Autism Awareness Day

This boy is my world.

If you read our "Meet the Family" page under the header,

you'll read a short description of him there.

He's so much more.

This day every year helps to remind me

how far we've come.

C has made great strides, even in the last two years.

He's now a strapping 18-year old young man

with dreams and aspirations.

He always wants to cure the world's ills,

not being deterred by something as inconsequential as reality.

Autism Awareness Day is just another day to most,

but to us, it's personal.

We live with it day in and day out,

and it affects every aspect of our daily lives.

It's one of those things that as a parent,

you wish it could be you dealing with it

instead of the ones who mean the world to you.

We cope with it the best we can,

one day at a time,

but most days consist of at least one struggle.

This life is not easy, but awareness over time

will allow those of us affected to be better understood.

We don't seek pity or charity,

just the chance to prove

that autism is not something to be feared.

Over the years, we have met some amazing folks

who have shown their Godness to us

in the way they interact with C.

His way of moving through the world can be challenging,

but the blessing is in 

seeing others' compassion and understanding.

Recalling his para when he was in public school,

that woman is an angel on earth.

She believed in him when no one else did.

His therapist from Florida that we've recently reconnected with,

accepts him just as he is, not trying to change him.

Our family doctor here in the Piedmont,

is the most patient and kind doctor we've ever had.

These blessings in our lives have helped me be a better parent, 

a better person and a believer in the best of what humanity can be.

We will be lighting up our porch for the month of April,

to celebrate the progress of C and the world at large,

in coping with this very difficult condition.

We are so grateful to have this boy in our lives.

I can't imagine life any different.

God Bless all the Autism Families in our world.

Make It a Blue Day

Today is the onset of Autism Awareness Month.

We hope you'll join us in supporting those with autism

by placing a blue bulb on your porch or yard light.

It's a Blue Day

Today is Autism Awareness Day.

The day is recognized as a way to bring understanding to the community at large

about this most prevalent disorder.

We are going on our 11th year of living with it,

as C wasn't really diagnosed with Asperger's until he was about 5.

He hasn't been raised the way my folks raised me,

because

 typical solutions don't work when your child is not typical.

We've had to figure out what will work with each and every scenario,

and it's been a lesson in creativity for all of us.

He's improved in so many ways.

He still has sensitive hearing, 

but now he can sit in the same room when I vacuum without his headphones on.

He still talks too loud a lot of the time,

but a gentle reminder now helps him regulate his voice.

He sometimes has irrational fears (who doesn't),

but it is now easier to reason these things out.

His obsession passion has gone from construction equipment

to Legos to film editing,

but each venue has given him knowledge, pleasure, and a continuity in his learning.

Since we homeschool, he is able to explore these fields fully and without interruption.

The area in which he's made tremendous progress is in social skills.

This particular skill set has been quite challenging,

and we've learned to become very creative in our learning.

Thanks to a gifted play therapist, a lot of practice and patience, and just plain maturity,

he is more empathic than many typical teenagers.

He is more able now to let his heart shine through

when things go wrong.

My intent is not to simply brag about how great my kid is,

(although he really melts my heart),

but to bring an awareness to others,

that some of us have had to struggle tooth and nail

to get to where we are today.

It hasn't been easy,

but it's been the only journey we know.

Please wear blue today,

to honor all of those living with autism.

If you can, put a blue light bulb in your outside light fixture

for the month of April.

We are all in this together.

Blessings be...

Autism Awareness 2011 

Autism Awareness 2012 

Autism Awareness 2013 

Autism Awareness 2014 

Autism Awareness 2015

Autism Awareness

April is
Autism Awareness Month.

"WASHINGTON, DC (March 27, 2014)—
Today, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued the newest autism prevalence statistics. 
 For children born in 2002, the prevalence of autism was 1 in 68; 1 in 42 boys.  
Almost 60,000 US 12 year-olds likely have autism.  
Thirty years ago, autism affected 1 in 2,500 children; there has been a 37-fold increase."
-National Autism Association

We live with autism everyday.
Our son has Asperger's Syndrome,
which means that although his intellect is above average,
he struggles with social skills and relationship issues.
He wants to have friends, but he must learn how to do it.
I never really considered how important social skills were
until it became a problem for us.
It's been difficult for him to maintain friendships with kids his age.
He's always done better with younger children or adults.
So, we capitalize on that asset,
and give him opportunities to be among those age groups.
Adults are pretty amazed at his astounding vocabulary.
And wee ones just think he's funny.
You gotta make things work in your favor.

Homeschooling has been a blessing for us.
Instead of being sequestered with a limited age group,
and learning what someone else thinks is necessary,
we can concentrate on learning real-life skills.
His focus on Lego, electronics and robotics
keeps him fostering that love of learning.
What a great gift.

His success with verbal interactions has been due
in large part to the accessibility of practice time.
Whenever we are out in the community,
we coach him on appropriate behavior and conversation.
He understands that we are there for him, no matter what.
Because we chose not to have him spend his childhood
in the unnatural atmosphere of conventional schooling,
he has not only improved on those areas in which he needed assistance,
but he feels safe, secure and loved every single day.
That's no small matter.

We will be working on acquiring these skills as long as it takes.
Every new experience is an opportunity to learn, grow 
and become better versed in social communication.
Lest you think he's the only one learning,
I can assure you that his parents have benefited greatly.

Having a loved one with autism is never easy,
but it's the only life we know.
The world is not made for families like us.
Thankfully, God's given us the ability 
to create a world that does.



Here are past posts about autism:

2013
2012
2011

Autism Awareness Day

I'm blessed to be the mom of one pretty amazing boy.

We've been through our trials,
(which continue everyday),

but I know that our journey has served a purpose.

This essay really captures the feelings and experiences of 

so many special needs families.

It's well-known in disabilities circles,

but I'm not sure that typical folks have enjoyed it.

I hope this gives you an idea of what life is like

for those of us dealing with (sometimes) extraordinary challenges. 
As the latest numbers suggest,
it ain't gettin' better. 

Welcome to Holland

When you're going to have a baby, 

it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. 

You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. 

The gondolas in Venice. 

You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. 

It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. 
You pack your bags and off you go. 

Several hours later, the plane lands. 

The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? 

I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. 

All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. 

They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to

a horrible, disgusting, filthy place. 

It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. 

And you must learn a whole new language. 

And you will meet a whole new group of people 

you would never have met.

It's a different place. 

It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. 

But after you've been there for a while 

and you catch your breath, you look around.... 

and you begin to notice that Holland 
has windmills....

and Holland has tulips.

But everyone you know 
is busy coming and going from Italy... 

and they're all bragging about 

what a wonderful time they had there.

But... 
if you spend your life mourning the fact 

that you didn't get to Italy, 

you may never be free to enjoy the very special, 

the very lovely things ... 

about Holland.

c1987 by Emily Perl Kingsley. All rights reserved

***Please use a blue light in your lamp post for the month of April

to support Lil' Guy and others living with autism.  Thanks.***

 
TALU

Tuesday Tidings-Crafty & Thankful

I signed up to participate in Kim's

Dare to DIY challenge over at Newly Woodwards.

Having just gotten back from vacation,

it seemed unlikely I'd have time to put something together.

While hanging clothes out yesterday,

I was inspired to create a Thanksgiving banner of sorts.

My love for clothespins was all I needed.

Here's an easy way to create a banner for any occasion.

(I apologize for the poor picture quality,
my almost-new camera died during our recent vacation.)

I used clothespins, scrapbook paper, glue stick,

glue gun, scissors and a ribbon

I took from my gift wrapping station.

First I printed out letters to spell out my message

and then used the glue stick to adhere them

to the circle cut-outs.

The hot glue gun worked to keep them on the clothespins.

The ribbon was attached to the chosen surface

and the clothespins simply clip right on it.

Thankful to be one crafty chick!

Kudos to Kim for hosting

such an inspirational link-up!

Also shared here and here.

Blue Light Special

Autism Awareness Day

This blog is not about autism. 

This blog is autism.

Although I don't often talk about how autism affects

each and every moment of our waking life,

it is always there, like a constant companion.

We have been immersed in the highs and lows of it,

been through all the stages of anger, grief,

frustration, and helplessness,

and landed in a place of choosing to simply embrace it.

Having unraveled the truth of our family's destiny,

I have come to realize what a blessing

our lives are because of autism,

not in spite of it.
Autism did that.

My boy is my greatest teacher. 

Grateful doesn't even come close to describing how I feel about this amazing person

with whom I've been blessed to share my life.

There have been so many struggles along the way,

but through it all, he's taught me more about

myself than all those philosophical books

I read back in my 20's and 30's.

Experiential learning sticks.
Autism did that.

I never thought I was a strong person. 
Growing up, I was the only person in my family
who ever seemed to cry.

Always bawled during Lassie.
Talk about sensitive!

I've come to realize that it doesn't mean
that you're weak if you cry.

It shows how strong you are that you can
face and express your feelings. 
Autism did that too.

Having been through so many tough experiences with
Lil' Guy has made me stronger than I ever thought I could be.

There's nothing like someone messin' with your baby

to bring out the Momma Lion in you.

And so, this once 7 pound, 11 ounce bundle of cuddliness

has shown me exactly what I'm made of.

And all that I can be.

I'm evolving right along with him.
And this blog reflects that evolution.
Autism quietly but profoundly did that.

If just one person reads this and becomes

more compassionate, more understanding

and less judgemental about a child with autism,

it's a worthwhile endeavor.

We are still given looks of judgement or stared at on occasion.

The difference is, that because of taking this journey,

I no longer care what other people think of us.

They're not living the life.

The bonus is that it's helped me to be that much more

compassionate and caring about other people

with differences, whatever they may be.
Autism did that and so much more.

Although I don't agree with some of the positions

of the Autism Speaks organization,

I appreciate them bringing more awareness to the world

with their "Light It Up Blue" campaign.

We'll be switching out our porch light again this year

for the month of April,

and buying a few more bulbs for others to share.

If you don't currently know someone on the autism spectrum,
just wait a while.
With 1 in 54 boys being diagnosed,
it's inevitable.

For more information on autism,

click on these links:

http://nationalautismassociation.org/autism-prevalence-now-1-in-88-children-1-in-54-boys/

http://www.autismweb.com/



Autism Awareness Day

Top 10 Terrific Traits of Autistic People

By Lisa Jo Rudy, About.com Guide

If you're sick of hearing about all the "deficits"

challenging people on the

autism spectrum, join the club.

But for every down side to autism,

there seems to be a positive --

an unusual trait that rarely appears among the

"typical" community, but shines out among autistic folk. These pluses are well worth celebrating.

1. Autistic People Rarely Lie

We all claim to value the truth,

but almost all of us tell little white lies.

All, that is, except people on the autism spectrum.

To them, truth is truth --

and a good word from a person on the spectrum

is the real deal.

2. People on the Autism Spectrum Live in the Moment

How often do typical people fail to notice

what's in front of their eyes because

they're distracted by social cues or random chitchat?

People on the autism spectrum truly attend

to the sensory input that surrounds them.

Many have achieved the ideal of mindfulness.

3. People with Autism Rarely Judge Others

Who's fatter? Richer? Smarter?

For people on the autism spectrum, these

distinctions hold much less importance than for typical folks. In fact, people on the spectrum often see

through such surface appearances to discover the real person.

4. Autistic People are Passionate

Of course, not all autistic people are alike.

But many are truly passionate

about the things, ideas and people in their lives.

How many "typical" people can say the same?

5. People with Autism Are Not Tied to Social Expectations

If you've ever bought a car, played a game or

joined a club to fit in, you know

how hard it is to be true to yourself.

But for people with autism, social

expectations can be honestly irrelevant.

What matters is true liking, interest

and passion -- not keeping up with the Joneses.

6. People with Autism Have Terrific Memories

How often do typical people forget directions,

or fail to take note of colors,

names, and other details?

People on the autism spectrum are often much more

tuned in to details. They may have a much better memory than their typical peers for all kinds of critical details.

7. Autistic People Are Less Materialistic

Of course, this is not universally true --

but in general, people with autism

are far less concerned with outward appearance

than their typical peers.

As a result, they worry less about brand names,

hairstyles and other expensive but

unimportant externals than most people do.

8. Autistic People Play Fewer Head Games

Who was that woman, and why were you looking at her?

I know I TOLD you I didn't

mind if you went out, but why did you believe me?

Most autistic people don't

play games like these -- and they assume that you won't either. It's a refreshing and wonderful change

from the Peyton Place emotional roller coaster

that mars too many typical relationships!

9. Autistic People Have Fewer Hidden Agendas

Most of the time, if a person on the autism spectrum

tells you what he wants --

he is telling you what he wants.

No need to beat around the bush, second guess,

and hope you're reading between the lines!

10. People with Autism Open New Doors for Neurotypicals

For some of us neurotypicals, having an autistic person

in our lives has had a

profound positive impact on our perceptions,

beliefs and expectations.

For me, being the mom of a son on the autism spectrum has released me from a

lifetime of "should" -- and offered me a new world of "is."