It is a longer post than I normally write, but for the sake of children -born and unborn- please take a few moments to read. Next week, I promise to write more lightly about my boys and the new language at our house…and it is not Spanish or French.*gasp* Do you know that you may…
Category Archives: Advocacy
The Last To Blink
I am a very positive person and almost always see my glass as half full. I don’t mind a challenge, especially when it comes to the rights of my children with disabilities. My first approach is to be pleasant and professional, but I have no problem going toe to toe. And I promise you, I…
Don’t Mess With This Texas Mom – An Interview With Candice O’Dell
Candice O’Dell is the type of mother I aspire to be. She has two adopted daughters, both with their own unique needs, and she has dedicated her life to learning all she can to support those needs. Of special interest to me is her loving approach to raising a child with deafblindness. I also have…
Destigmatizing Tourette Syndrome
What do you think of when you hear the word “Tourettes”? A person barking, shouting, or swearing? This is what most people think (thanks to the media) when in actuality less than 15% of people with Tourette Syndrome (TS) have coprolalia which is defined as involuntary swearing or the involuntary utterance of obscene words or…
Four Sons, Lots of Questions
Four sons not expected to live. “We do not understand how he survived” we were told…four times. Once at the birth of our oldest son and then each time one of our three younger sons was placed in our arms by the precious gift of adoption. Often I ask myself why we were blessed with…
What’s so special about a hyper quirky kid?
I was honored to be asked to share in this blog but after reading the other member’s bios about their children’s special needs qualifications I suddenly wasn’t so sure that I belonged here. My child doesn’t have a life threatening illness, major medical problems, or a birth defect. From the outside looking in we appear…
Welcome To The Club
Soon after my son Parker was born, my friend, also a mother of a child with Down Syndrome, called to congratulate me. “Welcome to the club!”, she exclaimed. “You’re gonna love it!” “Uh”…..I astutely replied, “Come again?” This wasn’t the first time I had been on the receiving end of such a sentiment. Another friend…