It wasn’t until my son Matthew, who is autistic, was going through a “balloon phase” that I became keenly aware of how many of the damned things were everywhere. The balloon phase started when he was about ten years old, and whenever I saw one (did I mention that they are everywhere?) I did my…

What would we do without our friends and family? This story A Grandfather’s Perspective is the first in my Friends and Family series. Did you know that if you google “Who is the nicest guy in the world?” my dad is listed third? Here are his thoughts about his relationship with Matthew. My grandson, Matthew,…

“What would happen to Matthew if you guys were killed in a plane crash?” asked a nervy acquaintance. The question stunned me. Since my son, Matthew was first diagnosed with autism as a toddler, I’d been asked tough questions about his future. “Will he ever live on his own and hold down a job? Do you…

It was 5:30 in the morning, an hour before we needed to leave for the San Francisco Airport, but I was dressed and ready to go, and my husband Peter was rolling the luggage out to the car. My eighteen-year-old son Matthew, who is autistic, had been home from Camphill Special School in Pennsylvania for…

“Will you help me find me some nice friends?” pleaded Matthew last summer. In the past I’d advertised at a local college for friends for Matthew, but now that he was 22 and older than most college kids, I needed to look elsewhere and decided to try Craig’s List. “Seeking a mentor, friend type for…