Autistic

My Fear Toolkit

Ariane Zurcher | Posted 05.20.2012

Read More: Living Fearlessly, Living With Autism, Fear, Becoming Fearless, Autism, Autistic, Parenting, Denver, Overcoming Fear, Conquering Fear, Fearlessness, Fearless, Handling Fear, Fears, Becoming-Fearless, Healthy Living News

Fear has a way of sliding in through the back door, oozing between my thoughts, thrusting itself into any and all thinking if I allow it to. So I've learned I have to cut it off at the pass.

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Emma's New Shoes

Ariane Zurcher | Posted 05.08.2012

Read More: Living With Autism, Parents of Autistic Children, Autistic Children, Sensory Issues, Sensory Overload, Sensory Integration, Autism, Autistic, Parenting, Denver, Life With Autism, Healthy Living News

Because of her many and varied sensory issues, Emma doesn't like wearing shoes, or socks, for that matter. So, no. We did not have sneakers to send into school. However, I decided to change that.

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A Letter to You (Who Wrote 'I Wish I Didn't Have Aspergers')

Ariane Zurcher | Posted 04.30.2012

Read More: Autism Awareness, Living With Autism, Autistic Children, Denver News, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Autism Positivity, Parenting, Healthy Living, Autism, Autistic, Autism Acceptance, Autism Positivity 2012 Flash Blog, Aspergers, Depression, Parenting an Autistic Child, Healthy Living News

Speak out, and while many may not want to listen or may even try to silence you, do not let them. Do not remain silent. Add your voice to the chorus of others who are here with you, who are like you, who also have Aspergers.

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Running With Mermaids

Ariane Zurcher | Posted 04.26.2012

Read More: Raising Autistic Kids, Parents of Autistic Children, Autistic Children, Living With Autistic Children, Parenting, Autism, Autistic, Self Stimulation, Stimming, Child With Autism, Living With Autism, Healthy Living News

When Emma showed interest in the mermaid, I had high hopes for Mirabelle's return. Only, it turns out, Emma's mermaid did not hold the same sort of feelings as Mirabelle had for me.

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Minus One Equals Zero

Ariane Zurcher | Posted 04.17.2012

Read More: Life With Autism, Living With Autism, Parenting and Autism, Writing, Adult Autistics, Parenting, Healthy News, Child With Autism, Education, Literacy, Health, Autists, Health News, Autistic, Reading, The Third Glance, Autism, Healthy Living News

I am constantly impressed with my 10-year-old autistic daughter Emma's mind and creative use of words. I often think when I listen to her that there's a kind of poetry in the way she phrases things, the way she will use seemingly unrelated words to describe something.

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A Stranger on the Subway and Musings on Autism

Ariane Zurcher | Posted 04.12.2012

Read More: Adult Autism, Blazing My Trail, Autism, Autistic, Parenting, Rachel Cohen-Rottenberg, Life With Autism, Child With Autism, Living With Autism, Parenting and Autism, Healthy Living News

The fact that Emma was able to communicate to Joe that she'd had a rough day is a massive leap forward for her. Secondly, that she was able to then make it known that what she now wanted to do was see me was nothing short of amazing.

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Autism: Death, Fear and Hope

Ariane Zurcher | Posted 04.09.2012

Read More: Living With Autism, Parents of Autistic Children, Autistic Children, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Health, Autism, Autistic, Life With Autism, Healthy Living News

There is a large and thriving community out there of both autists and parents of autists who are writing, blogging, commenting and reaching out to one another. The only requirement to join this community is a desire for connection.

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Sensory Overload, Awareness and Autism

Ariane Zurcher | Posted 04.04.2012

Read More: Pressure, Autistic, Autism, Parenting, Autistic Children, Autism Awareness, Sensory Issues, Sensory Overload, Autism Support, Autism in Children, Autism Parent, Healthy Living News

My 10-year-old autistic daughter, Emma, woke up in the middle of the night crying. Her screams of pain, the result of intense pressure in her ears, were like the sounds of an animal under attack.

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Bullying Study Shows Some Kids At High Risk For Abuse

Posted 03.28.2012

Read More: Video, Autistic Children, Asperger Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Children, Kids, Bullying, Teen, Elementary School, Bullies, Autism, Autistic, Parents, Science News

By: Stephanie Pappas, LiveScience Senior Writer Published: 03/27/2012 01:17 PM EDT on LiveScience Kids with autism spectrum disorders are three ti...

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Autism 'Awareness'

Ariane Zurcher | Posted 05.26.2012

Read More: Autism Awareness, Healthy Living, Living With Autism, Autistic Children, Autism Awareness Month, Autism, Autistic, Parenting, Autists, Autist, Healthy Living News

I am profoundly grateful to each and every one of the autists who are speaking out and expressing their opinions on their blogs and through other forms of media. If we want autism awareness, these are the voices that need to be heard. It is up to us to listen.

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Feline Fatale

Liane Kupferberg Carter | Posted 05.07.2012

Read More: Paris Hilton, Pets, Humor, Munchkins, Prozac, Maine-Coon, Behavior Therapy, Miss America, Cats, Maine Coon Cats, Wicked Witch of the West, Animal Behavior, Autism, Autistic, Kitten, Sybil, Felines, Pet From Hell, Evil Twin, Feline Fatale, Parents News

She was meant to be a companion for our cat Dizzy. She looked identical. The same kohl-rimmed eyes. The same silky, silver fur. The same sweet face. She was Dizzy's Doppelganger. But inside? A heart of darkness.

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Nickels, Dimes and 'High-Functioning' Autism

Todd Drezner | Posted 03.12.2012

Read More: Living With Autism, Autism, Autism Adults, Autism-High-Functioning, Autistic, Autism Children, Children With Autism, Autism Spectrum, Healthy Living News

Why does the autism community continue to obsess over categorizing people as high or low functioning? It's true that the needs of one autistic person may be very different from the needs of another, but that doesn't mean that they have nothing in common.

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Broward Sheriff’s Office Deputy Accused Of Molesting Autistic Girl

www.sfltimes.com | Posted 02.29.2012

Read More: Carlos Periu, Broward Sheriff's Office, Sex Crime, Deputy, Autistic, Molestation, Miami News

CORAL SPRINGS — A Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) deputy is the target of a criminal investigation into allegations that he had inappropriate sexua...

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Hope: Autism

Ariane Zurcher | Posted 02.11.2012

Read More: Healthy Living Health News, Living With Autism, Healthy Living News, Raising Children, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Mental Health, Healthy Living, Autistic, Autism, Parenting, Special Needs Children, Parents News

There's hope, and then there's desperation. Often I am not sure which one is pushing me more.

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What They Didn't Tell Me About My Child's Autism

Ariane Zurcher | Posted 01.10.2012

Read More: Healthy Living Health News, Living With Autism, Healthy Living, Mental Health, Autistic Children, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Raising Children, Autism, Autistic, Special Needs Children, Parenting, Healthy Living Mind, Healthy Living News

Having a child with autism may cause you to feel things you never dreamed possible. You may know moments of joy and moments of despair you could not have imagined.

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Boy With Autism Found Alive In Virginia 6 Days After Vanishing

AP | By STEVE SZKOTAK | Posted 12.28.2011

Read More: Virginia, Search, Robert Wood Jr, Police, Hanover County, Missing Boy, Volunteers, Child Missing, Autistic, Sheriff, North Anna Battlefield Park, Parents, DC News

DOSWELL, Va. -- An 8-year-old boy with autism was found alive Friday, nearly six days after he wandered away from his family while walking in a wooded...

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WATCH: Cab Driver Takes Developmentally Disabled Man On 4-Hour 'Ride To Nowhere'

WUSA9.com | Posted 12.05.2011

Read More: Video, Bernie Doyle, Rory Doyle, Autistic, Developmentally Disabled, Disabled Man, Metro Access, Impact News

Metro, Washington, D.C.'s transit system, is looking into a claim that a developmentally disabled man was taken on a mysterious four-hour cab ride. ...

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Startup Hires Autistic Adults

AP | By CARLA K. JOHNSON | Posted 11.22.2011

Read More: Social Startup, Tech Startups, Small Business, Startup, Job, Autistic, Autism, Technology, Small Business News

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. -- The software testers at Aspiritech are a collection of characters. Katie Levin talks nonstop. Brian Tozzo hates driving. Jamie ...

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My 9-Year-Old Is More Than A Diagnosis

Ariane Zurcher | Posted 09.28.2011

Read More: Living With Autism, Autistic Children, Autism, Kids With Autism, Children With Autism, Autistic, Autism Stigma, Healthy Living Health News, Healthy Living Mind, Mental Health, Healthy Living News

If I knew nothing about autism, having someone described to me as such might cause me to presume a great many things. Things I would be completely wrong in assuming.

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Life With Autism: A Snapshot

Ariane Zurcher | Posted 09.14.2011

How we managed to get through those middle-of-the-night-awakenings month after month is something I cannot fathom. The combination of screaming in pain and requests for help -- help I am unable to give -- is what breaks my heart.

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Dear Governor Brown: Is There a Future for the Disabled -- Including Adults With Autism -- In the Golden State?

Chantal Sicile-Kira | Posted 07.18.2011

Read More: Autistic, Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, Prop 13, Disabled, Education, Governor Brown, California, Civil Rights, Golden State, Adults With Autism, People's Initiative to Limit Property Taxation, Jerry Brown, United Cerebral Palsy, California Budget Cuts, Los Angeles News

The looming budget cuts remind me of the old Prop 13 days. The state of California is getting ready to cut the civil rights of the disabled and no one seems to notice.

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Misconceptions Regarding Autism

Ariane Zurcher | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Living With Autism, Coping, Autism, Parenting, Children, Therapy, Behavior, Autistic, Parents, Denver News

Emma sat in the mud in her pretty dress crying and screaming. A group of women stood nearby, watching with looks of shock and concern.

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Out of the Woods

Ariane Zurcher | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Autistic, Autism, Parenting, Stem Cell Research, Hope, Denver News

It is easy, in the midst of the maelstrom of opinions about stem cell research, to lose sight of what is directly in front of us -- Emma.

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7 Easy Ways to Help a Family Diagnosed With Autism

Elaine Hall | Posted 11.17.2011

Read More: Autism, Living With Autism, Autistic Child, The Giving Life, Autism Child, Autistic, Autism Children, Volunteer Autism, Healthy Living News

All too often, because folks don't know what to do, they do nothing! Even to the extent of avoiding the family out of fear.

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Living With Autism: Summer Vacation

Elaine Hall | Posted 11.17.2011

Read More: Living With Autism, Autism, Parenting, Autistic, Autistic Child, Parenting Autism, Healthy Living News

If you decide to go somewhere you've never been with your child, or try new activities together, make the effort to really prepare (weeks before you take your trip, if possible).

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