Weblog » Archives » December 2010
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Space Invaders
Cubby has been making strides in his occupational therapy sessions. What’s more, he is getting better at dealing with people outside his familiar surroundings. Better than I am at helping him to deal with… -
The spectrum of autism parenting
We all go through those times where we either a) defer decision-making to the experts or b) come to an IEP meeting with both barrels loaded, ready to fight to the death for our kids. What we often forget is that rais… -
Autism Asperger's Friendship Society of Calgary
One of the great pleasures of doing our Autism Today conferences is the opportunity they bring to partner with leaders and groups in our host communities. You never know what good things will come from these grass… -
Is That Right? or Left?
How do we determine hand dominance? It's a question about James that's been bugging me for almost a year. His sister was pretty easy to determine as a right-handed and footed person because she consistently used the rig… -
Parents Role in the the IEP Team
Definition: The term "IEP" refers to Individualized Education Program, and is most often used in conjunction with special services or for providing instructional services for a child with special needs. It is an on… -
Felony Charges against an 11-year old boy with Autism
A family is upset at felony charges filed against of their 11-year-old autistic boy in the Florida panhandle, claiming the school he attends used him as an example to avoid cuts for school resource deputies. The boy,… -
Never Losing Hope
photo: RebekahPope.com* The dishes had been cleared. The nightly biomedical supplement routine completed. I stood in the kitchen face to face with a tall girl playing a spur-of-the-moment version of patty-cake. Our ow… -
Award for the Grace App
An iPhone app developed in Ireland has been awarded a WSA World Summit Mobile Content Award this week in Abu Dhabi. Lisa Domican, a mother of two children with autism, traveled halfway across the world to collect the… -
Knock, knock?
Like every other parent on the planet we trudge along the treadmill in a relentless quest for growth and development. But for more than a couple of years we’ve also been pursuing an interest in telling jokes a… -
Please Pay Attention to the Small Stuff!
Brandon and I went out to lunch yesterday and he looked so handsome. He had a very close shave, which surprised me. Shaving has always been a big problem, due to lack of his fine motor skills. He was in a talkative moo… -
Being Prepared and Mature Autism
One of my joys in life is reading Amalia Starr’s Autisable Blog, her latest touched on the need to be prepared and it started me thinking about my own efforts to be prepared. I do not like surprises (unless I&r… -
Children with Autism - Not Autistic Children
Like the post about my stuttering (or at least the lack of stuttering now ). This is another post that has been in the back of my mind for a long while and I haven't had a chance to really sit down and write it all ou… -
Creating the Uni-Turtle
My son wishes that he was a uni-turtle, but this was not always the case. There was a time when he was a boy. A beautiful toe-headed boy with blue eyes. Like all boys, he liked to get dirty and play rough. Sometimes… -
Why I am Always Wrong?
Have you ever heard of a concept called groupthink? Also known as the 'herd mentality', it's probably what got Jesus killed. It is also the reason that I refuse to take part in social interaction. Creativity, uniquen… -
Cure and Confusion
I think back a few years ago, all the struggles we first encountered as a family dealing with autism. All the books I read and the utter confusion of everything I read. Nothing made sense and it made us feel very alo… -
HELP!
On Christmas Eve, after HRH had his bath I sat him on my lap. I wrapped my arms around his body, pinning his arms to his chest. Mr LS straddled his legs, securing one of his ankles between his knees and proceeded to… -
Birds and Bees
Nate and I were eating breakfast the other morning, you know, like you do. He was having waffles and I was having my peanut butter and jelly on english. All of sudden, without warning, he asks me this: "Mom, what does… -
Spectrum Blogs
Hope, Encouragement, Support and Solutions were what I needed when it first became clear that my son behaved a little differently from other children. My friends and family did their very best to be supportive, b… -
2010 Book of the Year Award by Creative Child Magazine
Picky, Picky Pete written by Michele Griffin and published by Future Horizons is the 2010 Book of the Year Award by Creative Child Magazine. Before posting the runners- up, let me tell you about the Creative Child Magaz… -
Becoming social (because of NAET)
My daughter “Shannon” has been going to a regular Tuesday evening party hosted by someone in her prayer group. She happily reports conversing with various people. Some of them are family friends she shoul… -
Book Review: "My Parent has an Autism Spectrum Disorder A Workbook for Children and Teens" by Barba
This is a great book for anyone starting a journey of discovery following a diagnoses of autism. It may seem curious at first to know that an adult, and in this case a parent, has been diagnosed with autism, but it i… -
Discrimination of people with ASD in Sweden
Today after the EU programmes and declarations, about stop the discrimination and the call to change attitudes towards the people with Neuropsychiatric diagnosis, we would been more accepted and would have a bigger ch… -
Living With Non-Verbal Learning Disorder (NLD)
We've all read articles on Autisable about Autism and Asperger's, but I don't know if many of you know there is a higher functioning "version" of these disorders. It's called Non-Verbal Learning Disorder (NLD). I was di… -
Birthday Dreams
What's different about 23? Let me tell you a story, not for any sort of sympathy, but so that you understand the importance of today. When I was 16, my mom and my best friend threw me a huge Finding Nemo surprise par… -
Looking into the Lives Lost to Autism
While stories of deaths involving the autism spectrum are rarely reported outside of local affiliates, there’s no secret to the potentially stressful challenge that lies for caregivers of autistic people, part… -
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
This post is brought to you today bearing Mixed news, developments, and gratefulness. Let me start with the good news! -
Your Date and Your Child with Autism
The decision to introduce someone you’ve been dating to your child can herald a number of concerns for all parties involved, but it can be especially anxiety-inducing if you have a child with autism. First there a… -
A reflection on the Past
I did this a long long time ago, back when I had a lot more certainty that I could receive an autism diagnosis. Now, times have caused great changes, and I'm not so certain it wasn't brain damage. I still present like… -
Compliments are Hated
Children come in all shapes and sizes, as do parenting guides. One of the cardinal rules of parenting is to praise a child for a job well done. Fortunately this is a natural instinctive rule that matches the facial ex… -
The Admission
I'm terrible at waiting. The explanation: When I realize I need something at the mall, I want to go now. When I want to paint a new paint-by-numbers, I want it today. When it's time to go somewhere (especially vac… -
Everything will be OK
One of the first things that "they" do when your child is diagnosed with a disability is to try to strip away your hope. They do this by telling you that your kid won't have a "normal" childhood, they won't be a "no… -
A New Definition of Irony
Irony is: missing the presentation on the cool Kindergarten program that we feel our son could benefit from, given all his wonderful progress this year, because ... we are still wresting with the BM portion of potty tr… -
Merry Christmas
From: the Autisable team Image Source -
The Crocodile at Night
HRH is at that wonderful, funny stage of speech where there is a stream of babble. Sometimes I can understand what he is saying, but mostly I can't, no matter how hard I try. I tend to chatter back to him anyway, as i… -
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and More
Hi Everyone, I did not leave the planet as some of you may have thought. I did leave the country for a bit but have been back for awhile. I have many, many excuses for letting the blog go and could write you a long lis… -
Visting the Grandparents
On her website, JK Rowling talked about how Harry and Dudley would remain close enough to visit each other during holidays and other times they were "in the neighborhood." She also said Lily, James, and Albus wo… -
Holiday Tips for Parents
The holidays are not always easy for people on the autism spectrum. Holiday parties, lengthy meals with relatives, crowded houses, and gift-anxiety can be really stressful for people on the spectrum. The behavior ex… -
To the mothers of AS children from an AS
I have noticed that much of the public postings on Autisable come from mothers of children who are on the spectrum. My mom is my personal hero and, for Christmas, I would like to share a little about our relationsh… -
Holiday Special: The Grocery Store Diaries!
Dirty Looks: More than you should get during the holiday season! Damage control: We knocked over: five boxes of cheerios, four yogurt cartons, three soup cans, two red apples, and a some ice cream in the deep f… -
Christmas Play and Autism
Christmas holidays have arrived and with it they bring the crazy, lots and lots of crazy. My girls are so hyped by the impending arrival of Christmas day it has been a struggle to get them to focus on much at all. We go… -
Christmas with Autism
"What do your children want for Christmas?" The discussion board posed the question. For several years after my daughter's diagnosis of autism, Christmases were emotionally challenging. It's a holiday keenly focused on… -
I am going to Relax
After my umpteenth post about our school issues, some of you wisely suggested I take a break from the ills of the public education system in order to relax and enjoy the holidays. And, being the type that always doe… -
Finding Gratitude
It is this time of year that we take stock of what we have and overlook what we have not. There is so much to be grateful for. Jeff, Neal and I are so blessed to have so many wonderful friends, supportive family an… -
Court Awards Family For Vaccine Caused Autism
NAA Applauds Decision to Compensate Poling Family, Calls for More Vaccine Research The National Autism Association joins thousands of parents nationwide in support of the federal claims court’s decision acknowledg… -
In Her Eyes
My girls were given this entire week of Thanksgiving off thanks to the Furlough days of the school district. I dont ever remember being given this many days off when I was younger - lucky ducks! So while, they cannot s… -
New Doctor is Working Out Well
I finally had that talk with the new psychiatrist about collegeman. He had implied in all of our meetings that collegeman could not pursue the education he wanted because of his autism. Whether it was telling me how la… -
Special Education Students and Classrooms
Last week, Ofsted released into the wild “A Statement is Not Enough”, a new report addressing whether the needs of SEN pupils are being met. It transpires that, in their view, they’re not. The report… -
Growing old with autism
Hello. How does one begin a 'blog'? Many days have elapsed for this to be a comprehensive record of my journey. I will be 40 in less than 3 months and, believe it or not, I have just recently discovered what I am. For… -
Fud Trauma!!!
Some of you might have seen my shout out for help on Facebook and Twitter recently: “OMG planning a gluten free, dairy free, nut free, mango & kiwi fruit free, vegetarian XMess lunch is challenging” I t… -
Merry Early Christmas Everyone!
Unfortunately, due to our travel schedule, and preperations, yesterday was the only day I had to do an update. And I had really planned on doing one! (Really!) What I didn't plan on was getting sick as a dog, falling… -
iTunes and Autism One
I have recently discovered a plethora of wonderful resources for Autism and anything else for that matter..iTunes! There are so many great podcasts on iTunes and they are for the most part FREE! One that I thoroughly e… -
Socially Awkward
We speak social anxiety here, the both of us. Yes, Nathan has difficulty with social situations, it comes with the territory. You may not know that I struggle with it, too. People are surprised when I tell them that I… -
Book Review: Happy Families
(published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 14th May 2010, ISBN: 978-1-84905-084-5, ?9.99) authors, Carmelite Avraham-Krehwinkel and David Aldridge My initial issue with this book was with the question – ‘… -
Update on the Autism Act 2009 in England
The Autism Act 2009 was the first ever disability-specific law in England. This Act did two main things. First to put a duty on the Government to produce a strategy for adults with autism, which was published on 2nd M… -
VIP Soccer Program
Saturday the 20th was the last game of the season for soccer. My oldest daughter (PDD-NOS) absolutely LOVES soccer, my youngest (NT) well lets just say she wants to be there to BE there! If you know what I mean. She i… -
Welcome to the Madhouse
Our guest blogger this week is Fiona from Australia. Fiona says: Our family is amazing, funny, and full of many laughs, tears, craziness and fun. So come on in – Welcome to the madhouse! -
An Anniversary with Tourette's
Tourette’s Syndrome is a fascinating disorder. I realized my first anniversary of having the full-blown disorder was this month, and it is worth commemorating in some way. So I thought I’d try (again, and… -
Jacquelyn's Story
“Mom, I changed my mind…” Just the fact that my six year old daughter can speak those words nearly brings me to tears. I find myself near tears a lot lately because Jacquelyn is becoming more typical a… -
AWN: Autism Women's Network
The Autism Women’s Network (AWN) offers crucial support to women, teens, girls and families on the autism spectrum... please take a moment today to read this and take action to let them know that not only does… -
Purpose-built autism unit opens at Skibbereen's Rossa College
The unit has a large main room divided into different sections for different activities. There is also a sensory room, a kitchen, a toilet and a utility room. There are three boys and one girl in the class, with one t… -
Side Effects
One of the things that Nathan suffers from (besides me, ahaaaa! Oh...I slay me) is seasonal eczema. His skin gets very dry and scaly. Now, common wisdom would have me put on some sort of skin cream to keep his skin mois… -
Autistic Children Found to Exhibit Cellular Energy Defects
While the causes of autism remain largely unknown, a study funded by Autism Speaks may shed light on a new method of testing for the disorder that can be conducted through blood-work, allowing for earlier detection in… -
Lack Of Evidence To Support Use Of Antidepressants For Autism
Antidepressants commonly prescribed to people with autistic spectrum disorders cannot be recommended based on current evidence, a new study by Cochrane Researchers concludes. Despite some evidence of benefits in ad… -
Improvising Helps Social Skills
Improv (improvisational comedy) can be a great way for Aspies (and NTs too) to learn body language, tones of voice and unscripted conversation. Sandy Bruce - grandmother of an Aspie, in fact - has set up an improv gro… -
Disney Magic
I know I wrote a little about our Disney experience while we were away, but I really don’t think I gave the place enough credit. I know a lot of you find Disney to be a bit much, but that is the level of sti… -
You know your a parent to a child with Aspergers when...
Now I know that every child on the spectrum is different and no two children are the same! But I’m guessing there are a good few parents/careers that can relate to one or two of these…. You know you&rsquo… -
Autistic girl earns black belt in Taekwondo
It’s great to see the Las Vegas Sun reporting that an 8-year-old autistic girl earned a black belt in Taekwondo. Sonya Dilks, who has been training since she was 2-years old, is one of the youngest students to… -
The Teacher is Autism
November 2010 crept in and then out again quietly. The previous November was not so quite for Juli, Gordon and Ben Liske, one of 18 diverse families who shared their journeys with the complex disorder of autism. Th… -
"Move on, there's no room here"
In some respects I can understand how Mary and Joseph felt as they were turned away in Bethlehem; after knocking on every door only to be told, "Move on, there's no room here". Mary was laboring and heavy with… -
It Must be Really Hard to be Neurotypical (NT)
Photo by Horia Varlan I really don't understand people. They get upset about things and won't explain why they are upset. It doesn't make sense because if I knew why they were upset I would make sure I didn't do that th… -
I'll do it my way, thank you very much!
Marianna lives in Virginia, USA. She says: I'm a stay-at-home mom with two boys, Xander, 7 and Spencer (the obnoxious) 4. I've been married for 14yrs. Xander has infantile autism, not regressive. He was diagnosed a… -
My Son's Special Plea To Holly Robinson Peete
Things have been crazy around here this week. The kids came down sick. Lizzie is home sick today, but Dean was able to go to school. Yesterday, the kids were home because of the snow and ice. It wasn’t that ba… -
How you can help treat your child's autism
A reader writes: “Dear Heather, My son was recently diagnosed with a form of autism called Pervasive Developmental Disorder/Not-Otherwise-Specified. He is six years old. We had been trying to find the right d… -
Does Diet affect those with Asperger's?
My little brother has Asperger's. One common trend we see is that his diet affects his mood. For example, milk or ice cream, anything with dairy, can send him in a downward spiral to a meltdown literally within minute… -
Spending time with the Family
I know that you think this post will be something sappy about a baby or a wedding. Ha! If you do then you don't have a child with autism. Or you know something that I don't since I currently don't know anyone that is… -
Swinging the Other Way
James used to scream if we tried to get him on or near anything that swung. When he was a baby, I used to be able to swing him in the bucket seats no problem. Somewhere around age 18-24 months, swinging became an ac… -
Eating Adventures
If you grew up in the 70's (oh brother, did I just say that?), this is what you would see during commercials. -
Approaches to Treating Autism
At the Autism Edmonton Conference, Parents, Families, Caregivers and Professionals discovered how to make significant improvements in the life of a child with autism, including: -
Two Down, One to go: IEP's and other things
It's been a crazy week. Crazy couple of weeks really... I think I've averaged about 4 hours of sleep a night. Finally got some rest last night but my brain is still fried, so here are some random updates: -
Summing it Up
It’s the usual rigmarole, or rather it isn’t – a variation on a theme. I’ve not visited the Bird shop for a couple of years, so I am quite delighted on Christmas Day. The boys went there, with… -
Is "Retarded" An Insult?
Let me just start by saying this is a post that is meant to include not only individuals with autism, but individuals with intellectual disabilities as well. I just didn't know where I could post this weblog. I am a dou… -
What I've been up to lately...
IEP meeting, my birthday, a potty chart filled, and bloodwork ordered... That's what I've been up to! I haven't written a new post in a few days, (I know Jen, I probably made you nervous) because we have been busy.… -
Test Post - 7NKG6NKQCWBH
We are linking up on Technorati - hence this post. Sincerely, The Autisable Team. ------------- Do you use Technorati? Why/Why Not? -
The Brother and Sister
One of the things that I fail to see anyone talk about is the other important people involved in Autism.... the siblings. These people are warriors and they are PISSED OFF people. They are sick of you looking at… -
Just Add Water
If you want to see my son Jacob completely lose it, if you want to see him totally fall apart, weeping and wailing like his puppy just died (no we don't have a puppy)? Get him wet. -
Help! His OCD is hard to deal with!
The aspie in my life relates better to female "friends." But, it's hard to deal with his OCD, obsession with these women. When he meets a woman (female) that he wants a relationship with obsessively, it's hard for me to… -
Recipe GFCF: Banana Bread
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and NOT do a blog about Christmas Cookies. LOL! I've decided that there is still a place in the month of December for some good ol' Banana Bread. Also, I have recently acquired a mini m… -
What does a smile mean?
One of the biggest problems of Asperger people in love is that we can’t tell a false “salesman” smile from a genuine nurturing smile. One smile is delivered for the benefit of the smiler; it’s… -
Meeting a Livestock Behavior Expert
Many people get excited about meeting their favorite rock star or movie star… not me, I wanted to meet a livestock behavior expert!! You may ask, ‘Why on earth would Alterna-Mom, a mid-west special needs m… -
This is A LOT of Therapy
When I received our schedule for this coming week, it hit me for the first time that this is A LOT of therapy. So I thought I'd show the world what a week in our lives is like. I'm not doing this to complain, just… -
My intro
My name is Stephanie Mayberry. I am a writer, photographer, wife and I work for the federal government. I also have Asperger's Syndrome. Most of the time, my AS doesn't bother me too much. I hardly notice the differen… -
Good organizations for Asperger's kids?
Okay, so since this is a network of folks on the spectrum, I'm hoping you can give me some recommendations for best organizations. I've thought about trying to get him involved in things like 4-H...maybe Boy Scouts w… -
Preparing for Holiday Activities & Autism
Do visitors and the disruption of regular routines present problems for your child? Try this.................. 1) Write a social story about a specific event that you think may be difficult for your child; prepare th… -
Three Book Reviews: Guides for Kids With ASD
In a previous post, Yoga Helping Autistic Children, I wrote about the amazing benefits yoga classes seem to bring to individuals with Autism. My post was especially about how Yoga helps autistic kids get in touch with… -
Lighten up!
I don’t believe people when they say they don’t want sympathy for their child’s disability. Check the thesaurus, sympathy isn’t a bad thing. -
Great Autism Websites
1. Autism Victoria 2. PictureSET – Boardmaker images, visual schedules etc 3. Carol Gray and The Gray Centre – Social Stories -
OT And Speech Sessions with Videos
We have good days and bad days with therapy. Yesterday, we had both. His OT therapy started off with my son selecting yes for the tire swing. It turns out, he didn’t want the tire swing. He wanted to swing, tha… -
Part 2 - Travel Tips and ASD Children
A continuation of the great travelling tips from Lisa. Tales from the World of Extreme Parenting - H is for Holidays! Part 2. Part 1 is here. 4. At the Airport Check In, Security and when Boarding: Bring your Brass… -
Book Review: Not Just Spirited
Say hello to Chynna Laird and her daughter, Jaimie. Jaimie has Sensory Processing Disorder. I was fortunate enough to get an advanced copy of this book. Let me tell you folks, I thought I had it tough with Nathan. Afte… -
On the Spectrum #98: A Subtle Difference + D.C. Trip
Sorry it's just a 2-panel one this week. I didn't update last week as I'd originally planned and we had a family outing planned today as well, so I was still short on time. In any case I didn't want to miss yet ano… -
Top 10 iPhone and iPad Apps for young children.
Anyone who regularly reads my blog knows that I am a gadget lover. Readers will also know that my children are gadget lovers and huge Apple fans. We have an iTouch, an iPhone and an iPad. Given my love of all things ga… -
The Christmas Card
Christmas cards have been a hot debate among me and my friends lately. Do we send them out the "right" way? Do we email them out to some people? Do we just post them on the social sites for all to look if they… -
ASD and being Bilingual
Although I was born here, I spoke Spanish first. My parents wanted me to speak Spanish so I would be able to speak to the family whom some lived in Mexico. It was fine, until I got to school. I was placed in ESL class… -
The Apple of His Eye
Last April we got an iPad for Josiah. After reading about the iPad and watching some videos, I had a hunch that this would be something that Josiah would dig. He already loved buttons, electronics, music and anything th… -
Birthday Triumph
After a wonderful trip for ice cream with friends, a visit to Mom's office, and a pot roast sandwich at Eat n Park, I headed home so that L could pick me up and we could go to the party (my Esther Bible study was showi… -
Overcoming Shame
Thirty-seven years ago while raising my son, Brandon, I often found myself stuck in shame, frozen with fear, and paralyzed by pride. I have had private “Why me” parties. I made signs that said, “Unfa… -
A Myth about Autism
MYTH: I'm the one that lacks social skills. On Thursdays at work, I work with two women in their early 60s, J and D. For probably 3 1/2 of the past 5 months, I've had it worked out in my head. Both are nice to my face… -
Speech Delay's and the Annual Holiday
A speech delay can be a curious thing, for both the speaker and the listener. Around here, for the longest time, my youngest son has prefaced most of his remarks with the warm up phrase –‘I am be.’… -
About 'First Things First' - A Series of Articles
Every night before I pass out in complete exhaustion (or when the repetitive motion of grinding my teeth has lulled me into dreamless oblivion), I thank the Universe for what I've been given. It doesn't matter what i… -
Stopping the Violence Against Autistic Individuals
How Can We Stop Violence Against Autistic Persons? Kristina Chew asked this question on Care2 How can we stop violence against autistic individuals? I’ve been thinking about this a lot. With the rate of autism… -
Christmas with Curious George
I am a Jew, and I love Christmas. I make no apologies for this. I was not raised celebrating Chanukah, and I feel no attachment to this holiday; I never even learned the prayers you're supposed to sing when you light… -
Part 1 - Travel Tips and ASD Children
The Lovely Lisa has come back to do a guest post. No introductions needed, welcome back Lisa! Tales from the World of Extreme parenting - H is for Holidays. Part 1. As a mother of two children with Autism who have… -
I still Love him.
I love him with everything I have in me. Every fiber of my being wakes every morning praying his windows are wide open and its not raining inside the house we share. some mornings I find a bright breezy young man who… -
I Write about Autism for You
People blog for different reasons. Some people do it solely for themselves, to process their experiences and document their journeys. I am not one of those people. While it's true that I gain a lot from my writings… -
BPA, Autism and why NAET works
It’s becoming clear to me that NAET really does help treat autism. Our daughter “Shannon,” as I said in a previous post, is actually becoming social now. In every other respect, she has become normal o… -
Improving conversational skills with Allan Pease
Hello, Allan Pease, world-famous communications expert (and previously author of multiple collections of rude, nasty, politically incorrect and totally hilarious jokes) helps us give and receive compliments. Regardless o… -
A Trick with The Blanket
*Rest assured, no blanket was harmed while conducting this very unscientific research. Or children, forgot the children bit! We have discovered something questionable pretty exciting, a new way to help HRH learn. He… -
The Overall Annoyance Quotient
Penelope Trunk, Aspie career blogger and entrepreneur, has posted five ways she believes Aspies can be less annoying at the office. Ms. Trunk has recounted her own experiences as an Aspie, in this post and elsewhere,… -
National Special Needs Parents Day: What's your Vote?
Congress is considering a resolution that would establish a national day of recognition honoring parents of special needs children, and I was surprised to see some of our fellow SN parents get up in arms about this.… -
These are the most beautiful people you'll ever meet.
For somebody really special to me. Some of the most beautiful people you'll ever meet, are those who might not be just like us; People who do not talk the same, look the same or act the same, Yet these people teach u… -
D-Day
Tomorrow is D-day. Our IEP meeting. The school district will tell us Ava's fate. They will outline an educational plan (the IEP - Individual Education Plan) and give us an idea of where will best implement this plan… -
A Proud Math Student
This is Zoe, who studies math with me. She has come so far this year and last! I’m proud of her hard work, and wanted to show you her system for multiplying. It is often hard for her to remember all the times… -
He Said Something!
Apparently C Spoke! After listening to high pitched oooooo’s and eeeee’s for 21 years I didn’t hear C's first words!! ‘Allegedly’ 1 member of staff heard C say... ‘hello’! No… -
Project Linus and being "blanketeers!"
As you may have guessed, we really enjoy Disney World, so when the ad campaign came out late last year to “ Give a Day, Get a Disney Day“, I thought I’d see if there was something we could do togeth… -
The Colorado Children's Immunization Coalition
One day while looking at things on Twitter, I came across the Colorado Children’s Immunization Coalition. I was impressed! People who know what they are talking about and work hard to get children life-saving vac… -
The Squeaky Wheel Gets the Grease
Question: How do we give all our children the same amount of time? A mom, who has several children, and her youngest, age four, has autism asked this question. Answer: -
Childish Ways
While I know that a teenager can be considered a child...I can't help but feel I am slightly immature for a teenager at the age of 15. Today, it snowed. Everyone is annoyed with it, everyone wants it to go - except m… -
More about Oxytocin
More evidence is coming out about Oxytocin as a possible treatment for autism. I don't want to use the word "cure" because I think a healthy dose of optimism should be tempered with a healthy dose of caution. The Wa… -
Under the Autism Umbrella
Earlier this year, the APA announced a huge change in the upcoming DSM-V. They said that Asperger's Syndrome would now be considered part of Autism and does not merit a separate diagnosis. -
What more can I say?!
Do I have regrets? Yes, I have a few. I regret I didn't listen to my Mom. But what 19 year old really does? My children were not stolen by Autism. Their souls were not the victims of a cruel hijacking. Fate did n… -
Idioms
He accosts me in the kitchen, burbling, the same phrase over and over. “It’s not good dear. I can’t understand a word you’re saying. It’s sounds as if you have a mouthful of marbles.&rdq… -
The CHARGE Study program
Talking to the person from the UCD MIND Institute has got me thinking again about our participation in the CHARGE Study. When James was formally diagnosed in 2007, our case worker from the Regional Center mentioned the s… -
Frustration and Regret
Today I am going to change Dannie's daily quote slightly and explain how frustration can lead to doing things which you later regret. This quote isn't so much about Dannie but more about what I have unfortunately… -
Autism and Intelligence: The Facts
WordPress has a nifty feature which tracks the search terms people use which lead them to this blog. One of the most common queries is some variation on, “Can autistic people be smart?” or from another a… -
Knowing What We're Up Against
Moving to California gave us both a feeling of excitement and dread. We were in Colorado for a reason, i.e. getting away from the hustle and bustle of southern California and coming to cleaner air and open spaces. -
Remember that Joy
Being a parent is a troubling experience. There are no lessons you can take, no exams you need to pass. The only thing you can do is your best, and hope that your child or children survive childhood relatively unscat… -
Bastard Behavior
I've been MIA for the last week because sometimes autism sucks. Sucks my energy, sucks the air out of the room, sucks my patience. Over the last couple of weeks, we've seen an increase in what I like to call Bastard Be… -
National Database for Autism Research
According to ModernHealthcare.com the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has created a portal to give autism researchers access to information on more than 10,000 participants in ASD studies. The National Database for… -
Aspergers and Business Networking
Recently I wrote a blog post about using social media to make new friends and build relationships when socializing in the ‘real world’ can be difficult for those of us with Aspergers. Yesterday business ne… -
Apples and Oranges
I was a little bothered the other day to see an exchange on twitter when an autism parent of a high functioning child told another parent of a non-verbal child that they had worked hard to achieve success (namely spee… -
Super Special Parents and the Five Powers of Awesomeness
Found out that someone else is using "Extreme Parenthood" as a theme for Special Needs Parents finding their power. So I'm gonna go back to an old favourite - Using your special powers. Like all super heroes you have… -
Chocolate Chip Cookies & Adventures of a Gluten Free Mom
In my book, once Thanksgiving is over...it's time to prepare for Christmas: finish shopping, blow the dust off the fake christmas tree (no I won't deal with a real tree thank you very much), decorate, get out the addr… -
Flax Oil promotes good behavior in children with ADHD
This is an article I wrote an article about Flax Oil - Flax Oil promotes good behavior in children with ADHD. I was truly amazed to find out about the deficiencies of Omega 3 in our children's diets. My son has ADHD, A… -
Not being Wanted
Excuse my writing in this post, I’ve not been feeling too good recently. Education has always felt important to me. I always took a long time to complete an assignment, or do anything for that matter…but wh… -
An Interview with Dr. Pletnikov
Associate Professor, Mikhail Pletnikov, M.D., Ph.D. Photo: Mikhail PletnikovJohn Hopkins Medicine researchers have released new study results on the gene, DISC1, which has been previously linked to mental health… -
The Problematic Term of ASD - Continued...
The other day, I offered some thoughts on the planned use of “ASD” to replace the separate diagnoses of Autistic Disorder (AD), Asperger’s Syndrome (AS), and PDD-NOS from a personal perspective. To… -
Going to School to Become a Teacher
I went through a funk at the beginning of this school year and finally, the air is starting to clear. It’s just that with both kids in school all day I had no idea what I wanted to do with myself. Actually, loo… -
Mystery Diagnosis
Part of why I was so anxious to get back into blogging was so that I could give you a peek into a life not only of a SAHM to two toddlers, but to a mom with a kid who has special needs. This is going to be a longer bl… -
A Continuation of An Inclusionary Tale
Thanks to all of you for your comments. It sounds like many of you have found great educational solutions for your children, and for that I am happy. I wanted to yet again delve into the subject of inclusion. M… -
Guest Post: Accidental Expert - On the Outside Looking In
I'm not here today, so as I'm driving home, Accidental Expert is "blog-sitting" for me today. Don't you just love her name! I wish I was clever enough to think of that name. But she still had it long before I starte… -
The Jacket and His Rebellion
I have come to the conclusion that highschoolboy has reached that apex of teenage insanity that all the childhood experts warn you about. In the past I have regaled you with stories replete with references to the eye-… -
The Best Thing? Really?
This news snipped caught my eye "Brain scan 'best thing so far" in detecting Autism." It seemed so cavalier that I clicked to the article. I do not agree. At most, it's an interesting future diagnostic tool. I see it… -
Receiving A Diagnosis
Receiving a diagnosis for your child of Autism Spectrum Disorder can be scary. What is the first thing you do when you get home from the doctor’s office after receiving the diagnosis? You either freak out, and h… -
The forest and the trees
The forest and the trees. It is about the forest and not the trees. Trees are good, but it takes a lot of them to make a forest. Autism is seeing only the individual tree or perhaps just the bark or the moss and g… -
Days like this don't happen often
I find that Brandon doesn’t always look his best. Often his shaves are not close enough and he misses some spots. His teeth are rather yellow, due to taking medication for his seizures. He has “hat hair&r… -
Oh, I could tell some Veggietales
Dear autism, Excellent Seats at the VT Live Show If it wasn’t for you, we wouldn’t be ASMT (Autism Society of Middle Tennessee) members. If we weren’t ASMT members we wouldn’t get awesome news… -
Battle of the pants 2010
A cold front came in a couple of weeks ago, bringing with it the annual "battle of the pants." It is the daily struggle to convince a certain boy that shorts are not appropriate for 30-40 degree weather and that coat… -
Don't rub them the wrong way
Hello, We see yet another study showing that brilliant boors lose out to likable dunderheads. Specifically, a recent study in the Journal of Consumer Research shows that customers get a bad feeling about places where… -
Autism/Asperger resources Needed
My next book, Be Different, goes on sale March 29 of 2011. I'm on the home stretch with editing right now. One part remains undone . . . the Reading and Resources chapter. And that's where I turn to all of you for… -
Shannon emerges from her autism cocoon
My daughter “Shannon” is now 23. She has Asperger’s. Being female, her case has been a mild one; she is somewhat anxious and has struggled to relate to other people, but she has not had serious emotion… -
Tackling the Chores
I don't know how it is for others, but I find that life moves in waves. Things can be going along okay and then, I get swamped. Someone gets sick, we go on vacation, stuff happens. The rhythms get disrupted and thing… -
Pretty Mummy
Cosmetic –noun 1. a powder, lotion, lipstick, rouge, or other preparation for beautifying the face, skin, hair, nails, etc. 2. cosmetics, superficial measures to make something appear better, more attractive,… -
Learning Problem Solving
Went to a [for me as a mother an energy draining] meeting at the Autism Center this week, where we are having test done and interview taken, and filling tons of questionnaires in to give us a better view of how to foc… -
Reading Love
I love that my boys all love to read :). -
Wanting more for Everyone
I was recently told by a manager of a residential home (not C’s) that because I have organized a Christmas lunch for the parents of C’s home that there must be a need in me to fix people. Other parents hav… -
Confessions from Householdsix
Amanda, with Confessions from Householdsix shares her story with us. I grew up in a military family, so I was a little familiar with family insurance coverage. Even given that, I was still surprised at the lack of cov…
autisable
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- Name: autisable
- Member Since: 3/26/2009
Autism Society Group Member
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Recent Weblogs
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To Medicate, or Not to Medicate
This is the question I have been ... -
Releasing the Grip
I am a problem solver. Most people who kn... -
Does Floortime Therapy Work? We're still waiting for the evidence.
I’ve been reading about Floortime/DIR Aut...
