(April 26, 2013, Albatross University) — In a dramatic new breakthrough, researchers have concluded that autism is caused by being alive. “This is a great day for medical science,” said Dr. Ernest Eagerly, Director of the Department for the Medicalization of Humanity at Albatross University. “Our research team sorted through a myriad of studies linking [...]
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I've spent the past 24 hours feeling like a seriously crappy parent. Really. Welcome to the pity party.
Here's the deal: maybe I AM a crappy parent. Seriously! After all, it seems that autism parents can't do anything right. We're either labeled as martyrs by some if we fight too hard, or we're told that we've given up if we don't try hard enough. Don't get me started on the people who think that we're exaggerating or buying into the latest "fad" diagnosis or looking for an excuse for our child's behavior (which, of course, everyone else has an opinion on how you should deal with it). Continue reading
When I started working on the list of things I want in Alex's IEP, I slopped down my ideas on what I wanted to work on- things that he was struggling with in school and things we want at home. I looked at his current IEP, the long term goals I want for him, where I see him in 10 years, and listed what I thought might be the steps to get to there. I condensed the list down to 6 areas of concern, and gave it to them ahead of time to work what they could in where they could work it in. They wiggled and jiggled and condensed and managed and made as much of it fit as they could. One example is *spoiler alert* on #2, I mentioned his refusal to grasp objects. They took that and put it under #1 and his new goal is split into steps. Benchmarks, maybe. Like this:
Elgina Byrd was an autism mother from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania whose son Shawn Gauthney, Jr. has autism. Elgina Byrd died on July 4, 2012 from a stroke. She was 38 years old. Autism Light is designating Elgina Byrd an Autism Light posthumously because of her devotion as an autism mother and for her autism fundraising efforts. Elgina Byrd will also be added today to the Autism Light Memorial Roll.
John F. Morrison explained Elgina Byrd's relationship with her son Shawn this way: Continue reading
From TEDx. As I have always said...everything isn't about autism.
Play on Philly was designed to help the severely underprivileged in the Philadelphia area. The number reality is staggering for these children: dropout rates, crime, incarceration, government dependency.
Marc and Ashton - hanging out and being silly a few weeks ago! 
This is probably one of my favorite pictures of these two ..... such personalities and happiness!
As most of us know, April is autism awareness month. Many of us joined the "Light it Up Blue" campaign by Autism Speaks by wearing blue and/or turning on a blue light on April 2nd. Well, this year I decided I'd take it up another notch and I made a pledge to wear blue all 30 days of the month of April. Here are my 30 reasons why... not in any specific order, each just as important as the next:
This last part of the school year has been a bit challenging for our little dude. We are getting some notes coming home in his daily binder; “rough day”, “agitated”, “did not want to work with classmates in group”, “impatient”, “not waiting his turn”, etc. It’s the end of the school year and Henry is having a hard time holding it together some days. This is not surprising to me for a kid with an autism diagnosis. We work daily in the area of his social/emotional challenges. Always. Still.
I know I risk laying myself and my husband bare here but I can't help thinking this is extremely important. I want others to know its not just them.
The plain truth is not many relationships that involve special needs children make it the whole nine yards.
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The Fountain Theatre bills “On the Spectrum” by Ken LaZebnik as “not your (neuro)typical love story”…. and it certainly isn’t. It’s more than that…. it’s about a modern-day Romeo and Juliet in love… who both just happen to have autism. (Of course, during Shakespeare’s era, he would have a hard time writing “Romeo and Juliet” with lead autistic characters. The young lovers would have been institutionalized for having autism or left on the side of the cobblestone streets to beg for food or money).
