Appreciating Uniqueness By Emily Wolf I wish I would have heard more times in my life, “Be yourself, we are all different and that is what makes the world go around.” Instead, I heard the opposite. I was shy and kind but lacked confidence. I wasn’t strange, I was me. Now, as an adult I realize there is beauty in owning who you are, quirks included. I have been a stay-at-home mom for almost fourteen years now. I was born and raised in South Louisiana and live in Lafayette with my best friend and husband of fifteen years, Matt. Our son, Seth, is our only child and has been a true teacher in our lives, he is our greatest gift. He has autism and a congenital muscular myopathy, RYR1. He has daily triumphs and struggles. He is and has always been authentically himself.

Be Good to Yourself by Cherelle Williams Hello. My name is Cherelle Williams. I am from Lafayette La. I am the mother of 3 handsome boys, 2 of which have Autism. I have learned a lot on the journey of being a special needs mom. One of those things is a very important one for me and its self care. As we enter 2022 I really wanted to share my experiences to help other moms embrace the normalcy of taking care themselves.

D.R.E.A.M.S. Moms Blog Written by Sylnita Livas-Bougere Greetings my friends. My name is Sylnita Livas-Bougere and I am formerly an educator, currently a graduate student, a special-needs advocate, and a published author. I recently published a children’s book titled My Friend Rain, which explains autism to young children. I am also the proud single mother of an amazing little boy named Rain. Rain, who is a non-verbal 10-year-old, was diagnosed with autism when he was three years old. Rain and I are natives of Thibodaux, Louisiana, but recently relocated to the Lafayette area as a result of Hurricane Ida. Our experiences with the special needs community here have been welcoming and amazing.