No two stories are the same.
Through our blog, we share the stories of individuals with all kinds of disabilities, their families, and people working to make the world a better place for those with disabilities. We hope that in sharing everyone's stories, we can draw attention to problems those with disabilities face on a daily basis, increase understanding regarding disabilities and raise awareness to causes and initiatives for those with special needs. Enjoy!
My Journey with Autism
By Will Stokes | Published on December 1, 2020 | 7 Minute Read
When I was at Primary school, it was a lonely place for me because I didn't like crowds of people and they all got on my nerves. Even though I wasn't diagnosed with autism at that time, I knew that I was different from everyone else...Read More
Expect the Unexpected
By Fred Marvel | Published on November 19, 2020 | 8 Minute Read
Our journey with our oldest son was definitely not at all what we expected it to be. Aleks was born three years after my wife and I got married. His birth and first four months of his life were pretty typical....Read More
Special Stories with ESN: Temple Grandin
Interviewers: Meghana and Nithila | Published on November 12, 2020 | 15 Minute Read
A while back, we had the pleasure of interviewing Temple Grandin, a huge proponent for the special needs community. Here is a transcript of that interview. We covered a lot of ground from her childhood experiences to what we can do as a society to help children with special needs achieve their full potential!...Read More
My Life as an Autistic Black Man
By Robert James Parker | Published on November 9, 2020 | 5 Minute Read
My name is Robert James Parker and I was born on December 30th 1995 in Richmond Virginia. One of 3 kids, and I am the oldest by 1&2 half years by my twin siblings. My parents are Deborah Parker McCord and Melvin McCord and my siblings are Lauren and Trey. Also I have two dogs Yoshi and Charlie. I am on the autism spectrum...Read More
Bobby's Autism Journey
By Michelle Cox | Published on November 5, 2020 | 5 Minute Read
After years of trying to conceive naturally, we were blessed with our miracle boy Bobby after our first round of IVF in January 2017. For the first 12 months, Bobby developed beautifully, hitting all his milestones. He was walking at 10 months old and people often commented on how "forward" he was...Read More
Life as a Special Needs Parent
By Alexis Wood | Published on November 2, 2020 | 6 Minute Read
The winter of 2017 was around the time when we first noticed that Milan, who is our daughter, was different from other kids her age.Milan of course was and is very smart in her own and unique way...Read More
Finding Shayla's Voice
By Sean and Annasha| Published on October 26, 2020 | 3 Minute Read
After our daughter Shayla, was diagnosed with autism at the age of 2, our mission was to gather as much information as possible, and to seek the best help for our daughter...Read More
Autism in the Time of Corona
By Kindra Sterling | Published on October 21, 2020 | 6 Minute Read
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been devastating for special needs families. Much needed therapy stopped, schools closed and most importantly, the routines that our kids invariably depended on were immediately disrupted...Read More
Introducing Grace Strobel!
By Grace Strobel | Published on October 20, 2020 | 10 Minute Read
Hi! My name is Grace Strobel, I’m 24 yrs old and I was born with Down syndrome- but Down syndrome does not define me. I am a model, a speaker, an athlete and an activist...Read More
Teaching and Changing Lives
By Anonymous | Published on October 15, 2020 | 5 Minute Read
I was talking to a tree yesterday. It sat in the garden of our school, green and lush and bushy. I was laying on the ground, on my stomach, in the sun, talking to it. Or so it seemed to any passerby. The truth, in fact, was that hiding behind this very lush tree was a small boy feeling frightened and anxious and overwhelmed...Read More
Musically Speaking: My Autistic Son's Journey Using Music
By Francene Noel | Published on October 12, 2020 | 9 Minute Read
My husband and I, along with our 18 month old son Zachary, moved to Canada for my husband’s job several years ago. During our time there our son was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and we had to make some smart choices about getting him the right therapies as early as possible...Read More
Our Autism Story
By Sophie Holmes | Published on October 8, 2020 | 5 Minute Read
I’m a Mum of two boys, Matthew aged 9 and Edward aged 7. We live in the beautiful county of Devon in the South West of England. Matthew is neurotypical and Edward is autistic. As a secondary school teacher I was already familiar with autism having taught autistic children in mainstream schools...Read More
Family Business With a Cause
By Serin Benadiba | Published on October 5, 2020 | 3 Minute Read
Hi, my name is Serin. I am a wife, mother and an entrepreneur. I recently started a new venture called DIBA, where I make high quality tye-dye fashions. I have 2 beautiful children. My daughter Ava is 9 and has the biggest heart and she is bright and full of life. My son Oliver was diagnosed with moderate ASD at the age of 2. Oliver is loving and kind, and extremely energetic!...Read More
Have autism, will travel.
By Dina Farmer | Published on October 1, 2020 | 5 Minute Read
I'm Dina Farmer, mom to two wonderful little boys one of which is on the autism spectrum. My oldest son was recently diagnosed with high function autism and ADHD. He is an incredibly smart little boy that can out logic me on a good day....Read More
Learning, Growing and Embracing My Geek
By Jonathan Cormur | Published on September 28, 2020 | 8 Minute Read
Hi, I’m Jonathan Murphy and my professional name is Jonathan Cormur. I grew up a different thinker and was diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum at 13. The diagnosis gave a name to my unique way of being and interacting with the world but it didn’t change anything in my life...Read More
The Ability in Disability
By Justin Vantreese | Published on September 24, 2020 | 7 Minute Read
At this point in time, autism is my entire life. This is by my choosing, but more so by God’s plan. I graduated from college at the end of 2010 with a degree in exercise science. I had plans to just train typical people in some capacity...I don’t think I had any grasp on what autism truly was either...Read More
Admiring Aidan is Admiring Autism
By Allania Lathrop | Published on September 21, 2020 | 15 Minute Read
When we are children, our parents read us many books that hold more meaning than the stories themselves. Of these stories there is one that resonates when thinking about a child's development, and that is The Tortoise and the Hare...Read More
‘No’: the most complicated word in the English language
By Cindy Decker | Published on September 17, 2020 | 7 Minute Read
NO. Such a small word. Sometimes the first word you learn. One of the smallest words in the English language with the most power. As an adult, it’s easy, short, authoritarian. Many times you don’t even have to explain it...Read More
I do this for Frankie
By Suzi Panovska | Published on September 14, 2020 | 4 Minute Read
Life has been a journey indeed and to me it’s just the beginning! Being an Autism and Mental Health Advocate has always been a big part of my world since my oldest son Frankie was diagnosed. I sincerely know and believe Autistic people can enjoy the same rights...Read More
Five Things I have learned as an Autism Mom
By Chandra Ferrell | Published on September 11, 2020 | 7 Minute Read
Being an autism mom is one of the most complicated, rewarding jobs I could ever have. My son was born at 37 weeks and as soon as I laid eyes on him, I knew he would be special...Read More
A Father’s Perspective Navigating Life on the Autism Spectrum
By Kevin Harris | Published on September 7, 2020 | 10 Minute Read
I remember the room was cold enough that I was worried he was chilly. Christian was only a few hours old, and my wife - who just went through a grueling 20 hour labor and was getting some well-deserved rest - couldn’t ease my mind by telling me he was fine. Hospitals always seemed too cold to me...Read More
Embracing Our Autism Journey
By Jade Joyce | Published on September 3, 2020 | 3 Minute Read
On the 24th February 2010 at 1:36pm, I was handed my beautiful 6 pound baby boy at just 18 years old. I knew from this moment I would protect and love my son no matter what. Ten months previous to this, I was undergoing surgery for the removal of a brain tumor that had been miss diagnosed for a long time...Read More
I had a dream
By David Buckley | Published on August 31, 2020 | 3 Minute Read
Marie is the writer in our family not me. You know for all the important stuff like birthday cards and ‘love’ notes threatening to kill me when I haven’t taken the bins out so this is a whole new thing for me and I’m not sure if what I’m going say will be more than ranting so please bear with me...Read More
Embracing Aries
By Aisha Christa Atkinson | Published on August 27, 2020 | 5 Minute Read
As leaden tears fell from my eyes, I touched the glass of his isolette. My sleeping beauty lay there surrounded by wires and tubes and the muffled sounds of doubtful statistics and medical realism. My heart was so broken during that moment. He was living to me, but was dying to them....Read More
My Journey to Accepting My Autism
By Robyn Caple | Published on August 24, 2020 | 3 Minute Read
Hello, I am Robyn Caple, I am in my early twenties and live in the United Kingdom. I was diagnosed at a young age of having speech and language difficulties and mild Aspergers (now known as high functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder)...Read More
While We Teach Children How to Live, They Teach Us What Life Is...
By J. Sharada Ram | Published on August 20, 2020 | 5 Minute Read
Like any other woman, I was also waiting for the “Magical Day” in my life. My little angel “Sindhu” was born on August 16, 2000. One has to experience the happiness and joy of being a MOTHER. Words fall short to describe motherhood...Read More
Special Stories with ESN: Sudeepthi Manukonda - Societal Pressures as a Mother of an Autistic daughter
Interviewer: Meghana Repaka | Published on August 17, 2020 | 5 Minute Read
Meghana, one of our co-founders, had the pleasure of interviewing Sudeepthi Manukonda, an analyst in Connecticut. In her interview she talks about her journey as a mother of a daughter with autism. Read the article below to learn more about her journey and experiences!..Read More
Raising an Autism Warrior
By Marlene Tavares | Published on August 13, 2020 | 5 Minute Read
As a teacher with background experience working as an ECA in childcare, I was exposed many times to working with children with special needs. All my young, naive self could think at the time was "wow. Those poor parents! How do they do it?" Never did I imagine that one day; I too would become part of the Special Needs parenting community... Read More
Q and A with an Autism Mom
By Parm Bhullar | Published on August 10, 2020 | 3 Minute Read
My name is Parm and I work as an Emergency Medical Dispatcher. I also have my own blog where I share my experiences as a mother of a child with special needs. My son’s name is Avraj and he is 3 years old. Avraj happens to be on the Autism Spectrum. What makes Avraj special is his happy demeanour. Read More
Influencing the Understanding and Acceptance of Autism
By Roger Powell | Published on August 6, 2020 | 5 Minute Read
I am Roger Powell and I influence the understanding and acceptance of autism. I aspire to become a special education teacher and my advocacy work has been a whirlwind of collaborating with celebrities, organizing an award earning fundraising team, working with a non-profit organization, and running neurodiversity social media platforms. Read More.
Dreams Come True
By Alison Fogarty | Published on July 30, 2020 | 3 Minute Read
Have you ever had your dream come true? Did it make you feel like - WOW! I AM SO EXCITED!! Me too! I have had 3 BIG DREAMS come true for me; that is why I always tell people to DREAM BIG! The first big dream-come-true that happened to me is when I was 23 years old. To explain this, I have to start at the beginning. Read More
Noelle Smith: My Journey Through Autism and The Yogic Path
Interviewer: Thomas Mathew | Published on July 30, 2020 | 3 Minute Read
Hello, I am Noelle Smith and I am diagnosed with Autism, or also known as Asperger’s Syndrome. I’m a young woman who openly tells my story of trauma, changing the world to show that autism is a gift, and expressing self love through the art of yoga. Read More
My Life as an #Autism Mom
By Melinda Vasquez | Published on July 27, 2020 | 2 Minute Read
I can start from when I noticed a change or shift. After her MMR vaccine, she got a fever. Her first fever, in fact, so far after a vaccine. I didn’t think anything of it. She stopped dancing to the music we played. She became more reserved. Please do not misconstrue what my point is to this beginning. I don’t believe vaccines cause autism. Her most obvious personality changes that I can recall occurred during that time. Read More
Raising my son, Giaci
By Rita Miceli | Published on July 23, 2020 | 2 Minute Read
Raising a child with Autism was not what I imagined for myself when I walked down the aisle over 27 years ago. The thought had never crossed my mind that the children of two well-educated people would be anything other than above average. And, at first, it seemed as though it would be that way. Read More
My Experience Volunteering at Santa Clara TRS
By Thomas Mathew | Published on July 20, 2020 | 3 Minute Read
Over the past few months, I have been volunteering at the City of Santa Clara Therapeutic Recreation Services. I chose to volunteer here because at my middle school we had a special education program and through this program, I gained an interest in helping kids with special needs. Read More
Special Stories with ESN: Anita Miron - Navigating Life as a Mom of Kids with Special Needs
Interviewer: Meghana Repaka | Published on July 16, 2020 | 8 Minute Read
Meghana Repaka, one of our founders, had the pleasure of interviewing Anita Miron, a social media influencer, a business owner, and a mother of two children with special needs. Read the article to learn more about her journey and experiences!
Mental Health in Autism Families: The Unspoken Reality
By Varshini Raaj | Published on July 13, 2020 | 3 Minute Read
Hi, this is Varshini Raaj, I live in Mumbai, India, and I have an autistic brother who is pretty worse in the spectrum. For those who might not fully know what autism is, autism by definition is a a serious developmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and interact. Read More
How Our Lives Changed Forever
By Carla McManus | Published on July 10, 2020 | 6 Minute Read
On the 9th of October 2018 at 9.20pm our little bundle of joy arrived into the world. Ten tiny fingers, ten tiny toes, she was perfect, a dream come true. I will never forget that first hug, her big lips, beading eyes and of course the sweetest baby scent. Read More
