by Marguerite Elisofon | Oct 17, 2014 | ADHD, AP courses, autism, college, empty nest, Fox 5 News, freshmen, heart surgery, homework, Landmark College, married couples, nursery school, parents, rugby, SATS, single parents, twins, Vassar
Saying goodbye to your kids when they leave the family nest for college is a deeply emotional experience for most parents. If your son or daughter is a freshman this year, you’re probably still trying to adjust to your new life as an empty nester. All of your...
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 | 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 Marguerite Elisofon | Feb 21, 2014 | actors with disabilities, assistant teachers, autism, autistic spectrum, colleges, employment for disabled adults, Landmark College, learning disabilities, OASIS, Pace University, special needs
I should be simply thrilled that my “special needs” daughter, Sarah, is graduating with a BA from Pace University in May. (Knock on wood.). But “simple” is not in my vocabulary, at least not when it comes to Sarah. Diagnosed on the autistic spectrum with a variety...
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. 