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A Family Full of Love: Why We Had More Kids, Not Replacements - Finding Cooper's Voice | Welcome to the Secret World of Autism
Someone once told me that my husband and I had a third and fourth children as replacements for our oldest son.See the little one on the left there with the mischievous smile?
How to Advocate for Your Child: A Parent’s Letter to the IEP Team - Finding Cooper's Voice | Welcome to the Secret World of Autism
To the education staff working with my child,Olivia is a very complex person. She was diagnosed with autism and sensory processing disorder. She also has anxiety and will become obsessive-compulsive in certain situations.
Why Time and Love Matter: Sibling Connection and Autism - Finding Cooper's Voice | Welcome to the Secret World of Autism
Last night after putting my four kids to bed, I found myself staring at this picture from across my living room. Cooper was 8. Sawyer was 6. And my third was just a few days old. The perfect photo of three brothers. Except, it wasn’t perfect. Not in anyway. Cooper refused to touch the baby. He was very scared of him. The baby had been home 7 days at that point and Cooper had yet to really even acknowledge him. He refused to lie down when the photographer asked. He…
Dancing in the Rain: The Truth About ‘This Too Shall Pass’ for Special Needs Parents - Finding Cooper's Voice | Welcome to the Secret World of Autism
This too shall pass.I remember being told those words as I held each of my newborns, exhausted from cluster feeding and lack of sleep.Again during the never ending messes that kids make. During potty training woes and tantrums over blue cups and the wrong shoes.And I guess in most cases it’s true right? The hard moments do pass. Usually.
A Year of Purpose: Finding Joy and Strength as a Lifelong Caregiver - Finding Cooper's Voice | Welcome to the Secret World of Autism
I recently marked one year since I took early retirement from my career to stay home with my son, Zachary who lives with severe autism. I have always worked full-time throughout his life, but once we realized he would always require 24/7 care, our goal was for me to care for Zachary full-time after he graduated high school. As a senior, he started saying, “Stay home, Mama,” every morning, so we knew he had the same goal. It took us about three years after he graduated to meet that goal.…
Unlocking My Son's World: The Joy of Texts from My Nonverbal Teen - Finding Cooper's Voice | Welcome to the Secret World of Autism
I have a story to share with you. A little long possibly, but worth the read.My son Cooper is 14 years old. He has a diagnosis of nonverbal/nonspeaking autism. He loves trains and swimming and asks me every single day to go to outer space with his friends, the Little Einsteins.
Hi Katie, It’s Dad: Words I’ll Cherish Forever - Finding Cooper's Voice | Welcome to the Secret World of Autism
‘Dad! Is everything alright?’ That’s what I said when ‘Dad Cell’ flashed on my phone. I half expected it to be someone else. A relative. A nurse. Someone telling me something happened. My stomach felt sick as I waited the few seconds for a voice to respond. ‘Katie. Did you catch the game today?’ I gasped. See my dad hasn’t called me in a really long time. He used to call me weekly and then he had a stroke and it changed him. It changed the way he walks and…
Hope, Autism, and a Mother's Heart - Finding Cooper's Voice | Welcome to the Secret World of Autism
If we give up hope, than what do we have left.In the world of autism, hope is a hot topic. Because for some reason, people question if I’m hoping for the right things.Hope and I have had a rocky relationship over the last few years.
The Kaleidoscope of Autism: A Thank You Letter to My Kids - Finding Cooper's Voice | Welcome to the Secret World of Autism
the “Typical” Siblings. I know having a sibling with special needs has not been easy on any of you.Autism is like a kaleidoscope. While it certainly brings a lot of color to our life, each piece is different from the rest. Every twist gives a different view, and the effect is different for everyone.
To the Keeper of My Son’s Traditions - Finding Cooper's Voice | Welcome to the Secret World of Autism
To my son’s future caregiver… My son is 14 years old. When he was three he was diagnosed with severe nonverbal autism. We had no idea what the future held. And honestly, we weren’t told much good. When he was 8, I made the decision to walk away from the negativity. The sad predictions. And the people who didn’t believe in him. Or see his strengths. It was the best decision I’ve ever made. His favorite thing to do is to decorate for Christmas. He will help for a bit.…
The Elf on the Shelf and the Complex Joys of Autism - Finding Cooper's Voice | Welcome to the Secret World of Autism
That elf could’ve come to life, danced on Jesse’s head, and he wouldn’t have cared.Most nights, I forgot to move it—not only because I’m lazy but also because he barely noticed its existence.
Unexpected Moments: The Magic of My Son's Christmas Spirit - Finding Cooper's Voice | Welcome to the Secret World of Autism
I’ve learned as I’ve aged that the biggest, most memorable moments of our lives, are often the ones we least expect.Of course a wedding, the birth of our babies, an anniversary, are the best.
The Beauty of Sawyer’s Soul - Finding Cooper's Voice | Welcome to the Secret World of Autism
Yesterday, I drove my middle son Sawyer to school. He typically rides the bus but he wanted to donate a handful of toys to the toy drive his school was holding so I drove him.‘The toys go to Children’s Hospital mom.’ He was adamant about bringing presents.
The Club Sandwich Generation and Forever Caregiving - Finding Cooper's Voice | Welcome to the Secret World of Autism
I have often called myself a member of the “sandwich generation.” But after a little research, I discovered that I am actually a member of the “club sandwich generation.”The term refers to the midlife generation being wedged between the needs of different family members: parents, children, and grandchildren.
Why Positive Moments Matter in Our Autism Journey - Finding Cooper's Voice | Welcome to the Secret World of Autism
When I share our autism story with professionals…teachers, therapists, doctors, nurses, I always say this sentence:Something you have said to a parent about their child, positive or negative, runs through their head on repeat.
Facing Forever: The Hardest Talks About Our Son’s Future - Finding Cooper's Voice | Welcome to the Secret World of Autism
Parents of kids with disabilities… What is the most difficult, yet important conversation you’ve had around your child’s needs? Maybe it was around medications. Or the decision to have more children. Or to let go of education and focus on daily living skills. For my husband and I, it was around forever. It was grappling with the thought that our son will live on this earth without us. It took us years to be able to sit down and rationally speak about it. In the beginning, I’d bring it up.…
Finding Inclusion: The Power of a Birthday Invite - Finding Cooper's Voice | Welcome to the Secret World of Autism
I envisioned all the parties we would have with her friends from school and going to all of their parties just like her siblings did with all of their friends. However, that is not how Olivia's story goes.
A Shared Journey: Autism, Connection, and Lifelong Friendships - Finding Cooper's Voice | Welcome to the Secret World of Autism
College, engagements, first jobs, marriages, babies, these families we’ve all built. It was incredible to see all of us together in one place today.We started the afternoon together, Jackson my son with autism, and I branched off to find the train, and we ended the evening back up as our bakers dozen of thirteen.
Where Joy and Fear Collide: Our Life with Water and Autism - Finding Cooper's Voice | Welcome to the Secret World of Autism
From the very beginning, he’s always been drawn to it. As a newborn, baby Jesse was fussy, crying more often than not. But the moment I placed him in the bath, everything changed.
Changing Perspectives: Why My Autistic Son Will Never Be a Burden to Our Family - Finding Cooper's Voice | Welcome to the Secret World of Autism
Many years ago, when I was new to the world of parenting a child with a disability, and even newer to sharing our story with the world, a young woman sent me an email about her life. She shared with me that she needed help to live and to bathe and to eat. She said she had physical disabilities and was unable to care for herself independently. She told me she felt like a burden to her family. She felt saddened that she made their life harder. She spoke of…
Embracing the Silence: A Mother’s Connection and Growth with Her Autistic Son - Finding Cooper's Voice | Welcome to the Secret World of Autism
My sweet boy,We just got back from a car ride. We do that sometimes. You and me. We used to ride around to help you calm down. A much needed break for both of us to reset.Now we drive around and hunt for trains.Not a lot has changed over the years except now you are thirteen. And you can buckle your own seatbelt. A skill we worked on for years. A skill that you are incredibly proud of.We still ride mostly in silence. When you were three the experts told…
Learning to Bend, Not Break: Creating a Flexible Life for Your Family - Finding Cooper's Voice | Welcome to the Secret World of Autism
It may not get easier, and some things may not get better, but you have the power to create a world that works for your family. I wish someone would have told me that when my son was first diagnosed with autism.
Dreams Shift, But They Never Fade: A Father's Journey with Autism - Finding Cooper's Voice | Welcome to the Secret World of Autism
When I became a parent, I had lots of dreams for my child.Most of my dreams revolved around sports: Little League baseball, peewee football, go-kart racing, bike riding, whatever he wanted to do.