Those who know Becca know one thing: if there's ice available, she wants a cup full of it. Not a few cubes. Not a cold drink. Just ice. At home, at restaurants, at family gatherings - Becca is happiest when she has a cup of ice to crunch on. While many people might find that amusing or quirky, for us it was one of the earliest signs that something more was going on. For years, Becca has been drawn to things that aren't food. Over time, we've caught her eating paper, stick

It was a Saturday just like any other Saturday. Becca woke up, got ready to start her day. Had her grilled cheese and bacon, we got dressed and packed her bag. I reminded her that on Saturday mornings we have music class, that we would be getting in a car and going downtown. That she would be seeing her teacher, and her friends and that we would sing and dance and drum. Becca got ready and was all smiles, excited for what would be another fun-filled morning in her music

April 2nd is World Autism Awareness and Acceptance Day! And with each passing year, we are see blue lights, puzzle pieces, and social media posts about “Autism Awareness.” But most people already know Autism exists. The issue is not making people aware of Autism. What we need—what truly makes a difference—is acceptance. In recent years, the conversation around Autism has shifted in important and necessary ways, and there is more of an emphasis on neurodiversity and acceptin

Parents of atypically developing children have a never-ending list of things to think about. Some of these concerns are the same as those experienced by parents of typically developing children, while some are unique to parents of children with special needs. At some point in their lives, a common concern for all people is grief, an intense sorrow or mental suffering due to loss. A unique concern experienced only by parents of atypically developing children, such as those wi