September 2013 - Navigating Autism

AUTISM VOLUNTEERS WORKING MOTHERS

December 1, 2014September 14, 2013 by Melissa Areffi

Autism Volunteers – working mothers – every time you turn around someone is asking for our time. Lately, I have heard about schools and “volunteering.” We have all been there. Private schools, public schools, charter schools, special schools. It really doesn’t matter, does it? It’s like the Sopranos of the PTA. As a parent of … Read more

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.”