by Marguerite Elisofon | Jul 3, 2015 | autism, autistic spectrum, Caitlyn Jenner, colleges history, gays, hip hop, John Robison, neurodiversity, OASIS, Pace University, same sex marriage, segregation, Supreme Court, Temple Grandin, Vassar
Last week the Supreme Court voted 5 to 4 to legalize same sex marriage, granting homosexuals multiple civil rights that heterosexuals have enjoyed since the United States declared independence from Great Britain. Finally gay men and women are free to marry...
by Marguerite Elisofon | Jun 19, 2015 | actors with disabilities, autism, autistic spectrum, civil rights laws, disabilites, equal opportunity, George Clooney, John Robison, love, Meryl Streep, neurodiversity, Temple Grandin, truth
Q: What do people with autism want out of life? A: Love and acceptance. What people on the spectrum want is what EVERYONE wants: a fighting chance to succeed in life. All parents hope their kids grow up and are able to leave the family...
by Marguerite Elisofon | Apr 24, 2015 | Asperger's Syndrome, autism, autistic spectrum, Broadway, cliches, dogs, London, Mark Haddon, math, neurotypical, pet rats, puppies, SATS, sensory processing, small talk, tantrums, Temple Grandin, touch, trains
If you haven’t seen the Broadway play “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” hurry over to the Ethel Barrymore Theatre and get tickets. This not-to-be missed show is based on the 2003 award-winning mystery novel by British writer, Mark Haddon. What...
by Marguerite Elisofon | Dec 5, 2014 | Asperger's Syndrome, autistic spectrum, Bill Gates, brains, college, Dr.Stanley Greenspan, jobs, media, millennials, minorities, neurodiversity, Pace, PDD-NOS, Steve Jobs, Temple Grandin, Tiger moms, twins
Since my daughter Sarah was diagnosed on the autistic spectrum at age one, I’ve fought as hard as any Tiger mom to help her grow up to become as accomplished and independent as possible. Instead of striving for the “American Dream” — including owning our home—...
by Marguerite Elisofon | Aug 8, 2014 | "Keep the Change, ABA, allergists, Ari Ne'eman, autism, behavioral therapy, Dr. Greenspan, Dr. Wachs, floor time, Landmark College, neurodiversity, NY Times Magazine, Pace University, Temple Grandin, twins
When I saw the cover story, “After Autism,” in Sunday’s New York Times Magazine, I must confess to feeling both vindicated AND envious. From the moment my daughter, Sarah was given the dreaded A-word diagnosis at 12 months old, I always believed in the...
by Marguerite Elisofon | Apr 18, 2014 | artistic ability, Asperger's Syndrome, auditory processing, autism, blogging, bronchial infection, endless winter, flu shots, Good Friday, Jewish holidays, Passover, savants, seder, shopping, Temple Grandin
Last week I waited for an inspiring subject for my blog, and—after running out of patience—decided in a eureka moment that waiting was a worthy subject. This week I got inundated with ideas and possibilities. There was Passover, which Henry and I did not...
Marguerite Elisofon is a New York City writer and the author of My Picture Perfect Family, a memoir about how her family navigated life with a child on the autistic spectrum before the internet and support groups existed. She also blogs about parenting young adults and disability related issues in The Never Empty Nest. Her writing has been featured in a variety of publications, including Time and NY Metro Parents magazine, and her family’s story has been featured by the NY Post, Fox News, The Daily Mail, and on Jenny McCarthy’s Dirty Sexy Funny radio show. A Vassar graduate, Marguerite was born and raised in New York City, where she still lives with her husband, Howard, in their mostly-empty nest. She is available to speak about a wide variety of issues relating to twins, parenting, and autism. 