Arlington, VA, February 9, 2024 – The Organization for Autism Research (OAR) is publishing the Spanish translation of Life Journey Through Autism: A Guide for Military Families. The guide aims to support Spanish-speaking military families of autistic children. It is currently available online as a downloadable PDF, and will soon be released in paperback. When…
Tory Ridgeway wanted to be an aerospace engineer in the U.S. Navy, but the Navy didn’t seem to want him. Tory is my son, who also happens to have an autism diagnosis. My hope is that our family’s experience with exclusionary military recruitment policies can be used to open doors for others with exceptional needs.…
For autistic children, who often crave routine and “sameness,” the frequent moves that characterize the lives of most military families can pose particular challenges. This resistance to change often leads to anxiety and disruptive behaviors. But if given ample time to anticipate, understand, and practice dealing with anticipated changes, most children can learn to successfully…
Carlos Morales was a few drinks in late one evening when he first contacted his local Coast Guard recruiting office, but when he woke up the next day, he did not regret his late-night submission. He had been eyeing service for a decade, he tells The War Horse. He thought about joining the Marines at…
“Take time to mourn” That is what the pediatric specialist said to me directly after she told me my son, Connor, was profoundly autistic. The word “mourn” immediately felt misplaced. The first thought in my head being, “what the heck am I mourning”? With a million thoughts and feelings going on inside me, absolutely none…
Military duty often requires service members to be away from home for extended deployments for training or combat operations. Depending on your child, the immediate impact of such absences may vary from near-calamitous to barely noticeable. Nevertheless, there are some things you can do to help mitigate the effect, including: Create a “countdown calendar” with…
For me, it was very apparent at an early age that there was something different about the way our son Fynn was developing. Fynn didn’t speak more than three words, he didn’t attempt to pull up or walk, and he didn’t interact with the people around him. All these delays signaled to me that he needed…
All children with special needs who succeed in school have at least one thing in common: parents who are passionate and effective advocates. As parents, we have the ability to advocate for our children by asking questions and speaking up for them. At times, this can be uncomfortable or even difficult to do; however, no…
While many civilian families move to new cities, states, or countries, moving is a fact of life for military families. Moving can be a difficult transition for anyone, but it’s especially challenging for autistic children, as it entails significant and sudden environmental changes. Whether you’re a military family PCSing or a civilian family moving for…
During this time of year, it’s easy for us to get caught up in making multiple trips to retail stores and spending hours online shopping, stressing over finding the perfect gifts for everyone on our list. There is a popular quote from Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas: “It came without ribbons! It came without…
