One year, 100+ blog posts and 12,000 views ago, I began blogging. I must admit that I didn’t know much about how to get started except that I would have to do a lot of writing, put up photos and come up with a blog design that was aesthetically appealing. I became familiar with the ins and outs of blogging as I went along, but what did I really learn?

Blogging is a Commitment: I begin on Monday morning researching the “hot topics” in autism. My goal is to have a rough draft completed by later that afternoon.  On Tuesday I edit and finalize content so that I can publish it that afternoon. The cycle begins again on Wednesday for Thursday’s post. I usually follow up my blog with a Facebook post which let’s my friends know what’s up next.

The Fun of Writing:  As a past English major, I really enjoy writing. I’ve tried to keep my writing snappy and infused with many of my own experiences to personalize my blog. I encourage my readers to share their experiences with me because it’s a win/win when we all can learn from each other.

Passion: I love to laugh and have fun so I do pepper some posts with humor. I think that it is also important to write from the heart about your passion. For me, I am passionate about children, families and the challenges and rewards of living with autism. I’m a firm believer that instructional practice should be based upon what research has taught us and that technology plays an integral role in the future of our children. For this reason, I have written about the latest in research and technology advances in a number of my blogs.

I have learned so much these last 19 years raising my son, Ryan, who was diagnosed with autism at two years of age. My role as a mother, coupled with my professional experience as an educator and administrator, has given me a unique perspective. I want to share this with parents, professionals and those who are making the journey of living with autism. My goal is to continue to make dreams come true for our children.