Do you feel that watching a lot of videos/DVD's is good, bad, or neither for your ASD child?  We've all heard about various studies about how more than two hours per day of TV is a bad thing.  Also, there are those detractors from Baby Einstein who say that children who watched a lot of those over and over have fewer words in their vocabularies compared to their contemporaries. 

Well, my feeling is that the Brainy Baby 123's video taught my kid to count.  It is a very repetetive counting video, and my son loved it!  He stimmed on it, but the information stayed with him.  On their website you can get VHS format for $4.95 but the DVD's are like $17.

He also loved some of the Sesame Street counting videos.   Alphabet videos have been great for him, too.  Now he is very into trains.  Not Thomas because that has too much of a [boring] storyline, but real train videos.  It took him a while, but now he is into the Alphabet Train.  He loves the Real Trains for Kids (1 and 2) videos and I just got a couple of I Love Toy Trains for him to try.  We have been through Connie the Cow, Bear in the Big Blue House, lots of Sesame Street and Elmo's World, and Little People phases.  He still loves Baby Einstein, but now I usually play those when I want to calm Wyatt down and put him in the mood for sleep--so videos with more images and fewer words are good for that.  When he was really little we did BooBah and the Teletubbies, but he couldn't handle Teletubby Bye Bye (he would get so upset), so we stopped.  He still likes his dancing BooBah doll though.

To the parents of a child, or children, on the autism spectrum, or to those on the spectrum themselves, every day is in Autism Awareness Month. To those who know someone on the spectrum, either as a friend, co-worker, or relative, every day is in Autism Awareness Month. To those who advocate on behalf of, and for, those on the spectrum - to the professionals who work day in and day out with those on the spectrum, especially the teachers who teach those on the spectrum - every day is in Autism Awareness Month. However, today, April 30th, 2008, is the last day of Autism Awareness Month for this year for the majority of Americans. This I want to ask you - are you more aware than you were on April 1, 2008?

I am more aware, as I become more aware every day, as a father of a daughter on the autism spectrum. Specifically her diagnosis is Asperger's Syndrome, a form of/cousin to autism, depending on which expert you ask (It now has it's own listing in the DSM-IV, but is seperated from HFA - High Functioning Autism, by merely "when did the child begin to speak?" - that's the sole difference between the two, medically speaking). As a professional filmmaker - I have that Steve Martin in "The Jerk" ("The new phone book's here, the new phone book's here - I'm somebody now!") distinction of being listed on http://www.iMBD.com, for those who might want to look me (Todd Kennedy Mattson) up for fun. I am now in production on my second feature documentary film, a personal story about my daughter, entitled "One In A Million", a play on words of the autism statistic of "1 in 150". I will be touring the feature across the country in the spring of 2009 (almost fifty cities across the continental US), in conjunction with, and including, Autism Awareness Month 2009.  read more »

A lot of us can't work because we can't find childcare or we can't find a job that will fit the hours that we are available.  If any of you parents out there can share job ideas here, that would be great!  I guess that would make a good forum topic.  Anyway, here is my shortlist of Mommy Hours jobs:

Childcare/Respite --We are experts, why shouldn't we make some money doing what we're good at?

Working at a School-- Make sandwiches and hand out school lunches for $12/hr. and get all weekends and holidays off. (I did this while I was pregnant for 3.5 hours per day and it worked out to be about $700 a month).  Or work with special needs kids and make $14/hr or more as an aide.

Census Worker-- Flexible hours, and I think it will pay $11 or $12/hr--stuff envelopes, go door to door and ask how many people live there.   Starts in 2009. 

Phone Worker-- Oh, I don't think so, never mind!

Paper Route--My husband made ends meet in college by delivering Wall Street Journals at 3 a.m. Monday through Friday.  (Weekends off).

My name is Becky Fetterman and I am Autism Spectrum disorder teacher here at Nathan Hale in Schaumburg, Illinois. I am working on completing my master’s degree at National Louis University. As part of my class, I am required to complete a survey to present to the class. I am going to focus my survey on the causes of Autism. I ask that you please complete the survey by May 28th to the best of your ability. I truly value your time and comments. Thank you very much for your time and I look forward to reading your results. If you have any questions for concerns, please feel free to email me at rebeccafettrman@sd54.org. Thank you again for your time, Becky Fetterman

MARGATE, SOUTH FLORIDA APRIL 28, 2008 NEW UNIQUE “HYPERBARIC OXYGEN TREATMENT CENTER” OPENS IN MARGATE, FLORIDA “THE HEALING INSTITUTE” WILL BE THE FIRST STATE OF THE ART COMPREHENSIVE CENTER TO OFFER HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY, SPEECH, PHYSICAL & OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIES, AND BIOFEEDBACK THERAPY AT ONE LOCATION FOR PATIENT CONVENIENCE. DR. WEISS’ HEALING INSTITUTE WILL USE HYPERBARIC MEDICINE TO TREAT NEUROLOGICAL ILLNESSES NOT TYPICALLY COVERED BY INSURANCE INCLUDING STROKE, CEREBAL PALSY, AUTISM, NEAR DROWNING, MEMORY LOSS, BRAIN INJURIES, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, LYME DISEASE, AND REFLEX SYMPATHETIC DYSTROPHY (RSD). “THE HEALING INSTITUTE” IS THE ONLY MEDICAL FACILITY IN SOUTH FLORIDA TO COMBINE SUCH THERAPIES FOR PATIENT & FAMILY CONVENIENCE SAYS DR. JEFFREY WEISS. THESE MULTIPLE THERAPIES ARE FREQUENTLY USED TO TREAT PATIENTS WITH NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY IS AN EFFICIENT DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR OXYGEN TO THE BRAIN AND BODY. STUDIES IN RESPECTED MEDICAL JOURNALS SUGGEST ITS POSITIVE BENEFIT FOR NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. UNLIKE OTHER CENTERS THAT USE “CLOSED IN” CHAMBERS, DR. WEISS’ CENTER USES SECHRIST CHAMBERS THAT OFFER AN UNRESTRICTED OUTSIDE VIEW. DR. WEISS FELT COMPELLED TO ESTABLISH THIS UNIQUE CENTER WITH ALL THERAPIES INTEGRATED AT ONE LOCATION GIVEN HIS PERSONAL NEAR DROWNING INCIDENT WITH HIS SON JUSTIN IN 2002. DOCTORS GAVE UP ON JUSTIN AND SAID THAT HE WAS IN A PERSISTIVE VEGETATIVE STATE AFTER HE SLIPPED INTO THE FAMILY POOL. HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY WAS HIS LAST HOPE. THE WEISS FAMILY BOUGHT A CHAMBER AND JUSTIN UNDERWENT TREATMENT. JUSTIN, NOW 7, SITS UP, ATTENDS SCHOOL AND WATCHES TV. THE COORDINATION OF SPEECH, PHYSICAL AND BIOFEEDBACK THERAPIES WAS DIFFICULT AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS AND PROMPTED DR. WEISS TO ESTABLISH A “ONE STOP” CENTER. “THE HEALING INSTITUTE” IS LOCATED AT: 1308 A/B NORTH STATE ROAD 7, MARGATE, FL 33063. TELEPHONE 954-975-3563.

Of course Money is what we all need and wish for... I guess I am feeling just a little depressed. I had a home session for Michael today. Trish is pretty much just there for support and to help me if I need information for anything with Michael. I love her, she is an great ally to have.

But she confirmed for me that in Iowa I need to have the waiver before I apply for SSI for Michael. The problem. I really need that money. And I guess it will probably be December as the earliest before it gets approved (after the appeal process) if I were to apply now...

I live on child support. It is embarrassing to admit that state Welfare checks are more than I get. But I would be required to look for and get a job if I were to get money aid from the state. And I cannot find daycare for Michael. They do not see his ASD as an excuse. I am great at budgeting in thigs. We have clothes, cable, net, toys, basic needs. But nothing else. I need a car too before I can start work. I can borrow my mother's durning the early day hours in exchange for her sitting on my computer using my internet. But I cannot go out of town when I want, or if I need to pick up something on a whim I need to hope she is awake and answers her phone.

I know there are all sorts of grants out there for single parents and parents of children with disabilities. But all the legit ones I have found go directly to the doctores and therapists. Currently that is not a problem since I recieve medical aid for Michael. Maybe  it is crazy but I have this idea that fi I could just get a car then a chunk of my problems would be solved. I could look outside this town for a part-time job/daycare. I could plan a trip somewhere for me and Michael. I could save and take him up to see his father (not that that one is likely but hey are dreaming remember)  read more »

so i have never had a blog before. but i think maybe this is healthy and refreshing at the same time. i sometimes feel sick when i think about ben's future. ben is my two yearold son, who was diagnosed with autism about 4 months ago. funny now he is getting a lot of services and i have yet to see a real improvement. in fact in some areas i think he is worse. in my mind i thought that once ben started getting treatment he would magicaly start talking and be fine. it wasn't until recently when i started to realize that this was him for the rest of his life. and maybe he won't ever talk to me and maybe he won't ever move out. i laugh because i really thought that he was going to just "poof" be better. but now i am not so sure. i take things day by day and i try not to think about what will happen tomorrow. but i'll tell you one thing i keep repeating to myself is "god will only give you what you can handle".

There are so many things floating around about vaccinations being the possible cause of Autism... Now parents of ASD children are being blamed because they vaccinated their children...

From my personal stand point... I think Autism is on the rise because there are more and more cases being evaluated differently than they were 5 or 10 years ago. In the past some of these children were just labeled as uncontrollable behavior or just stupid...  I know I may sound like a hypocrite for saying I believe that is part of why the statistics are rising... Michael is about in the middle of the spectrum right now I guess. He has significant delays. But there are more and more kids being placed on the high functioning levels. Maybe Autism was always nearly this bad... And we just never really knew it. Just one thought.

Onto a ponder about the vaccines. I can honestly say I do not regret getting my child his shots. If all these diseases were not a reason for caution why would the schools make the vaccines mandatory? A young kid has almost no defenses or chances against things like measles. Also, if I had not had Michael's shots done, he would not be permitted into school. Social Services also count lack of vaccines against even an honest and dedicated parent.

I do not know what caused Michael to be the way he is. And yes I wish that he could speak and I long to hear him say he loves me. I wish he could join in games and sports. But the facts is that he cannot. Instead of trying to find the blame, I am desperately trying to help teach him to live life despite his handicaps.  Maybe I am still just too young and niave to think otherwise, but I suppose we are all entitled to our own feelings. I am sure mine will change over the years. Maybe I am just scared the facts will reveal maybe I am the blame...  read more »

Currently much controversy over the idea that childhood vaccines may be related to Autism. It appears that much more research related to this idea needs to be done, before one can say whether or not the two are related. Yet some still believe strongly that there is a relation between childhood vaccines and Autism, and so research is continuously being done. Typically, symptoms of Autism show up around the age of 12 months, right around the same time that children receive their first measles-mumps-rubella vaccinations, which has the mercury-based preservative thimerosal. This is one of the reasons that some believe there is a link between the two. 

Amber Harris  

hello to everyone,

                                    i am very new to all of this. i haven't even been to a support group meeting yet. even though i think that may be what i need. ever since my son was diagnosed i have felt alone. like i'm standing in the middle of a crowded room screaming, but no one can hear me. i guess that is how my sone ben feels. but mostly he just screams. i sometimes get tears in my eyes when i see him lapping or stimming in some way. why does he do that? i always wonder. you know why he does it he has autism you fool. but that never seems to be a  good enough answer. people always ask "how is ben?" and i lie and say things are great. but what am i supposed to say. my son no longer look at me and is running and yelling at the top of his lungs constantly.  i have never been a type of person to hold back the truth but now i am doing it so i don't get those looks of dispair. please someone tell me this gets better. because i feel everyday has been getting a little worse. and i can't even get started with life with my husband since the diagnosis....

Hi All!

I'm new here. I have been dealing with all this stuff for the past 11 years.  My oldest is 13 now and he fully came to live with his Dad and I when he was 2. Prior to that he was living with his bio-mom. So there are alot of questions that can't be answered because she has disappeared. Anyway, I also have a 10 year old boy-Austyn, and a 5 year old girl-Lilly. They have no problems. My oldest Josh is the one with ODD, PDD, ADHD and anger management issues etc..... It seems like our whole family life circles around Josh. But when we try to do stuff as a whole family all goes to hell in a handbasket. A part of me feels like a failure because the younger two are in the midst of all this and its not fair to them. As for Josh, between him getting kicked out of school and then every special school except one, and being on probation, and him involving children and youth services every time I turn around and him being placed in different places outside of our home, I am losing my mind! Anyone else ever deal with this kind of thing? The system keeps taking him away and putting him in residental treatment facilities. This is the second time. What have you done to deal and what have you done to prevent this? I feel at a loss because everytime I turn around the system is usurping our parental rights and taking over. What am I doing wrong? How can I fix this? Please help. Just please don't judge me for being in this position. I love my children with all my heart.

What do you like to do when you are trying not to think about IEP goals, vacuuming that could be done, and a rash that has broken out on your hands and face that the doctor says is stress-induced?  One of my favorite things to do is read novels because they really take me away from my little world for a while, they are quiet, and they are easy to set aside for a moment to deal with a monumental crisis like a certain someone wanting a juice box RIGHT NOW.  Another top favorite pastime of mine is sweepstaking.  Seriously, it is a curious blend of soothing repetitive typing and daydreaming about who in the world I would give a used NASCAR tire or a manual breastpump to if I were the lucky winner, both of which I actually did win!  Out of dozens of fabulous freebies that have come my way, the best things I've won have been a $400 vacuum and a Gameboy, and the most recent thing was a full size basketball.  I had gone off my sweeps habit around the holidays but when the basketball arrived it reminded me of all that I've been missing.   That's the thing about sweeps--you could have entered something literally years ago and then one day something completely unexpected and absolutely, gloriously free is waiting for you in your mailbox.  It really is better than chocolate, I mean, unless it is free, high-quality chocolate and lots of it.

I have no clue as to why I would put myself through the torture again, but I sat down with the reports and evaluations on Michael, and it seems so depressing, listing what he cannot do. I tire of having to explain to people Michael cannot do this, or does not understand that. Something hit me today. Why not sit down and talk about what he CAN do.

1. He goes to bed well and sleeps through the night.
2. He can pick out a movie on his own that he wants to watch.
3. He gives the sweetest hugs and kisses.
4. He behaves for a 6 hour car ride.
5. He loves amusement park rides.
6. He rides the bus to and from school without problems.
7. He can go pee on his own.
8. He is not greedy, and appreciates getting something small.
9. I can trust him in the tub alone.
10. He does not act violently towards other kids.
11. He likes to help me do laundry.
12. He is learning new signs (language) and using them.
13. I do not have to fight with him to brush his teeth.
14. I can trust him not to mess with electrical outlets.
15. He can dance.

There are few things sweeter than your own cute kid peacefully asleep in his own cute little bed under a darling little blankie that your mom or someone made for him. Wyatt is snoring happily away so I have time to write this.

If he catches me typing he gets mad and pounds the keyboard, unless I am paying attention to him and playing games on the Sesame Street website. He sleeps in our room which is also where our computer is. So if he wakes in the night and he catches me typing, he lets out a sqwak and I put my hands in the air and say, "I'm not typing! No typing going on here!" He will then give me a sleepy, suspicious glance and before snuggling back under his covers.

You might be aghast. "He is FOUR and he still sleeps in the same room with you?" You can blame that one on my husband. When we went to our home-birth class there was a guest speaker who had four kids up to age 7 and they had a "family bed" which consisted of two king mattresses turned sideways. Seriously! So, by comparison, the fact that my husband can't bear to send our boy down the hall to his cold, lonely room, we are not the oddest bunch of grapes on the vine. I did put my foot down after Wyatt's 4th birthday and insist that we finally take down the crib and put up a toddler bed. Still, my husband just couldn't bring himself to let go of that bit of babyhood. I myself had to get out the wrench sets and do all of the disassembly and assembly. He only pitched in after, oh the horror of it, I removed some wood screws. Who knew you shouldn't ever remove screws that are screwed directly into wood?  read more »

I came into my living room because my cell phone went off. I was in Michael's room trying to clean his disaster. It took a few seconds to realize Michael was not in the living room. I heard his voice muffled, and for a moment I thought I was hearing it through the open window. Michael likes to get dressed and think he can go outside.... Turns out he was inside the rubber storage tote I bought last night. And he laid the lid over himself. Thank goodness he cannot seal it from the inside. But for a few seconds I was thinking OMG my son went outside.

Hello I just wanted everyone to know that for the rest of the month I am offering free shipping to the lower 48 states in my store. I have Schedules, PECS, Boards and games. Here is my website address http://preklearninggames.etsy.com  On all of my items a huge portion goes to autism awareness charity. I am also part of etsy for autism and we choose a autism charity every month that we sponser in May it is 4 paws for ability charity. This charity helps children with autism 4 Paws provides specially trained service dogs for companionship and assistance with independent living to individuals with physical and hidden disabilities. 4 Paws is unlike other service dog organizations in that it does not discriminate or limit placements or applicant acceptance based upon age or disability, having approximately 90% of placements for children under the age of ten years. if you would like to check them out here is there address http://www.4pawsforability.org/  read more »

Regarding the cause of autism, we've probably all heard the theory, "Genetics loads the gun but Environment pulls the trigger." It's that pulling the trigger part that really destroys me. For two years now I've been relentlessly blaming myself in a ceaseless lament of what if's. What if I had used a different shampoo, deoderant, not eat any fish or soy, not had new carpet put into the nursery--what if those carpet chemicals were the straw that broke the camel's back? What if I had only eaten organic food and never from plastic containers? What if I had used different baby bottles? What if I had never eaten out in places where they probably cook with aluminum or non-stick cookware? What if I had lived somewhere else where they weren't spraying toxic chemicals in the flower fields and doing intensive mosquito abatement in our lagoons? Did you know that the statistic for autism will soon be increased from 1 in 150 to 1 in 80 children? Well whatever $%*&@#$$$@$ corporation that produced these toxic mystery chemicals of mass destruction, well I hope those executives ROT IN HELL!

What really chips away at me is wondering what this "environmetal trigger" might be doing to ME. If my son was affected by this "trigger" than perhaps I am not immune to these chemicals. Perhaps I or my husband genetically susceptible to "environmental triggers" of Alzheimers and dementia. If these "triggers" can alter my child's brain, then what might they do to me over time? And the curse is that I don't even know what these "triggers" are for sure.  read more »

Michael's father (whom is usually absent and without contact) bought him a bike when he was just 2... Michael has never been able to pedal his big-wheel... Yesterday I tried taking him out on the bike. I guess he is a whole lot closer to being able to ride than he has ever been, but pedaling still seems to be too difficult for him to comprehend.

I miss the old big-wheels we had as kids. Goodness we rode ours until we were like 7. Michael would still fit in them, as opposed to being too big for the one he has. I think I will still have to take him out with thst to practice pedaling. I suppose it is a good thing I am horrid about getting rid of old toys. 

This is a portion of a half hour special on autism. This story gives the signs and symptoms.

More 4 News on how autistic people have found a kind of freedom through technology. Autism is not a disease, they say, but a way of life.

What did Dr. Hans Asperger say in his sentinel paper?

Jim Adams, Autism & Chelation on Dateline NBC.

A short video featuring my brother on people with Autism in the workplace.

Part 1 of 2. Here is some selected clips from the British documentary on Savantism.

Here's the story -- well, the first five years -- in the life of Quinn: a wonderful, exuberant, mostly non-verbal boy with autism. You can see how the signs appeared over time, even before his diagnosis was made at 21 months.

*** Teachers/schools/community service groups: You may use this video as part of autism awareness or positive educational training. No additional permission is required. (I can provide a higher-resolution version if needed.)

NOTE: Unfortunately, I no longer have the faceautism.org domain name mentioned in the video -- so I have no idea what might end up on there. Sorry.

Music ("Ma Solituda") by Rob Dickinson/Catherine Wheel (www.RobDickinson.com)

My son was diagnosed with Autism at age 2 and my daughter does not have Autism but she has gastrointestinal issues. I made this video to show that Autism can be helped. You'll see the before and afters of both kids and you'll see how much our non verbal aggressive little guy has turned into a wonderful healthy little boy with the help of the specific carbohydrate diet, vitamins, supplements, chelation therapy, ABA, Occupational and Speech therapy. Our story is on www.myspace.com/beatingautism

Autism Every Day is a film produced by Lauren Thierry and Jim Watkins of October Group and Eric Solomon of Milestone Video. A 13-minute version of the film was screened at A New Decade for Autism, a fundraising event held May 9, 2006 in New York City.

This is a nice video that explains RSS in easy to understand terms. Kind of entertaining as well. Great for newbies trying to figure out what RSS is, check it out!

I'm sure you've seen those little orange buttons everywhere, but weren't sure what to do with them. I'd like to help, because RSS can be a great thing. RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. Basically, it’s just a feed of information that you can subscribe to. The idea is, you get a piece of software called a feedreader and install it on your computer. Some programs have them built in now such as Thunderbird and I think Internet Explorer 7 has feed reading capabilities. Email programs that include feedreaders are awesome, you can add your favorite RSS feed to your email client and your feeds come in just like email.

The idea is when you subscribe to a feed, you will get notified in your feedreader anytime there is new content. This saves you the time of visiting that site daily. You can even subcribe to the comments, anytime there is a new comment, you'll get notified.

So let's say that you are on a site that you want to subscribe to, click on the orange RSS button, it will take you to a funky looking page. Copy the URL (address at the top) into your feedreader. That's it, now when that site has new information, you'll see it in your feedreader.

RSS feeds are great. You’re definately going to be seeing a lot of exciting stuff happening with RSS in the future.

I have also be posted a video which breaks it down into very easy to understand terms.

I hope this information is helpful?

Michael will be 4 May 29th, and he is still not entirely potty trained. At school he does not have accidents, but he will not poop at school. At home he stays dry for the main part, able to go in and pee when he needs. He stays dry overnight, but will not come out of his room in the morning, which is where he has his main accidents.

I thought maybe if I open his door before I go to bed he would be able to come out and pee and wake me up if needed. But instead he closes his door and plays. The mornings are the only time he will sit and play in his room with any real dedication and I hate to disrupt that. 

Michael will not poop in the toilet for anything. I am not sure why. Perhaps he does not like to sit there or he is afraid to. He is finally able to tell me he has already pooped. Usually he goes and stips down to take a bath on his own if he pooped alot.

I do not want to have to buy more training pants, we have been in them for 2 years now. But wow I am doing underwear laundry over and over.

I am at the end of Idea Lane, and have no clue what else to try. I have tried everything for normal potty training, but I guess this is one of the things I need to step back and remember Michael is special.

Hi,

We have a little boy that is two and a half with autism.  We have created a website to document his therapy and recovery.  Check it out at:

www.duransdreamteam.com

We will be adding more and more as time goes by!

Thanks

 Duran's Daddy

Have you ever considered becoming a surrogate? Not a traditional surrogate where you supply the egg, but what is known as a gestational surrogate. There was a recent article in Time magazine about that interviewed among many other mothers, a mother of an ASD child. She said she was going to use the money (average $20 to $40k per delivery) for a therapy room for her child. What surprised me was that the parents didn't have any reservations about having an ASD mom as a surrogate because they felt that autism is mostly genetic anyway. (They were European, maybe that made a difference in the view of ASD?) That blew me away because I myself was not convinced that genetics play such a large role.

My husband would love it if I earned some extra money as a surrogate. What do you guys think?  I also placed this topic in the forum section but I was afraid no one would look there.

Have you ever considered becoming a surrogate? Not a traditional surrogate where you supply the egg, but what is known as a gestational surrogate. There was a recent article in Time magazine about that interviewed among many other mothers, a mother of an ASD child. She said she was going to use the money (average $20 to $40k per delivery) for a therapy room for her child. What surprised me was that the parents didn't have any reservations about having an ASD mom as a surrogate because they felt that autism is mostly genetic anyway. (They were European, maybe that made a difference in the view of ASD?) That blew me away because I myself was not convinced that genetics play such a large role.

My husband would love it if I earned some extra money as a surrogate. What do you guys think?

DVD AUTISM SUPPORT BREAKTHROUGH

The path to help in coping with Autism and Intellectual Disability is being shortened with a world first practical course developed by Irish experts in the field.

“Parents have been crying out for this” says Dr. Ken Kerr, author of “First Steps in ABA”, which stands for Applied Behavior Analysis. It is a 30-hour multimedia course which is being made available on DVD or online. It involves a step by step practical guide which makes use of excellent video footage of live teaching and includes quizzes and innovative teaching tools which are provided as downloads. The DVD also opens up a forum for learning by sharing the experience of professionals and parents” Dr. Kerr said.

 “The major advance is in bringing the course directly to those who need it most” says Dr. Kerr who has worked with over 500 people including parent-driven school projects in applying the principles of the Applied Behavior Analysis which is his speciality and a main research interest.

‘First Steps in ABA’ will be available on DVD beginning April 2nd, which is also World Autism Day.  It may be purchased for $350.00 at www.devolping-ability.com

Last night the sewer line backed up and flooded the downstairs apartments. I guess it was reccommended that we leave for the night. Of course none of us had money, and I had nobody to take me or Michael in. The father (who is usually absent or jailed) of my neighbor's children was trying to tell me that with Michael's "problems" the fumes and such would be even worse for him. He kept saying it as if he knew all about my son and everything. I was more and more offended with each word he spoke. Especially since he was sounding so sure, as if he were an expert. Yet he has rarely seen Michael in the last year. 

I just wanted to scream at him that Autism is a mental condition, Michael would get sick the same in any way a "normal" child would...

I suppose we will be facing ignorant people like that many times to come... 

Pizza parlors, mainly the kind that have a few vending machines, sports broadcasts, and a couple of pinball machines, are the perfect spot for taking our four-year-old.  After all, it is socially acceptable for children to roam (and even run) around the restaurant and to whine to their parents for quarters.  Plus, the noise levels in these wonderful establishments mask  mild tantrums and verbal stims.  Actually, any restaurant that has vending machines is really inviting kids to roam from their tables and booths.  

 Sometimes we run into problems, such as establishments that leave their doors wide open in the summer onto busy streets.  Or maybe they have some other architectural feature like dangerous or "do not enter" stairways that are magnets for our kid and gauranteed to annoy the management.  So we just don't go to those places.  Also, it took us a few tries to train our son not to grab every parmesan shaker and lick it.  Yeah, I know, that is really gross!  (Don't worry, we've always handed any dirty shakers to the staff and left a nice tip).  

That brings me to the topic of those kids on the autism diet.  The very restaurants that are so suited to many autistic temperaments--pizza places-- serve ONLY gluten and casein  (pizza, spaghetti, etc) and this is such a shame, such an ironic shame!  Still, if the autism diet proves beneficial to your child then of course it will become a lifestyle and you will be used to always being prepared with a separate entree for the child--or else just not eat out so much (which is both healthy and economical), which is what I have heard from friends who have stuck with the diet.    read more »

Could some plastics contribute to the cause of autism?  Here is a link to a recent article titled, "Canada First to Label Bisphenol-A Officially Dangerous" that my mothe-in-law forwarded to me:

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/04/16/8330/
 

Here is one of the more pertinent excerpts from the article: 

"Independent researchers in dozens of studies have linked trace BPA exposures in animal and test-tube experiments to conditions involving hormone imbalances... and changes in brain structure, particularly for exposures during key points of fetal or early neonatal development."

I am contacting you all on behalf of Angela McKeller and her internet radio talk show Kick Back Kook. Angela McKeller is releasing her cookbook, has an internet radio show and was recently a guest on the Paula Dean Cooking Show.

Each week we have a different theme to the internet radio show. Our next show highlights vegan recipes for autistic children w/ food allergies.

I am in need of a few recipe testers to prepare and taste a vegan dessert, allergy free for your children. You will than come on the show (via telephone) and comment on the recipe. I will provide interview questions prior to the show date. I will also provide a call in number for you to dial in to.

You can review Angela's website at:

www.kickbackkook.com

I can be reached at rita.stephenson@mynumbertwo.com

Sincerely,

Rita

Has your child ever had a melt-down tantrum while waiting for fast-food or at the grocery store in a check-out line?   How about at a park where there is a stranger's colorful, balloon bonanaza birthday party in progress?  Has your child, who is often a perfect angel, ever been the worst-behaved child at an event FOR autistic children?  Yes, this has all happened to me.  

Waiting in line is such a big part of life, unless you can fork out $7.95 for grocery delivery.  Yes, if only I were agoraphobic and not inclined to leave my house!  But that is not the case.  

Today, I have to go to a meeting at the Regional Center, the county agency that provides therapy hours for "life skills," in this case for 3 to 5 year-olds.  There is a strong possibility that they will cut our therapy hours down from six hours per week we now receive.  They warn us parents that they do this "phasing out" of assistance, that they are slowly pushing us baby birds out of the nest.  

These are the therapy hours where we do "community outings."  What it boils down to, for me, is having another adult there--not to help me--no, that isn't allowed.  No, I'm serious, they are not allowed to help me!  (So, you are wondering, why do I even care if our hours are cut?)  No, what is really great about these outings is that another human being is there when some grisled woman emerges from the McDonalds we are leaving and says, on the way to her beat up van filled with small yapping dogs, "You ought to beat the @#!% out of that kid!"  It is really rather wonderful to have another [presumably qualified and professional] person there who is on my side, who knows my kid and is amazed by the progress he has made, who loves his little smile and giggle and who will give me a "No, she did not just say that!" look of horror about the trashy doggie van woman.   read more »

Please copy and paste to get the word out! Thank you for your support http://preklearninggames.etsy.com 

From the TACA website, an important opportunity to send a strong message to our national health agencies:

Green Our Vaccines Rally
With Jenny McCarthy & Jim Carrey

RALLY INTRODUCTION &
GENERAL INFORMATION

Please join Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey for the most historical event of 2008, the Green Our Vaccines Rally. Jenny and Jim are working hard to eliminate all toxins from our children's vaccines and have our national health agencies reassess the mandatory vaccine schedule, as our children are receiving TOO MANY, TOO SOON. While Jenny and Jim support the vaccine program, like many, they feel vaccines are too toxic. This country has the ability to provide a safer vaccine supply and schedule to our children and they ask you to join them to demand this for our country's greatest asset, our children.  read more »

Wow! Blogging! What a fabulous idea! I wish I had thought of blogging two years ago when my son was first diagnosed.

He was about 27 months old then, and my husband and I had NO IDEA. (I guess I have at least 2 years' worth of blog material saved up though). We had both been late talkers, not speaking until about age 2. So, when we took Wyatt in to our local Regional Center in hopes of getting some free Speech Therapy, we were completely unprepared. Autism? No way! My husband was stunned, I was crying my eyes out. I was sure they were WRONG. After all, we hadn't even vaccinated our child after reading about that theory. We had even had a home birth, all natural all the way. We were were absolutely positive that our child would NOT be autistic despite the alarming statitistics that I was vaguely aware of. I mean, I had enrolled us in Musical Spanish for Toddlers!

So how could our child have autism??? How ironic.

Thanks in advance for stopping by to read this. I am looking forward to posting more about my experiences with autism and 4 yr. old Wyatt.

I have been looking up tattoo designs looking for more details of a piece I am sketching out and going to get in honor of Michael. I found a section about the discussion of puzzle tattoos, and I was suprised how many people are offended by the puzzle being the symbol for Autism and Autism Speaks.

The way I see it, Autism is a puzzle, and it is one that is full of tiny pieces that are hard to place.  Once it is all placed together, I am sure the results could be beautiful. Michael is like a puzzle, with a few pieces missing. But he is not greedy, he is not vengeful, Michael appreciates things like Halloween and Birthdays with a different passion than "normal" children. So maybe in a way, he is blessed by missing a few pieces, he will see life in ways some of us could never.

I still plan on getting my tattoo with the puzzle piece, and know even if it offends some, I am standing up and saying I am proud and unashamed of my Autistic son. 

I applied for the MR waiver here in Iowa, which is what Autism falls under. I know Michael is not the only Autistic child in this county needing this waiver, yet they are having such a hard time getting his psychological and IQ tests done. I am beginning to become  discouraged. I would be willing to take Michael to a bigger hosptal or wherever to get this done.

I know SSI can take months to go through, especially with most cases having to be appealed. I read that some states require that the first application be denied if the waiver had not been issued yet.

I really have no idea what I am doing. I know I can fill out an application on the website, but other than that, I know nothing about what I need to do. 

I have recently been assigned to Vancouver Washington.  I requested the Reassignment because my Wife and I, along with our daughter’s biological father felt it would be best for her.  We felt that placing her here in Washington where there are family members would be good for when I get reassigned again.  We are in the early stages of having her placed into a group home.  Bryn is one of our six children.  Her twin sister is also autistic but is high functioning.  Bryn on the other hand is severely autistic.  They will be 15 on Saturday.  It is hard to believe.  I have been an active part of their lives for 12 of those years.  They are my girls J

Perhaps because Michael is still at the beginning of his diagnosis I am confused by things, but I have been looking up so many things about Autism. I am finding things about diets for glutin free foods for  Autisitic children. Thus far none of the people who work with Michael, including his doctors have mentioned a special diet for him. I wonder if this is for all children with Autism that such a diet is reccommended or maybe children on specific places on the spectrum. Michael has been tested for Diabetes and Anemia because of a concern with his eating and sleeping, but I was not told to do aything with his diet...

There are foods and drinks that according to the FDA and NIH are classified as "Endocrine Disruptors" meaning  capable of causing DNA damage, and cell mutations.  Especially during fetal and infant development these endocrine disruptors cause developmental damage, including brain damaging effects.

Soy is in fact a proven estrogenic endocrine disruptor and classified as such by the FDA and NIH.

Two most important questions regarding autistic children must be urgently addressed:

1.  Was there maternal consumption of soy foods or beverages during fetal development?

2.  Was baby fed infant formula containing soy, and/or soy foods? 

Your response may (or may not) lead to specific scientific research into soy endocrine disrupting compounds and relationship to the cause of autism. 

Designer Angela Moore created the Autism Awareness Collection to help increase awareness in the treatment and understanding of autism.  While April is Autism Awareness Month, Angela supports this important endeavor all year long by donating 15% of the net proceeds from this collection to the Autism Society of America and their designated affiliates.  One of these affiliates in the newly opened Rimland Center in Lynchburg, Virginia.  The Rimland Center is an autism-based center named after Bernard Rimland, the Founder of the Autism Society of America that provides patients, families and medical professionals a place to receive individual care and education. 

Since its debut in September, the Angela Moore Autism Awareness Collection has raised over $500 in 2007 and promises to raise even more in 2008!

Set on a crisp white background, the Autism Awareness Collection features puzzle pieces and a rainbow of ribbons in happy colors.  The collection includes a bracelet, necklace, earrings, pendant, petite and little girls bracelets and range in price from $25-95.  The collection is hand painted and one of a kind and can be purchased online at www.angelamoore.com or by calling 800-927-5470.

 The Angela Moore Autism Awareness Collection has been featured in Autism-Aspergers Digest, Baby Talk, OK! Magazine and the Palm Beach Daily News to name a few.  The pieces are a beautiful and easy way to support treatments for children.

I live in an income based apartment complex. There are only two apartments filled on this floor, me and my neighbor. I went to school with her, along with a girl who lives downstairs. I do not smoke, nor do I drink. I do hate living here so very much. I am rather tired of beer bottles and cans being left in stupid places. The girl downstairs left one above the mailbox which the mailman knocked to the floor. And then this morning as I was leaving I noticed a bottle left in the windowsill. I worry about Michael getting ahole of a can or bottle with a little left in it. I have a nightmare about him getting ill and me hving to take him to the emergency room only to find alcohol in his system. I know I would be investigated by social services. The girl next door to me has already lost her kids twice to foster care. Her daughter is a very misbehaved and troubled toddler. I listen to the verbal abuse through the thin walls. Being semi-friends and classmates, it is very hard to speak up. We stoppped speaking for nearly a year last time I stoppped biting my tongue. Although I do not think it fair that my child should be forced to live in such conditions because of their inconsiderate actions.  I am lost as to what I should do. If I ever get investigated because of them I swear all hell would break loose.