Yearly Archives: 2019

My absolute worst fear as the mother of children with disabilities

My absolute worst fear as the mother of children with disabilities
By Maggie Suter “Please, not again.” That was my first thought when I read about the fatal shooting of an unarmed man with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) by an off-duty law enforcement officer in a Riverside County Costco last June. My second thought was, “this could have easily been my son.” Kenneth French, a…
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Interviewing a child with a communication disability

Interviewing a child with a communication disability
Children with communication disabilities use a variety of methods to share their thoughts. Some children communicate verbally or use a communication device. Others communicate by pointing to letters or using basic sign language, facial expressions, vocalizations, or gestures. It may seem like you are speaking a slightly different language with each child, and in some…
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Autism Spectrum Disorder – Tools for child abuse investigators

Autism Spectrum Disorder – Tools for child abuse investigators
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex disability that tends to affect communication and behavior. It is 4.5 times more common in boys than girls, and tends to emerge between 2-3 years of age. It is known as a spectrum disorder because it affects people differently and in varying degrees, but children and adults with…
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