. I was speaking at the Minnesota Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers last week, even as this story was sent to me by my dear friend whose 20something son has Autism. This issue is so thorny, fraught and sad: If a person is developmentally disabled and therefore not in step with others his […]
Archive | Special needs
An Adult with Possible Autism Is Grateful for Her Free-Range Childhood
. Here’s esnafzrezd a fascinating note from fascinating Lia Grimanis, a feisty Canadian who makes things happen. She has been homeless, she is listed as one of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women, and she founded an organization called Up With Women,  helping homeless women and children  rebuild their lives. As if that isn’t enough, she also describes […]
Boy with Autism Wanders Off, Frantic Mom Searches, Calls 911, is Cited for “Suspicion of Neglect”
What is it that the authorities do not understand about what it means to be human? Humans cannot be perfect. Humans cannot see all. And yet, in cases like this — a 4 year old with autism wandering away from the home without his mom’s knowledge — we seem so ready, even EAGER to blame […]
Mom of Special Needs 5 y.o. Seeks Free-Range Ideas (& Help for Own Anxiety)
Readers rtbiefkfnk — Here’s a mom in a tough spot, looking for some great ideas. When we give our kids responsibility and independence, the results are usually wonderful. But I’m not sure of exactly how to do that in this situation (young child, special needs, in hiding), other than to start out by having her […]
A Latchkey Kid…with Aspergers
Dear aanebaanff Readers — Please note that this letter is not recommending a Free-Range regimen for everyone or anyone, it is just this family’s experience. But a heartening one! (Boldface, mine.) Dear Free-Range Kids: My 10 y.o. son is an impulsive, ADHD type, also recently diagnosed with Aspergers. He’s been kicked out of several daycares […]
New App Analyzes the “Data” in Your Baby’s Diaper*
Readers, fknhnhikbf get set to scientifically analyze your baby’s diaper every single  change. You don’t want to just flush that data down the diaper genie! Only the most lazy parent assumes that if the kid seems fine the kid is fine. That’s like those parents who don’t have an infra-red baby monitor. They just assume […]
Autism + Outdoor Play = Stunning Changes
Readers aksitfhtkb — In our desperation to create “smarter” kids, we have practically pinned them to their desks. Now educators are realizing this may be just the opposite of what is best for kids — including those with special needs, as Andrea Gordon writes in Toronto’s TheStar.com (a paper run by my favorite editor-in-chief from back when […]
Can Playing Outside Ease ADHD?
Readers — These studies discussed at Inhabitots kztzbsiate seem to support what a lot of us feel in our guts: That outdoor play is probably very key, and taking it away in favor of more “safety” or more “education” has caused us a number of ills. Ironically, our kids are LESS safe (from depression, diabetes, […]
“Nothing Bad Happened When Son with Autism…”
Hi zbtnbfnrbf Readers! You have been sending in fantastic, “Nothing Bad Happened When My Kid…” stories that show how nice and normal life can be when we quit worrying about extremely  unlikely tragedies every time we consider letting our kids out of our sight. The note below one is a reminder that special needs kids […]
The Great Parenting Reverse: Special Needs and Non-Special Needs Kids
Hi Readers! The post below this one is about a principal who chastised a mom for letting  her 10-year-old daughter take the city bus to school. The daughter loves the bus  and has made “people friends” (as opposed to “school kid friends”) on her daily commute. But the principal, as well as Child Protective Services, […]