Autism | Exceptional Lives
Our Blog: Advice & Support for Parents & Educators
I have an autistic child. What can I learn from autistic adults?
April 13, 2026
If you had the chance to learn more about what it is like to walk in your child’s shoes, why not take it? As parents, we turn to other parents walking in our shoes because we have shared experiences. It helps. But when it comes to understanding the experience of our kids, let’s turn to…
Taking pride on Autistic Pride Day: an invitation to celebrate joy with my autistic family
June 18, 2024
I’m taking pride on Autistic Pride Day. Learn about my and my child’s diagnosis, how we build community, and why autistic brains are great.
A Mother’s Journey of Advocacy and Acceptance: How to share an Autism Diagnosis | Meet Miranda and Magnolia
November 13, 2023
Meet Miranda Georgetown Riley, founder of the Magnolia Rose Foundation and mother of Magnolia Rose Riley. At 18 months old, Magnolia was diagnosed with autism and while she did not exhibit all of the typical signs of autism, her mom knew that something was different because she was non-speaking. After getting a diagnosis, Miranda immediately…
The resources are there. How can we connect more families to them?
July 19, 2023
The stress, emotion, and confusion that accompany a diagnosis for your child can be overwhelming. We are excited to share an article by Ricki Meyer, Exceptional Lives' Former Director of Policy and Legal Operations, that discusses how our free resources can help parents and caregivers navigate the disability systems and range of emotions they experience…
Becoming a parent advocate for Special Education | Meet Shubha and A: Finding a Way or Making One
June 28, 2023
Meet Shubha Balabaer, a parent advocate for special education and a Canadian residing in Brooklyn with their partner, toddler, and cat. Shubha's life is a delicate balance between their role as the Director of Operations for a non-profit organization and the demanding responsibilities of caring and advocating for their autistic child. Every day, Shubha needs…
Early Intervention in Autism | Meet Neda and Mason: You know your child best
May 5, 2023
Neda knew what to look for in her child’s development. Here’s how she decided early intervention in autism was the best choice for her son.
Life After Autism Diagnosis | Meet Maurice and Maurice Jr.: Autism is not the end of the world
May 3, 2023
Learn about Maurice's life after autism diagnosis with his father, who has dedicated his life to advocating for the autism community.
Autism and Social Interaction: Meet Johnny and Jonathan | Mastering Independence for Young Adults with Disabilities
May 3, 2023
Transitioning into adulthood can be a daunting experience, especially for those with disabilities related to autism and social interaction. Jonathan’s (who is autistic) parents took advantage of his father’s role at a local community college and enrolled their son as a part-time student to continue their journey to prepare him for life after high school.…
Meet Tanja and Andy: Preparing your child for the real world
May 2, 2023
Tanja and Andy made sure they were ready for the challenges of independence and autism.
“There’s no magic amount of knowledge”: A conversation with a neurodivergent mom raising an Autistic child
April 5, 2023
“There’s no magic amount of knowledge.” Listen along as I have a conversation with a neurodivergent mom raising an Autistic son. Interview by Christina Kozik with Nell Curran, Ph. D.
5 things to do if your autistic child needs an ambulance
December 7, 2022
If you are parenting an autistic child, you know that accidents and ambulances can be particularly overwhelming. Here’s what one mom did to make things easier on her child during an emergency. Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Nell Curran
Children with disabilities need a village of support. Here are 3 ways to build that village for yours.
September 21, 2022
We all want our children with disabilities to live their best lives. Here are 3 steps to build support and make it happen.
Need an ambulance for your autistic child? Here are 5 ways to make it easier on them.
July 27, 2022
I’m the mom of an autistic child. Here are 5 things I did to make it easier on him when he had an accident and needed an ambulance.
Is DIR Floortime right for my autistic child?
April 28, 2022
DIR Floortime is an approach to supporting autistic children, yet many parents of autistic children only know about ABA therapy. In this podcast, Julie McIsaac, Learning and Mental Health Consultant, talks about her experience as a certified DIR Floortime provider. Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McIsaac
What is DIR Floortime? Is it right for my autistic child?
April 27, 2022
Many families are drawn to Floortime because they want to understand why their Autistic child behaves a certain way. Here is my experience as a child therapist.
I am the parent of an autistic child. What will I learn from listening to autistic adults?
April 13, 2022
If you have the chance to learn more about what it is like to walk in your child’s shoes, why not take it? One of the best ways parents of autistic kids can understand our children’s experience is to listen to autistic adults. Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McIsaac
What is identity-first language and what does it have to do with autism?
April 6, 2022
Autistic child? Child with autism? It feels like the language is always changing. But identity-first language is a powerful way of shifting the conversation - and reflects so much of what we want to teach our children. Narrated by Christina Kozik; Written by Julie McIsaac
Autistic child or child with autism? Why identity-first language matters.
April 5, 2022
This is a fundamental value of Exceptional Lives. It is our mission to support families and caregivers of children with disabilities and to do this work effectively, we must do it respectfully. We must listen.
What is Sensory Processing? And can it help explain my child’s behavior?
June 2, 2021
Sensory processing issues make it difficult for our brains to process and filter information that comes through our senses. So how do we support our children?
The Emerge Center SPARK for Autism Research
April 26, 2021
SPARK is an online research partnership with the mission of speeding up research and advancing understanding of autism. Individuals of all ages diagnosed with autism as well as their family members are invited to join SPARK!