Exceptional Parent Magazine

Language Matters: Non-verbal v. Non-speaking There is a vast difference between people’s perception of non-verbal versus the word non-speaking. Non-verbal can be used to define someone who has no verbal language, but this term has taken on a negative connotation with some individuals believing that those with significant speech delays or developmental delays impacting speech should be referred to as non-verbal. Here lies the inaccuracy.

Up, Up and Away  :  Travel Can Be a Rewarding Experience with the Right Preparation By planning ahead with these practical tips, you can ensure a smooth and enjoyable trip for everyone. Step 1: Book the Trip When traveling with a child with autism, the most important thing you can do as a parent is prepare. Start by calling the airline and letting them know that you will be traveling with an autistic person.

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Not only did our friends have dogs, but our cousins also had a dog, which also added to our desire to own one. However, for multiple reasons, having a dog was not really in the cards. With two kids who were already constantly tripping and running into things, a pet dog would have only added to the obstacles in our home. Not to mention that our mom was also NOT a dog person. She preferred cats. This was the case our whole lives until our mother discovered something that could change this situation.

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But, at every level in our society, having a disability is perceived as “not normal.” There’s a standard of where your kid should be… and then there’s a clearly defined line between what’s considered normal and not normal. For any kid who is different or disabled, there’s a fixation on “How do we fix this?” in order to achieve this sense of “normalcy.” It’s exhausting. I’d love for people who don’t have any connection with people with disabilities to normalize it.

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There are no spontaneous road trips, no loosely planned beach days, no “we’ll figure it out when we get there” adventures. Instead, summer in our family is something we design with intention. It is structured, but not rigid. It is flexible, but not chaotic. Most importantly, it is inclusive in a way that focuses on every member of the family, not just the individual with exceptionalities, not just the siblings, and not just the adults trying to hold it all together. We consider everyone.

View EP Magazine's posts related to "Autism Awareness" today.

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