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MomsRising

We need to start talking about the 1 in 5

July 6, 2016
I am the mother of two extraordinary children, ages 10 and 13, who experience learning differences and attention issues. When we started out on this journey, we were scared and so was our daughter. We had little information to go on, as the diagnosis was unclear because she was so bright and was “...
Robin deAlmeida's picture

"your daughter ... Autism"

July 5, 2016
"Ms. Cooke, the team has concluded its assessments and observations and we have come to the conclusion that your daughter NaVia fits the criteria for our exception needs program as a child with Autism." At least that's what I think they said. All I remember that late spring day in 2011 was "your...
NaShonda Cooke's picture

Sharing stories - building tolerance

July 5, 2016
What is it like to be a parent of a child with disabilities? This has become a very common question as I’ve started to share more publicly about the challenges my child faces and how they impact her and our family. The truth is that there is no exact answer. Each parent has their own unique story...
Sheila Arias's picture

Always Climb Higher

July 5, 2016
When my twin sons, Nick and Jack were born in 2007, I was overwhelmed and thrilled. When Nick started missing his milestones, I was concerned. We took him to pediatricians who sent us to psychologists, occupational therapists and autism specialists who performed evaluations and tests. When Nick was...
Denise Zavaleta's picture

#MilitaryMonday: It's time to raise up Washington

July 4, 2016
Grilling burgers. Family and friends. Watching fireworks. That’s what usually comes to mind when people think about the Fourth of July, when we come together regardless of background or politics and celebrate our nation’s independence. Many of us also think about our brave men and women in uniform...
Kurt Erickson's picture

It is not the challenges that define us, but how we respond to those challenges

July 1, 2016
I remember when my husband and I decided to try for a second child. I wanted to have our children close together – have both in diapers – to power through this phase and be able to get back to work as soon as possible. I got pregnant quickly and breezed through doctor appointments, feeling like a...
Iara Peng's picture

Parenting a child with a hidden disability

July 1, 2016
My story begins 17 years ago. I had the most beautiful baby boy. He loved life. He loved people. He had big blue eyes and a big toothless grin and an even bigger heart. He was always the one to make sure you were ok. As he grew, he was excited to go off to school. He loved pre-school and...
Julie Day's picture

What You and First Lady Michelle Obama Share When It Comes to Parenting

June 27, 2016
At the end of the day, the crowd broke into an uproar when we heard Oprah Winfrey proclaim, "Hi, everybody!" We had all been anxiously awaiting the Q&A of Oprah with Michelle Obama, the hostess of our summit. Michelle Obama spoke of many things: self-value, self-worth, defining ourselves and handling criticism. She described how she chose her priorities and what she values most. But of all she described and shared, one line stuck with me. After Oprah asked her what she would be leaving the White House most proud of, she stated
Lina Acosta Sandaal's picture

Reflections on The United State of Women Summit

June 22, 2016
From Vice President Biden's call to action challenging all of us (women *and* men) to help bring an end to violence against women to Michelle Obama and Oprah's *real* conversation about the fallacy women face to have and do it all, The United State of Women Summit, convened by the White House, has...
Tina Sherman's picture

Chilling Words from My 15-Year-Old Son in Connecticut

June 16, 2016
By Pamela Deiter-Sands, Connecticut My son with the camera, always watching the world: he shows me things and tells me things that stop me in my tracks. He asked if I'd heard about the boy who texted his mother from the club in Orlando, "I love you mom." I started crying a little and said yes, I...
CT Working Moms's picture

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