Thanksgiving

I woke up this morning to the rustling of the sheets. It was still dark out; there was no hint of light in the sky. I felt a movement in the room, and as I tried to focus my eyes, I saw Alphonse, sitting in the darkness, making happy, little noises. He didn’t even notice me [...]

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To Senator Noynoy

An Open Letter to Senator Noynoy Aquino from a Mother of an Autistic Child
(Originally published in Herword.com on November 16, 2009)
Dear Senator Noynoy,
Up until you announced your candidacy, I had given up hope in the election process of 2010. While I have exercised my voting rights judiciously in every election since I turned eighteen, years [...]

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Betrayal

Last night, I let go one of Alphonse’s nannies.
I’ve never really had much luck with household help. In all the years A and I have been married, we’ve only had one really good person come into our lives, and even then, she left to get married and raise a family of her own. Of course, I don’t [...]

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Fifteen Candles

Happy 15th Birthday, Alphonse, child of our hearts.
You weren’t like other children
and God was well aware
You’d need a caring family
with love enough to share.
And so He sent you to us
and much to our surprise
you haven’t been a challenge
but a blessing in disguise.
Your winning smiles and laughter
the pleasures you impart
far outweigh your special needs
and melt the [...]

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My Halloween Boys

When Alex and Alphonse were little kids, dressing them in Halloween costumes was always a fun experience. True, the costumes they had 15 years ago seemed primitive and uninspired compared to today’s more intricate designs, but they were wearable, though not exactly cheap. Alex’s choice would always dictate the theme; if he were dressing up [...]

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To Stella, With Love

I found this in my comments box this morning when I logged in to check for messages. I thought Stella deserved a post of her own, so one hand less notwithstanding, I am posting a reply for her. (One easy thing about posts- one can always cut and paste, heehee. )
Stella’s note reads:
hi, got [...]

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Talents Without Borders

In the course of writing for Autism Society Philippines, I do a lot of research on my own. On the occasions that I ask for information from ASP, they have always obliged generously. Writing about our performers for Autism Beyond Borders, the 11th National Conference on Autism, I was surprised to receive not just abstract [...]

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Help Wanted

Have you ever seen a “help wanted” ad like this? I definitely have not, not even once in the many years I have spent perusing classified ads. But one day soon, and I hope this comes in my child’s lifetime, I certainly hope that someone somewhere will give my son and all individuals of special [...]

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Autism And The Movies: We Made History

We woke up unusually early that day, excited and buoyant. Even Alphonse, who wakes up late most days, didn’t complain when we woke him up. “It’s your day, anak,” I whispered gently to this sleeping baby, all five feet and four inches of him. He stirred a little, blinked a few times, then jumped immediately [...]

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The Sick Sense(s)

Temple Grandin, perhaps the most famous person with autism in the world, knows only too well how her senses have defined many of her reactions in life. As a young child, she was absolutely terrified of loud noises. She likened the ringing of the school bell to the pain caused by a dentist’s drill on [...]

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