iNFORM

09/28/2025

I forgot that I wrote this for my employer's blog about a year ago and just re-discovered it!

Awareness of inclusion

09/27/2025

‘Politicians and organizations pat themselves on the back for mentioning autism that mirrors my son’s, with parents cheering them along, hands raised to the heavens because “at least someone is talking about TRUE autism. But what are we actually given? Scraps. Tylenol. Leucovorin. Vaccines. They give you a “cause,” tell you to avoid Tylenol, “don’t take the MMR all at once,” and strip your child of his insurance, tell you are on your own navigating these disjointed broken services, cut special education down so much that your child is warehoused instead of educated. So much that the people trained to teach him aren’t given the tools, the staffing, or the respect to actually do their jobs. So much that you, the parent, are forced to become the therapist, the advocate, the case manager, the nurse, all while trying to keep food on the table.

That’s the reality. But yeah, Tylenol, I guess.’

09/25/2025

Made me laugh out loud, 🤣 🤣🤣

VD: What they recommend is kissing passionately.

09/21/2025

There is an impatience about AAC use that can create significant barriers to the development of communication in some.

09/21/2025

I’m going to be real and vulnerable for a minute. We are struggling hard core and I’m feeling pretty helpless.

I saw Ross Greene speak about 20 years ago and absolutely love his summation of ‘Kids do well when they can.’ It has guided me, as a therapist and a parent, to be curious when it comes to behavior.

I find myself in a place, though, where my curiosity has lead me to answers that don’t make anything easier and aren’t helping us. I have been asking for help through prayer and am hoping that this book showing up on my local Buy Nothing group a few days means it might help us move in the right direction. I can say that the first chapter has already made me feel seen:

‘It’s very humiliating to be scared of your own daughter,’ says Debbie.
I see you, Debbie. 💔

Picture is of the cover of ‘The Explosive Child - Sixth Edition’ by Ross Greene.

09/18/2025

Another great example of what communication can look like.

This morning I made Ru one of her reliable same food breakfasts, turkey bacon with orange slices. She nibbled it politely, and then fetched her iPad to pull up a scene from Ponyo.

‘Careful, it’s really hot. You have to wait 3 minutes.’ repeated over and over.

I think back to all the practice we’ve been doing cooking in the kitchen this month.

‘Careful Ru, the water is boiling. Use the spoon to stir gently so it doesn’t splash you. We have to wait 5 minutes for the noodles to cook. Waiting is hard but it will be worth it.’

I asked her, though making a second breakfast is admittedly inconvenient, if she would rather have noodles for breakfast.

‘Yeah!’ she replied, and proceeded to help me cook them.

To remind herself to wait while they were steaming, she pulled up the clip and repeated ‘Careful, it’s really hot.’

I’m going to make her a Pictello about making noodles with these scenes included and interspersed with pictures and videos of our cooking so she can talk about this learning she’s been doing at school.

I’m grateful to other parent advocates who have helped me piece this intentional communication together in a way that we’re now able to use it so fluently and reciprocally. 🍲 ✨

09/18/2025

I am so heartened by this new podcast that launched this week. It is hosted by Amy Julia Becker and is specifically for families who are feeling isolated, overlooked and/or discouraged because of ableism. I will be doing an interview that will be in a future eposide. Check it out!!

Podcast Episode · Take the Next Step with Amy Julia Becker · Trailer · 3m

09/13/2025

A little disability history lesson and a reminder that accessibility features often positively impact society as a whole.

09/12/2025

I was working on ‘sl’ with a client virtually and had shared my screen to show some picture cards. I asked him to say ‘sleigh’ and he said ‘Is it sleigh, like the winter, or is it like ‘Girl, slay’? I told him the picture showed the sleigh you would use in the snow but we should definitely practice both. 😆

Gif is a flashing blue background so fun a red diamond graphic and ‘Slay all Day’ in white text. There are little yellow sparkles that show up on the edges.

09/12/2025

Yesterday, I had to call someone at older’s school to (early) register him for his favorite after-school activity. If I would have forgotten, I would have been competing with open registration today, and risked the activity filling up and him not getting in.

This is how I made sure I got it done. I’m happy to report that the 2nd and 3rd alarm weren’t even needed. ☺️

Image is a screenshot from my phone calendar yesterday showing three alarms called ‘Call Ruth’ at 10:30am, ‘Did you call Ruth?’ At 12:05pm and ‘RUTH!!’ at 2:00pm.

09/11/2025

❤️🐾 Roselle

Picture shows Roselle, a big dog that is either a white lab or a golden retriever with a light coat color, on a city street.

On September 11, 2001, as chaos unfolded in the North Tower of the World Trade Center, a guide dog named Roselle became an unexpected hero. She calmly led her blind owner, Michael Hingson, and a group of over 30 people down 78 flights of stairs to safety. Despite the smoke, noise, and confusion, Roselle remained focused and composed, helping others stay calm simply by her presence.

During the descent, Roselle paused only once, to comfort a woman having a panic attack. She gently nuzzled and kissed her, offering reassurance in the most human way a dog could. Her quiet strength and unwavering loyalty helped transform fear into courage, allowing the group to continue their escape even as the building trembled around them.

Roselle’s actions that day became a symbol of trust, training, and the extraordinary bond between guide dogs and their handlers. She continued to serve until 2007 and passed away in 2011, but her legacy lives on as a reminder that heroism can come on four paws, with a wagging tail and a heart full of love.