family
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Navigating the Secret Jealousy of Special Needs Parenting
By Elena Vance. When my only child was diagnosed with autism at three years old, alongside a severe speech delay, my entire world shattered. My mental health was in complete shambles. I found myself trapped in a state of constant, suffocating vigilance. Every single outing felt like a high-alert mission to manage meltdowns, prevent elopement,… Continue reading
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The Illusion of “Fine”: The Particular Difficulty of Raising an Articulate, Level 1 Autistic Child
By Jane Doe If you met my son at a grocery store or heard him talking about his favorite topics, you would probably think, “Wow, what an articulate, bright kid.” He has an incredible vocabulary. He can debate like a lawyer, rattle off complex facts about engineering and systems, and sound, on the surface, entirely… Continue reading
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From Crisis Manager Back to Mom: Finding Peace at the Crossroads of Facility Placement
By Sarah. I sat on the edge of my bed last night and looked at the fire damage on the wall. My son is thirteen. He is already over six feet tall. And a few days ago, in a moment of dysregulation that none of our usual de-escalation strategies could touch, he set a fire… Continue reading