Celebrating Autism

Those are the commercials that send shivers through me...I know every parent wants to do what is best for their child. Every parent wants their child to have an easy time of life not to have to struggle so much. I am sure you worry about the futures of your other children too...I think our job as parents of children on the autistic spectrum is to help them thrive in their world, not conform to ours. and the store... Walmart is way to big anyway!

I agree 100% and luckily I have not seen those commercials. A few years ago when the NBC stations did those shows that are now on DVD, I raved about one segment that showed how the low functioning kids could do things as adults. They showed this one boy in high school with his assistant nearby as he stocked soda bottles at a general store.

Then there was this girl who folded up pizza boxes for a few hours each day at a pizza shop and this one boy who reminded me of my nonverbal son who had his aide there watching as he vacuumed the hallways and rooms at a Holiday Inn or other chain. I liked how they did things based on their interests.

So much emphasis is placed on the newly diagnosed and then those that are in their teens have nothing to assist them later. Luckily here in CA there are things in place for that.

I am planning for high school and beyond for my HFA kid already and never understood how parents whose kids just graduated high school are now asking for resources. They need to plan and make arrangements and visit places. My sister is blind from a brain tumor and has worked with the ARC in NJ for years doing assembly work for Johnson and Johnson.

I saw a news story today how the Easter seals organization brought adults with disabilities to some place that was preparing meals for needy families. That was a good idea.

I am probably the worse parent for a newly dx'd family to contact as I never went through anger or denial and not one to go on and on about the loss of autism. I hear at my website from parents that go on and on about how smart their kid is and they are so worried about what is in store for their kids.

Then you got the ones that want to cure them and tell parents to take a lawyer to their first IEP meeting and to do lots of vitamins, supplements, diets, ABA and all this stuff.

I found some nice stores over at cafepress.com that have shirts and items I want to get. We already get lots of stuff for when going out in public for my son to wear, but these were really nice. BeAware of Autism, celebrate autism, thinking in pictures, understanding autistics.

It is interesting that many adults on the spectrum do not agree or get along with parents of kids. There is no solidarity within the community. Tell someone you do not agree with the vaccine controversy and you get lots of hate mail and stuff, just incredible.

These parents do not realize that their own children on the spectrum will feel the same way as the adults they butt heads with. Or the parents that want to hide the dx from school and family, who does that help?

I could go on, but check out my website for some articles on the topic

http://autismspectrumdisorders.bellaonline.com

I wrote something recently called Holiday Hints and an org sent me an email wanting to reprint it in their newsletter.

Bonnie I was very happy to find you here, I have read your articles for some time now..actually before I discover Gather.
I have from here an various other websites come in contact with adults on the spectrum..what an awakening that was! It made me take a look, a good look at how I raise my son so he won't be butting heads (too much) with me later on. I know I will make mistakes as a parent, but one I won't make is to underestimate him. Lord knows, right now I am the one doing the learning.

Lisa they do presentations to preschool classes about Autism...I would get in contact with the school psychologist and if she can't help then I am sure other organizations can... or maybe even you can ask to speak to the class or read a special book on Autism....My 6 year old is my spokesperson he introduces himself and then his little brother and explains that he has Autism and sometimes he does things a little differently and sometimes he does things he is not suppose to but he tries real hard!

I think it is very important that his classmates know, kindergarteners love to help and they could and it would be a learning experience for the too.

I have worked with autistic children who were magical. It sounds like your child is one of them. Accepting him as he is can help him learn to adapt to the world. Your unconditional love is the most powerful 'growth agent' a child can have.

Thanks Nathan, I hope to see a little give and take in adaptation part. I think a lot of classrooms would benefit from taking on an autistic friendly enviroment. "Changing the world one step at a time"

Bonnie Sayers wrote: "These parents do not realize that their own children on the spectrum will feel the same way as the adults they butt heads with." So true. I'm the father of a 16-yo autistic son and an 18-yo daughter in the broader phenotype. I think that one of the most beneficial things we have done as a family is to get to know and to *listen* to adults on the spectrum.

Hooray for Thinking Different!

I'd also like to recommend www.wrongplanet.net.

Cure? We don't need no stinking cure!