We talk about hockey a lot in my household. A lot. I use the hockey metaphors whenever I can to teach Ryan lessons, since it is one of the few subjects that consistently captures his attention. Occasionally I regret this approach, usually when Ryan turns it on me in a way that leaves me shaking […]
Read more "When a Hockey Metaphor Goes Too Far"Like many sports, hockey has a wonderful, descriptive language all its own. Players refer to each other solely by nicknames, with all long names shortened and all short ones lengthened so that Kovalchuk becomes “Kovy” and Ott becomes “Ottsy”. A goal can be a “snip,” a “snipe,” or a “tuck-in.” A shot that goes just […]
Read more "Chirping … and Skating Away"Dear San Jose Sharks, We need to have a little chat. I know it’s a long season and you’ve been good for years and everyone hits a bump in the road now and then. I get all that, I really do. I understand what a grind the NHL season is, especially for the Western teams […]
Read more "An Open Letter to the San Jose Sharks"There is a theme to many of the posts on this blog. Ryan will always find ways to maintain his routines, even when we change his surroundings. Monday’s post, in which Ryan found a way to watch NHL highlights while playing at the Winter Classic, reminded me of a similar situation on one of our […]
Read more "Reordering His Own World"Ahh, vacation. Relaxing on the beach, enjoying the sun, maybe visiting an exciting new city or taking in a theme park. Leaving the comforts of home behind for, well, greater comforts. It doesn’t always work so well for kids on the autism spectrum. For kids like Ryan, the comforts — and the routine — of […]
Read more "Wave Hockey"
Pucks and Puzzle Pieces 