By Lisa Ackerman Balance. Family time. Pedicure. Well, let’s not get crazy! All things I write about and rarely accomplish. Well for the next two weeks, I am doing it and I’m forcing my family to tag along. We are unplugging and getting away from it all. Mostly. By the time you read this we... Continue Reading →
A Three Hour Tour…
By Lisa Ackerman For years, there have been many comparisons between parenting a child with special needs or autism and the journey gone through inplanning a trip to Europe. Since I am a parent and this blog is focused on autism that is where this story will continue. The journey starts with you and... Continue Reading →
The Real Cost of Special Education: Considering the Return on Investment
Blog by Summer Stech, Esquire – TACA’s Legal Advocate TACAnowblog new series: Legal Advocacy Return on investment is defined as “a performance measure used to evaluate the efficiency of an investment or to compare the efficiency of a number of different investments.” The benefit of the investment made is divided by the cost.[1] A greater benefit... Continue Reading →
The IACC reconvenes
By Lisa Ackerman Due to the Combating Autism reauthorization delays, the IACC met again this past week on July 10, 2012. Over one year has passed since their last meeting. Who is the IACC? (1) The IACC is described as follows: The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) is a Federal advisory committee that coordinates all efforts... Continue Reading →
Heroes wanted
By Lisa Ackerman Think autism or disabilities is uncommon? Think again. We are all one step away from a disability. 15% of the world population have a disability. Be grateful for what you have. If you do not have a disability or don't have loved ones with disabilities there by the grace of God you go.... Continue Reading →
Autism: It takes an entire family
by Guest Blogger: Nancy Cook A Grandmother’s Journey Everyone talks about being a mother and how devastating it is when your child diagnosed with autism. I bring a different perspective, that of a grandmother. My grandson was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at 3. That day I not only lost my grandson, but I lost... Continue Reading →
Good health is important for EVERYONE including parents
by Lisa Ackerman “You say you are too busy to exercise, so prepare to schedule a lot of time being sick” Chef LaLa This quote captures an important topic: the parents of special needs children. Parents of children with autism and their families work extremely hard to get what their child needs from educational services,... Continue Reading →
Retard! Autistic!
By Lisa Ackerman As a parent of a teen diagnosed with autism nothing makes my skin crawl and me more upset then these words - especially together: Retard! Autistic! Especially in a mean, cruel statement. I am a child during the 1970's and the derogatory statements once commonplace plus more I don't wish to repeat... Continue Reading →
Autism Fairy
by Lisa Ackerman Like most folks, I receive a lot of mail. Some junk mail, bills, and many letters from families needing help. On a regular day there are 3-10 letters to review, refer and answer. This week was a special week. I received a handwritten letter addressed to me that contained something very special.... Continue Reading →
Ode to Joe & all dads
Guest blogger Charlie (age 10) doesn't let autism get in his way talking about his hero dad Joe. We will let him share his thoughts. Ode to Joe is to all dads. We love all the TACA super dads. We appreciate and love you. Happy Fathers Day! Write your ode to a special dad in... Continue Reading →
Moving Autism Forward by Team TACA 