Where Advocacy, Special Needs Parenting, & Life Collide
The Many Faces of Autism – Autism Awareness Month at the Cafe
Autism Awareness Month
Autism Awareness … 30 Days of Autism … these are meant to be what? Catchphrases to help us understand the world of autism a bit better? A way to help raise funding for autism research? A chance to pin blue ribbons or puzzled ribbons around and tell the world how much they need to be aware of Autism?
Or maybe, it’s about something a little more.
I think that’s it.
I think it’s about more than ribbons, or blue-colored lightbulbs (thought they do look cool).
I think it’s about more than any one organization, one blog, one writer, one mom, one person or entity. Because there is a bigger stake here than whether or not you know what autism is, whether you care, and whether you want to spread the word.… Continue Reading
Autism Awareness isn’t Overrated; Maybe Your Perception Is
What’s Your Perception of what Autism Awareness Really Is?
I have been reading lots of great posts as we enter Autism Awareness Month and can’t help feeling like we tend to sidestep our real emotions and understanding too much of the time as we react to this month and many of the blogs posted during it.
First, I will never say that someone else’s opinion is wrong or right, even if I might disagree with it. I might talk about what I think awareness is, but you don’t have to agree! Part of an open, honest discussion means that we must first come together and talk about this before we work to fix it.
Second, I think autism awareness is a way to spread, promote, and otherwise share the facts about what autism is and how it impacts individuals and families. You know that old saying – you can’t really understand someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes? When it comes to autism awareness, there’s a whole population of amazing people who are misunderstood, misrepresented, stigmatized, and otherwise devalued because of a label that society doesn’t understand.… Continue Reading
Where You See Autism, We See Love – Autism Awareness in Our Home
Autism at Home: Love Breeds Chaos
Our house would never win a good housekeeping award.
Our laminate floors don’t gleam and the carpet always looks like it needs to be vacuumed. The dogs never went to obedience school, though they sometimes—only sometimes, mind you – behave better than the kids.
Our boys aren’t spit-shined; they don’t have perfect manners, even when they try. Something intangible sets our home apart from others, though. You can hear it in the giggles that echo through the halls, see it in the mismatched assortment of toys lining the floor, smell it in the air as peanut butter, laundry detergent, bleach, and the slightest hint of eau-de-dog mix together. (We should package it!)
As the kids come running, dogs dancing just behind them, you’ll feel like you’ve come home, because when you visit these boys, on their turf, you’ve become one of the family.… Continue Reading
Autism Awareness Graphics Set and Autism Awareness Month Kick Off
Kick off Autism Awareness Month with Autism Awareness Graphics
In the same spirit as my Epilepsy Awareness Graphic Set, this Autism Awareness Graphic Set is the most basic set I will offer for you to download, free, here at Kat’s Cafe. Each of the three included graphics is available in a high resolution, PNG format, with a translucent background. Hopefully you will have a chance to use these in some of your web projects throughout April, and beyond this month, in a show of support for Autism Awareness. Just click on the graphic below so you download your own set to use.
I would love if you shared the link after you use these, so we can all see others supporting Autism Awareness. Use of this Autism Awareness Graphics set is free for personal and commercial uses, provided you are not reselling or otherwise profiting on these designs.
Fibromyalgia Confessions – Or … Mom’s Not Allowed to be Sick
Time to be Honest about my Fibromyalgia – and Face the Fact I’m Only Human
Life is a journey, made up of moments, glances, smiles, friends, family, adventures … and when you’re a special needs parent it’s made up of challenges, trials, and celebrations about even the most minute of those moments.
I haven’t been 100% honest though, because my world not just about being a special needs mom – I also have Fibromyalgia (AKA “Fibro”).
So? What the Heck’s the big Deal about having Fibromyalgia?
What this means? Is that I don’t get a simple cold, the sniffles, a day of the flu … I get sick and my immune system plummets and suddenly I am not just dealing with being sick – I’m also in a Fibro flare.
This isn’t a post about what Fibromyalgia is, though that will come – it’s a post about being human.
See, I’m like a lot of moms out there – I take care of my family the best I can, I handle the craziness of life and rise to one challenge after the next. Heck, I’m like a lot of other special needs parents too – I don’t think I’ll ever feel like I’m doing enough, that I’m good enough, to give my kids everything they need. But …