There are so many things that are now a part of our everyday conversations that were just unimaginable two years ago – and the “supply chain” is one of them. I bet most adults don’t even really understand what supply chain disruption really is – now imagine trying to explain it to an autistic child?Continue reading “Supply chain shortages and temper tantrums”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Sunflowers
I remember all too well our national response to the pandemic – schools were closed and my daughter lost all her services – no speech, no OT (occupational therapy) and no ABA (applied behavioral analysis therapy.) Unfortunately, remote teaching didn’t work for us, or for many of her friends, and my daughter’s progress unraveled andContinue reading “Sunflowers”
People with Epilepsy Need Better Treatments – a guest blog from one of NNF’s board members
Happy New Year, “Not Just a Dad” friends! I hope your holidays were happy and healthy, and that 2022 has started on a positive note for you. I’m delighted to share this guest blog from Peder Jenson, M.D., one of NeuroNetworks Fund’s board members and a physician who has specialized in and treated people withContinue reading “People with Epilepsy Need Better Treatments – a guest blog from one of NNF’s board members”
Making Spirits Bright
It’s that time of year, and it can vacillate between being magical or frantic. For families with an autistic child, there are more sensory challenges and more stress, especially as we prepare for the inevitable family get-togethers AND the added complexity of Omicron hovering over us. For my autistic daughter this can be a bewilderingContinue reading “Making Spirits Bright”
A Special Needs Dad Gives Thanks
A special needs parent fell in a hole. Doctor: “Can you keep a diary of your experience in the hole?” Local authority: “Sorry, we don’t have enough money for a ladder.” Family member: “What hole?” Another special needs parent: “I’m here. I’m on my way down. I know how to get out and I won’tContinue reading “A Special Needs Dad Gives Thanks”
Dentist
“Tooth hurts”. These words send a shiver down my spine. I don’t like going to the dentist – being Scottish and brought up on a diet of candy and a regime lacking fluoride, I have reasons to dislike going. I also have more crowns that the British royal family. My youngest isn’t particularly fond ofContinue reading “Dentist”
Pay It Forward!
My daughter bites her hands when she is anxious, frustrated or excited. I mean she really bites, and bites hard. This behaviour is distressing, and left unchecked and can escalate to other forms of self-injurious behaviour, which can impact her safety. We have worked with school and therapists to try and reduce the instances ofContinue reading “Pay It Forward!”
A grateful dad says thank you to healthcare workers!
The pandemic is still raging. We are in the midst of the impact of the Delta variant….. and Lamba lurks in South America. Along with increased knowledge of the Greek alphabet, it means that we may have to accommodate continued change as we prepare for a new school year. During the early summer, my teenageContinue reading “A grateful dad says thank you to healthcare workers!”
Back to school…..again: a guest blog from our friends at MindNest
It’s back to school time again, and for the second year in a row, the world is far from normal. This can be a challenging transition for any child in any year, but especially more so for those with an autistic child in the family. With that in mind, we reached out to the teamContinue reading “Back to school…..again: a guest blog from our friends at MindNest”
Summer
When I was a kid, summers were magical. We had no school and, as latch key kids, we roamed outside all day with friends until it was time to go home. There was also the obligatory family holiday; some were fun, some less so. Nevertheless, it was a carefree time and strong friendships were forged,Continue reading “Summer”