Massachusetts

Exceptional Lives Sites site

Autism

The Power in Wondering

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We all wonder. We wonder about the future and what it holds for us and for our loved ones. We wonder about our careers, our relationships, and our contributions to our community.  Some of us wonder about accessibility:  As a parent, how do I know if my son will be able to access the curriculum […]

Don’t Look the Other Way

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People freeze in unknown situations. It’s normal. And it’s why I became interested in this field in the first place. I was reminded of this earlier today. I ran out to grab lunch and while I was waiting for my bagel – headphones in my ears because I was on the phone, face-down looking at […]

Checking the Boxes: Diagnosis and Belonging

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During a past focus group for Exceptional Lives, we received the following feedback: “If I see a particular diagnosis mentioned, or I don’t see my child’s diagnosis, I assume it’s not for me.” This makes perfect sense. As parents and caregivers, we have a lot of information to sift through; we need to know what […]

How to Win when you Play to Lose

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Everybody loves to win. Children naturally infuse winning into their day; “First one to the slide gets (fill in the blank)”, “My (fill in the blank) is (better, bigger, stronger) than yours!” I’ll admit, as a mom, I do it too! I almost always regret it, but when the three boys take on sloth-like qualities […]

18 Ways to Help a Special Needs Family in 2018

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Why special needs families need help: Before I became a parent, I thought a little extra hard work would be enough to make it through the valleys of parenthood. When I became a special needs parent, goodness, I realized how wrong I was.

3 Reminders for Parents of Kids with Disabilities in 2018

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1. You are an expert in your child You know your child best. You have watched your child grow, tracked milestones, and sought help when your parental instinct told you something might not be quite right. You know the techniques that will calm an outburst, the language that will get your child back on task, […]

Yes, I look tired. This is why I don’t care.

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Last week my son stood up on skates for the first time on his own. I cannot express the intense emotion that swept over me at that moment, but I suspect you know the feeling. Pride, joy, love, glee. It isn’t the skating part that I care about. It is the perseverance and determination. Despite […]