Funny 100-Word Memory – It was 1989 and my dad thought our new wheelchair van had magic windows. The truth made us both laugh!
I am not saying our life wasn’t hard. At times, life was exhausting, isolating, and stressful. Yet the joys outweighed the hard times, and when I look back, I see the good times, the milestones, the strength, and the extraordinary moments unique to our experience.
In a world that often moves too fast, Jessica’s dinner table, filled with love, friendship, and music, reminds us what truly matters. I enter my daughter Jessica’s house. As I walk down the narrow hall, I smile and roll my eyes at the wall, which is lined with dings from Jessica coaxing her wheelchair into three-point turns. I am almost to the dining room when I hear the tell-tale screams and claps. Jessica knows I am here. And so does everyone else, by the way!
It can be hard to know where to start. The paint sets get knocked over, the music is too loud, the instructions feel vague — and suddenly art time becomes stress time. But for parents of children with special needs, the arts aren’t just nice-to-have activities. They’re lifelines. Creative expression offers structure without rigidity, emotion without pressure, and joy without preconditions. If your child struggles with communication, sensory integration, or focus, art might become their clearest and safest language. What matters is that you’re looking for a way in.
Are you snowed in this morning? Here’s a heartWARMING blog to warm YOUR Hearts!
FaceTime with Jess: Staying Connected with our Nonverbal Daughter: A Very Short Story
Parenting a child with disabilities brings unique stress. Learn tools to manage anxiety, find support, and build resilience.
Bravery isn’t always loud—it’s Mitch’s calm, my panic-to-strength, and Jessica facing the unimaginable every time
After 2 years of waiting, a confusing policy, a last-minute call, and one amazing doctor, Jessica finally made it to the OR— A Dental Story
(This Author Had A TYPO (Thanks for nothing, the Autocorrect! 😂) and needed to fix the title – sorry if you receive it twice! This is a first – Never Have I Ever had somebody come up to me and ask this question.
A rare genetic diagnosis gave us a name, a global community—and a spot in the not-so-little UNIQUE Red Book.
“Three years, many lessons, and a marketing struggle later—Randy’s note reminds me why I keep sharing Raising Jess!”
Many ask, ‘How are proposed Medicaid cuts going to affect your daughter Jessica?’ I don’t mind the question, but I wish I had an answer.
#Medicaid #DisabilityRights #Healthcare #MedicaidCuts #RaisingJess #NYS #OPWDD #Parenting #Mothering #Disability
Strategies to guide parents of children with special needs integrate self-care into your routine, ensuring you remain balanced and energized.
An essay about scopes and Jessica’s colonoscopy? EWWW – Don’t despair; no details are given other than a heartwarming story about healthcare providers’ unique kindness and compassion. And we are talking about Jessica, our daughter was severe, intellectual disabilities , and things are never how you expect with our Jess.
Facing life’s curveballs is easier with friends. These women embraced Jessica into their circle, turning it into her very own Friend Network! #RaisingJess #Friends #Disability #Inspiring #Rare Disease #Family
#RaisingJess #Friends #Disability #Inspiring #Rare Disease #Family
Thank you for the 2-min. interview, PBS – Retirement does not mean retiring from life. It’s an opportunity to rediscover forgotten interests.
“Ah, Friday – the day when I question my entire week’s worth of news intake, hoping it’s enough to secure victory in the family NYT quiz showdown.
Jessica’s risky hip surgery led to severe blood loss. Our parental instincts showed the need to fiercely advocate for our daughter.
I am Not a Whippet! I am an IGGY. But the worst inDOGnation, is my dog stroller. Oh, paw-lease! How did I succumb to this?
TODAY ONLY! Get a signed copy of Raising Jess A Story of Hope by Vickie Rubin for FREE. I will pick three winners by Friday! Fill in entry form below for your chance:
This is our group home story. A decision woven with uncertainty, love, and, ultimately, acceptance. Was the group home decision also a decision of Letting Go? These are frequent questions I receive from families and podcast hosts, and a story worth sharing. How we went from It’s Never Happening to a Leap of Faith. An […]
Music is our daughter Jessica’s love language. She speaks it fluently. Jess is 41 years old, nonverbal, and has a rare genetic deletion (1Q 43-44). She lives in a group home with five other women who have become family. (Article in Today’s My View ) Jacob is Jessica’s music therapist and part of a local […]
Join me on a heartfelt journey from curious parent and new professional to author and Keynote speaker. 4 Key moments from DDDAY 35.
After All That Inclusion in school – Adult Life and A New Day Program for Jessica. We embrace hope as Jessica starts a new chapter.
University of Miami Alumni – In a world where compassion can make all the difference, alumna Vickie Rubin is a ray of hope for families raising children w/ special needs.