog post about Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew, by Ellen Notbohm. If you leave a comment AT THE DALLAS MOMS BLOG, thanks to Future Horizons, you’ll be entered to win a pair of Ellen Notbohm’s books (Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew and 1001 Great Ideas for Teaching or Raising a Child with Autism or Asperger’s.) Great opportunity; pass it on!