Shannon Des Roches Rosa

Obviously, I'm feeling angry and confrontational. Explosively so. With good reason: George Hodgins, a young autistic man from my son's school, was murdered by his mother Elizabeth (who then committed suicide) earlier this month. Mainstream media reports have focused almost exclusively on how difficult life was for his mother, framing parents killing disabled children as an understandable tragedy, while parents killing typical children is considered a preventable tragedy. And I am telling you right now, it doesn't matter how difficult parenting is, a parent killing their child is never justifiable.  Read more >

The blog project I co-edit just published our first book, Thinking Person's Guide to Autism. The reviews are fantastic: "Geek Syndrome" journalist Steve Silberman named it his Book of the Year, author Dr.  Read more >

Look, I grew up in Anaheim. Disneyland's fireworks exploded over our house every summer night, and I played Dopey the Dwarf in the Main Street Electrical Parade. I couldn't be more blasé about the house of Mouse, so if you told me that my former workplace would one day make me happy enough to cry, I'd have scoffed. But crying with happiness is exactly what happened during my autistic son Leo's birthday trip to Disneyland -- he had two full days of pure joy that melted my cold, hard, meh-filled heart. For my son, it really was a Magic Kingdom.  Read more >

"I want you to consider taking some anti-anxiety medication. As in, tomorrow." I thanked her sincerely, told her I'd look into it, and left the medical center. I'd appreciated that quiet two-hour break from my computer and household chaos, even with the blood draws and chest x-rays. That was four months ago, and I still haven't taken the recommended medication, despite advice from both friends and professionals to do so. Why am I hesitant? Because it was my son's horrible reaction to anti-anxiety medication that helped land me in that clinic.  Read more >

I discovered the Dr. Seuss OmBooks apps earlier this year, while looking for ways my son Leo's iPad could support his emerging reading skills. Leo and I were both blown away by how beautifully Oceanhouse Media's apps retain Dr. Seuss's classic look and feel, while making his beloved stories accessible for readers of all levels.  Read more >