<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>Autism is Not the Boss &#187; Uncategorized</title>
	<atom:link href="http://autismisnottheboss.com/category/uncategorized/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://autismisnottheboss.com</link>
	<description>Parenting tips for children on the autism spectrum. Is it possible to live with autism without losing your mind, your life savings, or your spouse? Yes! It may be an uphill climb at times, but there are also some surprisingly easy spots. So for those parents who are determined to enjoy life with autism, welcome.</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Sun, 01 Jan 2012 15:53:24 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8</generator>
	<language>en</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
			<item>
		<title>Five things I&#8217;ve learned about parenting an autistic child</title>
		<link>http://autismisnottheboss.com/2011/10/five-things-ive-learned-about-parenting-an-autistic-child/</link>
		<comments>http://autismisnottheboss.com/2011/10/five-things-ive-learned-about-parenting-an-autistic-child/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 08 Oct 2011 16:27:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advocacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General Parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[advocacy for autism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[autism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[autism parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[behavioral issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sensory issues]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://autismisnottheboss.com/?p=771</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Autism is still a mystery to me, but I&#8217;ve learned a few things over the last ten years (and no doubt there will be more of these in the next ten years). Here&#8217;s a few of my lessons-learned. What are yours?
1. I don&#8217;t trust anyone to say what my son&#8217;s abilities are, or will be. Autism is a developmental delay, not a developmental stasis. Studies are finally emerging that show most IQ tests underestimate the intelligence of kids with autism. We&#8217;ve had doctors and teachers tell us that Connor wouldn&#8217;t be able to do this or perform that, and he&#8217;s <a href="http://autismisnottheboss.com/2011/10/five-things-ive-learned-about-parenting-an-autistic-child/"> Continue reading...</a>]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://autismisnottheboss.com/2011/10/five-things-ive-learned-about-parenting-an-autistic-child/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Coffee Klatch &#8211; an oasis for parents of children with disabilities</title>
		<link>http://autismisnottheboss.com/2011/05/the-coffee-klatch-an-oasis-for-parents-of-children-with-disabilities/</link>
		<comments>http://autismisnottheboss.com/2011/05/the-coffee-klatch-an-oasis-for-parents-of-children-with-disabilities/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 04 May 2011 23:36:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Family Support]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General Parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[autism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[autism diagnosis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[autism parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blog talk radio]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[disabilities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[independent living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marianne Russo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Coffee Klatch]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://autismisnottheboss.com/?p=735</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Coffee Klatch  is the social networking version of  sharing a cup of coffee with a good friend.  Tailored to  parents of special needs children,  The Coffee Klatch doesn&#8217;t limit topics to one diagnosis, one advocacy issue or one type of ability.  Perhaps its very eclecticism is what makes The Coffee Klatch  so appealing to parents. After all, our kids typically don&#8217;t  have only  an autism diagnosis; they also have concomitant medical issues &#8211; from ADHD to Down&#8217;s Syndrome to epilepsy to Tourette&#8217;s Syndrome to Sensory Processing Disorders to many, many others. 
 The Coffee Klatch provides an  engaging and non-threatening community. Marianne Russo, creator and lead moderator of the Coffee Klatch, is highly sensitive <a href="http://autismisnottheboss.com/2011/05/the-coffee-klatch-an-oasis-for-parents-of-children-with-disabilities/"> Continue reading...</a>]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://autismisnottheboss.com/2011/05/the-coffee-klatch-an-oasis-for-parents-of-children-with-disabilities/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Behavioral Plans for Children with Autism</title>
		<link>http://autismisnottheboss.com/2011/03/behavioral-plans-for-children-with-autism/</link>
		<comments>http://autismisnottheboss.com/2011/03/behavioral-plans-for-children-with-autism/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 11 Mar 2011 21:20:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General Parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ABA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[autism behavior]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[behavioral plan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[behavioral plans for children with autism]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://autismisnottheboss.com/?p=727</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Do you remember getting presents or special privileges for making good grades in school? If so, do you remember how proud you were when your hard work paid off?  Me, too, which is why I was so excited when Connor&#8217;s teachers suggested we implement a behavioral incentive plan at school. And,  since I am no stranger to incentive plans (considering I&#8217;ve spent most of my career working on points-based rewards programs for airlines, hotel chains. telecommunications firms and credit card companies), I was delighted that I could contribute to the discussion.
But school behavioral plans are quite different than any other incentive program I&#8217;ve <a href="http://autismisnottheboss.com/2011/03/behavioral-plans-for-children-with-autism/"> Continue reading...</a>]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://autismisnottheboss.com/2011/03/behavioral-plans-for-children-with-autism/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>How one school district is drafting a policy against unlawful restraint and seclusion</title>
		<link>http://autismisnottheboss.com/2011/02/tonight-please-join-me-to-discuss-how-one-school-district-is-drafting-a-policy-against-unlawful-restraint-and-seclusion/</link>
		<comments>http://autismisnottheboss.com/2011/02/tonight-please-join-me-to-discuss-how-one-school-district-is-drafting-a-policy-against-unlawful-restraint-and-seclusion/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 20 Feb 2011 16:13:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[autism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[autism parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[special education]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://autismisnottheboss.com/?p=722</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We&#8217;ve heard the horror stories &#8211; Practices of using restraints and seclusion (R&#38;S) in schools have humiliated, physically harmed, or even caused the deaths of  children.  Yet many schools use R&#38;S routinely as a method to get troublesome kids, even those as young as five years old,  out of the classroom. Children on the autism spectrum are particularly vulnerable to this type of treatment.  Because they do not display physical signs of their disabilities, they are often perceived as being non-compliant, lazy or just plain &#8216;difficult.&#8217; 
For Missouri, the path to fixing the problem started with one courageous mom&#8217;s outrage against the treatment of her young son. Her story caught the attention of the media, <a href="http://autismisnottheboss.com/2011/02/tonight-please-join-me-to-discuss-how-one-school-district-is-drafting-a-policy-against-unlawful-restraint-and-seclusion/"> Continue reading...</a>]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://autismisnottheboss.com/2011/02/tonight-please-join-me-to-discuss-how-one-school-district-is-drafting-a-policy-against-unlawful-restraint-and-seclusion/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Autism policy &#8211; How should we advise our state legislators?</title>
		<link>http://autismisnottheboss.com/2011/01/autism-policy-how-should-we-advise-our-state-legislators/</link>
		<comments>http://autismisnottheboss.com/2011/01/autism-policy-how-should-we-advise-our-state-legislators/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 23 Jan 2011 19:42:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advocacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://autismisnottheboss.com/?p=714</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We are excited to participate in a pilot program sponsored by our local Arc chapter where we will be hosting a small group of parents, self-advocates and local legislators.  The purpose of the meeting is to share our experiences and feedback about what&#8217;s working or not working with current policies and practices related to autism and other disabilities.  I&#8217;m certain the stories will be compelling,  heart-wrenching and inspiring, as in the case of one friend who was placed in a state-run hab center for years but is now *finally* living happily on his own.  
But I know that at some point, one of the legislators will turn to me and <a href="http://autismisnottheboss.com/2011/01/autism-policy-how-should-we-advise-our-state-legislators/"> Continue reading...</a>]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://autismisnottheboss.com/2011/01/autism-policy-how-should-we-advise-our-state-legislators/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Autism and restoring a mom&#8217;s trust in public schools</title>
		<link>http://autismisnottheboss.com/2010/11/autism-and-restoring-a-moms-trust-in-public-schools/</link>
		<comments>http://autismisnottheboss.com/2010/11/autism-and-restoring-a-moms-trust-in-public-schools/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Nov 2010 17:16:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advocacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Family Support]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General Parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[autism education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[autism public school education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[autism special education]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://autismisnottheboss.com/?p=708</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;m afraid to believe that my son&#8217;s 4th grade in his new school is going so well. Connor is in a gen ed class 93% of the time; he is making As and Bs (albeit with modified programs for reading and writing);  he even participated in an after-school creative writing class with 12 other students without his para.  His teachers are great, and they understand that despite his language delays, he is a very bright little boy who can handle high expectations if given the chance.  The kids at the school are also wonderful, and Connor has made three new friends. The administrators and the special ed team <a href="http://autismisnottheboss.com/2010/11/autism-and-restoring-a-moms-trust-in-public-schools/"> Continue reading...</a>]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://autismisnottheboss.com/2010/11/autism-and-restoring-a-moms-trust-in-public-schools/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Autism and the Hobgoblin of Comparisons</title>
		<link>http://autismisnottheboss.com/2010/07/autism-and-the-hobgoblin-of-comparisons/</link>
		<comments>http://autismisnottheboss.com/2010/07/autism-and-the-hobgoblin-of-comparisons/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:04:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advocacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General Parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://autismisnottheboss.com/?p=698</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8216;Comparison, a great teacher told me, is the cardinal sin of modern life. It traps us in a game we can&#8217;t win. Once we define ourselves in terms of others we lose the freedom to shape our own lives.&#8217; Jim Collins, Author &#8216;Built to Last&#8217;
Comparisons are my weakness.  I compare everything and everyone. I compare my son to his typically developing peers, his high-achieving cousins and other children on the autism spectrum.  What am I looking for? Any clue to demonstrate that &#8220;Our son is making progress&#8221; or &#8220;Connor is rapidly closing the achievement gap.&#8221; Of course Connor is making progress!  Every day and in every way he <a href="http://autismisnottheboss.com/2010/07/autism-and-the-hobgoblin-of-comparisons/"> Continue reading...</a>]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://autismisnottheboss.com/2010/07/autism-and-the-hobgoblin-of-comparisons/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>In Memory of Holidays Past&#8230;a Message to New &#8220;Autism Moms&#8221;</title>
		<link>http://autismisnottheboss.com/2009/12/in-memory-of-holidays-past-a-message-to-new-autism-moms/</link>
		<comments>http://autismisnottheboss.com/2009/12/in-memory-of-holidays-past-a-message-to-new-autism-moms/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:53:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General Parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://autismisnottheboss.com/?p=665</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Holidays have always been a time of great joy and great stress.  The joy of having a child experience the wonders of the season; the stress of meeting developmental milestones while battling strep, ear infections, the flu, recurrent meltdowns and night terrors.  Happily, most of Connor&#8217;s childhood illnesses have subsided, and so has the race for achieving developmental milestones.  In that spirit, I&#8217;d like to provide a holiday message to new &#8216;autism moms&#8217; (especially those mothers with children under the age of five):
1. Christmas ornaments are educational tools.  At six months of age, my son still wasn&#8217;t turning over, so I <a href="http://autismisnottheboss.com/2009/12/in-memory-of-holidays-past-a-message-to-new-autism-moms/"> Continue reading...</a>]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://autismisnottheboss.com/2009/12/in-memory-of-holidays-past-a-message-to-new-autism-moms/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Value of a Parent Mentoring Chain</title>
		<link>http://autismisnottheboss.com/2009/09/the-value-of-a-parent-mentoring-chain/</link>
		<comments>http://autismisnottheboss.com/2009/09/the-value-of-a-parent-mentoring-chain/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:54:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Advocacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Family Support]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General Parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Quiet Advocacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://autismisnottheboss.com/?p=599</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Okay, I admit it.  My normally sunny, positive disposition occasionally suffers (spirals?) into an abyss of self-doubt, despair and worry.  When I get that way,  I have a gift I can rely on time and time again&#8230; I&#8217;ve learned the value of a parent mentoring chain.
Being a parent mentor is a blessing.  It gives me the chance to let other mothers vent, rant and talk about things that they couldn&#8217;t with anyone else but a mom who has been in their shoes. Mentoring also helps me realize where I&#8217;ve been, and how far I have come as a mother and as an advocate.  It <a href="http://autismisnottheboss.com/2009/09/the-value-of-a-parent-mentoring-chain/"> Continue reading...</a>]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://autismisnottheboss.com/2009/09/the-value-of-a-parent-mentoring-chain/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>6</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Family Fun Away from Home</title>
		<link>http://autismisnottheboss.com/2009/06/family-fun-away-from-home/</link>
		<comments>http://autismisnottheboss.com/2009/06/family-fun-away-from-home/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 28 Jun 2009 18:23:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Family Fun]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[autism]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">/?p=501</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It was a nightmare taking Connor anywhere.  When he was an infant, we&#8217;d cover his pumpkin seat with a light blanket, much like a canary in a cage, as a barrier to sensory overload whenever we visited Wal-Mart or the grocery store. As a toddler and through pre-school, Connor would often refuse to get out of the car when we went to the zoo or to a children’s museum.  And movies…Connor couldn’t sit through previews until he was five!  So much money and time were wasted, and yet…he took his first plane ride when he was only three and half years old. The only thing <a href="http://autismisnottheboss.com/2009/06/family-fun-away-from-home/"> Continue reading...</a>]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://autismisnottheboss.com/2009/06/family-fun-away-from-home/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>

