Autism and Measuring Normal
by Judy Endow Even though people described me as in my own world as I was growing up, I was in the same world as every other human being. I could not help
Disability History and Pop Culture
X Company is respectfully educating viewers about the ableism, discrimination and elimination of disabled people during the war. Hopefully, it will make more people aware of how disabled people are still discriminated against and abused in unthinkable ways.
Social Rules that Change with Age
by Judy Endow The “hidden curriculum” refers to the set of rules or guidelines that are often not directly taught but are assumed to be known. Most people automatically pick up this hidden
Autism and Eating Out
Autistic author and consultant, Judy Endow, shares strategies for managing sensory sensitivities when eating out.
Six Questions Before Publishing About Children
Blogging About Children with Disabilities Protecting a child's privacy when parents write about their family's experience . How much information is too much when blogging about children with disabilities? The discussion revolving around #CrippingtheMighty, the hashtag created
Privacy Versus Popularity
Your child's disability is not about you. Your child’s disability is not your story to tell. If you do it in public at your child’s expense, you are not doing your job, which is
Disability, Ableism, and Assumptions
by Amy Sequenzia The title of this article probably isn't about what you think it is. This title refers to a couple of events that made me think about how we should never assume
“Thinking Does Not Require Verbal Speech” Pouch Giveaway
Things have changed so much since we started Ollibean in 2010 and it's only getting better. Our Holiday Giveaway is our way of saying thank you for all that you do to make it happen.
The Hidden Rules of Christmas
by Judy Endow Christmas will soon be here again. There is much about Christmas I love. There are many things about Christmas that took me a very long time to figure out. This is
Holiday Giveaway- ‘The Real Experts’
Ollibean Holiday Giveaway "The Real Experts" The Real Experts : Readings for Parents of Autistic Children edited by Michelle Sutton features essays by Nick Walker, Ally Grace, Emily Paige Ballou, Alyssa Hillary, Cynthia Kim, Kassiane Sibley, Sparrow Rose
The Changing Implementation of Accommodations
The Changing Implementation of Accommodations Accommodations are something provided by law to people with disabilities. It is easy for people to understand physical accommodations such as wheelchairs and curb cuts. It is much more
Autism, Behavior and the Impact of Kindness
Judy Endow on Autism, Behavior and the Impact of Kindness Please know that the behavior of people with autism makes sense in the context of their experience of the world around them. Because typical people
Autism Visual Thinking and the Parking System
Autism and Visual Thinking Many autistic people think visually. As a young child who thought visually I was often thought to be stubborn and insisting upon my own way when in reality I was
My Video for Day without Starbucks for Sebastien
My video to help raise money for "Day Without Starbucks for Sebastien" . Sebastien is my friend. He has MELAS, a mitochondrial disease that is hurting him. Please help.
Privacy, and Parental Behavior
I've written about this before: parents of Autistic children sharing very private information about their kids, sharing moments that show the kids being upset, or having meltdowns. These parents share everything publicly, using pictures
On Not Being “Pretty”
My friend Cara wrote this awesome article about being "ugly" disabled. You should click on the link and read it. Go on, I'll wait. Isn't it great? The article got me thinking. Like
Accommodations – They Make All The Difference
Accommodations are important and they work. I should not be making a big deal about it. The ADA is 25 years old. Sadly, getting the accommodations we, disable people need, is often the opposite of
Transforming Education to Benefit ALL Students
As part of a 5-year, $24.5 million grant awarded by the U.S. DOE , the SWIFT Center was founded to assist districts and their schools to engage in a transformational process, in order to achieve equity and excellence for all students. Research has demonstrated that inclusive education significantly improves academic and behavior outcomes for all children.
Thank You, Ed Roberts
"And we’re going to develop leadership, that has a fundamental difference and that is, it's inclusive . It believes in people, and in our strengths together . And we are going to change our society. " Ed Roberts
Disabilty and Civil Rights: Standing On the Right Side of History
"If we were to go back to the 1960s and we were to talk to those leaders who were vehemently against desegregation, we would hear the conviction in their voices of them stating why they believe their decisions and what they were doing to those children were just. Just as I believe that some of you and some of the board members that have spoken believe that their decisions are just. But, I fear that the Hillsborough County School Board is standing on the wrong side of history."
All children should grow up feeling loved accepted and whole. Not just at home, but in their schools and communities.
Over 30 years of research shows that ALL students do better in inclusive educational settings – both socially and academically.
High expectations and access to rich academic content benefits each and every child.