For the umpteenth time, i don't hate parents.
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Seriously. I get sick of this. Yet I have to say it again and again and again, and I'm supposed to be the one with the receptive language problem. What gives?I.Don't.Hate.Parents.Just.Because.They're.Parents.Are there people whom I cannot stand because their views on many things are frankly disgusting, as are their approaches to things, and they happen to be parents? Yes, there are. But my distaste for these individuals isn't because they're parents, I may just know about it because we have come into contact because of their parenthood. But--IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PARENTHOOD.Seriously. Parents of autistic kids, or for t...
Source: The Rettdevil's Rants - May 9, 2008 Category: Autism Source Type: blogs
Nothing like a ferris wheel
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Despite the heavy rain and wind outside—serious weather for the serious tone of today’s posts—summer is coming and with it surf, sand, sun, ocean swimming, and rides (!!!!!). The ferris wheel is Charlie long-time favorite: Oobject lists 10 unboring ferris wheels and something tells me that Charlie would enjoy them all, from homemade to this “eye-full.”
(Me, I prefer just to admire them from terra firma, and take photos.)
Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, carnival, ferris wheels, ocean, oobject, pdd-nos, rain, rides, sea, summer, surf, WeatherShare This (Source: Autism Vox)
Source: Autism Vox - May 9, 2008 Category: Autism Authors: Kristina Chew, PhD Tags: Charlisms Weather asd asperger autism autism blog carnival ferris wheels ocean oobject pdd-nos rain rides sea summer surf Source Type: blogs
Florida vote on insurance for autism is good
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The recent move by the Florida legislature to require insurance companies to pay for evidence based treatments for autism is a good one for parents and kids. Insurance companies in the U.S. are simply "middle men" and "paper pushers" who care nothing about the well being of its' customers and only care about making money. I have blogged about how my own Insurance Company has betrayed my own interests on numerous occasions, and my conversations with my colleagues on campus reveal that I'm not alone!
Here in Keene, NH we have ramped up early childhood autism services by training lots of colle...
Source: Asperger's Conversations - May 9, 2008 Category: Autism Authors: Larry Welkowitz Source Type: blogs
To cats...
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1. Sitting in the middle of one lane in the road is a great way to get hit. Not everyone stops for the "who goes there?" look. Staying there and staring after being honked at is not smart.2. The opening of a drawer is not an invitation to jump into that drawer.3. Purring and biting simultaneously confuse the humans.4. Rubbing up against the jar of catnip and causing it to scoot across the floor will not open the jar, no matter how much you will it to be so. That requires opposable thumbs.5. Asking to be let under the covers, getting under, then turning around and standing half under, half out lets in cold air and decreases...
Source: Misadventures from a Different Perspective - May 9, 2008 Category: Autism Source Type: blogs
Where are all the autistic adults?
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The British government has announced that it is planning to calculate the number of autistic adults in England. The £500,000 project is the first to specifically study the number of adults who have autism, the BBC reports.
It will be interesting to see how the study is conducted: The tools for diagnosing autism in adults are neither as valid nor as reliable as those used for children. And:
The group has been hard to measure partly because so many people have grown up before improvements in recognition and diagnosis; and some may have been labelled inappropriately as having mental health problems or learning difficulties o...
Source: Autism Vox - May 9, 2008 Category: Autism Authors: Kristina Chew, PhD Tags: Adulthood Diagnosis Epidemic Statistics Stereotypes adults asd asperger autism autism blog disabilities blog employment Family family blog jobs Parenting pdd-nos supported living Source Type: blogs
Debate or defamation? [10]
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Tuesday afternoon, attorneys Brian T. Stern of Dover, New Hampshire, and John F. McHugh of New York City, made their appearance in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire as counsel to Mr. Clifford Shoemaker in his response to the court’s April 21 Order to Show Cause regarding the omnivorous subpoena issued against me in the case Sykes v. Bayer.
Mr. McHugh’s motion for admission indicates that he is representing Mr. Shoemaker pro bono.
Mr. Stern and Mr. McHugh also filed a motion requesting ten more days to respond to the Order to Show Cause. After describing the course of events that led ...
Source: neurodiversity weblog - May 9, 2008 Category: Autism Authors: Kathleen Seidel Source Type: blogs
Home ed news
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"NOT going to school and having ADHD has never held back 14-year-old Joel Drapper from Ryall and now he has started his own business." Read more..."Across the United States, Muslims who find that a public school education clashes with their religious or cultural traditions have turned to home schooling."Read more... (Source: Aspie Home-Education)
Source: Aspie Home-Education - May 9, 2008 Category: Autism Tags: home education news links Source Type: blogs
Enough, already, with the garden experts!
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I am so thrilled with how the front yard garden is going. Yesterday I planted all the stuff I'd bought the day before at Mahoney's, my favorite garden store. Mahoney's in Brighton (a neighborhood of Boston) is for urban gardeners. It is almost a boutique, but it is just big enough that it has small yards of shrubs, another one for interesting planters, and another one for veggies and herbs, with a large barn full of indoor kind of stuff, as well as the main parking lot area of perennials, the garden's royalty; and annuals, the garden's ladies-in-waiting. Mahoney's used to be located in Cambridge, in an amazing location ri...
Source: Susan's Blog - May 9, 2008 Category: Autism Source Type: blogs
Matthew fox - education crisis
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(Source: Aspie Home-Education)
Source: Aspie Home-Education - May 9, 2008 Category: Autism Tags: watch online education Source Type: blogs
Nat abc asd fyi
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Nat will be featured on ABCNews.com in an upcoming website dedicated to autism, created by their Medical Unit. The producers told me that they hope to cover a wide range of aspects of autism, including adults who have autism and can illustrate their concerns or interests. They are going to stay away from the causes and hopefully also the negative messages that go along with discussion of cures. The news team will be taking photos of Nat at home and at swim practice, and Ned and I will narrate an audio piece to go with it. (This is instead of using video, which is still not always the clearest medium for the Internet.)Our ...
Source: Susan's Blog - May 9, 2008 Category: Autism Source Type: blogs
The autism treatment subculture
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That’s how Dr. Steven Novella refers to various alternative medical practices used by parents on their autistic children in the May 8th Neurologica blog. Among those practices is chelation, in which medications are administered to remove “heavy metals” from a person’s body and thereby to “detoxify” his or her system. Dr. Novella discusses the recent dropping of charges against Dr. Roy Kerry, who was accused of causing the death of 5-year-old Abubakar Tariq Nadama. In 2005 Nadama went into cardiac arrest after undergoing chelation therapy with Dr. Kerry. Dr. Novella not only points out th...
Source: Autism Vox - May 9, 2008 Category: Autism Authors: Kristina Chew, PhD Tags: Health Junk Science Legal Issues Treatment Vaccines asd asperger autism autism blog conspiracy theory disabilities blog Family family blog geier legal blog lupron protocol mercury Parenting pdd-nos skeptics testoste Source Type: blogs
Autism hero stefan marinoiu's hunger strike for autism now
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There are many ways parents and other concerned citizens can advocate for health, treatment, education and residential services for autistic children and adults. Some join organizations, hold awareness meetings with government, business and the public, write letters to the editor and so on. Stefan Marinoiu of Toronto, who I met a couple of weeks ago during the recent Medicare for Autism Campaign NOW! visit to Toronto and Oakville, goes much further. Stefan has put it all on the line advocating for autism. And he is doing it again, right now. Stefan began a hunger strike for autism on May 5 outside Queen's Park in Toronto.T...
Source: Facing Autism in New Brunswick - May 9, 2008 Category: Autism Authors: Autism Reality NB Tags: newtag Source Type: blogs
The cost of autism
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People have many differing perspectives when it comes to the matter of autism. Some people celebrate their differences. Others take a different view. Many adopt a "neurodiverse" approach, whilst some others have genuine "complaints." I would sadly have to show my true colours and align my allegiances with latter. To read more, click "here."If you like what you read, send it to someone in 'need.' (Source: Whitterer on Autism)
Source: Whitterer on Autism - May 8, 2008 Category: Autism Tags: laundry Source Type: blogs
You can never be too careful
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School bus driver Danny Floyd of Moorpark (CA) was arrested on May 7th on the suspicion of molesting a 14-year-old autistic boy, the Ventura County Star reports. Floyd and the boy were paired through the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and have known each other since November; the molestation is alleged to have occurred between March 1 and May 5. Bail for Floyd has been set for $250,000.
As the mother of a minimally verbal autistic boy who has just entered puberty…………I can’t be too careful.
Tags: abuse, asd, asperger, autism, big brothers big sisters, bus, molestation, pdd-nos, ventura cou...
Source: Autism Vox - May 8, 2008 Category: Autism Authors: Kristina Chew, PhD Tags: Safety Schoolbus abuse asd asperger autism big brothers big sisters molestation pdd-nos ventura county Source Type: blogs
Debate or defamation? [3]
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Tuesday afternoon, attorneys Brian T. Stern of Dover, New Hampshire, and John F. McHugh of New York City, made their appearance in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire as counsel to Mr. Clifford Shoemaker in his response to the court’s April 21 Order to Show Cause regarding the omnivorous subpoena issued against me in the case Sykes v. Bayer.
The declaration accompanying Mr. McHugh’s motion for admission indicates that Mr. McHugh and Mr. Stern are representing Mr. Shoemaker pro bono.
Mr. Stern and Mr. McHugh also filed a motion requesting ten more days to respond to the Order to Show Ca...
Source: neurodiversity weblog - May 8, 2008 Category: Autism Authors: Kathleen Seidel Source Type: blogs
Alvin toffler on education
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(Source: Aspie Home-Education)
Source: Aspie Home-Education - May 8, 2008 Category: Autism Tags: watch online socialisation compulsory education Source Type: blogs
Everything causes autism (or so it seems)
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“In psychology, I’m starting to get the weary feeling that everything gives you mental illness,” quips Williams Saletan in the May 7th Slate on Human Nature. Saletan references the recent study which found that parents who have psychiatric disorders are doubly at risk to have an autistic child (while also citing another study according to which “adoption can double a child’s risk of disruptive behavior disorder“). Have to say, I’m starting to feel that everything can give a person autism.
What hasn’t been cited as a cause of autism?
Tags: Adoption, asd, asperger, autism, auti...
Source: Autism Vox - May 8, 2008 Category: Autism Authors: Kristina Chew, PhD Tags: Adoption Cause Health Parenting Psychiatry asd asperger autism autism blog disabilities blog Family family blog mental health mental illness pdd-nos Source Type: blogs
The need is individual
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There are a lot of reasons why someone might not use language “normally”. Yet, despite this, it is often assumed that there are two options for someone to communicate: the “normal” way and a given person’s favored solution. I’ve seen this two option approach not just from non-disabled people, but also from people with communication disability (the second option, in that case, is often their option). I’ve also seen a lot of armchair language experts, who haven’t had the benefit of reading even the most basic of literature on communication disabilities - and thus are condemned ...
Source: NTs Are Weird - May 8, 2008 Category: Autism Authors: Joel Tags: Assistive Technology Communication Source Type: blogs
Researchers discover happy autism parents
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Earlier this week, the mainstream media reported on a study that showed higher rates of various neurological conditions, including schizophrenia, in parents of autistic children. The study focused on families in Sweden whose children were born between 1977 and 2003, and the sample included 1,227 autistic children and 30,693 non-autistic children. (Daniels et al., "Parental Psychiatric Disorders Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Offspring," Pediatrics, May 2008.)The popular reporting on this study gave the misleading impression that large numbers of parents of autistic children had been diagnosed with some so...
Source: Whose Planet Is It Anyway? - May 8, 2008 Category: Autism Tags: journalism psychiatry families with autistic children Source Type: blogs
By the river
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“Creativity arises out of the tension between spontaneity and limitations, the latter (like the river banks) forcing the spontaneity into the various forms which are essential to the work of art or poem.” - Rollo May “Take a look at your natural river. What are you? Stop playing games with yourself. Where's your river going? Are you riding with it? Or are you rowing against it? Don't you see that there is no effort if you're riding with your river?” Frederick (Carl)(American born French Painter, 1874-1939) (Source: Aspie Home-Education)
Source: Aspie Home-Education - May 8, 2008 Category: Autism Tags: quotes photos Source Type: blogs
Moms on autism, episode 2 | our experiences with applied behavioral analysis
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Our experience with Applied Behavioral Analysis - learning about the program and our sons’ responses.For more information, check out our website: MomsOnAutism.comListen Now (Source: Autism Podcast)
Source: Autism Podcast - May 8, 2008 Category: Autism Authors: Michael Boll Source Type: blogs
Antipsychotics in kids, weight gain, and parental worries
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The decision to put an autistic child on medication is never easy for a parent to think about. When the medications in question are antipsychotics (like Risperdal) and antidepressants (like Zoloft), and when the child is disabled and has little or no language to explain how he feels while on the meds, a parent has to proceed with caution. Weight gain is a frequently reported side effect of taking Risperdal and a new study on the use of antipsychotic medications in children indicates that taking these drugs results in an almost immediate increases in body mass index (BMI) and triglyceride levels, as reported in the May 7th ...
Source: Autism Vox - May 8, 2008 Category: Autism Authors: Kristina Chew, PhD Tags: Adolescence Charlisms Education Health Medicine Parenting Psychiatry Sensory clothes antidepressants antipsychotics asd asperger autism autism blog bmu disabilities blog drugs medication pdd-nos triglyceride weigh Source Type: blogs
A labyrinth of liars
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I wash up and chat to their father in the kitchen at twilight when a small person appears, just before we take them all up to bed.“Why?”“Why what dear?”“Why you are not?”“Why are we not what?”“Why you are not be wear dah pyjamas at night.”I gulp to aid oxygen flow to my brain but spouse sniggers “because we’re British. British people don’t wear pyjamas. Pyjamas are for wimps. People from an island race never wear pyjamas.” I am tempted to stamp on his foot or duct tape his mouth permanently closed. Where does he get this stuff from?“Why?”“Which bit dear?”“Racing Island? It is be a game...
Source: Whitterer on Autism - May 7, 2008 Category: Autism Tags: non conformist British Humour Source Type: blogs
Tender
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The tender parts of the day catch in my throat and press against my brain until I let them out. Benj fell asleep on his book (Harry Potter 3) tonight. His still little face rested on his arm, the book open to the Dementors chapter. Dear little boy.Benj felt that Link was "so sad," because he'd been turned into an odd wood-like creature. I like that he was moved by Link's sadness.Natty sang "Drift Away," today in music class and played the drum. He did not say a word most of this evening and I feel guilty that I know so little about what goes on with him, except for what's in the notebook. Manufactured or real? Old, old fee...
Source: Susan's Blog - May 7, 2008 Category: Autism Source Type: blogs
Ice cream for the soul
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One of the moms here is pretty sick, and undergoing heavy treatments. I always liked her, because she helped out at the school a lot, and she has two very nice daughters. I didn't know what to think when I heard how serious her illness was. I just felt scared, and sad, thinking about how she must feel, about how she might be leaving her daughters soon. I have been watching her quietly, secretly, wanting to help somehow, make her feel okay. We aren't really friends, though, so any overt offers might seem to be out of kilter, or all about the cancer. I don't want it to be all about the cancer; I am interested in her and how ...
Source: Susan's Blog - May 7, 2008 Category: Autism Source Type: blogs
The gluten free frenzy
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The price of rice has skyrocketed, due to fears that an international shortage will affect the US. Given what the Chicago Tribune calls a “gluten-free diet frenzy—-and families of autistic children are “among the strongest advocates of gluten-free”—I guess this could be a bit of a problem…..
Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, diet, Family, food, food blog, gluten-free, parents, pdd-nos, rice, rice shortage, wheat freeShare This (Source: Autism Vox)
Source: Autism Vox - May 7, 2008 Category: Autism Authors: Kristina Chew, PhD Tags: Family Food and Diet asd asperger autism autism blog food blog gluten-free parents pdd-nos rice rice shortage wheat free Source Type: blogs
One of those days...
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I started work this morning by engaging in a lovely battle of wills with my 3yo client.I put out his Picture Communication Symbols (PCS) (he is currently working on discriminating between "open box" - the box of toys I bring with me - and "Cheerios" - which is supposed to be out at all times) on the sheet we have on the wall by the kitchen, as always.He went over, pulled down the "open box" PCS, and immediately started tapping his teeth with it and chewing on it.I took it away and stuck it back on the wall.He retrieved it and went back to mouthing the PCS.This continued for several minutes. He became very frustrated, yelle...
Source: ASD :: Commentary on Autism, Disability, and the World. - May 7, 2008 Category: Autism Tags: Interventions My Life Autism Work Communication Source Type: blogs
Supported living facility in nj?
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Herb Heflich, executive of 10 NJ properties for senior citizens, has a plan to create a supported living facility for autistic adults—”a group home without the stuffiness of an institution“—in central NJ:
Designed to give adults with autism around-the-clock care — ranging from physical and occupational therapy to “vocational rehabilitation” — the two-story building proposed by CMG Chelsea would house 42 apartments within its 51,796 square feet.
The units each would include a kitchen, living room, bathroom and one or two bedrooms, according to renderings of the building. Plans also ca...
Source: Autism Vox - May 7, 2008 Category: Autism Authors: Kristina Chew, PhD Tags: Adulthood Living Arrangements New Jersey adults asd asperger autism autism blog disabilities blog employment Family family blog jobs Parenting pdd-nos supported living Source Type: blogs
Back in the swim
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Last fall, I wrote about our difficulties getting swimtime in for Charlie at our YMCA pool in the later afternoon/early evenings, the time when he’s most ready to go. Our YMCA has three pools, two of which seem to be perpetually in use for the swim teams’ practices, adult lap swimming, or lessons. The third pool is the “family pool” and consists of a wading pool with a slide and spouting water toys, a 3-4 feet deep rectangular pool, and two water slides.
This is a fine set-up if you want to splash around, shoot baskets into the hoop at one end of the pool, wade, or do a few brief partial laps and C...
Source: Autism Vox - May 7, 2008 Category: Autism Authors: Kristina Chew, PhD Tags: Charlisms Family Parenting Sports Water asd asperger autism autism blog mother pdd-nos pool swim blog swimming ymca Source Type: blogs
Episode 69 | author, speaker and adult with autism, stephen shore
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Episode 69: Shannon Johnson and I talk with Stephen Shore a wonderful advocate for people with autism. Stephen, a published author, travels worldwide discussing life as an adult with autism. He joined us for a conversation about his life, his work and his advice. Listen Now Show Notes (Source: Autism Podcast)
Source: Autism Podcast - May 7, 2008 Category: Autism Authors: info at autismpodcast.org (Michael Boll)Michael Boll Source Type: blogs
Balloons taking off
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(Source: Aspie Home-Education)
Source: Aspie Home-Education - May 7, 2008 Category: Autism Tags: photos Source Type: blogs
Yay!
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The entire Override ballot question passed! What a victory! In this economy! But the school families came out in droves and also convinced other citizens, many of whom are much older, and it passed by healthy margins in nearly every precinct. I had a good feeling that it would, but only the first part of the question, and not the World Language add-on. So when that piece also won, even in my fairly conservative precinct, I was overjoyed.The 7-8p.m. part of Election Day is the best part. The sky is beginning to darken, and if you're lucky, as we were, it is still warm enough to stand without your jacket. The last straggling...
Source: Susan's Blog - May 7, 2008 Category: Autism Source Type: blogs
Wanted: powerful science advisor (for the next president)
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An article in the May Scientific American explains why the next president needs a powerful science advisor.
If you consider the political pandering among the presidential candidates about the vaccine-autism myth—-it’s too obvious why.
Tags: asd, asperger, autism, barack obama, Disability Rights, Education, Epidemic, hillary clinton, History, john mccain, Junk Science, Parenting, pdd-nos, Politics, president, Science, VaccinesShare This (Source: Autism Vox)
Source: Autism Vox - May 7, 2008 Category: Autism Authors: Kristina Chew, PhD Tags: Myth Politics Vaccines asd asperger autism barack obama Disability Rights Education Epidemic hillary clinton History john mccain Junk Science Parenting pdd-nos president Source Type: blogs
Closing in, icing out
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We may be getting down to the wire on Ice Out 2008.
Here's what the yard looked like at the beginning of the week:
Here's what it looks like now:
I will keep you posted with further developments. (Source: MOM - Not Otherwise Specified)
Source: MOM - Not Otherwise Specified - May 7, 2008 Category: Autism Authors: MOM-NOS Source Type: blogs
Awareness, acceptance, accommodations, advocacy, awful, awesome... this post brought to you by the letter "a".
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I'm pretty well tired of all these "A" words. Including my own diagnosis and that of the kids I work with.Okay, not really. But I was reading some comments from people in an ADHD community I belong to, and a lot of those comments were incredibly negative. Things about how ADHD isn't a good thing, it doesn't help them be creative - it keeps them from accomplishing anything. And posts in autism communities that are along the same lines.Yes, these are posts from people with the diagnosis who dislike something that is so much a part of who they are.And you know, it makes me sad to know that these people don't like themselves, ...
Source: ASD :: Commentary on Autism, Disability, and the World. - May 6, 2008 Category: Autism Tags: My Life Prejudice ADHD Advocacy Awareness Source Type: blogs
Lupus in fabulo ...... but true
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I abandon the little one, his homework and his meltdown. I’m there in a nano second in response to the universal wail of “it was an accident!” Her face is shiny with tears and snot as she clutches her foot to her chest and blows on it. There is no sign of other more alarming bodily fluids. She is of course incomprehensible. I stroke her hair and wait for calm. “I think I’ve got a tooth in my toe!”“Are you sure? How did you manage that? Let me see.”“No you’re gonna dig it out with tweezers or a needle or take me to the Emergency Room.”“Maybe, but lets take a look first. No touching, promise!”She ...
Source: Whitterer on Autism - May 6, 2008 Category: Autism Tags: skinks theory of mind Source Type: blogs
Photo mania
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(Source: Aspie Home-Education)
Source: Aspie Home-Education - May 6, 2008 Category: Autism Tags: photos Source Type: blogs
Charges dropped against dr. roy kerry
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Charges have been dropped against Dr. Roy Kerry, the Pittsburgh-area doctor who was accused of causing the death of 5-year-old Abubakar Tariq Nadama, the Associated Press reports. Nadama went into cardiac arrest immediately after receiving chelation therapy in Dr. Kerry’s office in 2005. Dr. Kerry was charged with using the wrong drug and of incorrectly administering it. In the US, chelation is not approved by the government for treating autism; it has FDA approval for treating lead poisoning.
Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, chelation, legal, malpractice, pdd-nos, pittsburghShare This (Source: Autism Vox)
Source: Autism Vox - May 6, 2008 Category: Autism Authors: Kristina Chew, PhD Tags: Safety Treatment asd asperger autism autism blog chelation legal malpractice pdd-nos pittsburgh Source Type: blogs
Welcome to gina, of blythewood sc
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Hi Gina!!! Glad you made it! RoseIf you take a look on the left, and you'll see a search engine. Put in ADHD and you'll come up with many posts I have written on the subject. Take it all with a grain of salt...it's just MY opinion!Click on this to see my post about what we tried with our big Ben, what worked, and what didn't.I, also, went on the internet and looked up everything I could! If it weren't for Ben's Aspergers, I would know very little about computers. And I read more books and talked to more people in the first year than I had in my whole life before that. You will find the strength and wisdom to give your litt...
Source: Hard Won Wisdom - May 6, 2008 Category: Autism Source Type: blogs
Up-lifting story
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It was about three years ago as Charlie was turning eight that I stopped carrying him. He was always big for his age and I developed a bit of a muscle in my left arm from holding him, balanced on my hip—-he weighs as much or more than me now and the babe-in-arms days are indeed over. Then I read about 33-year-old Melanie Roach in today’s New York Times: She has three young children, one of whom, Drew, is 5 years old and autistic; owns a gymnastics facility; is married to a state legislator; and is training for the Olympic trials in weightlifting. At 5 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 117 pounds, she can lift 238 p...
Source: Autism Vox - May 6, 2008 Category: Autism Authors: Kristina Chew, PhD Tags: Parenting Sports asd asperger athletes autism gymnastic mormon mother olympics pdd-nos washington weight lifting Source Type: blogs
Baby bellies outside!
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Question: How many Baby Bellies does it take to put in a lightbulb?Answer: It all depends on if you have enough snacks.Today we had more than enough snacks. I brought graham crackers and goldfish, and one little girl brought in Starbursts. They went crazy over the snacks. I could barely get them back to class after the snack. We only had time for a tiny bit of practicing the grapevine. But they tried, God love 'em.Before snack, we practiced the Misirlou a lot. I reminded them that I was not going to allow them to switch hip scarves and I also said I did not want to have to retie them a lot. So only two of them had problems...
Source: Susan's Blog - May 6, 2008 Category: Autism Source Type: blogs
Just when you thought you’d heard every possible treatment for autism…
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Here’s another one, with a reference to an article from the Autism Research Institute.
Don’t think we’ll be trying it.
Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, drug blog, drugs, marijuana, pdd-nos, TreatmentShare This (Source: Autism Vox)
Source: Autism Vox - May 6, 2008 Category: Autism Authors: Kristina Chew, PhD Tags: Treatment asd asperger autism autism blog drug blog drugs marijuana pdd-nos Source Type: blogs
Local political zoology
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No matter what I say about how I hate local politics, I am a diehard Brookline pol. Especially on the local election day, which is today. There is nothing like Election day in early May, where no matter where I go in town, I run into people I know carrying signs, wearing buttons, and handing out flyers. There is a lot of hugging and hand-shaking. It is friendly, neighborly, and a really great example of grass-roots democracy.People gather at the schools or fire stations or public housing, where all sixteen (# corrected) of our precincts are housed. No matter what side of the issues you are on, on Election day you stand wit...
Source: Susan's Blog - May 6, 2008 Category: Autism Source Type: blogs
Pity-based economy
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As I watch the disability world, especially the autistic world, I see a rather disturbing trend that reverses much of the work disability advocates over the years have done - a desire to get things as a result the public’s pity. Sometimes, it is used to such an extreme that some people truly appear unable to grasp the distinction between someone feeling pity for them and someone feeling love for them.
Most of the disabled world has fought against the “I’m disabled, feel sorry for me and give me stuff because this is horrible” by instead saying, “Hey, I have the right to the chance to enjoy lif...
Source: NTs Are Weird - May 6, 2008 Category: Autism Authors: Joel Tags: Advocacy Prejudice Source Type: blogs
In the wake of ...
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doubt, fear, criticism, I become stronger. I need to write and verbalize in order to move through experience, find joy, and learn.Today, I borrow the words of Audre Lorde, for she speaks for me right now. Some people have explained that to be silent through their experience or their fear -- be it having an autistic child or a cancer, should be kept private. But this doesn't work for me. I have spent time considering this, and if I am wrong to make public what is so private for others. But what are we if we the village do not share, because we can make each other strong.In "The Transformation of Silence into Language and Ac...
Source: The Joy of Autism - May 6, 2008 Category: Autism Source Type: blogs
Making peace with editors
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My agent has begun to negotiate with my publisher about my second autism book. This book has been a torturous process, with one proposal submitted a year ago, which Shambhala had accepted, but which I then scrapped. A large reason I scrapped the project was that I have been inhabiting my own sinister amusement park for some time now, riding the old Emotional Roller Coaster and also the Crisis in a Coffee Cup until I get sick. I joke about it now, but it is a real problem, and I have been doing a lot to manage it but nothing happens overnight. Thank God for Ned, who literally always presents me with a shoulder to cry on. He...
Source: Susan's Blog - May 6, 2008 Category: Autism Source Type: blogs
Symposium on employment for asd adults
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In yesterday’s Seattle Post-Intelligencer, journalist Paul Nyhan writes about parents as the “invisible casualties” when a child has autism. 4-year-old Sharky Munat’s mother, Lillie Addams, recalls when the police showed up because Sharky’s screams permeated the thin walls of their apartment. After her son was diagnosed with autism, Addams went through “depression, chest-seizing anxiety attacks, insomnia and incessant guilt that she wasn’t doing enough.” She says:
“It’s this overwhelming sense of powerlessness….I feel blamed by society, by insurance companie...
Source: Autism Vox - May 6, 2008 Category: Autism Authors: Kristina Chew, PhD Tags: Adulthood Living Arrangements New Jersey Parenting Politics Schoolbus Weblogs Work adults asd asperger autism autism blog disabilities blog employment Family family blog jobs pdd-nos rutgers walgreens Source Type: blogs
Buddies forever
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Parents advocating for our autistic children are occasionally lectured and told that we must stop trying to "change" our children. We must learn to accept our children's autism and find joy - in their autism. I do not find joy in Conor's autistic disorder which presents him with serious challenges now and for the future. But I find great joy and comfort in Conor himself. And it takes no effort on my part. Conor is a happy and loving boy. And lots of fun. During the Fredericton Flood, now receding, sleep was hard to come by as we stayed on top of the basement flooding wth sump pump, shop vac and buckets. Above Dad tries to ...
Source: Facing Autism in New Brunswick - May 6, 2008 Category: Autism Authors: Autism Reality NB Tags: newtag Source Type: blogs
Social skills for typical kids
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"Ohmygod" comes to visit for a play date. It is some while since she has graced our family with her presence. Prior to the drive home from school I take the girls aside to remind them of the frequent aural agony of traveling with the boys. I stress the short nature of the journey, both in time and miles.During the 7 minute drive to the accompaniment of Hanna Montana, sung with great gusto the boys cover their ears in the back of the car.On arrival home, the children stampede into the house. “Geez what is that godamawful stink!” “Chicken Jalfrezi…..a very, very mild curry.”“How come you eat Asian food?”“Well...
Source: Whitterer on Autism - May 5, 2008 Category: Autism Tags: euphemisms Source Type: blogs
Austin mother faces deportation
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30-year-old Maria (not her real name) has a 6-year-old son who has autism—-and Maria faces deportation to Mexico. At 13, she came from there to the US on a visitor’s visa and attended public schools, got married, got divorced, has two children, and works full-time at a child-care center. The May 4th Austin America-Statesman reports:
Like millions of people in the United States, she is unauthorized to live and work here. A federal immigration officer discovered that secret in the Travis County Jail, where Maria had been booked on a misdemeanor assault charge after she was involved in a dispute with her ex-husban...
Source: Autism Vox - May 5, 2008 Category: Autism Authors: Kristina Chew, PhD Tags: Latino/a Legal Issues AIDS asd asperger autism autism blog deportation domestic abuse Health immigration latin american mexico pdd-nos texas Source Type: blogs
