jacksonsjourneyjacksonsvoice

Tough transitions.

This morning was hard……. really hard. And I can tell you through nearly eight years of navigating autism that my definition of “hard situations” has reached a level of extreme severity to use that word. First day back from break. I knew it would be difficult, it always is. But the events that unfolded IContinue reading “Tough transitions.”

Sleep deprivation is weighing on me…

Through all of the struggles, hardest parts, and stressful parts of autism. The sleep deprivation is what is weighing down on me heaviest these days. Most nights I see every hour on the clock, it’s been this way for almost ten years. Jackson has never been a great sleeper. He’s never napped, stayed asleep, hisContinue reading “Sleep deprivation is weighing on me…”

Hang on tight…..

This season won’t last forever mama. One day parts of this journey will get easier and you’ll look back and wonder how you did it, question how you made it through. I don’t mean special needs parenting will get easier, but eventually you find a groove, or maybe you find help along the way. YouContinue reading “Hang on tight…..”

How to Dance in Ohio – What a Gift!

One week ago my mom and I stepped off a plane in New York City, we didn’t go because of the holiday window displays, for the Rockefeller Christmas tree, or to visit the Today Show. We went to see How To Dance In Ohio – The Musical. “Hey, I think I heard about that!” WasContinue reading “How to Dance in Ohio – What a Gift!”

Do They Know?

This weekend as we got out of the car in a busy grocery store parking lot, and I immediately reminded my son who has autism to “hold my hand we are in a parking lot”. I thought to myself…. Do people know? When they see my seven year old son, who is nearly taller thanContinue reading “Do They Know?”

Come walk a day in our shoes.

Spend the time walking beside us and understand how hard he works to access our world each and every day. I hope you see that he brushes my shoulder each morning to wake me before the sun. That I gently dress him, brush his hair, his teeth and am working on teaching him to doContinue reading “Come walk a day in our shoes.”

Owning your role as a P.A.R.E.N.T at the IEP Table

I can’t even begin to count the number of times someone has said to me “I’m just mom, I don’t know my rights at the IEP meetings.” It’s time for that to change! I want you to own your seat at the IEP table as a parent. YOU are the only team member who isContinue reading “Owning your role as a P.A.R.E.N.T at the IEP Table”

21 Lessons From Autism in 2021

21 Lessons From Autism in 2021: 1. In their own time, in their own way. 2. People are curious and want to understand how to help, asking questions is just often uncomfortable. 3. It has brought some of the strongest, and most genuine women I know into my life. 4. Your behavior, as a parent,Continue reading “21 Lessons From Autism in 2021”

Is Your Child’s IEP Helping Them G.R.O.W?

Your child’s IEP document should always be helping them to G.R.O.W. G- Generalization. We need to make sure the skills being taught within the goals of the IEP are also being generalized. This means they need to be successful across various people, environments, and presented with multiple materials before we consider a goal mastered. R-Continue reading “Is Your Child’s IEP Helping Them G.R.O.W?”

Lessons I’ve learned about marriage while raising a child with special needs.

“We’ve spent so much of our time and marriage teaching our son how to communicate somewhere along the way my husband and I forgot how to effectively do that with each other.”