May is the month dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, which makes it the perfect time to start praying the rosary as a family. It may seem overwhelming, especially as a special needs family, but thankfully there’s no shortage of creative ways to pray the rosary as a family. From apps that guide you through…
During his pontificate, Pope Francis often spoke of the dignity of marginalized people, including the disabled. As we mourn his passing and pray for the coming conclave, we have pulled together some links to his talks and writings about disabled people. We pray his successor continues to advocate for the acceptance and inclusion of disabled…
Lent is a time that recalls suffering with no day more poignant than Good Friday. As parents of children with special needs, our lives can be marked by suffering in different ways; be it extra paperwork and appointments filling our days, grief over our lost dreams for our children, or feelings of isolation, to name…
It’s Autism Awareness Month, and every year I’m flabbergasted by how many people still don’t know what autism is. There are so many self-advocates, parent advocates, social media posts, and YouTube videos dedicated to explaining autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASM). There are shows with autistic characters, and yet when we go out into the…
Holy Week—the culmination of Lent and the lead up to the greatest liturgical feast on the Church’s calendar. Every year, I vow to have our family fully prepared, and every year… reality happens. With little kids, we usually start strong but fizzle out by Easter. Last year, illness derailed us, and while we completed most…
As a special needs parent, one of the biggest struggles for me is not letting the fear take over. Sometimes, it is not letting the toll of caregiving make me worry how I will get up the next day and do it all over again. Other times, it involves my son’s medical needs and concerns…
My son, Nathan, has been attending Mass since he was two weeks old. I still remember with perfect clarity that first time I took him to Mass – still struggling with the post-Caesarean section recovery, coupled with a case of Bell’s palsy that caused the entire left side of my face to droop, and still…
As a special needs parent, it can be a juggling act to fit your child’s therapy into your weekly schedule. It makes it even harder when taking your child to therapy or the therapy session itself leads to an emotional meltdown or battle. It can be easy in these situations to feel stuck between a…
I stared at the phone with dismay, a knot tightening in my stomach. It was ringing, again, with yet another concerned professional on the other end. I’d made countless phone calls and left messages with teachers, school counselors, administrators, and doctors. I knew they’d get back to me, and I’d talk to them, and yet…
Sensory boxes (or bins) are a fun, hands-on way to learn more about a feast in the Catholic liturgical year. These boxes encourage sensory play, which involves finding different items to see, touch, and explore that connect to the liturgical feast. Sensory boxes are a great way to initiate conversation about the feast day and…
