If You Won $10,000 What Would You Do?

I could pay off my student loans, a few credit cards, take a (much needed) vacation or put it in the bank.

But if I won $10,000 I wouldn't do any of those things. I'd use the money to better my community. Last year, my friend and I decided we were going to start a non profit and open up a school for kids with autism in The Bronx. My Dream School. Because as of now, there are no appropriate schools - public, private, approved non-public - in The Bronx for kids like The Boy. And as a result, The Boy is bused to a school 22 miles away from home.

When it comes to special needs resources and schools, The Bronx is grossly under serviced. Everything seems to be in Manhattan, Queens or Brooklyn. I shouldn't have to move to make sure my son has the services he needs. Every child has a right a free and appropriate education regardless of their zip code. And when it comes to special education and resources - the appropriate, shouldn't be seen as a privilege. That's why building a Dream School in The Bronx means so much to me.

Starting a non profit takes money, time and more money. Money that 2 working moms struggling to make ends meet don't really have. And so our dream of building a school in The Bronx is one that has been deferred (for now).

And then Nicole of Presley's Pantry nominated me for Yahoo's Women Who Shine. And the grand prize is $10,000! Obviously I will need much more than $10,000 to build a school but it would be a really good start. 

In a few days, I'll be celebrating my blog birthday - 2 years old. And when I first started blogging I never really thought that my words would or could make a difference. I was so moved reading why Nicole nominated me and her words really validated why I continue to write and share our story.

Lisa Quinones Fontanez

Category Mother

Lisa has touched my heart time and time again. I read her blog Autism Wonderland as if it's my personal bible. She is a woman warrior fighting for her autistic son's rights on a daily basis. She has been recognized by Babble as one of the top 30 Autism Blogs, and is a regular contributor to Parents magazine. Unlike many bloggers who use blogging as an outlet to escape into their own private internet world, Lisa dives into her reality and brings wisdom and hope to parents who are going through the same diagnosis with their child. If it wasn't for her blog, I would have NEVER known the signs to look for in an Autistic child.... because of her I was able to recognize my son's early signs of autism, and intervene right away. She is a huge inspiration to many parents who are lost in the autism fog trying to find answers and fearful of what the future holds for our vulnerable delicate children. She is not only changing her son Norrin's life, she is helping hundreds of parents take the right steps to help change the lives of their children too. She is a modern day hero who wears her heart and emotions on her sleeve, and in her darkest moments she is still strong enough to share her own fears with the world.

If you would like to help me win so that I can build my Dream School, you can vote for me by clicking HERE.

If you've voted already - THANK YOU! If you're off to vote - THANK YOU! Would love for you to share with your friends and family. 

Whether or not I win the grand prize - a Dream School in The Bronx will be built. It will not be a dream deferred for too long.


And if you'd like to read about why I starting blogging and how it's changed my life, feel free to click HERE.

Some Days I Don't Feel So Lucky

While attending the BlogHer Healthminder session, I had the pleasure of meeting Kate Canterbury, who blogs at The Guavalicious Life . We chatted only briefly but she was funny and down to earth and she liked my dress (so obviously she has good taste).

I have mixed feelings about BlogHer, but attending the Health Minder session was one of my BlogHer highlights. I loved every panel I attended that day. (There were so many takeaways that I haven't had the chance to write about just yet it, give me time) But Kate Canterbury said something that has stayed with me.

During the "Blogging About Your Special Needs Child" panel session (you can read the full transcript here), Kate said: "I don't feel lucky to have special needs kids. It's extremely hard on our marriage. I think it's valid to share. But I don't want my kids to think they didn't love them. I don't want readers to think I don't like my kids." 

And as soon as Kate said it - the room got really quiet. There were tears in my eyes as I nodded and when I looked up, I noticed there were many women with tears in their eyes nodding their heads.

Kate had the courage to say - out loud - something so many of us keep tucked away in the back of our minds. Because we are scared. 

Scared of what people will think about us. Scared of what people will think about our kids. And scared because people are quick to point, fast to talk and yet so slow to understand.

I love The Boy. My family and friends who know me beyond the blog, know I love The Boy. And I hope, if you've been reading me for a while you know it too.

And I can assure you, I do not want to cure The Boy of anything. 

But that doesn't mean that our life is easy.  That raising a child with autism isn't the hardest thing I've ever done. Or that I don't get sad or mad or frustrated.  

I may be a mom, but I am allowed to have feelings - all of them.

And some days, I don't feel so lucky that my kid has special needs.

I don't feel lucky when I'm up all night worrying about IEP meetings.

I don't feel lucky when my heart aches seeing 6 year old boys whizzing by on their bikes, calling out taunts to their pals.

I don't feel lucky that I had sue the Department of Education just to get an appropriate education for The Boy.  

I don't feel lucky spending thousands of dollars on therapies instead of softball, karate or soccer.

I don't feel lucky that the closest appropriate school is twenty two miles away from home. 

I don't feel lucky when I have to turn down invitations because I know it's something The Boy can't handle.

I don't feel lucky asking The Boy questions and he isn't able to answer.

I don't feel lucky that date nights with The Husband are few and far between because there aren't many people we trust to stay with The Boy.

And I don't feel lucky that the thought of out living The Boy by a day, doesn't seem so bad.

Just as autism is a spectrum, autism parents experience a spectrum of emotions.

And maybe none of my feelings make sense. But you know what? The fact that I have to fight for insurance coverage, school placement and therapies - doesn't make much sense to me, but I go with it.  

But even on those days when I'm not feeling so lucky - I am lucky it's a fleeting feeling. Because most days, I feel like the luckiest mom in the world to have a boy as sweet as mine.

Are You an #NYC #SpecialNeeds Parent & Fed Up With The Office of Pupil Transportation and Busing?

I am too.

Days before The Boy started school, I got a letter from the Office of Pupil Transportation (OPT) with the bus information. It was for the wrong school. 

When I called to inquire, I was given the runaround and everyone was passing the buck. I was told that it could take up to TWO WEEKS before The Boy could be placed on a route. 

The Boy missed his first day of school. I had to take a vacation day from work. But with all the drama of last year, I have used up most of my vacation days. There was no way I could take two weeks off from work to stay home with The Boy because the OPT screwed up.

And more importantly - THE BOY NEEDED TO BE IN SCHOOL. 

I got it fixed. I made calls and sent emails and The Boy was on the bus on the second day of school. (Two weeks my ---!)

Anyway...

New York City special needs kids have been in school for less than 2 weeks and already the OPT has made the papers. 

Have you read THIS  by Ben Chapman of the NY Daily News -  

Five-hour hell ride home from school torments autistic boyTHE FIRST DAY of school was tough enough for little Levi Vidal, a 3-year-old from Brooklyn, but the five-hour bus ride home reduced the autistic boy to crying hysterics. Levi’s trip with disabled classmates from the Gramercy School in midtown became an unbearable hell ride with no water and no relief.

Then my blog pal wrote this post about her 5 year old autistic son being on the bus for THREE HOURS.

And then, my BFF who has a 4 year daughter on the spectrum was sent an email from her daughters school stating this:

 

Citing budgetary reasons, the DOE changed _____'s busing company starting the current school year.  After working with Selby Busing Company for more than a decade, a new bus vendor- Consolidated Bus Service run by Professional Charter Company has been thrust on us.

 

Thus far, Consolidated Bus has proven to be completely ineffective. Only 25% of the families at _____ have been contacted by new bus company and the 75% majority hasn't heard about their kids pickup/droffoff time/driver name etc, despite the fact the school year has already begun.

 

Furthermore, those 25% families who have been contacted (including me) have received multiple bizarre phone calls with conflicting pickup times and driver names and strange buses arriving at their door at 7AM in the morning.

All attempts by _____ and _____ to contact the Consolidated Bus office have been futile as Consolidated Bus officials have been totally unresponsive.

Um....the Consolidated Bus Company is the bus company Chapman mentions in his article.   
Crystal Alfano, the mom behind the FB page New York City Parents Fed Up With Transportation Troubles  posted this update:

If I strap one of my kids to a chair for five hours and deny them access to food, water, the bathroom and make them sit in their own bodily waste, I'm an abusive parent. If I do it to a student, I lose my teaching licenses. If I do it to a child on board a bus, it's completely OK? Why does Stephen Genovese owner of Consolidated, Professional Charter, paratransit, Jodi, Access A Ride, and who knows how many other companies get away with it? How many more kids must he abuse before he is taken off the road. Chancellor Walcott, do the right thing and take away the rest of his contracts.

I've been putting The Boy on a schools since he was 2. 9 years old - he couldn't speak and was still in diapers. So many of our kids have difficulty with speech - they cannot speak up for their rights and as their parents - WE MUST SPEAK UP & FIGHT FOR THEM. 

Crystal is organizing a Bus Rally and Press Conference and parent support - hell, ALL support is crucial.  Here is the info:
When: Wed. Sept 19
Time: 11:00 AM

Where: The Tweed Courthouse, DOE headquarters located at 52 Chambers Street

 

Other ways to support or who to call regarding Transportation issues:

• Sherwin James, the head of Pre-K Special ED bussing - sjames6@schools.nyc.gov
• Contact NYC's Elected official--Bill Deblassio--Public Advocate for the City of New York by phone, email and facebook. URL http://pubadvocate.nyc.gov/  AND http://pubadvocate.nyc.gov/special-ed Phone

: 212-669-7200 or 212-669-7250;   email: GetHelp@pubadvocate.nyc.gov Also available on Facebook, and Twitter http://pubadvocate.nyc.gov/contact-us 

Contact your Borough President and/or City Council Members

Contact the Office of Pupil Transportation

 

 

 

 

Two Truths and a Lie

Inspired by two fabulous bloggers Unknown Mami & Mrs. 4444

I've never played Two Truths and a Lie before. And since it's the Friday of Labor Day Weekend, I figured why not do something a little different.    

Instructions: Within each round choose which 1 of the 3 statements you think is a lie. (2 out of 3 wins*) 

Round 1 (The Celebrity Game):

1. Tracy Morgan asked me out on a date while I was standing on street corner waiting for The Husband (who, at the time,  was The Boyfriend)
2. I approached Derek Jeter at a club on a dare, unaware of who he was.
3. I walked by Johnny Depp on the street and had no idea it was him.

Round 2 (The Book Game)

1. I believe Fifty Shades of Gray is grossly underrated. 
2. A Tree Grows In Brooklyn was the first book that inspired me to write.
3. I read Chances by Jackie Collins when I was in the 4th grade. 

Round3 (The Autism/Special Needs Game)

1. I cc'd President Obama on a letter to the DOE regarding The Boy's services.
2. I believe in the New York City Public Education System.
3. I saw The Boy's teacher doing shots at a bar after she ran out of his Annual Review Meeting because she was sick.

answers:

Round 1: 3

Round 2: 1

Round 3: 1 

Got 2 out 3 right?! CONGRATULATIONS!  YOU WIN!

I'm sorry.  You don't really win anything except a GREAT JOB!  YOU WON! YAY! 

I Can't Believe I'm Going to BlogHer! #BlogHer12Newbie

In two days, I will be at the Annual BlogHer Conference  and I'm sort of freaking out.  

Technically BlogHer will be my third conference.  Remember back in April I was invited to speak at Hispanicize and then in May I had the honor of being named one of the Top Blogueras and invited to The White House.  

Don't get me wrong, I was nervous then too.  But Hispanicize, I had to travel to Miami.  It was my first big trip away from The Boy and I was speaking on a panel.  That occupied most of my worry.  And DC was a small group of about 70 women - many I met at Hispanicize.    

But this is BlogHer!  The mother of all blog conferences for women.  Like thousands of women.  Women from all over the world.  Major bloggers, mega brands and powerhouse social media influencers and experts.  

I mean check out the Keynote speakers: Martha Stewart (Oooohhh)  Katie Couric (What?!), Soledad O'Brian (OMG!!!), Malaak Compton-Rock (YAY!) and Christy Turlington Burns (Whoa...)!    

And in the same room as these women, will be me.  Me?  And there's this small part of me that feels like I'm crashing the party.  Kinda like how Baby felt when she walked into the party with Billy and she meets Johnny for the first time.  That will be me, walking into the Hilton feeling shy, slightly insecure, weighed down with a watermelon and wondering what the hell I've gotten myself into.  (Okay, maybe not carrying an actual watermelon...)    

I am nervous but also giddy with bloggy girl excitement!
   

There's Thursday - the Health Minder Day.  I'll get to listen and learn from some pretty amazing ladies like, Ellen of Love That Max, Kristina Chew,  Susan Senator and Laura Shumaker.          

I get to hang with my Amigas: Ruby and Rachel.  And so many more fabulous blogueras.   

I'll get to meet (for the first time!) some of favorite Special Needs/Autism Mom bloggers.  But I'll let Alysia tell you who since we're both excited about the same people.  

I'll also be in my hometown of NYC.  Which means, no hassle and expense of traveling or packing since the hotel is only a subway ride away.  Also being in NYC adds to my comfort level of what to wear.  I'm a pretty jaded New Yorker and as a former party girl - I never really worry if I'm over dressed or under dressed so long as I feel good in what I'm wearing.        

I'm excited about the parties, meeting new people and networking.  

I'm excited because I am doing something for me.  I am investing in myself.  And that in itself is worthy of celebration.     

Come to think of it, maybe there's nothing to be freaking out about after all.  Maybe three times really is the charm.  

And maybe I'll have the time of my life...so long as no one puts me in a corner.  (Did you think I could post a Dirty Dancing photo without quoting those lines?)

What I Would Do If I Had 24 Hours To Myself

It's Saturday morning and I'm drinking a cup of semi warm coffee, catching up on blog reading.  The Boy is in his room with the iPad.  


This morning I'm inspired by the Oxygen Mask Project and Alysia's Mary Poppins Game.  The game is easy.  Alysia writes:  

Let’s pretend that Mary Poppins floated down from the sky at 6am and said “I’m here to take care of your kids for 24 hours.  Go.  Do something for you.”

Just the thought of it, made me smile.  24 hours just for me?  How can I possibly resist the opportunity to let my imagination run incredibly wild.  I mean, I am so rarely alone.  The only time I'm truly alone is when I'm at work and I go to the bathroom.  That's pretty sad.


So if I had the next 24 all to myself, this is what I would do ~  


Before handing The Boy over to Mary Poppins (and it needs to be Julie Andrews Mary Poppins - hey, it's my fantasy and I want Julie), I'd ask her for a spoon full of sugar and special medicine.  Because last night, I turned the wrong way and seriously f**ked up my neck.  I pulled a muscle or something and haven't been able to sleep comfortably.  It hurts to move and I'm crabby.  I'm certain Mary Poppins has something in her big black bag for that.

After Mary's magic medicine and after she leaves with The Boy to do something cool like hop into a sidewalk picture or dance on roof tops, I go back to sleep. 


Because wouldn't it be lovely to go back to bed and wake up at my leisure on a Saturday morning?  


After I wake up - not too late, because I want to make the most of my 24 hours - I will take a long hot shower.  Not once will I have to pull the curtain back and call out to The Boy.  I can wash and condition my hair.  I can take my time to shave my legs - no razor cuts.  I can actually take time to do my hair instead of putting it up in sloppy ponytail.     


After my shower, I'll make a cup of coffee.  I'll finish my coffee while it's still warm.  At that point, I'll look around the apartment and may be tempted to clean something or start a load of laundry.  But the next 24 hours are just for me, so I'll say 'screw it.'


I'll head over to the neighborhood spa and get a massage.  Because I deserve a massage and some time to unwind.  After my massage, I'll get a manicure and a pedicure.  I can take my time, there's no need to rush.  

NOT me.

Feeling rejuvenated and fabulous, I take myself on a mini shopping spree and buy myself a pair of shoes.  Not a pair of sensible flats with the proper arch support.  No.  A pair of shoes that needs a reason to be worn - and we all know, the reasons are always few and far between.  Shoes impossible to run in.  Shoes that cannot be stepped on.  Something like...

these!  These will do just fine.  

       
Since I'm buying a new pair of shoes, I'll need a new dress (duh).  And in my 24 hour of alone time fantasy, I'm back to a size 6 - so finding something I love isn't an issue.


I'll come home and it's quiet.  I can sit on the sofa and eat a snack without a certain little boy snatching the food off my plate.  I can catch up on my shows like Glee or Revenge.  I can read a book - not an autism book but something absolutely meaningless, like that book every woman I know is talking about.  You know The Book I'm talking about?  Don't be coy.    

The Husband comes home and tells me he's made reservations to our favorite restaurant.  I waste no time getting ready.  It's been months since we had a romantic date night.

When we get to our favorite restaurant, we order a bottle of wine and I order the lobster macaroni and cheese - I am ecstatic to find out it's only 250 calories (again, this is my fantasy).  

 The view from our favorite restaurant*

The mac & cheese!! 

We order dessert.  Something rich, gooey and chocolatey.  (Sorry no pictures of dessert.)


We drive home...and well.  Need I get into those details?  Me thinks not.   


I am able to get ready for bed not really worrying if all 3 locks are locked.  But I will lock them anyway.  I will walk into The Boy's room, out of habit and wonder if he's having fun.  I will fall asleep in my own bed.  I will miss him but I will be sure to enjoy the last few hours of solitude.  And a guaranteed straight 7/5 hours of sleep.
     


If you had 24 hours all to yourself - what would you do? 

3 Things I'd Like You to Know About Autism

Autism Awareness Month is kind of like an oxymoron for me and others within the community.  I write this blog in an effort to spread awareness but some days I feel like I'm preaching to the choir.  Because the majority of people who read my blog have an understanding of our day to day lives.  We're aware every single day - not just one month out of the year.

So this month of awareness is for the folks not in the know.  The ones who have never heard of ABA, FAPE, ASD, PDD or any other special needs acronym.

The thing about awareness - it's a two way street.  It's not enough for me to write about it - you have to meet me half way and be willing to learn. 

Today I'm thrilled to be guest posting on Acting Balanced.  It's kind of like a crash course in what I'd like the "typical" parent to know about autism.  

1. What's Autism?
2. How do I explain Autism to my "typical" children?
3. My friend's kid has been diagnosed with autism.  What do I say? What do I do?

Want to know my answers to these 3 questions?  Click HERE 

I Cannot Lose Him

I remember The Boy clapping his hands on his first birthday.  


And I remember at that time, he had two words:  Mama and Oh Boy.  (Okay, that's three.)


By The Boy's second birthday, he couldn't clap anymore.  


Or point a finger.


Or look me in the eye.  


Or utter a word.  The three words he had.  He lost.  


Somewhere between that first year and second year, I lost him.  It's called Regression.


And we needed an ABA therapist in our home, 15 hours a week, to teach The Boy how to clap.  Point.  Wave.  


And we needed a Speech Pathologist to help The Boy to say Mama.


The Boy's come such a long long way.  He works so hard. 


Does he still have behaviors?  Yes.  


Will he always look me in the eye?  Nope.  


But he's an amazing kid.  Super smart.  Charismatic.  And funny.  


Not everyone sees what I see.  Not everyone believes, the way I believe.


I realized that this morning, when I toured a District 75 school that someone from the district recommended.  This person, has had limited interactions with The Boy.  I'm going to go out on a limb and say that this person has possibly skimmed The Boy's IEP.  I've given up the belief that anyone from the districts reads the entire IEP.


You may be asking - why I'm touring schools.  Well, after months of going back and forth with the principals, the teacher, the district - they've finally come clean.  The Boy is no longer appropriate for the school program that is so appropriate on paper.


And they are ready to toss him into the first District 75 school with an opening.  


But the people that really know The Boy?  The people that have worked with and truly care for The Boy know that District 75 is not the appropriate placement.  


And the other day, I came across this blog post written by a special needs attorney.  In the post, he writes, "...of the 15,000 children turning 5 who were recently referred to District 75, only 1,000 actually belonged there."  And where did the attorney get that idea from?  Gary Hecht, the superintendent of District 75.   (D'OH!)


Granted that post, was written two years ago.  But like I said.  I toured a District 75 school today.  And I'm going to say it again - THE BOY DOES NOT BELONG THERE!


Quite honestly, what I saw today was quite upsetting.  


I saw a boy strapped in a wooden "wheelchair" being pulled backwards, like he was luggage.      He was missing a shoe and sock. 


I heard paras yelling at children.   


And the man who gave me the tour talked in great detail about "taking down a child."  He also referred to a classroom as a "last stop" before institutionalization.  That classroom, was  third grade room.


I saw an OT/PT room filled with equipment that looked as if it hadn't been moved in months.  


And I saw children in wheelchairs getting their OT/PT services in the hallway because the OT/PT room was in the basement.  And there was no way for the children in wheelchairs to get down to there.


I saw the autistic classrooms, doing "touch your head" and "point to the letter ---."  And that's perfectly fine, if that's what a child needs.  


But that's not what The Boy needs.  


And I didn't see a single child in that school like The Boy.


If placed in that school, The Boy would never have a peer. The Boy would never be challenged.   The Boy will be set back three years.  The Boy will most likely regress.    


And I cannot lose him again.  
                 

Great Expectations

A few weeks ago, the editors at www.SpecialNeeds.com asked me to write a guest post.  And when anyone asks me to write anything, it's a pretty big deal for me.  And this guest post was inspired by my fabulous FB AutismWonderland community.  


For those that know me IRL know that we've been going through some stuff.  It hasn't been easy.  I'd like it to be over.  I'd like some peace of mind.


Being a Special Needs Parent means you rely on a lot of people - strangers, really - to help you with your kid.   For the most part, you have strangers helping you make decisions about your child.  Because our children - special needs children - are not entitled to the best.  They are only entitled to the "appropriate."  


But "appropriate" means different things to different people.  And the Special Education in New York City is run like a business.  


And our children are viewed as expenses.  


And many of the teachers and special educators are required to pick a side.  


And like in any other business, in order to get ahead, you need to side with The Boss.  


And siding with The Boss, means you have to forget about the children and families who rely on you.  


The thing is - Special Needs Parents don't expect you to take sides.  We expect you to do the right thing.  If you're a Special Needs Professional you may think my guest post - Great Expectations - is too much to ask for.  But for us,  for Special Needs Parents, it's pretty basic.

Back to the Future...with Special Needs Ryan Gosling

What do you wish Special Needs Ryan Gosling could make for you?

  And just in case you have no idea what I'm referencing...click HERE. 


For more Special Needs Ryan Gosling laughs, snark & wishful thinking...check out Adventures in Extreme Parenthood

Ready to create your own?  Here's what to do:

• Make your Special Needs Ryan Gosling poster(s) then enter your name and blog address below and we can visit each other's blogs and have a good laugh.
• Be sure to check back often in the days to come because the list may grow as others see our posts and want to join in on the fun.  Also, if you share your blog post on Twitter please add the #SNryangosling hashtag so that it will streamline all the posts together.  
• Stay tuned next Wednesday for the new Ryan Gosling photo and link up with Sunday again next Friday!
• Dont forget to grab Sunday's button

10 Things I Would Rather Be Doing Than Cleaning The House

I know it's not Monday; it's Saturday, I'm sick and I can't sleep.  And since I'm useless on the sofa and I've been wanting to link up on Stasha's blog for the longest time.  Here it is:  

10 Things I Would Rather Be Doing Than Cleaning The House  Apartment 

10. Pay bills


9.  Pin new cleaning products on Pinterest  


8.  Watch Cars 2  


7.  Rewrite The Boy's IEP goals  


6.  Call my insurance company to follow up on a claim


5.  Fold laundry (while sitting on sofa watching TV)


4.  Watch HGTV (even though I don't have a home or a garden)


3.  Drinking a glass of wine, while eating some fabulous cheese while watching any Twilight movie. 


2. Work on my Jedi mind tricks (so that The Husband will clean) 


1. Excercise (or at least putting on my workout clothes and psyche myself into excericing but will most likely default to 5, 4 or 3.)

What would YOU rather do than clean? 

Sh*t Autism Moms Might Say...(Special Saturday)

By now, you've had to have seen all of those "Sh*t _____ ____ say" videos.  If you haven't.  Where the hell have you been? 

I find some of them really freaking hilarious.  I could watch them over and over again.  Anyway...I've been thinking about every which way to make one.  But I wouldn't even know where to start.   So last week I saw this post at Love That Max and was thinking of writing my own.  And then I stopped by Aspie in the Family and read THIS post.  I knew, I had to write my own.  

So - here is my list of some of the Sh*t Autism Moms Might Say (or at the very least some of the Sh*t I Say regarding our life with autism) to their kid, their partner and anyone else:

Don't put that in your mouth!

Of course I'll read __________ again.  (It changes from week to week.)

GOOD JOB!

Aren't you sleepy?

Say 'hello'. 

Where are your pants?!

OMG - did you see what he just did?!

Did he poop?

He was up from 1 to 4 in the morning!

Did they write anything in the notebook?

I haven't slept.

He did it for the first time today!

He requires...

He hasn't really slept.  

It's appropriate.

No, no - I'll work around your schedule.

Autism isn't a disease. 

Uh, no...He's not like Rain Man. 

And now....one of my favorite "Sh*t _____ ____ Say" videos that's PC enough for hopefully everyone to enjoy!

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~

Special Saturday is a blog organization to raise awareness of children with special needs.  This week’s theme is on the things we say as special needs parents.