by Marguerite Elisofon | Jan 23, 2015 | "Keep the Change, acceptance, Asperger's Syndrome, autism, b'nai mitzvah, college graduation, disabilities, Judaism, Kaleidoscope, twins, writer's block
In spite of severe writer’s block, this week I was (finally!) inspired to write about “acceptance”—a deceptively bland word with multiple meanings, often accompanied by a broad range of emotions. Dictionary.com offered three definitions: “the act of taking or...
by Marguerite Elisofon | May 25, 2014 | autism, autsitic spectrum, college graduation, cum laude, diversity, Google, Landmark College, language delays, NVLD, OASIS, Pace University, PDD, PDD-NOS, sensory processing, static encephalopathy
I wish all the naysayers of the past 23 years could see Sarah now. All those educators and therapists who told me my autistic spectrum daughter would “never be independent and never go to college,” were WRONG. As of May 21st, Sarah graduated from Pace University...
by Marguerite Elisofon | May 2, 2014 | affirmative action, Asperger's Syndrome, autism, Autism Awareness, Broadway, choral groups, college graduation, discrimination, diversity, Landmark College, lyrical sopranos, perfect pitch, Shakespeare, singing
As April ends—and with it so-called Autism Awareness month—I thought it would be appropriate to discuss discrimination against people on the spectrum and how it seems to apply to my beloved daughter, Sarah. Early last month, Sarah auditioned to sing the national...
by Adriane Tillman | May 31, 2013 | ADHD, college, college graduation, commencement speakers, family, Kirsten Gillibrand, parenting, politicians, Shirley Chisolm, twins
What could be more special than watching your child’s college graduation? Answer: Watching your child graduate from the same school where you received your diploma 35 years earlier. Max’s May 26th graduation from “our” alma mater was the ultimate déjà...
by Adriane Tillman | May 24, 2013 | ADHD, blogging, college graduation, comedy, family, humor, hypochondria, internet privacy issues, Mother's Day, parent blogs, parenting, technology issues, Virginia Woolf, women writers
Counting down the days to Max’s graduation, our phone conversations cover a lot of territory: slogging through the last college paper, enjoying senior week festivities, saying goodbye to friends and my son’s erratic job search. On our last phone call, Max...
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. 