My quirky family and I recently embarked on the great adventure from Alaska to our new home in Washington. We decided to take the Alaska ferry. Having two teens who experience autism that can’t fly it turned out to be a great idea. Special thanks to my mother and father for making it possible, and…
By Maria Pepperworth – Alaskan parent, advocate, rocker! Whenever people ask me about autism I like to use the word experience. My kids “experience” autism. In reality, our whole family “experiences” autism. It impacts the whole family. Autism is different in every person. It’s unpredictable, it’s difficult, it’s amazing, it’s a puzzle. If you would’ve…
Having a child with a rare genetic disease or a lifelong disability opens your eyes up to a whole new understanding of how medical care, prescriptions, and insurance work. Before my kids, I thought I understood… You had insurance, you had a co-pay and a deductible, and you got the treatment and medication you needed…
David is a 25-year-old student at UAA who experiences bi-polar disorder as well as ADHD. Today he shares how these special needs and others have impacted his and his brother’s lives. My brother and I were born a year and a month apart. Early on we showed signs of being a little more…
Jordyn Cleveland was born deaf. In 2013 her and her family found out why. At the age of 13, Jordyn was diagnosed with Usher syndrome a genetic condition that worsens over time and will further affect her vision. In an effort to expand their support, Jordyn and her mother Mandy recently attended the Usher Syndrome…
The money: There are many factors that make living in Barrow with special needs unlike anywhere else. Basically, living here and having to seek medical professional help = EXPENSIVE and very nerve racking. We have been very lucky with my sister and her getting the medical help she’s needed. But we have also been…
Brittney Toalston is sharing her family’s story with us about what it is like to have a family member with special needs in rural Alaska. This story will be delivered in four parts. My family has lived in Barrow, 320 miles north of the Arctic Circle, for the last 29 years. My sister who is…
“As parents of a special needs child, one frequently hears more about what the child can’t do rather than what he can do”
It was the holiday season of 1993 and Barbe was the single mother of 3 children, two daughters and a son, Christopher, who had Touretts, epilepsy, OCD, ADHD and Neurofibromatosis. Because of her son’s serious health care issues he received Social Security benefits and Medicaid. That was until 3 months after Barbe worked two hours…
