http://autismandaspergersinthefamily.freeforums.org/
will take you to a page full of help and resources uk and worldwide
the sections we have are
THE LOUNGE
PDD/NOS
AUTISM
ASPERGERS SYNDROME
RETT SYNDROME
RELATED DISORDERS
MEDICATIONS
BEHAVIOURS
INTERVENTIONS PECS ,Facilitated Communication,cognative therapy
speech and language terms Action Songs for getting interactionPrintable PECS (if you need specific pictures please ask I will make them and post them for downloading)
Facilitated Communication,cognative therapy
speech and language , Action Songs for getting interaction and communication.
DAN, BIOMED, GFCF diet,allegies etc
and much more and much more.
SENSORY ISSUES
TOILETING
SOCIAL STORIES
feel free to add any that you have.or take any that you need.
SCHOOLS
UK/USA/WORLDWIDE
BENEIFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS and FINANCIAL AID
UK
USA
WORLDWIDE
PROUD MUM/MOM MOMENT
MELTDOWN'S WITH PURPLE JO
OUTSIDE UK and UK RESOURCES

AUTISM NEWS STORIES

BOARDMAKER FILES
PDF FILES
WORD FILES

I have heard from several of my friends that, not only did they miss the news clip on channel 8 WFLA News on Autism Therapy…but they had some trouble pulling the story up off the web so I found a link to it…and…I thought that I would pass it along.

http://www.HitAutism.com

When you get to this link…go to the article entitled, “Sought Autism Treatment”…and there is the link that goes straight to the video clip.   I hope that this helps any that have had a hard time pulling it up…or maybe just want to be able to go to it for a reference.

By the way…there are some very informative and helpful articles on this first site with some terrific tips and good advice…Here are some of the titles of some that I read and enjoyed…

   1. Autism Screening Questionnaire
   2. Autism Spectrum Disorder:  A Functional Disconnect Syndrome ( Great one!)
   3. Older Kids with Autism

There is more too on things like Vaccines,  and  State and Local Resources.

I hope this bit of information prove useful, and helpful to all.

I am a paralegal in town who is in desperate need of resources.  My husband left me and my three children because he couldn't take the "pressure."  Ok, so he figured I could. I work diligently, but as a result of him leaving with not even a forwarding address, I handle everything the best way I can. We have cut back on everything necessary just to keep a roof over our head. Embarrassingly, I am in need of the following information or direction to resources:Counseling for my children and myself -- needed desperately.Urgent help with utilities: our water has been off for two weeks and power will be cut off tomorrow (Thursday, October 1). We fill large rubber container with water to keep toilets flushing. I boil same water to wash dishes. Can't wash clothes.Groceries and staples (toothpaste, toilet paper, baby wipes, etc.) without water we are using baby wipes to wash up.I've called 211, Catholic Charities and Help for Homeless. Most services don't have resources available, the others say the fact I work disqualifies me for assistance. I've asked the local church and was told that they can't help because I don't tithe to the church.  read more »

The other day Jill and I were walking home. Alex was at his Saturday recreation program for autistic kids; Ned was at his program for the siblings of autistic kids. Jill and I had some time on this rainy mid-morning, and we were walking home to do what we always do when the kids are out of the house: sit on the couch and eat cereal and watch cartoons. We live near Central Park. On our walk we passed benches, of course, and about a block from our building, on one of the benches, sat a man. We're New Yorkers and usually pay little attention to such men. I used to pay attention to them. The first thing I ever published that resembled this book in style and tone was about a woman who seemed to live near the loading dock of a supermarket in Brooklyn. As the years went by, though, I wrote fewer and fewer stories about the homeless.

http://jeffslife.tripod.com/alextheboy/

Hi, my name is David and I have Asperger's syndrome as well as my 7 year old son.  I post on numerous blog sites of my experiences and research in order to help others. So I hope that many of you will visit often. My strengths, as tested by vocational rehabilitation, are protection issues and writing. I am also a modest artist/ illustrator. I can tell that there are many of us here who are living proof that you can grow up with autism and live a good life. I look forward to meeting and sharing with you all.

Sometimes as frustrated parents we forget that we are dealing with children. We are teaching them and guiding them because they don't have the life experience to know otherwise. We raise our voices and start pointing fingers in hopes that maybe this time, Johnny will get the point. Only to realize that the situation you were once disciplining him about has now taken a back seat to the reaction he is now giving you. It's no longer about the stick he was running with in the back yard, its about the fit he is having on the floor.

THE SEVEN DROPS from the book "The out-of-sync Child has Fun"

1. DROP YOUR VOICE
When your child is explosive, demanding and loud and needs immediate emotional first-aid, lower your voice. When you whisper, people will listen.

2 . DROP YOUR BODY
Research about stress and early brain development shows that children relax when caregivers are physically on their level. Megan R. Gunnar, Ph. D., at the University of Minnesota's Institute of Child Development, shows that the childrens cortisol level goes down when caregivers are responsive and close. (We need cortisol to survive because it readies us to protect ourselves. Too much cortisol, however, makes us anxious, aggressive, and unable to calm.) Grown-ups standing over a child, arms akimbo, or sitting in a chair, reading, can potentially raise the child's stress. Grown-ups on the floor can reduce the child's stress.  read more »

This is kind of eye-catching (especially if you have Jill’s eye), from a review in today’s New York Times TV section of “The Middle,” which premiers tonight: ”The youngest child, Brick (Atticus Shaffer), is peculiar, and not in a cute way, which makes him all the more appealing. His teacher describes him as ‘clinically quirky’ and wants him tested. ‘I just hope that he’s weird enough that our insurance covers

Hi there, Welcome to AB. I suggest you start readin' blogs. I'm willing to bet we've covered most problems lol. This is a safe place to vent. We all know what you're goin' through =) It'll be okay promise.

 A program for teens at UCLA offers help on how to make friends. Also Jeff shares some helpful homework tips.

http://www.blisstree.com/autismvox/friendships-and-homework-tips/

I have completed my autism resource guide. Please visit my website and leave me any feedback or suggestions for further research. Thanks!

http://autismresourceguide.weebly.com/

The Sections of the guide are:

I - Descriptions of Developmental Disabilities

II - Therapeutic Interventions

III - Biomedical Interventions

IV - Federal and State Website Links

V - Autism Society Chapters by State

VI - Treatment Links by State

VII - Health Insurance and Disability Determination Services Links by State

VIII - Arc Sites by State

IX -  Councils for Developmental Disabilities by State

X - Disability Law and Advocacy Sitesby State

XI - Special Education and Early Intervention Links by State

XII - Therapeutic Equipment/Toys/Learning Materials

XIII - Developmental Disabilities Websites

XIV - University Centers on Health and Human Development by State

XV - Asperger's Links

The Ann Arbor, Mich., P.L.A.Y. Project, an early intervention program that uses play therapy for autistic children, has been awarded a grant of $1.85 million from the National Institute of Mental Health to fund research on play-based intervention. Medical director Richard Solomon is conducting a study slated to run for three years on the program’s model, which addresses the shortage of qualified personnel for home visits by training parents.

http://www.blisstree.com/autismvox/play-program-awarded-nimh-grant/

This video seems to say it all- for both sides:

http://www.koinlocal6.com/content/mediacenter/default.aspx?videoId=12383@koin.dayport.com&navCatId=156

 I actually like the quote from the Autism Speaks mother:

"We're going to beat it, ultimately".

 I think that's the center of the problem right there.  Many autistic adults still remember a time when sitmming behavior was responded to with beatings and electroshock treatment.  

 The end of the original video has the quote:

"Autism, are you listening?"

 Well, I am autism, I am autistic, and I hear you loud and clear- your message of eugenics is right there plain for all to see.  The real question should be "Autism Speaks, are you listening to the pain you're putting your sons and daughters through by wishing that they were out of your life?" 

How to Create Bedtime Routines for Children with Autism 

Regardless of age, good bedtime routines are important.  They help students fall asleep, stay asleep and wake up in the morning rested and ready for a successful day at school.   Unfortunately, a number of our students on the autism spectrum (and many other students, too) have difficulty establishing a good sleep habit. There will be lots of individual differences in sleep patterns, but working toward following a consistent evening routine can help achieve success.  Here’s how. 

Make it a priority

People more commonly create a morning routine.  Getting ready for bed at night can easily become a much less structured, much more hurried part of the day.  It is important to dedicate the time necessary to follow a successful routine. 

How much sleep?  read more »

I am just checking to see if any of you have tried a new alternative way of helping with autism. The machine is called the bax 3000. It helps reduce and or eliminate food, chemical, pollens, clothing, animal sensitivities. There are many triggers for autistic children and adults. The machine has over 70,000 different frequencies in the computer. There is no drugs or needles or pain.   I have been having great results.   I think it is worth checking out for everyone. google bax 3000, check out my website and testimonials www.woodburychiropractic.com, call and talk to me or other doctors using the machine.  Find a doctor in you area. Nothing to lose by looking and gaining some insight. 

Dr. Jim 

Hi, I have an Asperger's student (aged 17) in my class.  He reads brilliantly and is obviously highly intelligent.  Does anyone have any ideas or experience of getting someone like this to write?  I would welcome anything as I feel he is going to lose out in this so called 'normal' education system re a university place.

My daughter is 4 1/2 and like most kids with autism has a very limited diet. She also doesn't/can't bite into any food. The few things she eats are either spoon fed or cut up and she eats them as finger food. Lately she has shown a interest in tacos and hamburgers (to my delight) but she puts it up to her mouth and can't figure out how to bite into it and gives up and eats the same ole same ole. It breaks my heart and both myself and her sisters have tried over and over to show her how but it doesn't seem to help. Today her sister was eating a egg roll and her sister would look at her and open her mouth wide like she wanted some. She doesn't want me to cut it up for her as she makes it clear she wants to eat it like everyone else does. I've tried cutting the hamburger up and she always goes for the one that is either cut in 1/2 or the whole and not the one in pieces. I really feel if we could just get her to take a bite out of something we would be on our way to expanding her diet but we have made no progress till now. Her OT only says to keep up the brushing and joint compressions BUT I feel there is more to it than that. I remember she drooled a lot as a child and had trouble with her mouth muscles so I feel that is somehow involved. I don't know if anyone here has had a little one with this problem but I am hoping someone can shed some light on what to do. It breaks my heart to have my child FINALLY show some interest in things like salad and not be able to eat it.

The Fraser Child & Family Center in Minneapolis found a new way to reach ASD students: through headphones and iPods. The devices play music and videos to teach these students how to fit in. Fraser staff came up with the idea of programming iPods to act as an electronic substitute for “that missing [inner) voice for those with Asperger's, the voice that governs appropriate behavior. Staff have helped students create short videos and slide shows on how to behave in different social settings: How to carry on a conversation; how to respect other people’s boundaries and think before they speak; and others.

http://www.blisstree.com/autismvox/ipods-fuzz-horses-ed-tips/

No wonder they're trying hard-hitting and insulting adverts- <a href="http://www.notautismspeaks.tk/">this website did an investigative report into where the money goes</a>, and even for those on the extreme cure side, they're doing a terrible job.  More money last year went to executive salaries than to "research".  And as we've all seen, their outreach program is little more than pablum for the parent who doesn't want an autistic child.

Even though we're not gluten-free I do think about it sometimes - it would be a lot easier now that the world seems ro be getting more accommodating, like these mixes from Betty Crocker: http://www.blisstree.com/autismvox/gluten-free-betty/

Hi,

I'm a mom of a son who is 18 years old and has Asperger's Syndrome... he is highly intelligent and a wonderful guy... he is attending his first year of college to become a Graphic Artist/Animator... I'm helping him look for friends and maybe even a girlfriend who understands the disabilities of Asperger's... he's good looking, sweet natured, loves his family, and out going... he LOVES movies and art... also into Annime and Comica... 

Phillip is a great person and we're just looking for friends that know and understand Autism/Asperger's... if you have any thoughts or ideas or comments, please share!

Blessings, 

Connie

Did anyone get to see the story on News Channel 8 WFLA this morning, about a  new therapy for Autism?  If you did…I would love to hear what you thought about it, or, if you have any questions about Hemispheric Integration Therapy…here is a link for more information about it:

http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/life/story/autism-therapy/

As sometimes happens, the comments posted about a news item are as eye-opening as the event itself. A Miami special education teacher

There is no cure in this book. There is a lot of fear, and a lot of the life of my family seen through my eyes. There are few facts, but lots of predictions about autism and its future impact. There's no ending either, really, but that too is part of living with autism, which I have done since Alex was diagnosed about seven years ago.
 read more »

Hello all,

I am new to this site.  I have a 3 year old boy that was recently diagnosed with autism. I am a foster mother and did not know what I was getting into.  I usually take in infants, but for some reason they thought I would be the perfect person to care for this sweet little 3 year old.  I was told he was hyper....well, I soon found out that it was much more than that.  So I took it upon myself to get the appointments moved up from december to last monday for an evaluation.  He is a hand full to say the least., he is not potty trained, nor can he feed himself nor dress himself.  I have seen some progress since i received him.  I taught him to accept all kinds of foods, when he came to me he only ate chicke n nuggets, he now eat everything I put in front of him.  He never slept in his toddler bed, it took me days to get him to stay in his bed.  I know there is lots of work to be done.  I am waiting for the doctor to submit the reports so I can get him in a school.  But, I really would like to know how to potty train in asap.  Any suggestions? 

WFLA News channel 8, the local Tampa NBC affiliate, will feature a story tomorrow on Dr Mane and his use of Hemispheric Integration Therapy (H.I.T) for the treatment of ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Gayle Guyardo visited Dr Mane's office this week to learn more about H.I.T. and to interview a parent and child whose lives are affected by Autism and have been going through the H.I.T program. The story is expected to air twice between the hours of 5 and 7am on the morning news show. Please tune in!

Now I know majority of parents these days oppose their children playing  their lives away to video games, but what I have gathered is that it's sort of an outlet for them, or can be. I'm not saying buy them bunkers of games, but get them a few. Maybe the spontaneous anger will calm down a bit, or you could see positive changes. With me, I have autism, and when I was little I used to play games and it would calm me down. I would feel accomplished when I mastered the game and such. Maybe it can be a great idea. My best friend is autistic and he has a ton of games, and uses them to give himself a self-expression of such. Get your child any type of game to see how they will react. I'm betting it's positive. Not all video games "rot" your brain; you can actually learn something from them. My example is Sid Meier's Civilization. It's not only a unique style of simulation, but the game also teach you about history in a stunning fun way. I've learned things about great leaders in that game and I'm sure YOU even could.

(This video is kinda old)

My son has discovered the wonder that is a tri-fold mirror.

My husband and I went shopping with my mother for uniforms. Lo and behold, my spazz of a five year old discovered the mirror. At first he just stared at himself like "okay, yeah.. what ever.. It's a mirror" Then he noticed, there was more than one reflection and lost it.

This video was taken about 2 or 3 minutes into Gabe playing with the mirrors.

I lucked out for this because I had recently decided I would never go anywhere without my camera because my child can do some pretty spontaneous things that I never would be able to share without my camera. Plus no one would believe me if I didn't have the camera.

Since we've moved to our new appartment, Gabe has discovered how much le loves watching to rain. He's get a camper chair, set it on the porch, and stare amazed at the rain falls.

I may be new to Autism Blogger, but I'm no stranger to Autism. My 6 year old son, Gabriel, has Autism, and he is my treasure.

 I'm not sure really where I should start.  I could go into how I discovered my son was different, but everyone's heard a similar story. I guess the best place to begin is how I got Gabriel as far along as I have and what I feel works and doesnt work for him.

The first things I've learned is that Day Cares are horrible places for children with Autism. Atleast I certainly had bad experiences. I explained his condition and that he was non verbal and that he wasn't potty trained. But, they blew me off and Gabe wound up spending most of his days in filthy diapers because he wouldn't speak up like the other kids did, and because he looked physically older than the other kids, they didn't bother checking him either. So, needless to say, Gabe got removed from the daycare system very quickly. which forced me to have to be a stay at home mom for a while. That wasn't all that hard at first. I was a single mother living with my parents for the first five years of his life. When Gabe turned 2, we enrolled him at Brentwood Elementary. They had a Special Education class just for children with Autism. Mrs. Arrington made such wonderful progress with him, to the point Gabe was talking in veeeeery tiny one word to two word sentences.  It was more than he ever spoke before and I was delighted.  read more »

UHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There. Got that out of my system. Now, on to why I even had that in my system to begin with. Matthew was supposed to have his eval for the 1st steps yesterday. I was supposed to receive a call Monday letting me know the time of it. Never got it. I called Tuesday and I was informed they didn't have enough evals to do that do to drive down here for his. I was PISSED!!! (excuse the language) They informed me that the next possible time for them to do the eval would be in Oct. This is like the 3rd time they have cancelled. Atleast they could have the common curtesy to call and freaking let me know!!! Uhhhh!!!! I thought the point of the EARLY INTERVENTION was exactly the name. EARLY INTERVENTION!!! Well by the time they get to doing his freaking eval he's already gonna be at his dr app! So what's the dang point?????????

The U.K.’s NHS Information Centre, citing autism rates among British adults as 1:100 and identical to the rate in children in that country, has said that the MMR vaccine does not cause autism. If it did, the centre maintains, rates among children would be higher since the MMR has only been available since the early 1990s.

http://www.blisstree.com/autismvox/uk-mmr-travoltas-admission/

Original post on my blog http://iamtheglue.blogspot.com/  read more »

This was my original blog that I posted on MySpace and then in my blog http://iamtheglue.blogspot.com/.

Many of my family and friends have already read this. I needed to read it again myself. It has only been 6 months since I became a parent of a child with Autism. I have conversations with as many people as I can about what their experience is and what has worked for them. I am trying to become an expert on this so I can effectively help my son.

March 23, 2009 - Monday Posted on MySpace

My son has Asperger's Asperger’s Syndrome- (from Wikipedia) Asperger syndrome (also called Asperger's syndrome, Asperger's disorder, Asperger's or AS) is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and people with AS therefore show significant difficulties in social interaction and restricted, stereotype of behavior and interests. AS differs from other ASDs by its relative preservation of linguistic and cognitive development Although not mentioned in standard diagnostic criteria, physical clumsiness and atypical use of language are frequently reported.

 This is what my son, Derek, has been diagnosed with. There is no medicine to take or treatment to do. It’s nothing to be fixed.

I am in a strange place now. No, I am not devastated or falling apart. Nor am I surprised. Shock. Why had we as family, or anyone one else, not been able to connect all those dots. It seems so perfectly clear now. I work in Pediatrics. I have friends who are teachers. We all knew he was different and had many odd behaviors. But because he is so intelligent and low maintenance, we all just accepted that this was his personality, and maybe he’d out grow some of it as he moved into his adult years.  read more »

  As a young mother, I expected a lot. I was 19 and engaged when I found out we were expecting...shocked but happy. From the moment Mason was born I knew something was wrong.  He cried constantly..."it's just colic he'll grow out of it"  He never said "ma ma or da da or bye bye" until he was two. He didnt walk until 20 months. He didnt sit up by himself until 1 yr. He would shake his head back and forth for up to 5 mins. I remember sitting in the hospital holding my first baby and thinking "what are you going to be? A doctor? A lawyer? "  Mason is 3 now....he isnt officially diagnosed with autism as of yet...but in my heart I know.  His hearing, vision has checked out perfect. He has been to more doctors and had more tests done than I can count. He has had an MRI. Next month we will be going to the Kluge center in Charlottesville for a diagnosis. All he can say is "open" "meow" "woof woof" "all gone" "bye bye" "yuck"  He cant follow simple commands, he throws tantrums to the point that he hurts himself....he will bang his head against walls etc.  He mostly screams when he wants something. He bites.  He also has a touch of OCD it seems.  He must have all the lights on in the house or he throws a fit.   Now I wonder about the future.  Will I be changing diapers until I am 80? Will I always have to find a babysitter? What about college? Maybe hes just a slow-learner.  For 3 years I have heard "He'll catch up" "hes too social to have autism"   I am very depressed about the whole situation...my husband is getting a vasectomy because we cant cope with the fact that we may pass this on to another child...whatever it may be.  More updates later.....any support greatly appreciated.....

I knew that something didn't feel right...as soon as my baby was born, and I felt it deeply in my heart.  Though, any and all of my questions ended on deaf ears...and with the polite answers of "Every child is different."... I didn't give up my search for what I felt was wrong in my gut.  My little boy is 9 years old now, and he has Aspergers, and so I have my answer finally...after 9 years of asking, and reading, and researching.  More important though than that of the lablel...I wanted answers to what I could do for my son to help him "Function" and "Connect" with the world...and I wanted desperately for him to be happy.  I did not want him to be on meds, as I saw this as only a "treating the symtoms"...and what I wanted is "to find and treat the cause".  After many, many, different types of Therapies, and Treatments starting when he was just 2 years old, either didn't work, had very marginal results, or made his symptoms worse...I was almost to the point of "giving up", and I found a most wonderful and new therapy for my son that has been working wonders!  It is called "Hemispheric Integration Therapy", and it has made a most wonderful difference in his happiness and success in life now, and given him a much brighter future!

This is a wonderful article from a National Magazine called "Parenting Special Needs", and it is an interviews Dr. Nelson Mane' about a new therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorders.  Dr. Mane' is a pioneer in this new, and successful therapy, called, "Hemispheric Integration Therapy", and it is a non-invasive, and drug-free.

Some $200 will get you a LENA Language and Autism Screen (LAS) designed to detect early signs of autism

http://www.blisstree.com/autismvox/early-detection-and-a-big-play/ 

In the world of autism, parents wishing for a cure often end up insulting their children and the 50% of autistic people who are highly functioning enough to care. This press release comes from ASAN, and includes the comments of autistic bloggers in response to the latest lies from Autism Speaks:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Autistic Community Condemns Autism Speaks' "I am Autism" Campaign

"We are the true voices of Autism," say Autistic adults; Campaign spreads stigma, prejudice and inaccurate information; ASAN vows protest of upcoming Autism Speaks fundraisers

Washington, DC (September 23rd, 2009) - The autism community reacted in horror today to Autism Speaks' new "I am Autism" campaign, presenting Autistic people as kidnap victims and burdens on their family members and communities.

I am an independent contracted aba therapist. I was looking into purchasing Mayer Johnson's Boardmaker but it is expensive.  Does anyone know where I could find discounted or gently used software? Thanks

Today was the first week of school and the whole family was really excited especially Izzy. I think that school is a break for parents but also children. The kids were sooo happy to be going to see their friends and teachers. Izzy was happy to see his teacher Mrs. Wall.

My 4 year old daughter is a mid to high functioning Autistic. She has what I can only describe as severe panic attacks. She hits herself in the head and face and thrashes herself around. She is completely inconsolable. Her teacher recommended speaking with our pediatrician about placing her on Abilify. I've attemped to do research but can't really find much regarding the use of Abilify in children as young as she is. Any experiences from anyone that might be helpful? Or anyone who knows of the side effects in a child so small?  Thanks!

I was so excited the first time Quinn came up and spontaneously gave me a hug.

Then I realized that she was looking over my shoulder at a book – at a picture where two kids were hugging.

She was studying it like it was an affection schematic: “Arms go up here, then you smile. That is how the humans do it.”

When you have a new baby, you get misty thinking about all the things that you will get to teach them, like reading and riding a bike and and driving a car - but “How to give a hug” doesn’t even make the top 100.

But that kind of spontaneous, warm, gooey, blatant love was just not Quinn’s instinct. For one, hugs put faces and awfully close together, which is gross. And they don’t serve any practical purpose.

We had to look at hugs like reading or algebra and take a systematic, scientific approach.

Instead of asking for a hug, we would kneel down and say, “Put your arms right here and right here on my neck and squeeze.”

Then we would say, flatly, as if explaining some dull tenet of astronomy, “Squeezing my neck with your arms means ‘I love you.’ Good work.”

We practiced hugging stuffed animals.

We practiced hugging feet and arms and legs and heads.

“Put your arms here and here. Now SQUEEEZE! Good work.”

Eventually she would run up, then turn around and back into us, so we could squeeze her, but she wouldn’t have to look at our scary faces with our big creepy eyes.

We took the opportunities to swing her around, flip her upside down, run her around the room. She gave us the love we wanted, we satisfied her need for speed.

Now, at 4, she will spontaneously give us hugs. And she will also give us a hug preceded by the alert, “Now I will give you a hug on your neck. And I will kiss you on your cheek .”

That is how the humans do it.  read more »

After nine years of research and developement, GeminiDVM has completed trials in the US and UK on its new Internet-based video modeling program.

The results have been incredibly encouraging.

There was a documentary made on the US trials:

Here is a 2 minute excerpt from the documentary: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tu20J2Bx08k   read more »

The Journal of Autism and Developmental Disabilities has posted reviews of both my books. Tap the little mag glass after you hit these links to the previews:

http://resources.metapress.com/pdf-preview.axd?code=6264h7u777117317&size=largest

http://resources.metapress.com/pdf-preview.axd?code=v618080864434r16&size=largest

That Flinders (Adelaide) University study on observing the signs of autism in young infants seems to be slow in gaining traction. I don’t usually think of Alex when I read studies because his early life was so tumultuous and painful.

http://www.blisstree.com/autismvox/how-early-can-you-tell/

HI MY NAME IS DOROTHY AND MY SISTER HAS TWO BOYS AGES SIX AND SEVEN WHO HAVE AUTISM .AND THE THIRD CHILD IS GETTING TESTED NEXT WEEK MY SISTER THINKS THE THIRD CHILD HAS AUTISM BECAUSE HE IS ACTING THE SAME WAY AT THREE YEARS OLD THE WAY MY OTHER TWO NEPHEWS WERE WHEN SHE FOUND OUT THEY HAD AUTISM WHAT DO I SAY TO HER IF THE THIRD CHILD WHO IS A BOY TWO YES SHE HAS THREE BOYS TWO WITH AUTISM AND NOW MAYBE THE THIRD CHILD .I WISH I HAD A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION ON AUTISM BECAUSE I CAN HELP MY SISTER THE FATHER LEFT THEM WHEN HE FOUND OUT THEY HAVE AUTISM. I KNOW MY SISTER WILL HAVE A JOB ON HER HANDS WITH THREE AUTISM SHE ALL READY HAS HER HANDS FULL WITH THE TWO OLDEST ONE IS SIX ONE IS SEVEN AND THE YOUNGEST IS THREEE THANK YOU IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE ME SOME HELP FUL IDEAS THAT WOULD BE GREAT HERE IS MY EMAIL dodie_eberhart@yahoo.com

Happy Autumn everyone!  The year is really going by quickly. 

We just wanted to let everyone know that we are putting holiday file folder games on our website to 

either download ala carte or purchase a set of 6 mixed games on CD. 

There are games for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. 

These games can really help keep those little hands busy during those days they have a lot of down time.  They might also help keep mom and dad sane too.  Use the games as a way to do some one on one time together or if possible use them as a way to learning independent skills!

Check out our games and drop us a line.  As always,we love hearing from you.

                                Patty and Alison  

It took me time to realize real different levels of autism. My mom explains to me how I'm different from others. My friend for instance has autism. We act the same a bit but we are completely different. He's my true best friend that I care for dearly. It pains me to see how he is. I know what you would say about that. I say it pains me because I knew him before he was 23 and when he was just a kid like me. He had one of the widest smiles that stretched across his face. He used to laugh about everything, I'm telling you. Not to put harsh blame on his family, but they are part of the reason why he's like the way he is now. My mom told me, and I noticed, all they did was kept him in his room. They shaded him from the outside world and now he has false views of society. They never teached him the basics of things and let him do stuff on his own. He could never experinece the reality of some things. They always expected so much of him though. They expected so much, that by time he was in late middle school to high school, those spontaneous smiles withered away. Not saying he's not happy now, he's just only happy inside, but happiness needs an outlet. The only time he smiles is when I tell a great joke or something really funny comes up. It's like I can see inside his brain. He wants to advance so bad in life, but because of what his family says to him, frustration is his best friend. He gives me obvious signs that he wants to do something but can't. I think if they just would've let him do things instead of worrying about him getting hurt in such ways, maybe he would be happier. But he's even great the way he is and quite fortunate.

Can anyone recommend a good public school in Central Mass. That has a good program for Autism?

Going to start working on next year's party NOW... great tips on teaching kids to play party games are in a video from Rethink Autism: http://www.blisstree.com/autismvox/party-hearty/

If you are anywhere near my age you remember this song on Sesame Street. You see four boxes on the TV screen and one child in each box. All three kids are jumping rope and then there is that one kid who is sitting in the box with his arms crossed or looking around as if he has no idea what is going on. The object is to find the one kid that just doesn't fit with the other three boxes.

If you have a child with special needs you know this situation all too well. There is no need to try to figure out which box doesn't belong because it is right in front of you every day.

The problem isn't figuring out "is my child different"... it is figuring out what to do now that he is different.

Through my battles with the doctors, schools, and even other parents I have discovered that there are answers! Of course each child is different so naturally the answers might be different. The key here is knowing the questions to ask to get the right answers.

It has taken me 5 years + to find resources and information. I have discovered that I am the only advocate for my child. My hope is to empower, educate, and support other parents to be the best advocate their child will ever know.

Being in a box is not where I want my children to be... Do you?

Hi everyone,

My name is Dorothy. I have just created my account so I thought I'd introduce myself. I am 3 days away from my 21st birthday. Woo hoo! I am married to my high school sweetheart. We have been married for 8 months. He has a little girl who turned 1 in July, & together we have a little boy who turned 1 2 days ago. They are all the greatest part of my life.

Matthew, my little boy, is showing all the signs of autism, although he has not been officially diagnosed yet. He has been diagnosed with spactisity. In Nov. we will be going to our children's hospital here in Mississippi to meet with a therapist and all that.

I really need help. I am nearly at my wits end. I don't know what to do with him somedays. He's not sleeping all night, has major meltdowns when his sister leaves, and getting him to eat is near impossible. The worst of all is the screaming. Because we don't have a definite diagnosis yet, we don't know what to do about it. Should we try to correct it or just let it go on??? If it is something he isn't able to control we don't want to correct him, but if he's doing it just because we've let him get away with it for so long, how do we correct it????

I would really appreciate if someone could give me some advice. I have no one I know to talk to about all of this. My parents think I worry too much, my in laws agree with me, but still don't know what to do! Please! HELP!!!

Thanks,

Dorothy

I feel as tho I have been gone somewhere for quite a while although I have been at home. Maybe that is it. I am stuck at home and to add insult to injury, my motherboard was bad. Everything seems to be getting set to right this week for which I am glad. I had the surgery and my oldest sister, bless her, helped out for 2 days. Considering that she is not totally used to the boys I think she did remarkably well. My children were very good. I was recovering really well despite Issac wanting to jump on my belly and blow on it, until I pulled a muscle in my back on the right side. This means that I cannot tell it the pain is my now gone gallbladder or my back, ugh! I had a couple of days where I was wondering if I was going to be moving the next minute. It was very painful. I couldn't take the pain meds they gave me because I broke out in hives. I was really having a time of it. But my motherboard arrived yesterday and it works and I installed it and I can reach the world again. I really missed my computer. My back and my abdomen are feeling better so I feel like things are looking up. Yippee! I took Seth and Mallie to the eye dr with me and Seth does not need glasses and Mallie does. She was pretty disappointed. They told her that she didn't need to wear them all the time so maybe we can work out a deal.

I found out this week that the teacher in the classroom with the twins is not allowing the twins to go outside and play. The weather here has been so nice and so I thru a hissy. I mean, WTH? She was concerned that they would run off. Are you kidding me? You have two kids, two adults. What is the problem? Needless to say I called the classroom supervisor and she was unaware that the boys were not going out. She said they would go out today and every day it was not bad out.  I am tempted to sit outside the school and find out. Is that wrong?  read more »

Hello Everyone!

I know it's been a few weeks since I've blogged about our therapy progress and just wanted to let you all know of the fantastic news!!

My little guy is progressing wonderfully with his verbalization! So much in fact that on Tuesday he recited the alphabet, counted to 20, and when I asked him to tell me specific colors he was able to do so. He is so willing to progress in speech that he sits and just listens to me carefully as I slowly pronouce the words for him.

I can't remember who on this blog site mentioned something in one of my previous blogs in regards to my little guy maybe starting to mature into is vocalization. Well, you were absolutely right! Even his tone is improving, as he would only speak in a low gruff voice when he did speak, which wasn't very often. I can tell he is very excited and proud of his progress. Tuesday when I said good bye to leave for the day, he turned and said good bye, then turned around and took my purse, took it back into the therapy room, came back out into the hallway, took my hand and lead me back into the room and shut the door! Let me say this, I have always had great repport with this child, but never, and I mean never! has he done this before!   For those of you haven't been watching my blog since the beginning, please go back and take a look from the beginning. Especially new parents to ASD. This is a child that in the beginning of therapy had dark eyes, I couldn't see his soul. I knew he could hear me, I knew he understood, but didn't know how to respond. I noticed the intellegence this child possed and was anticipating days like today!  

Love & Peace

Hello Everyone,

First of all thank you for checking out my need for some advice.

Many of you know the compassion I have as a therapist and being an advocate for children and families living with ASD. Through this blog site as well as my experience with ABA and other families that I know there seems to be one large issue at hand that everyone seems to struggle with. And that is the school system and IEP's. I have been focusing all my efforts in getting into the school system and getting my voice heard on the changes that need to take place.. Then I had an idea.. this is where I really need legal, financial and any other advice to help.

Just to clarify, this idea is not to take place of a school, just a daycare service, that offers much more than just child care.

Ok, here it goes.. With so many vacant buildings because of buisnesses closing down, why not purchase a building and transform it into a Autism Sensory Friendly Day Care.. Not to be confussed with "school"!  This would be a place where ABA therapy would be provided, ABA therapists and or OTA/OT students to run programs. Stimuli devices throughout rooms. Senory friendly atmosphere. Specialized for ASD. I know there is Early Childhood, but I would like moms/dads to utilize this as a place they can drop their kids off and feel comfortable, a opportunity for them to have "self time".  A place where kids can come and learn and also be kids! ok, so dumb idea? Is it possible? I understand everything would have to be approved by the State and County, all regulations would have to be inforced and there is building codes, e.t.c. I did open up a memory care cbrf, I just managed it, I didn't own it, but that gave me great experience in dealing with the State and County regs. Ok, any advice would be greatly appreciate!  Again any legal or financial experts out there??    read more »

BYU is conducting a study to understand brain development in developmental disorders.  PARTICIPANTS AFFECTED BY AUTISM SPECTRUM CONDITIONS ARE NEEDED FOR OUR CURRENT STUDIES.  We need children and adults ages 8 and up with fluent language skills.  Participation in the study requires 1. Completion of questionnaires and 2. Brief Neuropsychological testing.  Some inidividuals may also be eligible to participate in Experiments about learning.  Participants will recive up to $15 dollars for their particiaption. 

 If interested please call (801) 422-2183 or email autism@byu.edu

For more information visit our site at autism.byu.edu

Hi, This is my first time writing in.  I have a grown son with PDD and VI, both from being born extremely prematurely.  I've been involved in the special needs community in Arizona since he was born 22 years ago!  I just want to share with everybody a great toy for younger children with autism -- Buddy Dog.  Buddy was developed by PlayAbility Toys specifically for autism.  He has an expressive engaging face with large eyes that engages a child's attention.  He also has many tactile and sensory features with textures and sounds.  You can check him out at:  www.PlayAbilityToys.com

 Would love to get feedback and new ideas for toys/games for PlayAbility Toys.  We specialize in designing toys for children with special needs.  Dale?

Location(s)

The Els for Autism Foundation is teaming up with The Childhood Autism Foundation, Inc. (CADEF) in the annual Magnolia Classic Golf Tournament, to be held at the Marietta Country Club in Kennesaw, Georgia on October 12, 2009.

At the Magnolia Classic, the Els for Autism Foundation will raffle off a a limited edition photograph showing three of Ernie Els tournament wins and also the chance for a foursome to play at Els' home course in Jupiter, Florida. To kick things off, Els' wife Liezl will deliver a recorded message to participants. Ten percent of proceeds will go to the Els foundation.

The Els for Autism Foundation was started in March 2009 by professional golfer Ernie Els and his wife, whose son Ben is affected by autism. The goal is to raise money for the Autism Center of Excellence in order to develop an educational program for children up to age 21, a continuing services program for adults, on-site services for doctors, speech therapists and other health care professionals, and a research facility.
 read more »

I am asking for ideas and help.  My son CJ is 3.5, turning 4 in November.  He is a hand flapper.  He flaps when excited, stressed and sleepy.  He also makes noisy while flapping.  Sometimes he even flaps his whole body.  I feel as if he might take off.  I know that there has to be something I can do that would help calm him, but I just don't know what.  I am at a loss.  I love my little boy so much and it truly makes my heart ache not being able to help him.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you

Hi, I am looking for parents who can help a research about early intervention of autism.The purpose of this survey is to collect short stories from the parents of autistic children in relation to Joint Attention Skills, (or lack there of) detected during the pre-linguistic time period. All observations that the parents can recall of their child before the age of 2 years old is of interest. The information gathered will be used for a book to be published on Autism in hopes it will be useful to other parents.

Completion of this survey authorizes the publication of its contents. The information will be edited to protect your privacy. Identities of participants will remain anonymous.

Your participation is greatly appreciated.
SURVEY QUESTION:

Please describe all observations of your autistic child’s responses to joint attention during the pre-linguistic
time period (before the age of two). Any names given will be changed to protect the privacy of the participants.

Remember:
* Completion of this survey authorizes the use of its contents for publication.
* Your identity will remain anonymous.
* You may use additional sheets of paper as needed, as well as the back of this form.
* Please return the Survey to the Main Office of your school.

THANK YOU!
Please call me if you have any questions, 856-912-4555 or email at muniseulker@yahoo.com

QUESTION:

Please describe any observations you remember of your autistic child`s responses to joint attention ( playing with another person or pet/ any kind of social behavior) before the age of 2...

I have to share this with everyone.  I have a friend who used to be a case manager who spent all of her days fighting the schools and the "system" for children with autism.  She had always said she wished there was a way to make therapy products affordable for parents to have in their home.  She wanted to create a business but did not know where to begin and she knew she could not just quit her job not having the finances to do so.  Well a year ago she had to give up her job because she was diagnosed with brain cancer.  She is unable to drive do to seizures. So she figured now was the time to start the business so her and her husband did.  She is trying to get more orders because the more orders she gets the more bargaining power she has with the manufactures to lower their prices.  They make very little money off the site but they are okay with that as long as they are helping families of children with autsim.  She really inspires me and I wanted to share the story with everyone.  Check out her site at www.stepforward123.com This is so great for her we are just praying for her now that she beats this brain cancer because you don't find people like her just anywhere. 

Caden has learned the art of both negotiating and "but mommmmmming."  When asked to wash his hands before dinner tonight, he responded "But mom, why do I have to wash my hands?  They are just going to get dirty again (true)." When told he isn't getting another piece of cheese, he responded with a "But mom, I like cheese."  His other new skill is negotiating.  I say "Caden, why don't you put your trash in the trash can instead of on the table" to which he counters, with a smirk on his face, "But Mom, why don't you be a big helper and do it for me."  I later say "My sweet Caden, why don't you take off your clothes and get into the shower so we can start getting ready for bed?" Caden's response - "Ok Mom, here is what we are going to do.  I am going to take off my clothes, put them in the laundry basket, take a shower, put on my pj's and then, because I am such a good listener, you are going to let me watch a video, ok?"  I love it. 

'All He Has to Say' features award winning singer/songwriter aika (Aika Hirahara) on vocals, music by Music Producer/songwriter Nicolas Farmakalidis, with lyrics written by Boston songwriter Will Carr after reading a poem written by Lea Bishop about autism. Lea Bishop has been working with children with autism for two years, and has spent the past year as a teacher’s assistant at the May Center for Child Development school in Randolph, MA. She is devoting her higher education to bettering herself in order to change the lives of those on the spectrum. Creating this song has gone from an artistic expression to a full out campaign to spread awareness and raise money for autism.

 read more »

Publisher John Wiley is issuing A Practical Guide to Autism: What Every Parent, Family Member, and Teacher Needs to Know, by Fred Volkmar and Lisa Wiesner. 

http://www.blisstree.com/autismvox/market-guide-local-meetings-surfs-up/ 

We have a great event to let everyone know about in Oct.   October 10th to be exact.  The Autism Society of NC is hosting the Triangle Run/Walk for Autism event.   We are excited to have been invited to be part of the festivities.  Hopefully the day will be cool and sunny and everyone should have a great time.

 We look forward to having you stop by our booth to say hi and see what we have.  We look forward to seeing you there.

                             Patty and Alison 

Here are some free online trainings about autism:

http://autismclassroom.com/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=84

Hopefully, you won't need this, but here is a website that gives parents information about Special Edcuation Law and provides strategies for working and communicating with school teams. 

http://wrightslaw.com/

Hopefully, you won't need this, but here is a website that gives parents information about Special Edcuation Law and provides strategies for working and communicating with school teams. 

http://wrightslaw.com/

R.I.P Patrick =(

http://www.blisstree.com/autismvox/law-fails-teen-in-basketball-rape-case/

It seems like a pretty clear-cut case. Sixteen-year-old high school student, female, diagnosed with autism (though able to communicate verbally), pressed into sexual relationship with her basketball coach. The girl’s parents found out when they discovered a letter in her backpack describing explicit sexual acts and signed by the coach, Freddie Lamont Wilson, 61.

One of my newsletter readers wrote to me about their success with visual strategies...

"The most profound experiences that I have had using visual strategies is when a new child comes to me and his/her parents are so frustrated that their child not only does not talk, but also has behavior problems. I introduce the child (and parents) to visual strategies and the parents are always amazed at how quickly their child understands how to communicate. I then give the parents a few visual strategies (pictures, signs/gestures, etc.) to use at home and they come back the next session with a report of how well the visual strategies are working at home and in such a short time. Then it's just a process of building on what works for that child."

This is a great example that I hope can inspire others!

I have been gone for the summer but school has started again and Seth seems to really like it.  I want to tell of an experience this past weekend that really put a fire in my blood.  My daughter was in town and we decided to go to some thrift stores.  Seth was really doing good... we went to the humaine society thrift store and he likes to go because they have popcorn.  He walked around and for the most part was behaving himself (no scenes, listened to me, etc) We went to leave and I was making a purchase.  He started to nag me for a quarter for the candy machine and I told him NO Not right now... he kept asking and reached in my purse for my wallet.  The woman at the register started saying something about having six kids then she Snapped at him and what she said was DO YOU WANT A SPANKING?  read more »

Little brother is going to start school on monday, same special ed preschool, same teacher, same red flags Zare had at this age. I am glad that Zares teacher requested little A, but with the behavior problems that little A has it will be a different experience! We went to the open house, and they were asking me behavior questions.

"Does he run?" 

"Um, sometimes?"

"Will he run out of the classroom?"

"No, I don't think so?"

Little A is a very very cute boy, so you look at this cutie and then you fill out the behavior questionairre and it gets very interesting!

 A missing boy in Oregon ... another young man who won't stand trial for the death of his mother in Ohio ... a todder murdered in Texas. The world of autism sometimes produces heartbreaking stories. We continue a week of spectrum and rainbow images. Today's image is a beauty: a child's hand held tenderly in an adult's hand, and a rainbow illuminating the two hands. When I saw this iimage I immediately thought how autism so often is a condition that affects more than one person. Often it brings beauty and closeness. I'm sad about the times it birngs strife and injury and even death.

http://www.blisstree.com/autismvox/crimes-and-continuing-hope/

To Whom it May Concern,

I teach a self-contained autism K-2 class in East Brunswick, New Jersey.  One of my former students has just moved back to Puerto Rico.  School started there 3 weeks ago and he has been home because they do not have appropriate programs in place for children with autism.  His mother has started a petition to the government, asking for the creation of services that we know are vital to the success of our children.

I am sending you the link to her petition, as well as the English translation.  The first reason for this post is to ask that the petition be signed and forwarded to anyone possible.

The second reason for this post is to ask for advice or any information on how to help this family in terms of rights they may have in Puerto Rico.  

Thank you for your time.  I truly appreciate it.

Carrie

Teacher, Autism K-2

 read more »

The  other  day  while  putting  in  the  groceies  into  the  house.I  had  just  finshed  and  was  ready to  close  the  door. The   boys  were  with  me  but  I  did  not  see  them  in  the  house.  Then I  notice  the  door  was  open  and  a  quick  panic  came  over  me.  Where  is  Joshua? I  ran  to  the  door  and  looked  out  side. I  saw  the  neighbors  kids  playing  basketball   in  their  driveway. I saw  some  other kids  with  them  but  I keep  looking  around the  other  houses  for  Joshua.  When  I  looked  again  I saw  my  middle  son playing  ball.I  said , he  is  there  but I  don't  see  Josh.  Then  I  saw  him. Joshua  was  playing basketball with the  other  kids.  He  was  waiting  patiently  for  his  turn  to  shoot  the  ball. I  called  out  to  my husband  so  he  could  see  this. We  both looked  at  our  son  playing ball.For  a  child who  would  not share  his  ball  with others  and  would  kick  or  bite  another  child.This  was  a  true  miracle.

The first day of school came two days late for Chicago student Lily Edelstein, 14, whose individualized education plan included busing plans. But the bus never came for Lily, who has autism, due to a communication glitch. Apparently, the school district didn’t submit the transportation request to the city’s Bureau of Student Transportation until Sept. 4, the Friday before the Labor Day weekend, and it usually takes five days to process a request. People whose kids are typically developing may not understand why Lily’s family didn’t simply take her to school themselves.

http://www.blisstree.com/autismvox/late-start-to-the-school-year/

“It’s sad to think that Alex’s life is pretty much the same as it was when he was 4 or 5,” Jill, my wife, said.

Same? True and untrue. This fall will see great changes in Alex’s life. He starts middle school in September, after six years in a nurturing elementary school where he learned to hang up his backpack in his cubby every morning and where the day’s housekeeping tasks were Velcro-ed to the classroom wall. His graduation ceremony earlier this summer caught me by surprise; my throat closed when Alex grabbed his little diploma and dashed across the stage to whip aside the back curtain and see what was back there. No one laughed, but they did seem to pretend not to notice.

Today is a day for memories. Painful memories. Complicated memories. Thoughts of death, life, destruction, envy, hate, valor, and hope. The best of human emotion. The worst of human emotion. The understanding that we as humans are capable of so much…so much goodness and light, so much evil and dark. And, so much mediocrity.

My son has trouble with memories and emotions. Communicating them. Answering questions about them. If he can’t tell me what he did today, is that because he remembers, but can’t say?Or that he doesn’t remember at all? I turn this over in my mind, again and again. The expression on his face leaves me wondering. He looks as if he is trying to remember. He seems to be as perplexed as I am that these things are hard for him.

He’s slowly making progress with his memory. At once, he has a terrible memory and a wonderful memory. Terrible, in that he struggles to tell me what he did that day or who he saw, no matter how unusual (or usual) the event. Wonderful, in that he now talks about events that occurred when he was three or four, events and people that I never realized he was even cognizant of. It makes me stop and think about the things I’ve said when he was so disengaged.Things I would never have talked about in front of my typical child. Has he been listening all along?

If you are interested in surfing in 2010 the camp sign ups start April 15th for California Camps.

 Please check the website for other camp dates and sign ups.....Remeber its free to attend and some of the best fun you can have!

If you are not aware of this wonderful organization please visit www.Surfershealing.org if you child loves the water like mine this is the perfect place for you get invovled with. We just did our 5th camp this year we take a week and drive from Oregon to San Diego and surf with the volunteers. When was the last time you went to a crowded beach and felt normal well you can at this camp cause all of the kids there are doing the same things as yours and no one gives you a second look. They are based in the San Diego area but have camps on both coast now and have been to Mexico and Hawaii as well....and its all free.

I've always been sad when even the youngest children could see that something is different about Alex. "Understanding Jason" is a book about a class of typically developing children who learn, with the help of their teach, to accept and support a student with autism. It's great to see books like this coming out - maybe it will have an effect in classrooms, and there will be more integrated classes where kids with autism can be supported in a more typical environment. 

http://www.blisstree.com/autismvox/its-all-in-the-understanding/

Research on children with autism has shown that video modeling can be very effective in improving the following skills and target behaviors:

• social interaction behaviors
• academic and functional skills
• communication skills
• daily living skills
• play skills
• social initiations
• perception of emotion
• spontaneous requesting

Autistic communication is possible! 

As a child, we have the capability to communicate telepathically. As we get older, we lose that ability due to lack of practice.
I have been taught to communicate with those who can't through a form of telepathy taught to me by Terri Jay. My cousin's daughter is autistic and it is amazing the information I read from her! Because of the gift that was taught to me, I can connect with her in a way I thought was never possible.

It is my mission in life to help those families to communicate with their autistic children.
Sending love to all families!  Feel free to send me a note if you have any questions.

-Jeanine Swatton

www.facebook.com/jswatton

www.terrijay.com/alternative-communication

Moms with young children can feel isolated and lonely.

Moms raising young children with any kind of disability feel it double.

Even a trip to the park with other moms – especially those with running-around, neurotypical kids – can seem like an insurmountable task.

So we start chatting up store clerks and siding salesmen and the people that we meet each day.

And if you just want a little idle banter, those encounters can make you  feel like you are still  in contact with the outside world.

But when you need a little more conversation, there is an audience that can’t escape your ramblings: your child’s therapists.

Part of their job is to listen to your concerns.

Your concerns about your child.

But I found myself having conversations like this with Quinn's speech therapist, “So then they said as long as I have to replace the A/C belt and the compressor, I might as well replace the timing belt too, since they already have it apart and most of the cost is labor, but it is still another $120…and…I think that it is, uh, stressing Quinn out and, uh, making her, um, talk bad.”

Or I would be in the waiting room, and see the therapist talking to another parent and get bent out of shape – “Why is this taking so long! I want to talk! And, yeah, have Quinn do therapy things and stuff.”

It’s an easy line to cross.

You have concerns, they actually pay attention to what you say.

You don’t have to launch every conversation with an update on therapy.

If you say, “I’m wildly stressed out,” they don’t ask, “Why?”

But the therapists' time is best spent with your child, not with you.

If there is a big event going on that might impact your child’s progress, attention span, or behavior – such as a move, a change in household occupants, or the death of a pet – then let your child’s therapist know.  read more »

Hi, I am a mother of 2 children and two of my best friend's son's have been diagnosed with autism. I joined this blog as I've been telling them to write their stories about how Homeopathy has helped their kids, but they haven't found the time to do it!

I wanted to write on behalf of them, as I find the boys and their family, so much happier after their miracle through Homeopathy. Both the kids were diagnosed with Autism around the same time in 2005 and since then, they had tried all treatments and therapies available to them. But nothing made a huge difference like Homeopathy. Now one of the kids is considered normal and is even attending a mainstream school for the past 8 months and the other kid's improvement hasn't been as dramatic, but his' was also more severe. Nevertheless, my friend is thankful for the improvements that she has received in the past year through homeopathy.

Since Homeopathy is safe and has no side effects, parents don't have to worry about their kids, having more problems than what they already have to deal with! Also, seeing my friend's, I've started getting my kids treated with Homeopathy. Quality of their health has improved so much, they don't get as many ear infections or flu and allergies every season as they used to.

I wanted to bring this topic for discussion as I know so many parents are looking for alternative treatments that could really help their children. Homeopathy is holistic and Wholistic, it addresses the cause of the disease and not just their symptoms. The improvements that I've been seeing in my friend's kids is nothing less than a miracle.

I hope this helps atleast some parents!

 Aditi

This week we're embracing the rainbow that is autism, with different rainbow pictures each day. Thanks to all the talented people who put their fantasic photographs on flickr.com (we searched the "creative commons" ones and we always give the name of the artist), the spectrum is varied and beautiful.

http://www.blisstree.com/autismvox/full-spectrum-living/ 

Michelle Schondorf, masters student and co-founder of Functional 4ms (www.functional4ms.com) says that one of the most important tasks when teaching an individual with special needs is capturing and maintaining their attention. This becomes increasingly difficult as more variables enter into the equation.  The special needs individual can sometimes have a number of different people teaching and supporting them. From their teacher in school, to their therapists, and finally their parents and loved ones, it is difficult for them to keep track of what to expect from each person. As time passes by, certain relationships and expectations are formed between the special needs individual and his/her caregivers and environment. It takes a great deal of time for these bonds to form, however when they do the special needs individual begins to learn much faster, and interact at a significantly higher level. Unfortunately, as often happens, therapists change, teachers move, and ultimately these valuable bonds are broken creating havoc for the special needs individual. Many times the caregiver has little control over these important changes, however now there is a way to help mitigate these changes, to help control for this variability.  read more »

When Alex was little we couldn't even take him to a movie, let alone a live performance. Things have changed! We went to the circus yesterday (our third time) and he was really looking forward to it. He had a great time and was pretty well behaved. He was not the only person with autism there, either. We saw a teenaged boy with his parents, and a young man in his early 20s. http://ow.ly/ozre

Hi, I have 2 girls that are on the specturum. They keep me very busy. What experiences do you have? Please write back.

Hello All,

My name is Nancy. I am a graduate student at a university in Chicago. I am currently taking classes to obtain my Master's degree in Early Childhood Special Education. I am enrolled in a class called Working with Parents of Young Children with Special Needs. For this class our professor wanted us to join a blog/online support group  that interested us and was designed for famililies of children with special needs. Up until May of this past year I was an early childhood teacher at a school for children with special needs. I had three year old children, most of whom this was their first experience in a school setting. I loved my job and will return however I had my first baby this past summer and would like to stay home for a little while. I just wanted to identify myself and let  you all know why I am on this site. I have enjoyed reading your experiences and stories and hope to continue doing so throughout the semester.

Thank you!

Small Parking lot for school meant we had to walk three block away. Zare hopped over lines in the sidewalk and wanted me to do the same, but I was carrying about 30 things required for half-day kindergarten! Lets just say the school figured a way through the budgeting issues. We get there and there are kids and parents everywhere.

"Bye Mom." He hugs me, and I tell him not yet because I have to bring his stuff in. We line up and we show the Teacher the birthday snack (his birthday was three days ago). 

"Bye Mom." and another hug, and I remind again, I hug him as best as I can, encumbered as I am. We walk in, hang coats and backpacks and the hallway.  We wait again, wondering if we go together or go in the room right away.

"Bye Mom" I can rub his back now that his backpack is off, we walk in the room, find his name, drop off the bags. NOW I can finally hug my child! Geesh that was heavy.

 "Bye Mom." "Bye Zare, I love you, listen to your teacher"

And then I walk out the building, walk three blocks to my car, saying my prayer.

"Dear Jesus and Holy Spirit, please be with my boy because I am not there, keep him calm and help him to listen, Amen."

Waiting to pick him up from the bus was agonizing. The bus pulls up finally.

"I am picking up Zare?"

"Oh yes! The Birthday Boy!" The bus driver says, and sure enough Zare comes walking down the steps with the this big ol' paper hat.  Shouldn't school always start that way?

I'm into a few weeks in college now and it's completely different battledfield. I only took 3 classes though so I have a lot of room to do so on. But what I've also noticed about myself and what my mom has explained to me, because like me she's a great observer, is that I'm not accustomed to change. I don't like change that much. My long known friend with autism doesn't like it neither. In this case, it was just something I programmed my mind to. Before I started college, I wanted to be a game creator; I still want to. So my mom didn't approve of me going out of state really to try out for DeVry University in Chicago or going to Phoenix. So I decided to go to ITT Tech which I found out has a gaming program, in fact many. I was apmted up in my mind so my mom helped me to sign up. I've had scholarships from when I was little for I don't know how long, but they were going to help out. Then comes to find out, to make a story shorter, I can't go. It seems because they want $45,000 for only 2 years! And you don't even get money while you are in. So I had to go to the city's college instead which I despise. I've been jerked around all my young high school life about being into the gaming industry along with KCTC and other things, that I just want to go into what I want to do. But it seems like every time I get closer, I get pulled back by something stronger. Now I'm going to college, even though I'm getting money for going, but I wanted learning quality. I can complain both ways, but I'm here now. And I now it's all too soon to think it, but when will I ever get to do what I want? Some may think it's cruel, but my mom forced me to accept change. Because if I hadn't, I probably wouldn't be typing this message here today. Observate your children thouroughly, because sometimes, they try to tell you something by not saying it, but showing signs.

Hello again from Ali-Pat Publications!

 Alison and I want to thank those who gave us some great ideas for the name of our new page. After a great deal of discussion we have made our decision.  The new page for teachers, caretakers, parents and therapists to post their ideas on educational materials and their uses will be called simply: The Message Board.

The way this works is this: contact us at info@alipatpublications with your ideas on how you have taken educational games or materials and recreated them to work for you and your students.  We hope this will be a great way for teachers, caretakers, parents and therapists to share new ideas and use them or to reuse old materials in new ways.

We look forward to posting your ideas!

 Patty and Alison 

I recently purchased an iPhone and am learning how to use it.  I'm excited about the possibilities of this for myself and also for people with autism.  I've been learning how to make technology work for me, and have gotten on board with Facebook (Linda Hodgdon) and Twitter(http://twitter.com/lindahodgdon).  You can find me on both of those sites.  I'm looking forward to making new "friends" via these tools.  I'm excited to discover how technology can help bring people together in the field of autism!

I have been working on updating my website.  The day has finally come and it is up!  Please visit www.usevisualstrategies.com and take a look around.  There is lots of good information and products relating to autism and using visual strategies.

October 10th 2009. Virginia Beach Double Tree Hotel at the VB Convention Center. Our first Tidewater Autism Summit Saturday 12:00 -4:00. No charge for vendors or participants. The areas largest gathering of Autism Service providers. Bring the kids and talk to families and service providers from the Autism community. Information tidewaterasa@verizon.net or mllobell@aol.com.  

Hi My name is Laura and I am a special education teacher working on getting my masters in early childhood special education at NEIU.   I loved student teaching in an early childhood autism room and am excited to learn many things on this site.

Here is Jasper in a photo taken today at our home!

Our son Jasper was born December 15, 2007. It was an easy pregnancy and we were trying for a home birth, but ended up at the hospital after 47 hours of labor. Once Jasper came out, breaking my tailbone on the way, he was pink and perfect, the picture of health! A beautiful baby boy, with a very angry scowl on his face. That scowl soon turned into screaming as I held him for the first time, and he only stopped screaming to sleep and eat during our 3 day stay at the hospital. We were overwhelmed and not exactly looking forward to bringing him home! His face was a permanent grimace, screaming full force or just about to start.

It was a rough first few months, doctors ruled out any physical cause, and said he was overstimulated. That's for sure! The slightest thing seemed to send him into a screaming fit. We could not take him anywhere. He was born at the beginning of a long winter in Maine, and there was nowhere to take him anyways. We did venture the hour long drive to my parents a couple of times, but that was a nightmare - my parents were frazzled by this screaming baby, and nothing would calm him, no touch, no soothing coos, no rocking - nothing at all. 

Life went on, the screaming got less. As he neared one year old, the screaming was mostly at nap and bedtime. He also had a permanent scowl on his face, and we jokingly called him 'Mini-Da', after my own father's permanent scowl with old New England jowls. We perceived Jasper as a very serious baby who was very independent and thus hated being a helpless infant; we assumed his mood would improve as he got older and more capable of taking care of himself. He never asked for help with anything, never wanted hugs or kisses, or to play with us. He expressed interest in the cats and was fascinated with plastic bottles and tags on things.   read more »

Please take a moment to join me on the NAA Autism Action Team. Together, anything’s possible!

http://naa.kintera.org/actioncenter

Hi. This is my very first blog.

I have a 9 year old high functioning autistic boy. His name is Ethan and he is the sweetest boy u could ever meet.

Its a fine line with him. Most people that meet him( actually everybody that meets him) cant tell that he has autisim. He has only social/emotional problems.  School, he is a wiz. He is above and beyond where he should b with his school work.

Its losing and communicating his feelings with words rather than falling down and crying. He has to b perfect at everything to b satisfied. If he cant do it perfect watch out.

We have recently started therapy. He has been going for a month and a half. I think its helping but still having problems.

I guess it takes time. We have been trying to work on ths problem foor the last 5 years.

I havent given up, something has to help my littleboy...... 

If anyone has any suggestions or is going thru that same problem HELP!!!!

Sometimes I feel like I cant help hm and that crushes me.

This is my first entry. I vow to myself to write once a week.

Here's the deal.  Our Regional Center said my son was not Autistic, but possibly ADHD.  Our school said he was "Very Likely" Autistic and he is in Special Ed classes 4x per week with some limited services.  And, from all that I've read and other Moms and Dads I've spoken to, he is Autistic (and may be ADHD too, but nobody will diagnose this young anyway.)  We are pursuing outside OT services, but I'm not sure if we are doing enough.  I'm trying to figure out the pros and cons of getting the medical diagnosis.  If we get him the appropriate services, is it necessary to get the diagnosis?  Will the diagnosis come back to bite us later for insurance purposes or educational purposes - one way or the other?  We will probably need the diagnosis in order to fight for the Regional Center services.  Please excuse my paranoia and give me your thoughts.  Thanks.

Hi everyone,

wanted to introduce myself, I am Priscila, and I am the parent of an 8 yr old with autism. I am also a trained Special Education Advocate. Here to help and keep learning whatever I can.

There is no way to put a price on a teacher that is super awesome. 

What started off as a great day leaves me perplexed and unsettled. Katie and I went to the ARC Mother's Support Group this morning. I have never attended one of these but always meant to. It was at a lovely local church with a great kids' room and a comfy meeting room. I chatted with the ladies for over 2 hours and greatly enjoyed the feelings that were shared. I can't say I was surprised by any of them or their stories, but mostly just enjoyed knowing I could share in a room of women who would not judge me or pity me. Just relate.

Tonight I lead Katie to her favorite chair (well, second favorite if you count the one at the dinner table...) and she wanted to go to the dinner table instead. Without warning, she took ahold of the inside of my upper arm (you know, the fatty tender part!) and pinched the living daylights out of me. She did not fuss or vocalize at all, simply pinched my arm in the most sensitive spot imaginable. I was distracted while trying to ask my boyfriend to move his soda can from the arm of the chair she was headed to, and didn't see the attack coming at all. I realized of course, once I'd been made painfully aware, that she'd rather be going to the dinner table. I told her that pinching was not ok and not how we get what we want, but I took her to the table anyway. I think I was too shocked and out of sorts to really think of a better plan. So I fed her dinner in relative silence and let her play with her toys on the floor when she was done.  read more »

Hi, I wanted to welcome all the newbies. I have kinda become the unofficial welcome wagon around AB lol. And now for my cofession. I dont get on here as often as I used to. I think I'm just a little overwelmed at all the stories. Don't get me wrong, I do get strength from visiting this site but at the same time its like gees ANOTHER family suffering, ANOTHER parent feeling like they're at the end of their rope. It's EVERYWHERE and sometimes I need to get away for awhile. It's kinda like being exposed to the sun, just enough and you feel good, too much and you get burnt. Autism is with us 24/7. WE LIVE THIS 24/7. I have a tendency to be silly. It's almost as if I dont stop laughing Ill start crying if that makes any sense. In any case Im on Facebook along with alot of us on AB. Im under D Cynthia Legros. If you want to friend me just email me first and let me know you are from AB. You have found a wonderful site. Welcome =)

Autism Awareness Ribbon.

This picture above is made out of sticky gems and its my most favorite pics.

This one is a key chain with the puzzle pieces along with the autism awareness ribbon.

This one tells all about autism and the awareness ribbon.

April is Autism Awareness Month.

Autism Awareness Necklace. I love this one.

And another one.

Autism Awareness Bracelet.  read more »

Autism beats positive

Unique

Together in a fight

Incredible

Strong

More improvement

When I look at many different websites and even on youtube, I heard stories about other people lives with autism and their stories about how autism don't stop them from doing greatthings. It impressed me on how their surroundings is like and their future. I also looked on TV about how autism is cure and treated. It was intracting.

When I was young, I was diagnois with autism. During my teenage year, I was diagnois with depression. I took medication for my depression. I graduated high school in 2008. I now trying to find a job and trying to take some classes in college.

My ex is a jerk. I know I don't have to explain that to all of those people out there who are divorced. I mean, you got divorced for a reason, right? He came and picked the kids up today 30 minutes later than he promised them. They had been up for 2 hours waiting on him. I think they were relieved that he actually showed up. Issac did not want to get in the car with him. He hasn't showed that kind of reluctance for a while now, not since their father was with his second wife. I don't think the twins were comfortable with her at all. Anyway, they are finally on their way. He is going to take them to a hotel and stay all night and bring them home tomorrow.

I am going to have surgery to remove my gallbladder this coming tues. I asked him about being here with the kids or taking them for the weekend if I could schedule the surgery for a Friday and he told me that he would have to explain why he was coming back down here from Chicago so soon. (I had told him the surgery would be in about 1-2 wks.) and then he said he would have to not tell his parents because they would have a huge cow because he would be helping me. I had two words for him and they were not the normal ones I have. They were "grow up." So, because once again I could not depend on him, I had to make other arrangements for the kids to be helped while I am recovering the first couple of days after surgery. Lucky for me, I have a generous big sister.   read more »

We went and visit my son's new class room yesterday.  He will be in the 1st grade class room most of the day with little support.  I am sure hoping he does as well in first grade as he did in kindergarden.   He is high functioning and above grade leavel in reading and math.  He strugles socially.  He is excited and is happy to go back to school.  He has had a great summer we were blested to have a great pca/nanny for 3 hours a day for him.  She works with him at school so she worked on some reading comprehension and taught him to tie his shoes. :-)   He had a fun time at social group.  They had many great had outs for differant topics my faviorate was the Flexible thinking with pictures and remindersWhen I turn on my "flexible brain" it helps me change "My thoughts" and "my Behavior" When I am a "flexible Thinker" I can do what I need to do, even if it doesn't feel good.   Blog again soon he wants my attention got to go.

My son just turned three and is non-verbal. He just transitioned out of early intervention into an autism preschool for 3 year olds provided by the public school district. My son was in early intervention for a year and a half and has been rapidly improving. He is at his age level for his cognitive ability and also his receptive language. He has apraxia wich makes him unable to speak but has over 60 signs and can communicate at his age level through sign language. I feel like because he cannot speak his abilities are underestimated.

He recently started at the autism classroom provided by the school district which is 5 hours long 5 days a week. About 4 hours of the 5 are spent doing distcrete trials through A.B.A. alot of the kids in his class are very unruley and all over the place they seemed very unregulated and it seems to me that they are getting most of the teacher and aids attention through negetive behavior while my son sits and follows directions well and receives little attention.

I am worried about him, at home he has began to seek my attention through negetive actions he has been crying and protesting about everything, he has been frustrated and even has become aggressive with me. I have noticed ALOT of negetive behavior that I have never seen before and I know he had to have learned in the class from other children.

Is this a normal part of sending children to school?  read more »

Luke LOVES school - especially riding the bus.  I asked him if he had met any friends - he said "Terry" - the bus driver.  :)  Now, he is despondent because I am picking him up at the end of the day.  (Man, the bus ride home is an hour and a half - and it's a 23 minute car ride!)  So, he is hating on me right now.  He pooed in his room - and handily wiped it up with his favorite pair of jammies.  Needless to say, spent part of this afternoon wetvacing, doing laundry and wiping up poop in 95 degree weather.  It should be illegal to be this hot and have to clean too. 

 I love school too.  I finally found out that my younger son has a LOT more to say when his brother isn't around.  Yesterday, at the mall - yes, I got to go to the mall - with my little one, he held my hand the ENTIRE time.  He walked with me.  We rode up and done the escalators.  I bought a coffee.  I shopped!  It was like a little slice of heaven - and what most parents take for granted every day.  I am thankful for these small moments of simplicity.  My son would reach for my hand if we had dropped it for a minute.  He kept looking up at me and saying "Hi, Nonny."  He was so happy to have my full attention.  It was wonderful.

Location(s)

Organized by Autism Speaks the Philadelphia Walk Now For Autism Event will take place at Citizens Bank Park on September 26th, 2009.

Register now on the Walk Now For Autism website to start a fundraising effort as an individual, family or corporate team. On-site registration starts at 8:00am on the 26th. A Resource Fair and entertainment for kids will be available starting at 8:00am as well. The walk will start at 10:00am.

Organized by Autism Speaks the Philadelphia Walk Now For Autism Event will take place at Citizens Bank Park on September 26th, 2009.

Click on newslink to read the full article.

Last night, my husband, three daughters and I attended the healthcare town hall meeting in Bridgeport, CT, hosted by our Congressman Jim Himes (D.) We couldn't get a sitter, so we decided to bring the kids along rather than miss the event. After all, healthcare for children is of paramount importance (right Elmo?) I packed GFCF pretzels and a portable DVD player for the kids. Locked and loaded!

Click on newslink to read the full article.

This say's so little but yet say's so much......

Just saying that I so miss this site and all of you!  Once I am better I look forward to catching up with everyone.  Please know I am thinking of each of you, wishing you all well.  I am out of commission, Mickey is Mr. Mom while I lay in bed, hurting.  It sucks.  That's the only way I know how to put it. Twins are making progress at school, Michael adjusting quicker than our Kaylee.  Alex is running everywhere, still struggling with anemia, but we are making improvements with his levels of iron.  Joseph and Liana are home everyday after school helping out, gving up a social life for now till I am better.  They do the late afternoon and evening shifts so Mickey can go to work at night...have to say, I hate this, but it is working out ok thus far.

This week we're featuring the artwork of Jaime and Jeffrey Rugh, artists who live in New Jersey and have produced an awesome line of posters that promote understanding about autism. Today: We're here. We're weird. Get used to it. 

http://www.yaiautismcommunity.org/blog/?p=145

(A month old, but I still think it flies...JS)

Alex goes to sleepaway camp at the end of this month. This will be the third year he’s gone to sleepaway camp, and I still have no idea what he thinks of the idea.

That’s not strictly true. “He spent last night crying. This morning, he ate a banana,” his counselor/para/shadow told us on the phone a couple of years ago. “This afternoon, he patted the horses.”

And, after his first week at camp, Alex felt so independent that when he got home he bolted from a playground in Central Park and we had about 100 cops looking for him. They found him in the Zoo garage eating saltines.

Alex’s history with sleepaway arrangements – which, strangely, corresponds almost exactly to arrangements to sleep until 10:30 by me and my wife Jill – was typified by Alex’s first experience with overnighting about three years ago, when we signed him up with a superb group that runs camps on long holiday weekends year-round.

Large boys went to this camp, goliaths who’d been going since baby Alex was fed through a tube in the hospital. All the moms dropping off their quiet, rocking, huge sons said their kids loved the camp, and that they’d been sending their kids since they were 9 or 10. Alex took a turtle suitcase to that camp; it broke my heart to see him pulling it down the sidewalk. But it was Jill’s cheeks that shined in the streetlamps that night he first boarded the big, big bus on upper Columbus Avenue after, when she asked for a kiss goodbye, Alex spun on the bus steps and snapped, “Kiss good-bye!”

“My little bear!” she kept saying in the streetlamps.  read more »

Something that I have been trying to tell folks is that there is a new genreation of people with Autism that are more aware and have more and better advocates for these people. I would like to think that my son is on the leading edge of the generation of the more informed parents....Here's what I mean when my son was diagnosed it was more or less at the beginning or the internet age and the 24 hr news cycle, I have more access to information to the parents before me and he parents of younger children will have more access to information than me....and with that we will all be more informed and be better advocates for our children and at this time I do not think that many programs outside of school districts are ready which could be a huge problem for our kids...There needs to be a huge shift in the way that programs for adults with Autism see our children and us.

We're getting ready for Alex to return to school - we found lots of great tips, videos, resources and some items for sale (well-priced) at Iteachautism.com. Check our blog for more: http://ow.ly/nMqi

This week we're featuring artwork by the Rugh family workshop. We'll give away a poster at the end of the week to one reader who leaves a comment. Today's piece features a nice quote from Dan Zanes, who was very nice to Alex when he was a toddler. I've always liked Dan Zanes because of that, and it was nice to see that the Rughs used a quote of his in their terrific work. 

well i don't know were to start well we just found out our 20month old sweet little girl has autism what level she is still uncertain they are still running some tests i was hoping i could get some insights on what i can do to help her or to just hear other peoples experiences and some insight of what i can expect next there is no support groups in my area and i can really use the insight so i can help her.

Hi Everyone,

For up to date reports on the ranch go to http://www.thewyattfoundation.com. Thank you for the donations to help with the facilities, as you know we are planning on May 2010 to open but we still have a ways to go to get the project completed.  

With the down turn of the economy, it is taking us longer than planned and we know it is hard to give right now. We need everyone’s help and every dollar counts, large or small. Please go to the website to sign up for services and to make a donation.

God Bless,

Joe & Denise Hardy
Founders
The Wyatt Foundation
http://www.thewyattfoundation.com

My husband Jeff posted a link to a really inspirational story on our site (autismvox.com) - a woman who was diagnosed with autism at age 2 has been working with Goodwill Industries for job training. They saw that she was really quick and could cut unusable donated shirts into rags, so they helped set her up with her own business. Now she works about 25 hours a week producing hundreds of pounds of rags, which are sold to all kinds of business. It gives me hope for all the children out there (including my own son) who may not communicate that well verbally but are certainly smart and can learn many things. 

http://www.blisstree.com/autismvox/rags-to-robots/ 

The Rughs are a husband and wife team who produce and design beautiful posters that support and communicate positive messages about autism. These awesome bright graphics remind me of Corita Kent and Alexander Girard. They will give away one poster to someone who comments on our blog: http://www.blisstree.com/autismvox/winning-walls-fantastic-poster-giveaway/

It's nice to see autism artwork branching out so creatively!