Like most families, our weekends are packed with errands we just can’t get to during the workweek. Whenever I leave the house I make sure I have my keys, my purse and my son – Jeff is actually a great organizer and keeps me on track.  Funny how our roles have changed so many years... Continue Reading →

My name is Joshua Belden.  I have a 7 year old daughter, Hanna, who has autism. If you look at most of the autism related organizations out there, it is painfully clear something or should I say someone is missing…the dads!  I am used to being outnumbered by women at certain events, but this was... Continue Reading →

Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale. Wechsler Intelligence Scale.  Gilliam Autism Rating Scale. Woodcock Johnson.  Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales and Childhood Autism Rating Scale.  Name the State Achievement test and hundreds of other tests.  Just writing these test names bring backs angst and memories.  How does my child rank?  Especially my child with autism? The topic of testing... Continue Reading →

I remember my first autism conference circa June 2000.  There were over 2,000 people in attendance, all looking for answers to help their child living with autism. It feels like it was just yesterday we went to this conference.  I came equipped with pens and notepads, ready to absorb all I could to help Jeff.... Continue Reading →

Where were you when….?  Pick any significant date in history. Where were you when the home run record was broken, when the Beatles played the Ed Sullivan show, when President Kennedy was shot, when the space shuttle exploded, when Japan was hit with a devastating earthquake, followed immediately by a tsunami?  Where were you when... Continue Reading →

Early in my autism journey I found a story – a bit of folklore that describes many TACA families.  I know that tribal folklore always has a message meant to inspire and active the human soul.  This is my favorite: Two tribes lived side by side.  They were separated by a mountain and a valley.... Continue Reading →

Sometimes while in the world of Autism it is hard to see outside our world.  We are so tasked day to day with survival helping a child (or two) affected by autism that looking outside autism can be next to impossible.  I gather so much strength from the families TACA serves.  Lately, I have found... Continue Reading →

Balance.  Family time.  Pedicure.  All things I write about and rarely accomplish (see Dear Lisa post in the archive below.)  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. By the time you read this we will... Continue Reading →

Lately, I have been having so much fun on my trip down TACA memory lane!  Not the autism challenges so much (understatement), but the unexpected gifts of friendship and community that TACA has brought into our life.  Looking back there have been hundreds of moms, dads, grandparents, aunts, step parents, siblings, extended family members and... Continue Reading →