September 2012 - Navigating Autism

An amazing review

September 20, 2012 by Melissa Areffi

What does every mom or dad with a newly-diagnosed son or daughter with autism need most? A chatty, friendly, deeply informed best friend who is relentlessly honest but also realistically positive about the most effective ways to get through the confusing maze of choices that every parent of a kid on the spectrum faces. Melissa … Read more

Refusing Special Education

October 1, 2012September 14, 2012 by Melissa Areffi

North Hollywood California Charter principal says, “I don’t want THEM coming here” I have been going through the special education system in LAUSD for over six years now with my 3 kids. Like with anything you are thinking about buying, or places you’re thinking about going, you check them out, right? I read reviews on … Read more

What to do if your kid doesn’t fit in

February 4, 2013September 13, 2012 by Andy Areffi

Melissa helped out on this article http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/970475/if-your-child-is-different If your child doesn’t fit in, help him find ways to be OK with being different.

About the Areffis

The Areffis are the parents of three children with autism – Kennedy, age 10, Alex, age 9, and Bella, age 7. They wrote “Navigating Autism” because they were not able to find a book to guide them when Kennedy was diagnosed with autism in 2005. They were still struggling to get the assistance she needed when Alex was diagnosed on the spectrum in 2006 and Bella in 2008. They work tirelessly to support parents of autistic children, “We want to help as many people as possible,” says Melissa. “With early intervention, these kids can go on to become anything, and not dependent on disability services their entire lives. As parents, we want our kids to have a shot at happiness, and a ‘normal’ life. We figured we didn’t have any right to complain about how things are unless we did something about it to help.”