- Art, Awareness, Crafts, Creativity, Culture, Kids, Laugh, Lifestyle, Love, Parenting, Play, Relationships, Slideshow, Special Needs Parenting, Spotlight, Wellness
The Littlest Inventor Author Takes On Autism ‘Acceptance’
Mandi Mathis was introduced to the world of autism while running through the grocery store at a full sprint with her youngest son, Sawyer, tucked under her arm like a football while he was screaming at the top of his lungs. What she didn’t know then was that he was experiencing sensory overload. Mandi is a practicing attorney so research, planning, and advocating come natural to her. Soon after her son received a diagnosis of Aspergers Syndrome and Sensory Processing Disorder, Mandi became a champion for those on the autism spectrum. She says that teaching Sawyer how to comfort, calm and advocate for himself is one of her greatest accomplishments. She captured her son’s story in,…
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PBS KIDS + Austism Awareness Month
April is Autism Awareness Month and in an effort to promote awareness, acceptance and understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder, PBS KIDS will be airing special shows featuring autistic characters throughout the month. I love that they are introducing Julia, a new friend to Sesame Street fans! PBS also has great online resources for parents and teachers to learn more. The full list of Autism-focused episodes airing in April can be found below. The PBS Parents website has articles from doctors, disability experts and special education teachers on everything from identifying autism to educational needs, creating inclusive environments for autistic children and more. Lastly, PBS Learning Media has…
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LIFE, ANIMATED is a must-watch movie!
“DEEPLY MOVING, A WARM TESTAMENT TO A FAMILY’S LOVE AND RESILIENCE.” – Justin Chang, Variety “ A MUST WATCH. INCREDIBLY MOVING.” – Lanre Bakare, The Guardian A&E INDIEFILMS presents a MOTTO PICTURES production Directed by Academy Award® winner Roger Ross Williams OPENING JULY 1 IN NY AND LA / NATIONWIDE IN JULY + AUGUST From Academy Award® winning director Roger Ross Williams, LIFE, ANIMATED is the inspirational story of Owen Suskind, a young man who was unable to speak as a child until he and his family discovered a unique way to communicate by immersing themselves in the world of classic Disney animated films. This emotional coming-of-age story follows Owen as he graduates to adulthood and takes his first steps…
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Being a Mom (What it Means to Me)
Trying to put into words what being a mom is – to me. It’s hard. I can’t explain it. It’s like a combination of feelings, words, hope, happiness, sometimes sadness and/or grief, being scared or nervous, anticipation, wonderment and awe, as if every feeling I’ve ever experienced is multiplied times a thousand and it leaves me at a loss for words. It’s not simple … yet it is. When I look at my two kids I can instantly see them as if they were just placed into my arms. I can see them or imagine them when they’re graduating or getting married or having children of their own. It’s rewarding…
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How a Hug Changed My Son’s Life Forever
Small acts can have a big impact. We’ve all heard this in inspirational speeches. We’ve seen memes scroll by in our newsfeed. But I’ve personally witnessed the impact and ripple effect caused by a simple act by my son’s teachers almost 20 years ago. It all started with a hug. Like so many on the autism spectrum, my son’s first experiences at school were difficult. The kids at school either ignored him or bullied him. The teachers at this first school just didn’t work well with students who learned differently. Though he wasn’t diagnosed at the time, we could see that he was struggling to keep up with his peers,…
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Inspirational Mom: Holly Robinson Peete, Hollywood’s Autism Advocate
I’m not someone who’s starstruck. Sure I appreciate talent and I am an avid movie goer. Sure, I’d have a hard time giving up my favorite television shows or Netflix account, but I don’t look to movie and television stars as my heroes or role models. That is until I met Holly Robinson Peete. She’s an actress, author, talk show host, philanthropist, and—where I find inspiration the most—mom to four children, one with autism. In 1997, Holly and her husband, former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete, formed the HollyRod Foundation, to help with Parkinson’s disease. (Her father, the original “Gordon,” on Sesame Street, had Parkinson’s.) Then in 2005, inspired by their…
