A squirrelly love story about autism


Posted by Beth Finke on February 13th, 2008

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, and I’m sending a gift now to thank you all for reading and leaving comments on the Easter Seals and Autism blog.

It’s not chocolates, sorry. Not roses, either. Instead, it’s a story. A love story.

The story is written by Matthew Baldwin, a computer programmer from the Seattle area who does freelance writing on the side. He’s …Read More » »

Have disability, will travel


Posted by Beth Finke on September 28th, 2007

A quick note from your Easter Seals autism blog moderator – just want to let you know I’ll be away from the blog for a week. A friend is marrying a woman from Poland, and my husband and I are flying to Warsaw for the wedding.

I’m feeling less anxious about this trip than I have in previous ones – probably because this time we won’t …Read More » »

Joey’s Gift and respite: a healthy break for families


Posted by Beth Finke on August 20th, 2007

Tonight’s Engaged and Underage reality TV show on MTV features Michelle Minotti Wright, a volunteer at Easter Seals Volusia and Flagler Counties in Florida. Michelle volunteers in memory of her brother Joey, who had Down syndrome and autism, and received services there.

Joey died …Read More » »

Easter Seals’ P.L.A.Y. Project and Carson’s story


Posted by Ellen Harrington-Kane on June 29th, 2007

I was recently in Ann Arbor, Michigan with my colleague Julie Dorcey from Easter Seals Michigan. We were there to meet with Richard Solomon, M.D. to prepare for an upcoming presentation. Easter Seals staff and Dr. Solomon will be giving the presentation on the P.L.A.Y. Project (Play and …Read More » »

Adults and autism: society needs to step up


Posted by Patricia Wright on June 21st, 2007

This opinion piece in the San Francisco Chronicle details the concerns shared by many parents of children with autism and other disabilities. What happens when these children grow up … and grow out of government-provided support?

In 1989, I began my career teaching high school at Spectrum Center for Educational and Behavioral Development — now known as Spectrum Center. It …Read More » »

Reflections of a Grandfather on Father’s Day


Posted by Ellen Harrington-Kane on June 15th, 2007

Marguerite Colston is the Director of Communication for the Autism Society of America and the mother of Camden, a 7-year old boy with autism. Margi is one of our new friends from the Autism Society of America and has been generous with her time, advice and wonderful stories of Camden. When talking of Father’s Day, she immediately …Read More » »

How do special moms celebrate Mother’s Day?


Posted by Beth Finke on May 11th, 2007

Mother’s Day can be a mixed blessing for a woman who has a child with a disability. For years after my son was born, I begged my husband not to get me a gift for Mother’s Day. “I’m not your mother!” I told him.

I knew my son wouldn’t be making me a card. He wouldn’t be presenting me with dandelions …Read More » »