Raising Addy

The Essentials: A Starter Guide After an Autism Diagnosis When your child first receives an  autism spectrum disorder (ASD)  diagnosis, it can feel overwhelming. Information starts coming at you from all directions. Doctors, therapists, family members, and of course the endless rabbit hole that is Google. It can quickly become too much. I remember those early days clearly. Trying to understand the diagnosis, researching therapies, and figuring out what products or tools might

As many of you might know, April is Autism Awareness Month. Why April? Autism Awareness Month was founded in April 1970 by Bernard Rimland, Ph. D., a psychologist and autism researcher. He chose the month of April to coincide with his son's birthday, as well as the start of spring—a time for new beginnings.   I love this month. It is a chance for everyone to become more educated and most importantly, come together and accept others for who they are. Addy was born this way. Wh

Every parent feels this… we will do anything for our kids! A child doesn’t have to be on the spectrum, it’s just what we do as parents for any of our kids. So, when Addy’s neuropsychologist told me about a potentially life changing therapy, I was all ears!   Background The Feldenkrais Method is a type of exercise therapy devised by Israeli Moshé Feldenkrais (1904–1984) during the mid-20th century. The method is said to reorganize connections between the brain and body to help

After taking six months off from Raising Addy to spend more time with my family, I’m now ready to continue to share my story of being a mom and raising Addy, Alex and Andi….here I go!   As I sit here writing this post a couple of days before my birthday, my heart is breaking. I can’t believe I am typing this, but my mom passed away on September 29, 2023. She was a force to be reckon with and one of the strongest females I have ever met. I miss her every day, but her voice and

A child on the autism spectrum can have a multitude of sensory issues. One sensory issue we experience is sensitivity to noise. Many are...

Finding Time for You… To be effective in supporting your family and friends, you must first start with yourself. It’s not unlike the...

First and foremost, this is not a simple answer. Find the “right” doctor and poof, many of your worries go away. However, when I needed...

While on this journey with Addy, I’ve met some incredible people and organizations. I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Sylvia Smith,...

In April (Autism Awareness Month) national and local organizations hold a variety of events and educational activities to help spread...

The term "ride or die" initially started in the 1950s as biker slang meaning: if a biker couldn't ride, then they’d rather die....

About a month ago, we took our eldest daughter Alex to see Les Misérables. Alex loves musical theatre, and seeing the show was part of...

I am reposting this as I still get asked this all the time...how did you know? Or even better, when did you know? Then, what did you do?...

Sensory issues or sensory processing disorder (see blog for more detail on Sensory Issues) is common within those diagnosed with autism...

A couple of years ago, we decided to get a full genetic make-up of Addy. We thought it was best to try and understand any and everything...

Stimming is a popular word when it comes to autism, but why? Before we answer that question, let’s first outline exactly what it is....

While considering blog topics this week, I first thought about going into what stimming is (look for it in a later post). However, I kept...

Anyone with kids, big or small can tell you about the ups and downs of parenthood. It’s truly a rollercoaster ride of emotions,...

Welcome 2023! We hope everyone had an amazing time with family and friends as they took time (like we did) away from everyday life....

“Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing.” - Camille Pissarro From our family to...

Recently, I have been receiving a lot of questions about sensory issues, and how we manage through them. To address these questions,...