Tag: challenges for families of disabled individuals
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Speech Device Update: Denial Received & Initial Response
Today, Andy and I took turns waiting at home to sign for a letter from the department of the Arizona Division of Developmental Disabilities that handles applications for speech devices regarding their ultimate decision on the recommendations of the AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) evaluator. For those of you new to this blog, I will…
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Vacation for Two
Our last family vacation happened over two years ago. The extent of the work required to pull off that trip successfully left me feeling far more strained and stressed than if we’d stayed at home. Frankly I can’t recall a time when I was so pleased to return home. For Hannah though, we had still…
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Sleep Band-aid
Simplicity and I have a very complicated relationship. Sometimes I can be comfortably entwined with something that is stripped down, and others I feel that all of the details of a particular situation are demanding an acknowledgment from me with equal force. Sometimes the way I write about our experiences is just a product of…
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The Ghosts of Christmas Left Behind
A couple of nights ago, Andy removed much of our outdoors holiday light display, leaving only remnants of bush netting with lights that might discreetly pass undetected during any roadside scrutiny from the HOA until he has enough spare time to finish the job. Inside our home, three deflated stockings still grace the walls…and one…
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So Many Questions…
This is a post that is- and yet isn’t- about me. As I contemplated how I wanted to approach writing a bit more about our holidays this year, I knew that what would feel most joyful for some to read would be focused on the superficial aspects. A diorama of Christmas trappings and traditions as…
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When a Full Day Off Isn’t One of Your Options…
So, what happens in families such as ours when one of the parents gets sick? I’m going to quote part of an email I sent out April 23, 2017 to a group of friends: “Hello my sweet friends, I hope all of you are doing well! I’m slowly getting back to feeling normal. My cold…
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When a Woman Goes Vesuvius
I’m going to start with a mash up of me quoting myself from my very first blog post once again quoting myself from an e-mail I sent to some friends about the situation which I am discussing today: “I am not here to judge anyone…” but this is something I felt was important to talk…
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Why Public Therapy?
About a year ago, Whitney and I were working with Tony in one of our local Target stores shortly before she moved out of state. Another customer approached us and asked me some information about working with an Autistic child in public because she was hoping to encourage her partner to undertake similar outings (her…
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Your Kid Finger Paints? Mine Too!
This is a post I wish to write with as much sensitivity as possible. In choosing to touch upon this topic in any manner, I have been basing my decisions on what I can glean from Tony’s public actions and decided that currently he wouldn’t be concerned about us having this conversation. What he would…
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“You Would Cry Too”
For years, I have lived in a state of hypervigilance. So many seemingly simple moments for other families are packed with opportunities for my son to be seriously harmed. Some things Tony does because he either lacks a more complete understanding or currently can’t hold onto what will happen to him if he succeeds in…