We’ve all heard stories of literary heroes embarking on extraordinary quests. But what happens when the call to adventure isn’t a dragon to slay but a nonverbal, profoundly autistic adult loved one to care for? I recently sat down with Skyler’s new case manager to better assess and define the daily in-home support tasks he…
When you’re raising a child with profound autism, your days are filled with both love and worry. For years, I carried a heavy bag of what ifs. What will happen when he’s an adult? Will he ever live independently? What will his life look like when I’m gone? And—if I’m honest—sometimes I compared. I compared our journey…
A few days ago, my nonverbal, profoundly autistic adult son underwent knee surgery. As any parent would, I’ve been consumed with worry — wondering if he’s in pain, if he’s scared, if he understands what’s happening. The hardest part of being his mom in moments like these isn’t just managing the logistics of his care —…
Lately I’ve had this recurring dream. I’m stranded on a secluded island and spend the bulk of each day frantically waving my arms toward the sky hoping that someone may notice me and send help. It’s been said that our dreams are often rooted in reality. Well, in my case, the secluded island likely translates…
Author: Brooke Hasch, WHAS 11 News Reporter Published: 12:43 PM EDT April 30, 2025 Families in Kentucky and Indiana struggle with autism services due to age restrictions and lack of facilities, forcing some to move for better care. CHARLESTOWN, Ind. — Families who rely on Autism services are facing a crisis across Kentucky and Indiana. There’s a…
Beginning on Skyler’s first birthday, I started a tradition of writing a letter to him highlighting his likes, dislikes, achievements, funny moments, family adventures, playmates, and all of his favorite things. I also took a photo of him wearing a necktie as a way of charting his growth. My vision when creating and continuing this…
Announcement… We’re MOVING!!! For the entirety of my nonverbal, profoundly autistic son’s almost 22 years of life, I estimate that I’ve asked millions of questions, spent hundreds of hours on the phone fighting for services and funding, battled the ignorance of countless ‘experts’ who repeatedly underestimate his intelligence or overlook his abilities and have been…
I’ve been absent from this page for several months and the truth is, it’s because we are really struggling, and I wasn’t sure what to say. I’ve wrestled with sharing my raw feelings and not diminishing the ‘hard’ we are experiencing through a silver lining filter out of fear of being labeled a complainer. But…
While November is most notable for recognizing all that we are thankful for and gathering for a huge meal with family & friends, it is also a time to honor and celebrate caregivers! Did you know that November is National Family Caregivers month? I sure didn’t! Sadly, just like most of our tireless efforts supporting…
When I became a mother to my son, Skyler, I had many dreams and plans. Even at the age of 3 when he was diagnosed with autism and the landscape & process for when and how he would achieve those dreams changed, I held on tight. With each visit to the various medical providers throughout…