Embracing Difference: The Journey of Autism Awareness and Acceptance
As a parent of an autistic child, Autism Awareness Month is very important to me. It's a time to spr…
Heartbreak to Hope: One Family Shares the Power of Organ Donation
My son had reached the moment when you can't breathe because helplessness strangles you. He was overw…
Embracing Diversity: 10 Fingers Are Overrated
"She doesn't have a hand," I whispered to my husband as our newborn made her first cries. I…
Unyielding Love: Defying the Odds for Her Baby Boy's Heart
Editor note: February is a month known for hearts, but not all hearts are celebrated for love alone.…
From Despair to Joy: One Mom's Journey After Twins Diagnosed With SMA
I heard the acronym SMA for the first time seven and a half years ago. Those three letters changed my fam…
5 Ways Parents Can Support Their Neurodivergent Children In School
When it comes to supporting our neurodivergent children, we need to think outside the box, and create an…
Embracing Disability: Tips From a Mom
As a mom to three daughters with Down syndrome, I know peer relationships between my children and their n…
Back to School Tips for Students Who Need Extra Support
A change of routine can be unsettling for anyone, but especially so for younger children and students wit…
5 Great Kid Books Featuring Characters With Developmental Disabilities
Searching out books with diverse characters to share with your children is important, but it's not al…
3 Tips to Help Your Child Embrace Disability
October is known for pumpkins, crisp fall air, costumes, and football. But did you know October is a…
Helping Special Needs Kids Adjust to the Time Change
The end of daylight saving time can be one of the most dreaded times of year for parents.Time change is t…
Why the Holidays Can Be Difficult for Special Needs Families
So many of us with special needs kids wonder how we will make it through the holidays. Many of us get los…
Living With Autism: When A Sibling Leaves for College
It’s such an exciting time for so many kids who are headed off to college. We have one of thos…
22 Summer Activities For Families With Special Needs
Many parents of special needs kids -- and all kids really! -- struggle to find ways to spend summer days…
So You Got an Autism Diagnosis. Now What?
April is autism awareness month. Macaroni Kid publisher Elizabeth Varela, who lives in Lakewood, Cal…
Tips for Talking With Your Kids About Autism
April is a month that brings mixed emotions for me. It is the month when many want to celebrate and accep…
How To Be a Friend To My Son With Autism
I spend a lot of time wishing Marky, my son who has autism, had friends.He has few real relatio…
Tips for Travelling with a Special Needs Child
Whether on a train, plane, or automobile, there are things we can try to do to make traveling a little be…
April Autism Awareness: 7 Qualities Marky Has That I Wish I Did
So much of our time as parents to kids with special needs is spent helping and defending our children, t…
To The Parent Who Just “Joined” This Special Needs “Club”
I remember the day my son was born; not even being married to a pediatrician helped my cluelessness. He…
A Holiday Letter To My Friends & Family “From” A Child With Autism
I first published this 6 years ago and I wish that I could tell you that a tremendous amount has changed…
Laura Miller is the publisher of Macaroni KID Appleton-Waupaca-Oshkosh, a free weekly newsletter and website focused on fun family events and info in towns across the Fox Valley and Central WI.
© 2026 Macaroni KID
All Rights Reserved.