Dec 7, 2011 Posted by Jolene

“A Friend Like John” Explains Autism to Typical Kids

In November, I had a book table at an event raising funds for brain research. Across the room was another author. Like me, she is a mom who decided to write a book after she became the parent of a child with special needs. Meet Suzanne Bartlett Suzanne Bartlett is a medical doctor. She and her husband have two kids. Their oldest child, John, experiences autism. Susan wrote a children’s book about... read more

Dec 6, 2011 Posted by Jolene

Guest Blogger April Brownlee says, “It’s Okay to Grieve”

Last month, guest blogger had readers laughing themselves silly with her first post, Random Acts of Vomit. This month, she’s back with a more serious post, one in which she shares a lesson she wishes someone had taught her when their daughter was first diagnosed with Noonan Syndrome. It’s Okay to Grieve I wish I had known it was okay to grieve. Or that the process could take years. When I... read more

Dec 5, 2011 Posted by Jolene

See a Problem, Solve a Problem…with Popcorn

Tammy James is the kind of educator parents want their teens encounter during their high school careers. She’s the kind of educator who sees a problem and uses ordinary, every day resources to craft an elegant, effective solution. The Problem? According to reporter Sarah Womer of the Yuma Sun, James moved to Yuma eight years ago. When she learned most of the students in her high school special... read more

Dec 2, 2011 Posted by Jolene

Panic Allowed Jo Ashline to Understand Her Son

One of the fridge benefits of blogging about special needs is meeting many talented people. Some of them are readers who leave comments, some of them provide resources featured in posts, and some of them are fellow writers. The woman you will meet today is both a DifferentDream.com reader and a writer. Meet Jo Ashline Jo Ashline came to my attention via a google alert that referred to the column she... read more

Dec 1, 2011 Posted by Jolene

Tools to Overcome Grief Waves this Holiday Season

Guest blogger Laurie Wallin is at DifferentDream.com today. She’s sharing from her heart about the emotions she’s experiencing this holiday season. She also shares five strategies to help her (and you)  ride the waves of grief that accompany this season of joy. Tools to Overcome Grief Waves this Holiday Season Holidays have a different feel for us as special needs parents. There’s... read more