When we think of the self-advocacy movement, we think of people with disabilities being in control of their lives, making decisions, and directing their life story. However, many self-advocates say that they don’t get the same support regarding sexuality and relationships as they do when they say they want to get a job or to…
Our son, William, who is in the 8th grade, plans his Halloween costume a year in advance. Yes, officially our holiday season begins long before the fall. William is not concerned with what others think. He chooses his costume and takes to the festivities of the day. Maybe it is just the simple pleasure of…
Years ago, I served with a Marine who had received the Medal of Honor for heroism and leadership under fire in Vietnam. Between his example and his experience, he taught me a lot. What I remember most was his outlook on life and its challenges. If he were here, he’d be correcting me right now.…
If you are a military family, we don’t need to tell you that military families that have children with disabilities are considered underserved. In fact, says Vicki Farnsworth, assistant director at The Branch, that’s why her organization was established in January 2015. The Branch Military Parent Technical Assistance Center builds the capacity of federal parent…
Like many young adults with autism, Cameron Graham’s opportunities to find a rewarding career were extremely limited. Her ability to contribute to her community was not. So her parents, Ellen and Jim Graham, jumped off a cliff. Not literally. Still, when you hear their story, you may think it’s about as close to the reality…
In 1959, a group of parents of high school students with disabilities in Northern Virginia created a nonprofit organization devoted to helping those young people find meaningful employment. In its first year, it employed 26 people. Today, Linden Resources employs and provides job placement for nearly 400 people with intellectual, physical, or mental health disabilities…
The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism was established in 1998 by former NFL quarterback Doug Flutie and his wife, Laurie, in honor of their son, Doug, Jr. who was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. Today, he is 23 and, like many of his peers, faced with new challenges that come with…
“Happily ever after” can seem like a lofty goal when you have a child on the autism spectrum. As parents know only too well, the kind of support and education needed to give a young adult the necessary knowledge, skill, and experience to hold a job and live independently is hard to come by. That’s…
Traditionally, alchemy was the process of trying to turn base metals, like copper, for example, into a precious metal like gold. PACER Center’s National Bullying Prevention Center is aiming for a different kind of alchemical process: transforming bullying into kindness and inclusion. Through a number of resources and initiatives offered via the National Bullying Prevention…
Merriam Webster defines extraordinary as “going beyond what is usual, regular, or customary,” which aptly describes Extraordinary Ventures. Begun in 2007 by a group of parents in Chapel Hill, N.C., hoping to provide employment for their children on the autism spectrum, the organization started “doing fulfillment and renting out space for events, working with around…
