The Joy of Autism

The Path of Least Resistance

I’m a horrible mother. This thought entered my mind early Monday morning. Adam left for school. I leaned down and he smiled at me and kissed me goodbye, puckering his blushed lips, looking into my eyes. “Don’t forget to carry your lunch...

Published Wed, Apr 06 2011 10:25 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Single Parenthood, Joy, Parenting

Why I Write About Autism

Meet Amy Hempel, a New York writer. She tells us why she writes. Sometimes people are really critical of writers, particularly those of us who share our days and our lives with our autistic children. As if a writer doesn’t already have the little...

Published Tue, Apr 12 2011 12:57 PM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Writing, Inspiration

One Good Teacher Makes All the Difference

Adam has a new teacher at school. Immediately, she ripped down the clutter on the walls that distracted Adam. She has Adam learning about money, in “taking circles” with the other children. Reports are Adam is doing well in school and wants...

Published Thu, Apr 14 2011 6:13 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Adam, Autism and Learning, Acceptance, Inspiration

My Bowl

Today happens to be National Poem In Your Pocket Day. On my Twitter account, I’ve posted a couple — one I wrote and one which is just a quote I really like. I just moved some things around my house today. It’s spring and the change of...

Published Thu, Apr 14 2011 3:20 PM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Writing, Poetry, Inspiration

Focus On The Positive

Huh. I just wrote that title quickly and then Monty Python’s Always Look on the Bright Side of Life plays in my head and makes me laugh. It’s so cheesy, it’s perfect. Focusing on the positive means you have to feel things, even uncomfortable...

Published Mon, Apr 18 2011 10:02 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Acceptance, Joy, autism, Inspiration

Tune In Today: Autism Now

I’ll be participating in Autism Now’s webinar today at 2 p.m. EST and speaking about The Autism Acceptance Project and my life and journey with Adam. Anyone can register by clicking the link. Digg this post Recommend on Facebook share via...

Published Thu, Apr 21 2011 5:39 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Uncategorized

Early Mother’s Day Wishes for Autism Moms

As an only child and single mother to an autistic son, I have to be honest that I sometimes find myself grumbling about holidays. I know it sounds very cynical of me, but hear me out. Another hallmark holiday can make me feel left out. Our kids are supposed...

Published Wed, May 04 2011 5:31 PM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Joy, Parenting

Losing Adam

I’m going to write this raw and unedited. Have you ever been so scared that you literally wet yourself? I did today. I lost Adam. I took him to Sportball. It takes place in a church — they don’t lock the doors. All the kids are special...

Published Sat, May 14 2011 9:17 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Activism, Wandering

The Morning After Losing Adam

As you read yesterday, I lost Adam for about 10 minutes. It seemed a lot longer. When I returned home for the day, I was feeling down. I thought, just when things seemed to be going so well…another challenge. Then, my ceiling leaked from the rain...

Published Sun, May 15 2011 7:03 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Acceptance, Safety, Parenting, Wandering

Never Too Late To Sign

You can sign the Declarataion for the Support of Community Living Here: http://www.institutionwatch.ca/petition-app This from the Canadian Centre for Community Living 2010 Report Card: Improvement still needed… • Among children with intellectual disabilities...

Published Sun, May 15 2011 8:01 PM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Activism, Inclusion, Acceptance

Autistic Pride Day

This is a day I always promote. Autistic Pride Day occurs on June 18th and the t-shirt designed above is by Jason Ross. Let me use Jason’s words to describe the importance of the day, since Jason is autistic himself: Neurodiversity is just as it...

Published Tue, May 24 2011 2:07 PM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Acceptance, autism, Advocacy

Founder of Judge Rotenburg Centre Charged: Why did it take so long?

Matthew Israel, Founder of the Judge Rotenburg Educational Centre where autistic students were taught to comply with electrical shock “treatment,” has finally been charged. Here from Boston.com: The founder of the controversial Judge Rotenberg...

Published Wed, May 25 2011 8:26 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Law, Behaviours, Institutions

Wind of Change

Today, June 1st, the winds are blowing strong. I’m not a fan of wind, of things being stirred up furiously into the air. Wind has always made me nervous and I want to be inside. I’m sitting out at the foot of my back door, drinking a Corona...

Published Wed, Jun 01 2011 7:37 PM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Inclusion, Advocacy, Parenting, school

This requires few words

It helps to look at the face of the Laughing Buddha or the Dalai Lama, who I understand has a great laugh. Yeah, so there’s a lot of change in our lives. We just have to learn that this is a part of it and smile. So this post needs few words. I’ve...

Published Fri, Jun 03 2011 9:20 AM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Advocacy, school

A Breeze of Good Feelings

I’m going to ramble about good feelings. Following the shock of last week — hearing that Adam’s class was going to be dismantled — I felt I was in another hurricane. That short story ended quickly as the school came through to...

Published Tue, Jun 14 2011 2:17 PM by Estée Klar

Filed under: Adam, Art, Acceptance, Joy

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