- aba therapy, autism awareness, Autism parenting, Autism Spectrum Disorder, COVID-19 Autism, Doberman Pinscher, Early Intervention, Feeding therapy, mental health awareness, occupational therapy, teletherapy, Uncategorized
Autism Parenting During the COVID-19 Pandemic #autismawarenessmonth
It's been a while since I've updated Autism Mom Diaries. So much has happened since November, the biggest change, no doubt, being the coronavirus outbreak. Let me detail some of Ethan's developments since November, including how we've coped with the COVID-19 situation until the present time. #autismawareness
First Day at LAUNCH Preschool! (and other LAUNCH updates)
As a true mama bear, I was both super excited and worried about Ethan's entry into Torrance Unified School District through LAUNCH preschool, which had a very good reputation as a hybrid program for both typically developing PALS and special needs kids.
Ethan’s Graduation from PTN
PTN will always be the first place that Ethan developed a pre-school based routine and had a life away from mom and away from home. He learned to participate within a community, socialize with other kids, take turns, mimic actions and songs from circle time, sit nicely when asked to, among other things.
Ethan’s Transition Meeting from PTN to LAUNCH Preschool
Our former Harbor Regional Center coordinator had told us that Ethan’s transition meeting would just consist of introductions. That it was, a brief meeting where preliminary introductions were made and we were given an opportunity to advocate for Ethan’s needs. I can say with confidence that the transition meeting last June 6th, Thursday, was a great success. The meeting consisted of a special education teacher from Torrance Unified School District, our new Harbor Regional Center coordinator, our son’s teacher and a teacher trainee from Pediatric Therapy Network. SIDE NOTE: It was funny how Ethan was turning the lights on and off the whole time.😂The teacher from TUSD just pretty much…
Video: Physical therapy progress
Ethan has been going to physical therapy at Kids in Motion since July 2018 and receiving PT at the Leaps and Bounds program at the Pediatric Therapy Network since September 2018. It was July when he started walking at 21 months. This was one milestone that was definitely emotional for me; I began to get extremely worried when Ethan hadn’t walked yet at 18 months. He progressed so much since starting physical therapy. (He started around the time he took his first steps). The development of his gross motor skills and motor planning definitely skyrocketed! His therapist at Kids in Motion is Thérèse Willis and in Pediatric Therapy Network, Stephanie…
Ethan’s First Easter Egg Hunt!
Ethan had so much fun at the Easter Egg Hunt hosted by Pediatric Therapy Network! It’s almost time for Easter. Last Sunday, April 14, Pediatric Therapy Network, the place where Ethan goes for his center-based early intervention, held an Easter Egg Hunt. Ethan’s favorite part was the little ducky pool, because he is so attracted to water. He kept on splashing the water until his shirt and shorts got wet! He is still non-verbal, and was clapping “yay” when he saw the Easter Bunny. Daddy Steve got a shot of the funny moment in the picture above. 🤣 Ethan also had a nice moment with the Torrance Firefighters. He got…
A Conversation with Emily Bobseine, M.A. CCC-SLP of Kids in Motion
Emily Bobseine, M.A. CCC-SLP or as we simply call her, Emily, is Ethan’s Speech and Language therapist at Kids in Motion, a pediatric therapy clinic in Torrance, CA where he also receives occupational and physical therapy. Emily makes Ethan’s therapy sessions always fun and engaging, and Ethan is always running to her room even when it’s not speech day! Since starting speech at Kids in Motion, along with the Leaps and Bounds program at Pediatric Therapy Network, Ethan has grown leaps and bounds! He has said, “Go!” to complete “Ready, Set, Go!” “I got it!” and started to attempt words present in his favorite nursery rhymes. He has also been…
Getting the official diagnosis
I had been waiting for this day for exactly four weeks. In Ethan's psychological evaluation, the doctor had said he met the criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder. We weren't exactly sure what the level of severity was, but he knew he was most impacted in the area of social communication.
Join my team at Autism Speaks Walk in Los Angeles!
I would like to invite you to walk with our team - "Team Hope" - because we believe that spreading autism awareness and supporting families through fundraising events such as these can ignite hope in the hearts of those who have loved ones with autism or are in the spectrum themselves.
A Conversation With Kathie Sarles M.Ed, HRC Early Childhood Specialist
Kathie M. Sarles, M. Ed is an Early Childhood Specialist and Advanced Transdisciplinary Infant/Family Mental Health Practitioner at the Harbor Regional center.
