On September 30, 2011, I wrote a column for the St. Paul Pioneer Press about Jimmy Reagan, a young adult with autism who is an emerging artist (http://bit.ly/ntyE0A).  In this guest blog post, his mother, Peg Schneeman Reagan, provides a fascinating update. Over the last six months, Jimmy’s art has been growing in ways that
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A growing number of young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder are reaching adulthood.  Families are searching for options and opportunities; for living arrangements that work and employment opportunities that are well designed and meaningful.  In the coming weeks, I will highlight programs and opportunities that are in place.  It’s a starting point for families like
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As seen in the St. Paul Pioneer Press on October 28, 2011. Two decades ago, autism was a mysterious condition known to relatively few. These days, media reports about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) appear daily; it’s rare to find someone who doesn’t have a connection to the lifelong condition affecting between 1 million and 1.5
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My guest blog post that appeared on Laura Shumaker’s San Francisco Chronicle blog (SFgate.com)  on October 20, 2011. I sat down at the table for our 2 p.m. meeting and looked up at the clock. We were about to design my son’s last IEP (Individualized Education Plan) – the roadmap for his final services from
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As seen in the St. Paul Pioneer Press on September 30, 2011. Jimmy Reagan’s story unfolds through pictures. It begins with baby photos his parents treasure: Jimmy as an infant, snacking in his high chair, impish grin stretching between rosy cheeks; Jimmy frolicking with his dad in a pile of leaves, bright eyes focused on
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There’s lots of buzz about the NBC show “Parenthood,” which will soon begin its third season. I’ve just tuned in so I’m playing catch up with the show with multiple sub-plots. I’ve learned that 8-year-old Max Braverman has quirky habits and a brilliant mind. I’ve also learned there is a familiar explanation for Max’s unusual
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As seen in the St. Paul Pioneer Press on July 8, 2011. Helping our children to feel both grounded and independent is a fundamental tenet of parenting. So we give them roots and wings by imparting skills and values. We harp on them to buckle their seatbelts, eat their veggies, and treat others with respect.
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  As seen in the St. Paul Pioneer Press on April 15, 2011. Late last month, a 22-year-old man with a criminal record pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman with Down syndrome while on a Metro Transit bus in St. Paul. The woman was one of several vulnerable adults traveling with a personal
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As seen in the St. Paul Pioneer Press on April 1, 2011. A friend asked whether the book “House Rules” by Jody Picoult reflects my family’s experience with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Picoult not only illuminated some of my life, she also roused a latent fear about what would happen if my adult son encountered
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As seen in the St. Paul Pioneer Press on March 4, 2011. Recently, Temple Grandin, acclaimed animal behavior specialist who has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), spoke at an Autism and Employment forum about how individuals with ASD can be valuable employees if they are properly prepared. So how are students with ASD – or any
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