Autism Mom Diaries

Insights and Inspiration As I Navigate Through the Unique World of Autism Parenting

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Recent Posts

  • Autism Mom updates: Ethan’s continued progress through ABA and OT
  • Submitting my USC and CSUDH OTCAS Applications in the midst of COVID-19
  • Autism Parenting During the COVID-19 Pandemic #autismawarenessmonth
  • VIDEO: ABA therapy progress
  • ABA Adventures at the Botanic Garden and Beach!

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  • 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

    April 22, 2020 / No Comments

    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

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    Liza CK
  • autism awareness,  Autism parenting,  Early Intervention,  LAUNCH preschool

    First Day at LAUNCH Preschool! (and other LAUNCH updates)

    November 24, 2019 / 2 Comments

    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.

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    Liza CK
  • autism awareness,  Autism Spectrum Disorder,  Early Intervention,  Uncategorized

    Ethan’s Graduation from PTN

    November 15, 2019 / No Comments

    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.

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    Liza CK
  • Autism parenting,  Autism Spectrum Disorder,  Early Intervention,  Inspiration

    Ethan’s Transition Meeting from PTN to LAUNCH Preschool

    June 21, 2019 / No Comments

    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…

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    Liza CK
  • autism mom video,  Autism Spectrum Disorder,  Early Intervention,  Inspiration,  physical therapy

    Video: Physical therapy progress

    May 1, 2019 / No Comments

    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…

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    Liza CK
  • Autism parenting,  Early Intervention,  Family fun,  Inspiration

    Ethan’s First Easter Egg Hunt!

    April 17, 2019 / No Comments

    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…

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    Liza CK
  • Autism parenting,  Autism Spectrum Disorder,  Early Intervention,  Inspiration,  Uncategorized

    A Conversation with Emily Bobseine, M.A. CCC-SLP of Kids in Motion

    March 26, 2019 / No Comments

    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…

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    Liza CK
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder,  Diagnosis,  Early Intervention,  Inspiration,  Uncategorized

    Getting the official diagnosis

    March 20, 2019 / No Comments

    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.

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    Liza CK
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder,  Diagnosis,  Early Intervention,  Family fun,  Uncategorized

    Join my team at Autism Speaks Walk in Los Angeles!

    March 6, 2019 / No Comments

    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.

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    Liza CK
  • Autism parenting,  Autism Spectrum Disorder,  Diagnosis,  Early Intervention,  Inspiration,  Interview

    A Conversation With Kathie Sarles M.Ed, HRC Early Childhood Specialist

    March 5, 2019 / No Comments

    Kathie M. Sarles, M. Ed is an Early Childhood Specialist and Advanced Transdisciplinary Infant/Family Mental Health Practitioner at the Harbor Regional center.

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    Liza CK
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Autism Mom and Writer

Abby Khou is the mom of a three-year-old boy diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and work-from-home Communication Manager for a digital marketing agency in Santa Monica. She earned her M.A. in English from Cal Poly Pomona in 2013. She aspires to be a pediatric occupational therapist in a few years to better help her son Ethan and other children with special needs.

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Recent Posts

  • Autism Mom updates: Ethan’s continued progress through ABA and OT
  • Submitting my USC and CSUDH OTCAS Applications in the midst of COVID-19
  • Autism Parenting During the COVID-19 Pandemic #autismawarenessmonth
  • VIDEO: ABA therapy progress
  • ABA Adventures at the Botanic Garden and Beach!

Recent Comments

  • Liza CK on First Day at LAUNCH Preschool! (and other LAUNCH updates)
  • elaine b ray on First Day at LAUNCH Preschool! (and other LAUNCH updates)
  • Bryanna Bynum on The Journey Begins: My Son’s Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis
  • Therese on Accepting My Son’s Autism Diagnosis
  • Bob Kuchenmeiter BM-T on The Journey Begins: My Son’s Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis

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Autism Resources

Autism Speaks

ASD Symptoms – Mayo Clinic

ASD Diagnostic Criteria – CDC.gov

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